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The One on Top – Part 02

“There are only eight candidates left in the Ruler’s Rumble Tournament! As is custom, every match from here on out will last much longer. Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready with your drinks and snacks?!”

The announcer’s voice bellowed from the loudspeaker. They were probably stalling until the start of the matches. The quarterfinals consisted of four matches held simultaneously in four rings. Hikaru, Jillarte, Selyse, Ryver, and Gerhardt would be in the arena at the same time.

I hope Jillarte isn’t too conscious of Gerhardt, Hikaru thought.

“I’m going to beat that Selyse lady for sure!” Jillarte said. “She was giving you this weird look. ‘Have we met somewhere before?’ She was clearly lying. Watch me win, Silver Face!”

She was very fired up. It was great that she had loosened up, but all Hikaru could manage was a hesitant, “Y-Yeah.”

“And now for your candidates!”

A staff urged Hikaru to step into the arena. After passing through a dark corridor, he was greeted by a tremendous cheer. It felt as if an invisible hand was pressing on his body.

“Next up in the arena is Silver Face, nominated by both the Ratmen and the Sinners. It’s hard to believe they were relatively unknown until now! In the first round, they crushed a member of the Lycanthropes, and in the second round, they showcased their ability to fight without relying on smokescreens!”

The host was speaking highly of him, but the audience didn’t share the same opinion.

“Dirty cheater!”

“Just lose already!”

“Ryver is gonna take you down!”

The crowd, hoping for a head-on, no-holds-barred match, showered him with boos.

If we’re talking cheating, Ryver is worse for attacking someone outside of the arena.

Perhaps the reason why Hikaru could remain calm despite the jeers was because he hadn’t revealed his face and name. He surprised even himself.

“Next candidate is the Rank A adventurer, Ryver!”

Amidst the loud cheers, a narrow-eyed man, carrying a massive bow on his back, slowly climbed up to the red ring to face Hikaru. He seemed calm as usual, but he emanated a hint of irritation and anger.

Ryver pointed at Hikaru. “There will be no gimmicks from you!”

He was far away, and there was much noise to hear what he said, but sensing that he declared something, the audience erupted in cheers.

Is he talking about the smokescreen? Hikaru wondered. I guess he’s saying he’ll defeat me without letting me use my smoke bombs. Can he shoot quickly or something?

Hikaru would’ve loved to see if Ryver could do quick draws like in those western films, except with a huge bow.

A Rank A adventurer, huh…

He was not to be underestimated. Considering that Selyse was Rank B, he might be able to pull off a couple of quick draws.

“Here comes our leader, Lord Gerhardt Vatex Anchor!”

The cheers were deafening. Gerhardt strode leisurely, while his opponent, a Beastman, seemed to have given up already. They were restless and fidgety in front of their revered leader.

Gerhardt stepped into the arena and threw a glance not in the direction of his opponent, but Jillarte. However, Jillarte was focused on Selyse, for better or for worse, and did not look in his direction.

“The candidates are all here! Who will win and advance to the semi-finals?”

The host was rousing the audience, but Hikaru could still hear Ryver.

“Silver Face,” he said. “You seem quite calm. Do you think I’m bluffing?”

Hikaru still couldn’t see Ryver’s Soul Board since he was more than five meters away. He decided that he would have to play this game.

“And you seem to be anxious, Mr. Rank A,” Hikaru replied. “I get it. You’re wondering how Jillarte is still alive after you shot her with a poisoned arrow. Am I right? The secret is the necklace around her neck.”

“…”

Ryver shot a glance at Jillarte. A quick one. But that was more than enough for Hikaru.

There was only one reason for Hikaru to tell such an obvious lie at this juncture.

“Why, you…!”

By the time Ryver realized that he was tricked, it was too late.

Hikaru had already activated his Stealth.

“Let the quarterfinals of the Ruler’s Rumble Tournament begin!”

The gong sounded.

The fights began.

---

For Hikaru, the most dangerous thing was for his Stealth to be ineffective. In a public venue like an arena, Stealth was completely useless—normally, that is. He could still use it against someone who lost sight of him even for a brief moment.

All Hikaru needed was for Ryver to look away from him briefly. Then once he had his Stealth on, Ryver would have difficulty sensing him. Hikaru’s body would blend into the air as if he were wearing an optical camouflage suit. This would buy him time to use a smoke bomb.

As soon as the gong sounded, Ryver nocked an arrow to his longbow, but he had lost sight of his opponent. Hikaru dashed to the side and threw a smoke bomb at Ryver’s feet.

“Oh! Silver Face has put up a smoke screen like he did in the first round! Smoke engulfs Ryver! A desperate situation!”

The audience booed, but Hikaru ignored them.

“Shit!” Ryver cursed.

All that was left to do now was close in on him.

“Just kidding.”

Hikaru, about to plunge into the smokescreen, came to a sudden stop.

Wind swirled around Ryver, flapping Hikaru’s cloak. It seemed like a small tornado, blowing away both the smoke and the smoke bomb.

“There you are.”

Ryver had his bow aimed at Hikaru.

“What a turnaround! Ryver creates a wind to counter the smokescreen!”

The audience burst into a wild roar.

“I told you. No gimmicks,” Ryver said.

“I see. You’ve had plenty of time to come up with a countermeasure.”

“Even now, I’m having a really difficult time perceiving you. What kind of magic item are you using?”

Hikaru’s Stealth remained active. And he was within five meters of Ryver.

【Soul Board】Ryver
Age: 28 | Rank: 49 | 16

【Vitality】
【Natural Recovery】2
【Stamina】5
【Immunity】
【Magic Resistance】1
【Disease Immunity】1
【Toxin Immunity】1
【Perception】
【Sight】1
【Hearing】2

【Strength】
【Muscle Strength】8
【Weapon Mastery】
【Bow】5

【Agility】
【Power Burst】1
【Flexibility】1
【Balance】2
【Stealth】
【Life Cloaking】2
【Mana Cloaking】1
【Imperceptibility】1

【Dexterity
【Dexterity】3

【Willpower】
【Faith】
【Holy】4

【Instinct】
【Instinct】6
【Intelligence】
【Language Comprehension】1
【Memory】1
【Detection】
【Life Detection】3
【Expanded Detection】1

Ryver had 3 points in Life Detection and even 1 point in Detection Expansion. His Soul Board was ridiculously good against Stealth. What’s more, he had 6 points in Instinct, making him just as formidable as Lawrence.

Still, he’s not all that. In terms of plain combat capabilities, the Four Eastern Stars’ Sara is better than him. But she’s only Rank B while Ryver’s Rank A. He used a magic item to blow away the smokescreen, and he thinks my Stealth is related to a magic item. His fixation on magic items might be the key. I still don’t know why he targeted Jillarte.

Even with an arrow pointed at him, Hikaru was calmly analyzing the situation. The fact that Ryver did not immediately shoot the arrow indicated some sort of agenda.

“This arrow has a flattened tip,” Ryver said, “but it could still kill you.”

“Killing your opponent is not allowed,” Hikaru rebutted.

“Ah, but accidents happen. You know what I mean, right? You give me the magic item that conceals your presence, and I spare your life. A simple deal.”

I get it now, Hikaru thought. Ryver believed that Hikaru’s Stealth was the effect of some magic item, and he wanted it.

You can have it, then.

“Okay,” Hikaru said. “I value my life too. The magic item is the dagger on my back. It has a unique shape, and it grants its owner the Blessing of the Stealth God.”

“I see…”

It was enough to pique Ryver’s interest.

“What’s this? Ryver is not shooting. What does this mean?! Is there a back-and-forth going on that an amateur can’t see? This must be a tactic employed only by masters!”

The host was trying to hype up the audience, though he was completely mistaken. The audience were murmuring in wonder.

“Put up a smokescreen again,” Ryver said.

“What?”

“Leave the magic item inside the smoke. I’ll pick it up, and you move out of the ring.”

“I see. So you want it right here and now.”

“I don’t want you using it to escape.”

Very thorough, especially when it comes to getting what he wants.

“Just so we’re clear, no funny moves,” Ryver warned. “This magic item can create wind multiple times.”

Ryver grinned boldly, convinced of his victory.