Difference in Status

When Stigma came back from his 'hell', a man claiming to be a follower started demanding on and on about him to leave the tent, and give them a ridiculous amount of tribute.

As time passed, the man outside sounded more desperate even frantic, so Stigma came to a decision. If he gives the man some tribute then he can leave, afterwards he can finally relax afterwards.

He didn't want any more trouble and sure enough he had already crossed about three groups in total; the one Wade was afflicted to, the mercenary band from the entrance, and no doubt the employees who work for the Slave Market.

If he thought about it, other than the last one, the mercenaries can still be handled by him alone, but the ones who Wade belonged to could spell trouble. And if he pushed his luck he might earn another one.

"Hah....."

The most optional answer was to not drag in trouble but the man outside sounded like he was going to storm in at any moment. Left with no choice Stigma left the tent with Hilda on his back and Dusk by his side, leaving behind his shield and bags full of cores.

"By the way Master, you seem....different..."

"? How so?"

"...Your reserves, no, your Zen quality has changed..."

"What you can see my Zen as well?"

"Not exactly...."

In Hilda's current state of being a sword, she cannot see anything and wasn't aware on what Stigma's actual appearance look like and she had been by his side for a while. Though she cannot physically see. she can tell any individual via Zen energy.

To make up for the lost vision, and using the time spent under multiple owners who used unique or rare abilities to sense other people.

So she came up with a technique where she uses her Zen energy and formed it like an invisible barrier. The smaller area the more detailed she can get about the person within it such as their facial accessories such as scars or even their clothes.

However the larger the sphere, the more vague the description.

But despite all the restrictions, she can still tell where anything was, and with her experience of fair share of battle, she could even tell how strong a person or beast was.

In her view, due to absorbing a lot of beast souls, she can tell it was Stigma if she saw multiple beast circling inside him, but his reserves then were a small speck compared to now. Currently she was checking on Stigma if he was actually okay, but was baffled went she saw the large difference.

When she checked again, his reserves were more abundant than before. When Hilda first meet Stigma he had the reserves fitting for a Zero Tier, now she realized whatever happened to him during the fever had increased his Zen energy by a large margin.

After spending time with him. She was realized Stigma had more potential than he realized.

"Master, are you perhaps... in the First Tier already?" Hilda was muttering the last line, so Stigma asked her to speak up, only to deny anything she said and only was only a trivial thought.

"...No nothing, it must be my mistake..."

"...Well, first things first, I have to deal with the one outside first..."

"Are you going to break him..."

"For some reason Hilda, you sounded more of a demon than me, well let's see how he interacts before I decide."

When he finally stepped out the tent, if he delayed any further about four men were ready to enter armed with spears. The one leading them was a man standing at a six foot tall wearing chest plate, with a mace positioned in front of him like a podium.

Due to all the yelling he had a red face and a haggard expression, but after seeing Stigma stepping out, he spat at the ground wiped his face of with a napkin and gesture the men to follow him.

Unknown to Stigma, the mindset of these people were as follows; if they meet anyone who was in the higher Tier or had a powerful backing, they would back down; if they meet anyone with a clan they would show courtesy or show off the prestige of their own clan.

But if they were to meet a wandering Cultivator, they would pressure him using their status and take everything he had. And when Stigma stepped out, they took the opportunity, since he was still a child.

'Huh? What the hell?' When he stepped out he had expected to see only five men, not to see a huge crowd of people surrounding them spectating on them with an amused or absurd expressions.

'Hilda did say her skill had a limit...but to think see missed it by a large margin.'

Ignoring the gazes from the Stigma was able to tell the difference between them, even without his skill. But he felt like the were far weaker than the Demon in its initial stage, and with his reserves still low he can only use his speed and strength to some degree. So he had no Zen to use at the moment.

Before Stigma could speak, the man went up in front and sized him up, but it looked comical to see an adult stepping forward to a child, yet the follower didn't seem to care and followed.

"Know your place! You are before the follower of the Naga Clan, Will, the clan is known for their vast wealth and land, so submit yourself and kowtow before this father."

*Shivering*

Unknown to the men Stigma's action was not fear, but annoyance and anger, but they took it as a sign of intimidation and tried to extort him in the name of the clan.

'Forget about choosing between his legs or his throat, I'll break every bone in his body once I'm done with him.'

Will, however, had no idea what was going on in Stigma's head, and only continued to pressure him.

"You wasted my precious time boy, but I ,your father, am merciful at a price. Now let me get straight to the point, give me this tent and pay tribute to me ten times for wasting my breath."

While Will spoke, the others just laughed it off like they were seeing someone pitiful, they were enjoying themselves in seeing other suffer.

While the gazes from the others were like they were seeing scum, but they can do nothing about it, since they were cultivators afflicted to the Naga clan.

These men were given a simple order from their master Richard, 'Find me a suitable living space, don't waste time!', however they were not given any form of currency or identification, nor given any form of description on what quarters he would like to live in.

In other words, Richard didn't want his uncle Jaculas to know, that he was planning to goof around before the auction.

Since the Naga's focused more on expanding their influence they included the markets since theyr network was vast. Their master along with an Elder had immediately went towards the top figures to pay their respect and make ties, so they were left on their own.

Truth be told, members of a clan or followers will be given special privileges such as having private chefs be there to cook whatever food they want, or make reserves in buying high quality products, even get their own living quarter's.

So why get a rented tent you may ask, it was simple, their master Richard wanted to find a place for his 'private matters' when he rents a female slave or finds a woman he fancies. Unfortunately they were told to use their own money, which in total could only last for three days at most if they wanted to go by their master's preferences.

Hearing such an unbelievable thing Will could only beg his master to reconsider, only berated in telling them that they followed him and lived of the Naga's influence, so they should bring their own money and provide him with luxury.

Will could only grit his teeth as it was the undeniable truth, followers are not members of a clan that was based on blood ties. Even if they married in their standing would still be lower to the spouse.

And followers are just people who ride on the coat tail[1]. So if the clan decided to let them go, life would be difficult to them if they were to return to Mordan City.

Will and the others only had enough for them to go get 'one night stands[2]' in the red light district, so they never accounted that their master's would demand them to buy a luxury living space with their money at hand.

When they went to they residence, the saw the largest tent and wanted to purchase it, but they were greeted with an extremely unattractive woman who tried to fix herself, sitting by the desk so their mood soured and wanted to end the transaction as quickly as possible.

After meeting Stigma the receptionist tried to apply some make up only to fail due to her sweating multiple times, leaving most of her cosmetics on her face a mess.

When they discussed about the large tent, they soon found out that someone else, namely Stigma, had already taken residence. What confused them was that there was the smell of blood in the air and mistaken it for the receptionist menstrual period and didn't ask any further.

After seeing the tent up close, the immediately made a decision in taking, it was not as though their master denied them to live in the quarters provided by the Slave Market, it was just that Richard didn't want any one of the clans know of his personal preferences in woman.

Before Will and the others eventually made excuses to not agree to the order with lack of funds, left with no choice, Richard saw through the rouse and told them a condition, if they find a quarters for his 'private matters' they are free to live in it until the time limit of the auction.

With such news they gleefully accepted, and when they found out that Stigma had taken residence until the auction, they took the chance and used every threat they could think of.

Believing Stigma was a wealthy merchant, they used their standing from the Naga's to pressure Stigma and 'provide' them money for their personal use. Sadly, they went on for about an hour and still no one showed up, making them bring out a crowd.

After Stigma went out, they instantly believed he was a non cultivator and pushed their luck.

"Now pay tribute of over one hundred thousand coins!" Blinded by greed Will gave in an amount that would make any merchants heart bleed. But they were not meeting a merchant nor a non-cultivator.

"Huh? Why the hell should I? You poor or something, if you beg for money it just looks pitiful, you now that?"

....The comment left them utterly speechless. Contrary to what they thought, instead of following their threats, the boy just insulted them face first, and made them sound like beggars on the street.

The sound of laughter entered their ears and caused their faces to go beet red. The difference in status was obvious, so why was it they were the ones laughed at, it of course Stigma's anger being fueled up and gave a lashing of insults that left them stunned.

"I have already dealt with people like you in the past, you may sound important but you're not, you only use influence that isn't yours and extort people. But are you really part of the prestigious clan, if you are do show me an identification that you are part of the so - called 'Naga clan' you fraud!"

Will could only be tongue tied after hearing the loop hole. Richard had told them to go incognito, so they either left behind their robes with the Naga insignia or kept it on their person and hid it.

Slowly the crowd started muttering, most of the people there were vendors who were already extorted from Will's group from before. Soon their whispers turned into exaggerated stories and started causing a riot.

When they finally realized it, they began shouting insults at them with great ferocity, causing even the passing customers to look at the commotion. And Felix's group was hiding behind some caravans to observe.

With the surrounding people going restless. Will had berated them only to be thrown at by rocks.

"Ah fuck it kill the brat and show that we mean business!"

When they heard the order they changed directions and charged at Stigma. While Will watched from behind and grabbed an orb out of thin air.

'So they do belong to a clan...'

The spectators were shocked from the sudden development, from their perspective five cultivators versus a child was to much and they were dashed at them with such speed. Even Felix wanted to step in only to stopped by his men, warning him about the danger.

Stigma on the other hand, viewed them in a very slow manner as if he was watching a video going in slow motion. When they were close enough, he just stepped forward dodging each spear and did about four liver blows to each on putting his weight into each one like how Ippo[3] did.

*CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!* *CRACK!*

When such an unnatural sound entered their ears they were stunned especially Felix's and few hidden experts, each strike was fierce as to Cultivators the heard the familiar loud impact of broken bones.

But to the spectators, they just heard a loud impact.

'What...the...hell...' It was not just the spectators were stunned, the four men finally realized the unfamiliar sensation pain on their ribs being broken, so they puked some blood and flew to each side in five meters making them even twist some of their legs.

The shocked varied to each one, some showed fear, admiration, amusement, cheer, envy, or desire. especially Felix's group and a few experts.

But the most shocked of all was Stigma, he had expected to be to tired to fight so he just landed a few decisive blows to put them to sleep not cripple them.

"Ahhh!!!!" Will started to panic and threw the orb at Stigma as a distraction and jumped into the air and wanted to crush his head while he was distracted.

"Look out!"

"Above you!"

"Boy look up!"

...

But Stigma was aware what was going on, ignoring the multiple gazes he grabbed the flying orb and grabbed the incoming attack from above.

The audience believed that Stigma was going crazy, the orb was one thing but why stand around and wait for the attack.

Will on the other hand was in a gleeful manner, his mace was a powerful and an extremely heavy weapon hard enough to destroy rocks after one swing, heavy enough to crush a grown man's chest if it fell. With the mace along with his weight plus the jumping height, Stigma's arm would be crushed.

But all their jaws dropped after what happened next.

They had expected Stigma to be crushed and be a bloody paste, but it was the opposite. When the mace was about two feet aware, Stigma still stood his ground and braced the impact.

The attack was so strong that it had caused a slight tremor, what was more bizarre was that Stigma was still fine along with his arm holding the mace.

'Compared to the Demon's Ogre tackle, it just felt like a soft ball.'

With the mace in hand, he dropped the orb from the other and formed a fist. When Will saw what he did and immediately panicked and pleaded for his life. While being suspended in mid air he could let go of his weapon,if he did there would be no protection against the 'monster child' before him.

"Please! I beg of you let me go!"

But Stigma ignored him and pushed the maced up in the air, afterwards Stigma jumped into the air and gave a smash to Will chin. But he didn't let on, when Will landed Stigma followed and landed on his leg crushing it to.

'Let make it even!' After breaking the other leg, Stigma proceeded to break the other one with his balled up fist.

"Ahhh!!!!! My legs!! My legs!!" Making sure he didn't talk anymore Stigma formed a knuckle with his index and middle finger and jabbed it in Wills throat. Afterwards Stigma continued to wail at him with a rapid succession of slaps at his face and chest until he was unrecognizable.

Afterwards Stigma jumped back and viewed his handy work, so far Will's face was bloated with red hand prints along with multiple red marks on his arms for trying to block his assault, including the two broken legs, he was nothing but a broken man.

The spectators were silent, they had expected a scene of carnage, but instead of Stigma getting beaten, it was the five men on the ground coughing up blood.

It was clear who had the highest status right now, compared to social status nothing can change the fact that before the absolute force no one can fight back.

"The difference in status is clear, now get lost!!!!" Stigma then left and went back inside the tent causing every to wonder, who was the 'monster child'.

[1] Ride on some one's coat tail - To benefit from someone else's success; to use someone else's success as a means to achieve one's own.

[2] one night stands - just to be clear the ones I'm preferring to are ladies with a profession in prostitution, in where they get paid after coitus.

[3] Ippo Makunouchi - a protagonist in a series called Hajime no Ippo, a boxer with powerful punches.