Stark and Sora stood side by side, watching the dust settle after the moons had fled
Stark, his body still pulsing with the remnants of his aura, gestured toward Sora, “Let’s go,” and she quickly followed.
“What was that?” she asked as she approached him.
“Giant spear,” Stark shrugged.
All of the participants just watched him as he entered the village, not doing anything themselves, too surprised.
They knew one thing for certain, though: they shouldn’t try to attack Stark if he had such an attack in stock.
Maybe he even had another?!
There were too many risks, and if they wanted to get rid of him, it would be by ambush.
At least… that is what they thought until one of them finally broke the silence.
Miles Volkov, the businessman smoking on his cigar, suddenly laughed loudly, causing everyone, including Stark and Sora, to turn around.
“Hahahaha!”
“What’s so funny?” Stark raised his eyebrows.
“It’s just… It’s so funny how you think that little trick of yours would work on us.”
“…?”
How the hell was summoning a whole ass angel a trick?
Stark’s initial plan was just to beat the moons, but they had run away, and so now, all participants should have just believed he is untouchable.
So… why…
The businessman didn’t waste time in informing the others of Stark’s trick.
“Crimson spears,” the man smiled, “He used the ultimate perk, as the skill is currently level 100, that is all folks.”
“Huh?”
“Level 100 skill?”
“!!!” Stark’s eyes widened.
How the fuck did he know? How the fuck did he see through Stark so easily?
Stark could it in the man’s eyes: he could see everything about him.
The tension in the air as the businessman revealed that information lowered, but not enough.
And so he continued.
“He used the ultimate perk of his skill, which he can only use once every two weeks, meaning that he can’t do it again,” the man puffed again, “His only other high-level skill is ‘Crimson Healing’, and all it does is bring him back to full health when his HP reaches 1, it’s basically a revive.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Well, other than that, his skills are decent, but none are at the level of the one he used, basically, he is just like us, if not weaker,” Miles smiled mischievously, “Too bad, you thought no one would try to fight you, heh?”
“I don’t think someone who can check out the skills of anyone, as well as description and perks, should be kept alive,” Stark was mainly speaking to the others.
They themselves agreed with him.
Revealing you had such a passive skill was like a death sentence, it was asking to be killed.
And yet, why was that man so confident?
“For your information,” he spoke again as he left his little space, “I’m level 135, so if any of you feels good enough to try and fight me, then please do try.”
As a businessman, that guy had used his money to make himself as strong as possible, and it worked.
He had dominated both of his first trials, easily killing anyone in his way.
Plus, he had two other goons in each one of his arms; helping him out whenever he asked, and willing to sacrifice themselves for him.
“As much as I’d love to stick around and watch you all tear each other apart,” the businessman said, clapping his hands, “I’ve got business to take care of. So, you folks carry on.”
The man disappeared inside one of the abandoned houses of the village around them, probably trying to get to the city or get quests.
“…Fuck,” Stark gritted his teeth.
Not only was his ability revealed, that guy also revealed that Stark could get revived once.
Seems like he couldn’t see talents, though, it would have been a disaster if he told the others that Stark also had a talent that allowed him to revive himself at one hp even after death.
But with that simple interruption, all the participants looked at Stark, the fear in their eyes had disappeared, and now… they were mad.
He had tricked them, but now that his cards were revealed, it was really bad.
“I’m the last one to reach level 100,” Sora informed Stark all of a sudden, “I’m pretty sure all the others are level 110 or up to level 130.”
“…FUCK!”
He thought he had the complete advantage, but here he was.
From across the village square, two figures began advancing toward them.
A man and a woman, both moving with purpose.
The man was muscular and tall, his short brown hair framing a face filled with cruel amusement.
The woman beside him had long black hair and glasses, but her most unnerving feature was the black substance that slithered across her arm, taking the form of a creature with a gaping mouth.
“Looks like you had fun with your little show,” the man sneered as they approached. “Care to show us what else you’ve got?”
“Well, I hope you don’t mind us testing your strength, then, huh?” the man smiled as he summoned a single sword out of thin air
“…”
[Dave Browsky – Level 122]
[Claire Browsky – Level 123]
“Damn.”
“Oh, and for your information,” the man, Dave, smiled as he positioned himself, “Me and my partner have already beaten monsters above level 550, so get ready.”
This was bad.
“You can try-” before Stark could finish, or even using [Perception] on them, Dave was already in front of him, his sword right in front of Stark’s face.
“What?” Stark’s eyes widened.
Even for a level 122 domination user, this sort of speed was way too much.
This isn’t normal.
“VINE BARRIER,” Sora mumbled, and thick vines erupted from the ground, barely managing to intercept Dave’s attack.
The vines curled around the sword, straining to hold it back as sparks flew from the clash..
“Heh… so it’s a two on two, then,” Dave laughed.
Fwish! SLASH!
Claire moved next, her grotesque arm lashing out with the creature-like mouth devouring the vines in an instant. Its teeth chomped through the barrier as if it were paper.
“This isn’t good,” Stark muttered, watching the vines wither.
Stark had the power of using his aura to enhance his fists.
Sora had the power to use plants to her advantage.
But these two… what were their domination powers?
Stark blinked in surprise, and before he could even think of anything else…
“Watch out, you might trip,” he heard a voice behind him.
How is this possible?!
The man was right in front of him, and when he blinked, he was gone?!
SLASH!
“INVINCIBLE DODGE!” Stark rolled away, fazing through the blade, as he missed by mere microseconds.
“Nice dodge, bro!” Dave laughed before striking again.
“INVINCIBLE DODGE… COMBO!”
Stark kept dodging, and once he reached the x10 dodge, which is his limit, he used the momentum to grab Dave’s arm and kick him away.
-372!
He did absolutely no damage.
No… actually…
-4638!
Stark received more damage than he had caused.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Dave taunted, his smile never faltering.
Stark gritted his teeth. This isn’t going to work.
The fight dragged on for a few more brutal minutes, but it was clear Stark and Sora were outmatched.
Dave and Claire toyed with them, barely giving them room to breathe, let alone use any of their abilities effectively.
“We need to get out of here,” Sora whispered urgently.
“I know,” Stark muttered back.
His pride stung, but it was the truth.
They had no choice but to retreat.
Sora summoned another vine barrier, momentarily blinding their enemies, and the two of them bolted toward one of the abandoned houses.
Stark slammed the door behind them, and they leaned against it, panting for breath.
“You could have caught them with your domination ability, why didn’t you,” remarked outside.
“Heh,” Dave laughed, “Let them go. They’re like low-level monsters. Running away like rats when they meet someone stronger.”
The third domination trial could finally start!
