Chapter 13

"I got you."

The hulking man thought inwardly seeing that his fist is already an inch distance from Kazuki's back.

"Swoosh."

Kazuki suddenly swayed quickly his upper body to the right evading the coming fist.

"What!"

Shinpei felt astonished. "Does he have eyes behind his head and what kind of reaction speed is this to be able to evade my fist from an inch distance." The hulking man thought to himself.

"Huh!" All the warriors inside the main hall felt startled. They didn't expect Kazuki to evade such a powerful punch from an iron warrior without looking at his attacker.

Kazuki swayed back his upper body to its original posture and continue walking.

"Hahaha."

Some warriors laughed again from the side, but this time, they were laughing a the hulking man. Hearing those warriors laughing and Seeing their mocking eyes, the hulking man became enraged. He quickly infused his iron element towards his left hand turning it into iron. With two iron fists, his combat power increased. The hulking man shouted loudly. "Iron Fists Combo."

The hulking man punched towards Kazuki with his two hands. Every punch was followed by another.

"Shoo, Shoo." the quick combo punches came at Kazuki who stopped walking and evaded it successfully. He evaded it in an effortless manner and without looking back.

"How is this possible!? I already used both of my fists, yet I can't even touch his clothes."

The hulking man thought to himself.

"This!" some warriors felt dry in their mouths. This non-elemental warrior does have some abilities.

"He is using the third style of the movement skill fury of a mantis, Quick Dodges to evade those punches." an experienced looking warrior said to his friend beside him.

"Really!? I heard that those who mastered the third style can be counted in one hand."

"Yeah, its the Quick Dodges. I saw a wind warrior performing it before. It's really impressive to see a non-elemental warrior doing it. What is more amazing is his ability to evade without looking. I had never seen someone who could dodge perfectly like that without looking at his attacker."

The experienced man praised.

After a series of fast and powerful punches, the hulking man failed to hit Kazuki.

"Are you done?

Kazuki turned his head and asked with an emotionless face.

"AAAAA"

The hulking man became really enraged after seeing the indifferent look of Kazuki. With a face full of madness, he began to infuse his iron element towards his two legs. A ferocious aura began to gather around the hulking man.

"That's enough!"

A loud voice suddenly interfered. An old man with gray-colored eyes walked towards them. Behind him were another two figures, one of them was a middle-aged man and the other was a pretty young woman. Both figures had yellow colored-eyes.

Seeing the old man's identity, the hulking man looked at Kazuki with a face full of grudges before withdrawing his own element. He didn't want to offend the old man who was actually the chief of the Mercenary Guild.

"It's now the time for the captain selection test to begin. Let me introduce my self first. I am Tadaaki, the chief of the Mercenary Guild here in the Black Cloud City. As you know, this grand task was requested by the Golden City Organization. This gentlewoman and gentleman here are from there and they would like to say something to you."

Tadaaki said with a smile and pointed towards the two figures behind him.

The young woman stepped to the front.

"Hello, I am Akari, a second elder at the Golden City Organization. This is Tsugio, also a second elder at the Golden City Organization."

The young woman introduced with a smile.

All the warriors were shocked. This young woman who looked only in her early twenties was actually a second elder. This means that she is the first stage, silver warrior. What a genius, all of the warriors thought.

"She does have a monstrous talent like that of my little sister."

Kazuki thought after hearing Akari.

"Firstly, I want to thank everyone for wanting to join the grand task. Secondly, the selection test is very simple. Every one of you will exchange some blows with me in a one-minute duration. Those who can force me to draw during that minute would be given a pass. No worries, I will only use half of my strength. Those who fail would be appointed as vice-captain."

Akari said with a small smile.

Murmurs could be heard from the warriors. All of them didn't want to face Akari, but they needed to do it. All of them wanted to become a captain as every captain would earn 500000 golden notes if they joined the task. Of course, anyone who doesn't complete the mission won't get the reward. The vice-captain rewards were not bad too. A vice-captain would get 250000 golden notes. The normal members would get 100000 golden notes.

"Don't forget to use your full strength. Miss Akari is not an easy opponent."

Tadaaki the chief said with a smile.

"Now, follow me to the battle stage."

Tadaaki led the group towards a spacious arena.

Akari walked slowly towards the center of the battle stage. "who is gonna be the first?"

Akari said.

"I will go first."

An old man with gray-colored eyes stepped out. A short sword was in his right hand and a shield was in his left hand, the two weapons were crystal weapons. The rest of the warriors retreated and stood at the spectating area.

"I am Umeji, nice to meet you."

Umeji said with a respectful tone.

"Nice to meet you too."

Akari replied back.

"Get ready."

Tadaaki said as he acted as the referee.

Umeji began to infuse wind element towards his entire body.

"Shwa"

his whole body began to transform into the wind, only his head, chest and neck didn't. A third stage bronze warrior would be able to transform his whole body into his own element, except for the head, chest, and neck. Transforming the whole body would give the warrior more speed and more strength, besides that. It would provide good protection. Its only issue was that it exhaust the physical body faster than using the element on only some parts of the body. Umeji clearly didn't care as this battle would last for only one minute.

"Shwa"

Akari began to infuse fire element towards her two hands and her two legs. She didn't want to exhaust her physical body as she is going to face many opponents today, so, she didn't turn her whole body into the fire element. Being a fire silver warrior, Akira's fire element was clearly more powerful as a wave of hot airs began to surround the entire battle arena. With a long sword in her hand that seemed like a high medium crystal weapon, Akira was ready.

"Okay. Be careful. Now, start."

Tadaaki announced after retreating to the spectating area.

"Whoosh"

Akira didn't waste any time and attacked Umeji first. With two legs full of fire, Akira reached Umeji's position in an instant and slashed at him.

Normally, Akira would use ranged attacks with her left hand, but because she is testing bronze warriors, she decided to not do it.

"Bang"

Akira's powerful strike was blocked by Umeji's shield. With a short sword covered in wind, Umeji countered with a quick slash.

"Shoo"

Akira dodged to the right while using the same burning long sword to block the coming windy sword.

"Bang, Clank, Shoo."

The two kept exchanging blows without showing any signs of losing.

"Time to end this."

Akira said loudly.

The fire in Akira's sword increased suddenly. The fire above the tip of her sword began to twist violently like a tornado.

"Fire tornado."

Akira struck Umeji who raised his shield to block.

"Boom."

The force behind Akira's attack was too powerful that it sent Ujemi flying across the arena. With a bang, Umeji landed heavily on the land.

"Umeji has lost."

Tadaaki announced loudly before going to check on Umeji.

"Don't worry, He is okay."

Akira said to Tadaaki.

"Now, who is next?"

Akira said loudly looking at the warriors in the spectating area.

To be continued.