Chapter 201: Scuffle
A group of Red-Eyes members blocked our way. There were about five of them, each grinning and smirking at us.
"What do you want? Go away," I told them. I was not in the mood to make new friends. Though I already knew their intention.
"I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to this fat guy. Hey, how did you get S-rank with that body? Did you buy it? Your family must be rich as hell," Colton said as he stepped in front of Bob. He was tall with a bulky build. Tattoos covered his arms and chest, exposed beneath his leather shirt.
Looks like people still misunderstand fat people as someone from noble origins. But when I think about it, I haven't seen any other fat people in this world. And another thing, it seems the other guilds already have information about Bob having S-rank. They really know how to gather intel.
"So what's your problem? Is there something wrong with me having S-rank? Are you guys jealous?" Bob stepped forward, closing the distance with Colton. They were wrong if they thought we would back down easily from insults, especially from crooks like them.
"Kikiki. Looks like they're not scared of you, Colton. Let's show them they'll regret messing with us," one of them said. It seemed Colton was the leader of the group.
"You're the ones who started it!" I replied.
Crack! Crack!
Colton cracked his neck and fingers.
"Let me tell you this before I teach you a lesson. I'm Colton, an A-rank member of Red Eyes. And I'll be participating in Last Man Standing. I know an S-rank like you will focus on Solo or Group Battle, so let me have a taste of your power."
Bob was about to step forward, but I grabbed his shoulder and pulled him behind me.
"What are you doing, Alan? Don't stop me."
"No. Let me handle this. This comes at the perfect time. I need something to vent right now."
"Huh, it's pretty rare for you to get angry like this." Bob gave a sarcastic smile.
"Huh? Who are you?" Colton looked at me with a condescending gaze.
I looked up at him and smirked. "I'm a G-rank adventurer."
"Hahaha! G-rank? Is this guy a joke?"
All of Colton's friends burst into laughter. Colton himself struggled to hold his.
"A G-rank dares to face me? Fine. Let me wipe that smirk off your face!"
Immediately, Colton drew back his right fist. A magic item materialized, forming a large spiked knuckle. As he pulled his arm back, the air shifted, dragged along with his movement. It showed just how powerful and fast he was.
But I wasn't scared. Bob and I had faced far more terrifying monsters. To me, this guy was just another mob. That was what I thought.
Colton threw his punch as fast as he could. As his swing completed, he expected my face to be covered in blood. But he was wrong.
Pang!
A sharp metallic sound echoed through the area. Colton stared at me and saw Indra blocking his knuckle.
'He blocked my attack?! ' Colton's eyes widened in shock.
I smirked as I looked at him. "Is this all an A-rank can do? Even a goblin can strike harder than that."
"What?! How dare you?" Veins bulged on Colton's forehead.
Colton's friends were also shocked. They knew how powerful his punches were. A boss monster could be smashed to oblivion by his attack. Yet a G-rank had blocked him so easily.
Bob nodded, acting like a proud coach.
But in reality...
My hands… I couldn't feel my hands! How tough is this guy actually? If I had been even a second late, I would've been done for.I really regretted facing him right now. But if I ran, I would only tarnish my guild's name even more, and it was already low enough.
Colton pulled back his other hand and continued attacking me relentlessly. Every strike was blocked by Indra, but I could feel the sting in my arms each time I took the hit.
Suddenly, Colton brought both his fists together and raised them as high as he could.
Not good! I can't block that kind of attack.
Looks like I don't have a choice but to use the new skill I got from Jahrakal. The situation is getting out of hand. Even Bob was ready to step in.
However, just an inch before I slammed my right hand onto the floor to activate Claw Burst Eruption, a figure suddenly appeared between us and pushed both of us away.
I barely managed to steady myself from the force. When I looked ahead, I saw a man in a monk's robe, with long hair and narrow eyes. He looked like someone from East Asia back in our world.
"Shim! Why are you stopping us?" Colton shouted. It seemed he knew this Shim guy. He must be from the Red-Eyes guild as well. Reinforcement?
"Guildmaster Gabriel already warned us not to cause a scene during the tournament. Do you want your place in the team stripped away? There are dozens waiting to replace you," Shim said with a smile.
"Tch! Let's go, guys." Colton backed down and walked away with his group. Shim then turned to us.
"I apologize for their actions. What they did does not represent our guild."
"It's… okay. No problem," I replied.
"Well then, I will take my leave. I hope your guild can provide a good competition in this tournament." Shim's body dissolved into a red, liquid-like form before vanishing.
"I don't like that guy's smile. It's eerie," Bob said.
I nodded. There was something unsettling about that Shim.
Suddenly, I felt something wet on my hand. I looked down and smelled it.
"Blood?!" A scent I would never mistake.
"Is it yours?" Bob asked.
"No. It's not. It must be from that Shim guy."
A chill ran down my spine. At that moment, I prayed that I would not meet him in the tournament.
But fate had other plans for me.