Chapter 132: FOUR EXAMINERS
The rumble of footsteps echoed as all 259 applicants made their way toward the fighting arena of the Hunter Guild. The path curved slightly, then opened into a massive, dome-shaped arena. Rows of seats were arranged in the gallery like a coliseum. It was used for training sessions, mock battles and in a time like this... a test ground.
Some walked with nervousness, others with eager spirits, while a few like Logan moved silently. Totally unnoticed.
When they all arrived, they saw four figures standing across the arena, keeping equal and considerable distance amongst themselves.
None of them looked ordinary.
On the far right stood a bulky man in dark brown armor with a huge axe resting on his shoulder. His armband shimmered with a glowing D, the D-class hunter.
To his left, almost 90–100 meters away, a tall woman with silver hair was standing with a long spear at the left corner of the arena. Her armband bore the letter C, a C-class hunter.
At close right, a man in his thirties was standing without any weapon. But his posture and face were screaming of danger. One look at him and anyone could tell, he wasn’t someone to pick up a fight with. His armband had A on it. A-class hunter.
And at the close left corner, a man in his forties was standing with two blades resting at his waist. His crimson cloak fluttered proudly. He didn’t have any armband. His presence didn’t feel scary like the A-class hunter as well. But there was something unique about him. No way to put it in words but just one look at him, and it was enough to tell that he was on a whole different league than the others.
As everyone was pouring into the fighting arena, one applicant’s eyes fell on him. And immediately, "What in the hell man, isn’t he the guild master, Ali? Ali Arkman? What’s he doing here in the arena?" someone asked with a horrified face.
One applicant placed a hand on his shoulder and said, "Don’t freak out. He isn’t here for small fries like us. From what I’ve heard, he always takes part in the test as an examiner, hoping to find other S-class hunters."
Many others also were murmuring. For many, Ali’s presence came as a shock, while many wanted to see him in action. After all, there were only three S-class hunters in the whole of Arcadia. Guild master of Hunter Guild, Ali Arkman, Noah Starwind, and John William from the court mage. John William retired as a hunter long ago and now only worked in the mages’ court.
Amidst the chatter and shock, Elizabeth walked to the center platform above the arena floor and raised a sound crystal to her lips.