Chapter 25: Loop-hole And Victory

But eventually the status quo broke, and Jayven was losing in the exchange.

"Hey now, brat, come on, where was that drive you had earlier? I guess this is to be expected after all my skill increases and my 20% Increase in total points in strength even during technique activation."

Seeing the confidence of their boss, his henchmen also cheered for him.

"Yeah, you go, boss!"

"Beat the sh*t out of that kid."

"Hehehe, this is going to be fun after I send it online."

"Oh, you're taking a video."

"Yeah, to show those who are trying to beat us that we aren't ones to mess around."

"Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll do that too."

Hearing that the other henchmen also started to take videos of the battles.

And after almost 30 minutes, Jayven was knocked to the ground.

"Heh, I guess that's all you've got. It seems that you are running out of stamina, huh? Well, my skill also has the additional effect of negating the stamina debuff effect. So instead of my other attributes, my strength stays the same."

"Oh, I see, so his stats dropped."

"That's normal; he's still a kid, and his stamina would definitely be weak. Not to mention, Boss has an additional effect in his skill."

"That means his status will be weakened over time faster than his boss's."

"Well, that's it, huh?"

As they were silently celebrating their victory, their boss grabbed Jayven's hair as he raised him up.

"Well, then, I guess It's time to end this." He said this as he prepared his attack.

But Jayven grinned and said "Yeah, you're right." Then in an instant he jumped and attacked the arteries in his opponents neck.

"Huh?" Not being able to react, blood spurted at his side as he slowly lost his life.

The place then turned silent.

"Huh?"

"What? "

"This is a lie, right?"

Right there, Jayven stood strong as their boss lay dead on the ground, blood profusely spurting out of his body.

"You bastard!"

"Boss!"

"Your Dead!"

They then attacked as rage filled their minds. Then Jayven just casually dodged the attack as he gave his own as well.

"So what? You tried to do the same to me."

He then spoke to them in a menacing tone.

"Of course, we will have our own reputation to uphold."

"Then what does it have to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you. Were not wrong."

"Yeah, if someone looks down on us, we give them hell; that's our motto."

They still kept on attacking Jayvn like madmen, not wanting to lose.

"If that's how you see it, then I will give you hell."

Jayven then barraged them with multiple attacks, and not long after, all of the henchmen of his enemy were lying dead on the ground.

"I am just doing what I can here, and you guys came running in like you owned the place. Like heck, you're in the right"

Spitting out one last grievance, Jayven then fell down like a puppet with his strings cut.

"Huff, huff. It was insane to think that was possible." He muttered under his breath as he summoned his status.

"Shit to think reducing the effect of fatigue is possible, but the consequence is equally devastating: all my stats were lowered."

Just like what was depicted, his status decreased due to the effect of using his skill restraint to adjust his fatigue to its minimum capacity.

"I can't; my body hurts." As he was complaining of his pain, a strong tremor was arriving in their direction.

"Oh no." He exclaimed, looking at the monster rushing towards him.

And with a bam, He flew hard and far.

"KUhah...haaa....haaaaa... To think a Rhinocerous Boar would come." Jayven, with a bit of consciousness, looked at the Boar as it was rushing towards him again.

"Come!"

But this time he held on to its horns, and with a last-ditch effort, he unknowingly executed the second Technique of the Mountain Claw. Which was called Claw Crusher.

While holding the horn with his other arm to avoid getting thrown. He executed another attack with the other arm, in which the Boar roared in pain.

And due to it thrashing around, Jayven lost his grip and was slammed into a tree.

"That hurts.... ah.... I won't be able to stay conscious for long, damn it."

He was slowly losing consciousness until he heard footsteps.

'Huh? A person? I don't know who it is, but Please save me.'

Not long after, the place went silent, and Jayven lost consciousness. Not knowing the outcome.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two individuals came to the outskirts of Blossom City.

"Hmmm, so this is the place, huh?"

"Yes, and from the looks of it, they have people here."

"I hope the intelligence is right; if not, we are coming here for nothing. Hmmm?"

Suddenly, the two stopped in their tracks.

"Did you hear that?

"Yeah, I guess there is a dispute over there."

"Or more like a public execution. Let's go see it."

"I don't think eavesdropping is a good idea."

"I am just curious; plus, who can stop me?"

"You do have a point."

The two arrived at the battle between Jayven and his opponent, and then they saw the group of people surrounding them.

"Oh. It is a public execution."

"I feel bad for the kid; he is clearly at a disadvantage."

"Yeah, that guy seems to have skills related to strengthening his body. So even with a D-rank battle technique, he is able to overpower someone with a B- grade battle technique."

"Oh the kid's down."

"I guess that's it, huh? Let's leave."

"And here I thought you were going to help the kid."

"You don't have to worry; I think they are just going to beat him half-dead."

"Is that so? But that kid will suffer in the end."

"That's just how it is. Like what happened to me, if I don't show my worth, then I am worthless and nothing else."

"Yeah, master had that kind of tendencies, huh."

"Ruthless to others and to himself"

"You Bastard!"

As they were about to walk out of the place, they were caught by surprise by what happened.

"This?"

"What happened?"

"That's what I want to know."

Not long after the battle concluded with Jayven's victory. 

"This is it."

"Huh? What do you mean, this is it?"

"I found a substitute."

"Eh?"

Hearing that the woman with him was confused.

"Let's go."

"Hey wait."

As they were about to go and see Jayven, they were interrupted as a Rhinocerous Boar came ramming on Jayven.

"I didn't know this monster would attack directly."

"Yeah, wasn't it just watching early?"

"Anyway, I can't let the kid die."

But he wasn't able to get any closer when the Jayven suddenly executed an attack, instilling pain in the boar.

"Mana Intent? But he wasn't able to perform this earlier?"

"Who cares? Let's just save the kid for now." He then finished the Rhinocerous bull in a swift motion.

"Hey let me see the kid."

"You can't his unconscious."

"Oh okay. But to think I could find such a talent, I'm Really lucky.

"Don't tell him. You are going to groom him to be your successor."

"Yes, once that's done, I can finally quit.

"You really are crazy serious about this, huh?"

"Who wouldn't? This is my chance. After inheriting my master's position, I was loaded with work, and now I have to do this investigation thing."

"I guess you do have a point. But what about these bodies?"

"What bodies?"Just as he said, all the dead bodies vanished into thin air.

"Fine then."

The two then stopped their investigation and returned to the city.

-----------------------

"Ngh... I'm at the hospital again?"

This is the second time this year that Jayven woke up in a hospital, which is kind of weird since it was at least four months ago that he was here.

"Don't be like that; you will be seeing the hospital more than you visit a dungeon. If ever your future profession is to be a full-time hunter, that is."

A voice then suddenly woke him up from his daze. When he turned his head, he saw the person.

"You are?"

"Me? Let's just say I brought you here, and you owe me one."

Hearing that, he realized that he might have seen him fighting and that he could also be working with the Authorities.

"Oh sh*t, I'm not getting arrested, am I?"

"Hmm? You seemed distressed. Is something wrong?"

"Am I getting arrested?" Afraid of what would happen, he steeled himself and asked.

"Huh?" The man was confused, and moments later he laughed. "Ahahahahhaha."

"Eh?" His actions continued to confuse Jayven.

"No, no, kid, it's not like that."

"It's more like you did good, actually." Then came the sudden entrance of his partner.

"Huh, I did?"

"Yeah, those guys were criminals. From the looks of it, they committed many heinous crimes when the authorities weren't looking."