Extreme Hatred (Part 1)

"Why are all the faction masters and Elders so focused on this last match?" a youth whispered to the boy beside him.

Both were adventurers from the Burning Heaven Sect. They couldn't understand why this particular fight—Finn and Ashe of the Soaring Seven versus Tiffanya and Hyon of the Ice Seven—was commanding such overwhelming attention.

"I don't know either," his companion murmured back. "I mean, it's just a match between young Adventurers. But the way the Elders are watching it…it's like they care more about this than Gerould and Azur's fight."

"Hmph."

The boys stiffened.

"You two think I'm deaf?" their Elder snapped, glaring daggers at them. "Every senior Adventurer here is interested in that boy. His true strength is still a mystery to all of us—that's why we're watching this so closely."

The two boys turned their gazes to Finn, confusion deepening.

"Mystery? But Elder," one of them ventured hesitantly, "aren't you an 8th Level Profound Rank? Shouldn't it be easy for you to sense his real level and rank? He's just another young adventurer like us. I'm sure he's not a Profound Rank."

The woman's eye twitched. A vein pulsed in her temple.

"You—!"

With a resounding smack, she cuffed them both on the head.

"Just what do you know?! This generation is the most remarkable in the kingdom's history! Talented Adventurers are emerging everywhere. And you think it's impossible for a youngster to reach Profound Rank?!"

The two clutched their heads, eyes brimming with tears. In their hearts, they felt like victims of senseless violence.

"Ha ha ha. Elder Silvia, you really do lose your temper over the smallest things." Netero chuckled from a short distance away. "You must try to be patient with them. They're still young—they don't know much about the world yet."

"…My apologies for my behavior, Sect Master Netero," Silvia muttered, face flushed.

"Ho ho ho. Look—those four have stepped onto the field," Netero said, his voice tinged with anticipation. "Now we'll see what that boy can really do."

On the arena floor, Finn and Ashe faced Tiffanya and Hyon.

Finn alone wore a crooked, almost taunting smile. Tiffanya glowered at him, unable to hide her resentment.

"So, we meet again, Tiffanya," Finn greeted lightly.

Her lips curled in disgust.

"It was my greatest mistake not killing you the first time we met," she spat. "But now that we're here, even if I can't take your life…I swear I'll repay the humiliation you gave me!"

Finn didn't look offended at all. His smile only widened, sly and infuriating.

"Do you really think you can take me on your own?"

Tiffanya froze.

Her level had just advanced yesterday—she knew perfectly well she still wasn't his equal.

"You're forgetting I'm here too," Hyon cut in coldly.

Finn turned his gaze on Hyon, let out a short, amused laugh, and said nothing.

Hyon felt his blood boil.

"What's so funny?!"

"Even with both of you together…" Finn replied calmly, "it won't make any difference."

Both Tiffanya and Hyon flushed scarlet with rage.

This was the first time anyone had dared to mock them to their faces so openly.

Their entire lives, they had been praised—celebrated for their talent and lineage. But this boy…

He gave them nothing but disdain.

"You arrogant bastard!" Hyon roared.

In a fluid motion, he summoned an azure sword from his interspatial ring.

Tiffanya mirrored him, summoning a whip radiating a cold, crystalline light—both weapons exuded the unmistakable aura of Top-tier Rare Armaments.

Ashe reached for her own ring, but Finn's hand shot out, stopping her.

"I want to fight them alone," he said evenly, his voice low but resolute. "Consider this…a debt I owe you."

Ashe met his gaze, searching his eyes. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped back, leaping away from the center of the field.

She didn't care about any so-called "debt."

She knew about the hatred Finn carried for Tiffanya and the Nine Ice Family.

If he wished to settle it himself—she would not interfere.

Besides…

She trusted that he could do it.

Gasps swept through the stands as the spectators realized Finn would take them on alone.

But as they watched his face, most understood: this was no simple duel.

This was something much deeper.

Tiffanya and Hyon lunged.

The whip cracked through the air, the sword arced down in a savage swing. Any 5th Level Scarlet Gold Rank struck by either blow would be crippled on the spot.

But before the attacks could connect, Finn's figure vanished.

The whip and blade cleaved through empty space.

The entire stadium fell silent.

When Finn reappeared, he was standing calmly in front of them, smiling.

"Having trouble seeing me?" he asked mildly. "I'm right here."

Tiffanya's eyes flew wide. She and Hyon leapt back instinctively, summoning their soulforce in a rush.

Their auras flared higher, their movements sharpening as they charged again—this time faster, more precise.

Again and again they struck, but every attack was effortlessly dodged.

"Is dodging all you can do?!" Tiffanya shrieked.

Finn's smile didn't waver.

His form flickered—and then he was gone again.

Tiffanya's pulse spiked as she felt a breath against her ear.

"Of course not," Finn murmured playfully.

She whipped around and punched blindly—but he had already slipped away.

The next instant, she saw him standing in front of Hyon.

Hyon was on his knees, clutching his stomach, screaming in agony.

Finn watched him impassively, smiling as though nothing were out of the ordinary.

"Hyon!" Tiffanya cried, her composure shattering.

She lashed out again, whip cracking—but Finn moved like smoke, too quick to catch.

He closed the distance and seized her throat in one hand.

He lifted her effortlessly off the ground.

His eyes were ice.

"How does it feel…to be helpless?" he asked, voice low.

She clawed at his wrist, struggling for air. No sound came from her lips.

Cold Slash!

A sharp burst of cold energy swept toward Finn.

He released her just before the attack struck.

He dodged lightly aside as the frozen blade carved a gouge into the arena floor, shards of ice scattering.

For a heartbeat, no one in the stadium dared breathe.

Was this really a fight between equals?

It looked more like a predator toying with prey.

"Is that all?" Finn's voice carried clear across the field. "If this is the best you can manage, you have no chance."

Hyon clenched his jaw.

How…?

How could he be so powerless?

How could this boy—this nobody—be so far beyond him?

Beside him, Tiffanya forced herself upright, her expression dark and twisted with hatred.

Did she truly have no hope of defeating the man she despised most?

Was surrender all that remained?

No—

She couldn't accept that.

She couldn't accept that an adventurer from some insignificant clan could humiliate her this completely.

Watching her, Finn's grin widened as he sensed her aura intensify.

"Oh? You're standing again," he observed calmly. "Good. It would be disappointing if you gave up now."

No one moved as Tiffanya's cultivation rose—step by agonizing step—until she reached the 6th Level Scarlet Gold Rank.

Half an hour passed.

Not a single spectator left.

They could only watch, silent witnesses to her desperation.

When it was done, Finn inclined his head.

"Come on, then," he said softly. "Show me what you've gained."

Ice Empress Lashes!

With a defiant scream, Tiffanya charged. Her whip became a blur, lashing over and over—but even now, she couldn't touch him.

Heavy Slash of Ice Emperor!

Hyon followed, sword sweeping down.

This time, Finn didn't dodge.

A black sword materialized in his hand as he met the attack head-on.

He caught Tiffanya's whip in his other hand and wrenched it free—hurling her bodily across the arena.

She hit the wall with a sickening crack and slid to the ground.

Then Finn drove a foot into Hyon's stomach.

Hyon folded over, gasping and choking as he rolled away.

The crowd watched in a horrified silence.

Wasn't this enough?

Shouldn't Helbram stop it already?

Every member of the Ice Feather Sect sat frozen, faces dark with humiliation and rage.

Even Sheeha's expression was grim—she could do nothing to intervene.

High in the stands, Noah and Marcus watched soberly.

They were proud of Finn's power.

But there was sorrow in their eyes as well.

Because nothing was more humiliating than being toyed with in front of the entire kingdom.

And this humiliation would not fade quickly.

On the arena floor, Finn returned his black sword to his ring.

He bent to pick up Tiffanya's discarded whip.

[???]

Armament Grade: Rare

Quality: Top-tier

Damage: 1079

"A fine piece of craftsmanship," he remarked as he examined it. "Your Nine Ice Family must be very wealthy to give you something like this."

Slowly, he walked toward where she sat slumped.

He coiled the whip in his hand, his steps measured and unhurried.

Tiffanya forced herself to sit up, her breath ragged.

Finn crouched before her, their faces only inches apart.

"Do you still want to continue?" he asked quietly.

"You…you're just a worm from an Ordinary Clan…" she rasped. "I'm from a Noble Clan! You're nothing—nothing—compared to me!"

Finn didn't look angry.

He only laughed—soft and taunting.

"Have you never considered, Tiffanya," he whispered, "that the 'nobody' you look down on…could kill you any time he wished?"

His gaze locked with hers as he slowly caressed the handle of her whip.

"Hah!" she spat. "You think I'm afraid of your threats? Kill me if you dare!"

A dangerous smile curved his lips.

"No," he murmured. "I can't kill you. The rules won't allow it."

His voice dropped to a chilling softness.

"But you know…I can show you a suffering worse than death."