—

Ezrath felt Scar’s smirk was very unusual but couldn’t help considering the allure of Scar’s potential possessions. As a Commander of the War Deity Council and a Mythical Hero, Scar commanded an alarming amount of wealth.

The worth of his manor inside the Hero’s Sanctuary surpassed the entire Aeredale Kingdom. The formations inscribed on the premises were quite costly to make.

All of the manors inside the Hero’s Sanctuary were reinforced by the formations of a Famed Arrayist, which required an immense commission price.

“You can’t just wave an offer in my face like that and not expect me to bite. What are we talking about here?” Ezrath inquired. His personal wealth wasn’t small either since he had recently signed a contract with one of the Empires to become their Protector.

As long as their loyalty resided with the War Deity Council, members were free to seek paths to riches, provided it didn’t interfere with their duties inside the council.

“I’m glad my proposal has caught your attention. However, I won’t be too unfair since you are of a lesser financial breadth.”

“You jest!” Ezrath appallingly interjected. “Me? Of lesser financial breadth? Have you lost your head? State your terms!”

Scar grinned to himself as Ezrath remained the same fool he had always been. Incite him just a little, and the floodgates of outrage would open. Despite the High Commanders and General attempting to guide Ezrath, he possessed a glaring flaw.

Ezrath’s temper interfered with his progress.

Caecus turned toward Scar and Ezrath after finding some interest in their interaction. “Just like old times, is it? Even during your younger days, you two managed to be at each other’s throats without fail.”

Scar grinned because Caecus wasn’t wrong. “What can I say? There’s no one quite like Ezrath. His company isn’t bad.”

“Indeed. You are not wrong. Ezrath does have his redeeming qualities,” Caecus agreed.

“Are you two sweet-talking me? I’ll have you know I have no interest in men. What are the terms?!” Ezrath impatiently shouted.

Ezrath’s patience for Scar was nonexistent due to their past history, which involved the reason for Scar’s title as a Mythical Hero. He had always felt that if not for Scar’s relation to a gargantuan yet shadowy figure, another person would hold the title of the Seventh Mythical Hero.

After all, the Mythical Hero moniker originated from the fact they entered a place of myth and successfully quelled the danger, a place that was due to erupt once more.

During that time, there were several Warriors of similar strength, but Scar somehow snagged the opportunity before the others could voice their desire for the role.

That old event was one of the reasons Scar’s reputation amongst the Legendary Warriors wasn’t that great. Many had proven their worth to enter that place of untold opportunity, yet it was claimed by a newcomer with a somewhat unmastered power.

Although he was already a Blood Fiend during the excursion, Scar’s power didn’t reach its current state.

Ezrath continued to grumble and scoff until Scar clarified the deal’s terms.

“Ezrath, your grandchild is in the same group as my twerp. Is he not?”

Ezrath glanced not too far from Kieran’s position and found his grandchild at the edge of the stage. “It is as you say. Young Zerim is in the same arena as your inheritor. What are you trying to say?”

Scar smiled cryptically while Caecus released a slight chuckle. “Come on now, Ezrath. Connect the dots. After all these years, you still haven’t corrected that fault? The Lords will never grant you a higher authority without the ability to discern.”

Ezrath scowled but couldn’t refute Scar’s comment. Insight was indeed his weakness.

Despite being an Awakened Being, his wits were on the level of an Advanced Being at their peak. He was the type to foolishly rush into battle and get everyone under his command killed, captured, or tortured.

The War Deity Council couldn’t entrust such a reckless person with substantial authority. War was a horrific situation that brutally punished recklessness. Hence, the Lords of the War Deity Council repeatedly denied Ezrath’s promotion requests.

“Brawn shouldn’t be your only focus. If you want to break the shackles of an Awakened Being, you must look inside yourself and purge your shortcomings. Once you do that, the first step to Enlightenment will surface. Otherwise, your road to power and authority will end as an Awakened Being and a Commander,” Caecus stated.

Even though he was an Awakened Being as well, Caecus had already found the source he would build upon. It would become the foundation of his evolution. Unfortunately, depending on one’s source, the process could take what seemed like an eternity.

“Bah! I’ve heard this all before from High General Igris,” Ezrath protested with a disgruntled look in his eyes. Scar and Caecus touched upon a sore spot with their words.

However, neither of them did so maliciously.

Ezrath’s misinterpretation and inability to internalize good advice led to his twisted perception of their words.

Scar disappointedly sighed and waved his hand. “In the end, desiring more power is a personal dilemma. We can advise you, but we can’t make you do anything. Nevertheless, let’s discuss the terms of the bet.”

Scar crossed his arms and pondered what he was willing to part ways with if he lost this gamble. Despite the risks, Scar enjoyed gambling too much not to partake in it.

“Since they are in the same group, the terms of our bet will be simple. My inheritor, Aatrox, against your grandson, Zerim—who will emerge the victor in their arena?”

“Why their arena? Why is the question not, who will qualify as official members?” Ezrath interrogated with a skeptical expression.

Due to the average power level of their particular stage, Ezrath felt Zerim had an excellent chance of emerging victorious.

However, he couldn’t ignore the possibility of a dark horse in this competition. Almost as if it was some sort of ritual, the presence of an underdog that defied all expectations and claimed their spot despite the masses doubting them never failed.

Could Kieran be such a person for this year’s competition? Ezrath couldn’t say.

On the other hand, Scar grinned confidently. “I’m not interested in such a trivial bet. I don’t doubt their ability to qualify because those top contenders will slaughter their competition. That leaves the few arenas filled with individuals of similar strength to descend into fierce competition.”

Scar glanced at the platform to see if Kieran had begun to fight. When he confirmed he didn’t, Scar returned his gaze to Ezrath. “That’s why we’ll be betting on the victor. What’s wrong? Are you scared, scaredy cat?”

“Hahaha! I just hope you don’t get cold feet when I win! I’ll wager that my Young Zerim will emerge victorious in his arena. I’ll wager a Tier V Gem of your choosing for this bet.”

A Tier V Gem for a simple bet?!

Although players could not utilize such an item at this point, a Tier V Gem was invaluable. If players found out it was core material in making items with incredibly high Item Levels, they would go nuts!

With his pride as a Mythical Hero, how could Scar let Ezrath put up such a valuable item and not reciprocate? “Very well, I’ll offer 2 kilograms of Purified Nihilitite Ore. Furthermore, it has been purified by a Great Dwarven Blacksmith.”

Caecus inhaled sharply and grimaced. “You two truly know how to make a simple bet high stakes, don’t you?”

Despite Caecus’ interest in the bet, his miserly ways prevailed. There was too much uncertainty attached for him to risk valuable items.

After all, gathering the items required to forge high-level items required time.

If Caecus misjudged the competition, he could suffer a substantial setback.

“At our level, is anything less than this even worth it?” Scar chuckled. “However, you’ll serve as an eye witness to this bet. So when Ezrath loses, he’ll be unable to renege on his wager.”

“Understood. That is fair,” Caecus agreed.

But Ezrath’s expression grew ugly. Did they have no faith in him and thought so little of his trustworthiness?!

“Don’t use that smug tone with me. You act as if you’ve already won,” Ezrath scoffed.

Now that the bet was finalized, Scar ignored Ezrath and focused his attention on the stage below.

Caecus did the same, but his thoughts differed from Scar, who merely wanted to see the effects of Kieran’s Soul Trait in action.

‘Scar’s boy releases some truly unusual fluctuations, but his overall power is low compared to the rest. However, he’s capable of absurd bursts of power like his predecessor. But I also can’t neglect Ezrath’s grandson. He has been trained well. It will be an exciting matchup.’

‘I wonder what the near future holds,’ Caecus thought to himself.

…

After Kieran entered his Predatory Form, where his arms swelled up and his visage adopted a beast-like appearance, many participants in his area frowned.

‘This guy hasn’t emitted any Mana, so what the hell is that technique of his? What else can power a technique like this?’

Seconds after he entered his Predatory Form, Kieran activated Blood Mania, which only deepened the contestants’ wariness of him.

“I fear we must eliminate him—he is a tremendous threat. I am sensitive to threats, and my senses are going haywire,” a young man said.

The young man with deep yellow hair was named Senar. They were of an average build and dressed in red and grey armor. A long lance rested against the rear of their right arm with the blade pointed toward the platform.

「Lv.48 Senar (Epic NPC)

Class: Fulgurous Lancer

Health: 19,600,000

/19,600,000 (100%)

Affiliation: «War Deity Council»」

Although they were an Lv.48 Epic NPC, they possessed no title.

Faint crackles of cerulean lightning snaked around Senar’s lance as he noticed Kieran’s gaze had fallen upon him.