Chapter 395: Competition: Warrior Mode (2)
The so-called high-profile warrior of the evening was another Refined Knight but with a ranking in the Challenger Hall. Not the top ten of course.
’He is ranked nineteen,’ Hex watched his opponent circle the battle stage as the announcer revealed his rank and achievements. ’I get the appeal of having a rank, though.’
Hex felt bored watching him prance around but others enjoyed it, apparently. The crowd cheered even louder than they had done for their local champion. Having a rank proved to the crowd that the person before them was capable.
They had not cheered when it had arrived at the stage. In fact, he was met with stares, silence aside from a few murmurs, and almost palpable distaste.
’They didn’t boo me at sight. That counts for something, I hope.’ Hex thought wryly at his own experience. He didn’t expect to gain a fan following right off the bat but he did expect some people to cheer for him. ’I guess I just have to defeat this one.’
Mark, the rank nineteen challenger, didn’t feel any stronger than Harold had been. If Harold had fought Mark, it would indeed have been a good match. The crowd would have been entertained. Alas, Hex appeared.
"I heard you defeated my intended opponent with a single punch," Mark said when called to the center by the referee. Hex detected a bit of mockery laced in his speech. "I guess you will make a better punching bag than that old guy."
"You look the same age, though," Hex said, genuinely confused. The graying sideburns, the starting traces of wrinkles around the eyes, everything pointed at Mark being a middle-aged man himself.
"I am not!" Mark snapped. "I am younger. Eleven months."
"That isn’t mu–," Hex countered but was interrupted.
"Shut it. You think you are a big deal because you managed to knock someone out? Or do you think the High Elder will protect you here? Let me tell you something, I am here to show you that you are nothing. N-O-T-H-I-N-G."