Day 4(END)

Exchange blow for blow with Hasilo? What a joke.

The lavel had first and foremost awakened a rock element ability. His defenses were top notch. Imagine trying to strike at a rock. Krea had used her healer's penetrative ability. While Brom was strong, he was not strong enough to penetrate that barrier.

Secondly, Hasilo too had a touch of Fate about him, he was not as overpowered as his cousin, but his strength could be said to be at a higher level. Finally he was more refined in combat, he knew how well to channel his strength, his power.

He'd done his part for the team, time for his cousin to clinch the glory.

"I guess we get to finally see someone put down Bamboo."

"Hahaha, what are you playing at, this is Bamboo we talking about! Unbeaten all competition."

"Did you not see the fantastic way she put down that giant, I bet after that, Bamboo will be easy target."

"Are you blind, Bamboo has put Hasilo down twice. So what if he was put down again?"

As the 2 contestants entered in the arena, the entire assembly was ablaze with excitement. Yes, Krea has put an awe inspiring performance, but was it enough to replace Bamboo in their hearts? Certainly not.

There were those that thought she was just a passing fad, a momentary amusement. Hasilo had had an off day, she couldn't hope to repeat the same.

However, her performance, her transformation, even the change in her aura, had made many believe. She could actually do it, she could end his undisputed run.

Distant thunder could be heard as the downpour began.

Looking at Krea, everyone felt as though they were looking at a totally different person. Her aura, even her gait, told of confidence. Previously, she looked meek, now she stood strong, daring anyone to attack. Behind the delicate features could be seen the ferocious beast not to be messed with.

Previously, she had always carried a bucket on stage, even when it was raining. This was because it was easier to control water that had been gathered together, as opposed to having to collect it first. Now, she simply strolled in.

Bamboo did not know whether to curse at the weather or celebrate. Any other opponent, this would have been a definite advantage, but facing her, he had an inkling that it wasn't. He knew her power, and he too had seen her or rather felt the transformation. Her power was not to be underestimated.

As the gong went off, Bamboo instantly sent a lighting strike at the opponent. This had been a signature move. Only if an opponent survived this attack did they actually qualify to fight him head on, and sadly, very few escaped, even if they knew it was coming. This had been one of the thrills of watching his fights. It was as though he was asking an opponent if they qualified to be in a fight with him.

Krea's reaction was super fast. A sudden wall of water formed around her and 2 team mates. Simultaneously 3 balls of ice flew off the wall headed for her opponents. Seeing her counter, Bamboo easily deflected the ball with a wave of his hand, as electric energy veered it off course. His squad mates were not so lucky, or quick in their reactions. They hadn't expected the attack, so when they saw it, it was already too late. They were thrown off the clearing.

This was the first time that Bamboo's squad had faced any sort of loss. His squad mates had grown complacent, relying on him for an easily win. The crowd was going nuts. Many were too shocked to even react, choosing to keep their eyes on the battle. Others couldn't help scream their lungs out with excitement.

Bamboo realized that it was time to get serious, so he began channeling one of his trump card spells. Creating ionized fields all around him, he electrified the space around him, before channeling the field forward. All this time nothing could be seen, as he had yet to release the electric charge, it was like releasing gas before setting the flames. He extended the field up to where his opponents were, then.

Suddenly, a huge flash of lighting fields appeared in the battlefield, only, to the audience's amazement, it didn't come from the clouds, but from Bamboo. While his attacks had the appearance of lighting, they always seemed like strands, more like a whip. This one seemed like as though the entire field around him had become lit up with electric current.

"So this is Bamboo when he decides to get serious." Maple remarked, a bitter smile appearing on her face. She had hoped that she was closing in on the distance, but now she realized just how far away she really was. She even pitied Krea for being on the receiving end of that attack.

When the smoke and the stream cleared, Krea and her squad mates stood unaffected. She did it, she actually survived such an onslaught. Not only that she was able to protect her fellow squad mates. Before Bamboo could make it out, he was suddenly engulfed in a mass of water, which instantly solidifying.

"Wait, Has Bamboo... lost?" No one knew who asked that out loud, but everyone was wondering the same thing.

The moment that thought came into mind, another instantly lit up the ice around Bamboo. Everyone froze in place, wondering what would happen next. Instantly, the ice exploded violently. This was followed by an instant electric strike at Krea directly. This time, Bamboo wasn't holding anything back, but neither was Krea.

She met his attack with her own, a wave of water. The problem was, water itself was a good conductor electricity, and instead of pushing the mass of water away, it penetrated. Too bad Krea wasn't in direct contact, as she continued on with her attack.

Had it been ice, maybe Bamboo would have stood a chance, but now it wasn't. No, it was water.

The mass of the attack hit Bamboo squarely on the temple. The electrified water stunned the lavel as well as pushed him out of the clearing.

It was over. She had won!

***

It had been a bumpy damn ride, and finally, he could see the shore. As the sailors screamed Land ho, even he had to put effort to maintain his composure, but as the captain, he couldn't go around screaming.

It was always an arduous process to get a ship to dock, especially when the land they are in was not so friendly. It wasn't their first time to dock in land where the inhabitants weren't human, but they could sense a deep sense of animosity coming from the natives.

They were sailors, not diplomats. They weren't here to win hearts but to trade, and that didn't require so much affection. Trade could still be done even by sworn enemies, and so they decided to move in. A dock master came by and took their coin as payment for docking inland and then walked away without another word.

Turning his sights inland, the ship captain had made his way inland to a local favorite inn. He made sure to take his distinguished guest, who had paid him to transport him across the sea to this hell hole.

There really were very few people who wanted to come here. The people here were discriminating and completely unwelcoming especially for any humans. If it weren't for iron ore found in this continent, few ships would ever dock here.

It was therefore very strange to have a non-merchant want to make this travel. However way he looked at the guest, he couldn't see that person being a merchant. In his line of work, he'd met many, and while they had that regal air and trappings of wealth, they were not fighters.

Despite him looking the part, the captain still could sense danger every time the man he was carrying casually looked at him. At the very least, this man was either an emissary, or at worst, a mercenary. If he was a betting man, he would heavily bet on the latter.

Should that be the case, it only led to more questions. What sort of mercenary travels alone, with no weapon? Could he be a mage? The more he thought of this mystery man, the more he had questions.

In Harrow, the name of the city state they were in. Though there were several inns, there was only one that allowed humans. While this might seem extreme, especially considering that humans happened to be the majority of travelers, this was very normal in the eyes of the locals.

The locals belongs to the wolf kin race. Essentially, these resembled humans in almost all ways apart from their wolf bloodline. The effects of the wolf bloodline resulted in few changes on the body such as wolf eyes and ears, extremely sensitive nose and fur instead of skin. Be that as it may, they still put on clothes. They must not be confused with were wolves since unlike werewolves, this form was whom they were naturally.

The amount and concentration of the wolf bloodline set someone apart from the rest. Those with high concentrations were regarded as nobles and got a higher status in life despite their origin. This is because their powers and subsequently, their prosperity largely depended on these bloodlines.

If a person had a refined bloodline, they stood a chance of awakening an ability. Usually for wolves, it meant channel the powers of their ancestor, the Divine Frost winged wolf. Many even had shrines and worshiped the ancestor as a god, but these were the minority.

Needless to say, having such antagonistic and unwelcoming behavior, there were many that had tried to invade and overthrow the various city states in the continent, but due to these powerful beings, they had been unable. One could understand why they valued those who had awakened.

Even if one came from a poor background, in this continent and indeed in the universe, life underwent a massive change the moment one awakened. Those that came from wealthy backgrounds even had severe pressure upon them since should they fail to awaken an ability, they usually ended up losing all they had.

Surprisingly, even in this society there was a human community. They were not so prosperous, and usually they were considered as weak and inferior to the master race. Having never left the continent, how could they know the truth that in almost every corner of the universe, the humans were the among the top master races that others had to bow down to.

For now, all they could do was scurry around like rats eating scraps that fell from their masters' table. They were malnourished. poorly clothed, haggard looking. In a word, deplorable. Regan, the ship captain, was careful to observe the face of his guest. Anyone seeing the humans looking like this for the first time would have complicated emotions registering, but if there was something in the guest's face, Reagan didn't see it.

The human inn was located in the part of the city where humans lived. This region could be considered a slum as it was the poorest. The wolf kin race would never be found in such a place and it was predominantly ran by humans. There were human kids playing in the streets, some adults walking up and down and others hawking their wares, but the general mood was grim, the reality of an oppressed race.

The inn stood out as the only story building in the region, and it went up to the 3rd floor. After a long journey, so many different transportation means and he was finally here. Kedan looked out of the window in the gathering dusk, taking it all in. Somehow, he had to find a totem in this region.