—


    Due to the third contestant backing out, the atmosphere in Kieran’s portion of the tform grew incredibly tense.


    After exhausting all of the Hunt stacks numerous times, he could no longer acquire them from his surroundings.


    However, Kieran found sce in the remaining duration increasing to over 600 seconds. That meant he had 10 minutes remaining on his Predatory Form.


    Considering his opponent’s strength, he needed every advantage he could im if he didn’t wish to waste skills like Dread Culling and Deranged Spirit.


    Zerim stood before Kieran, wearing a set of armor the color of mes. The sleek design offered the best mobility armor could provide, and the color wasn’t too obnoxious, instead giving insight into Zerim’s presence.


    The colorwayplemented Zerim’s features well.


    His scarlet eyes shone with subtle confidence as his gray hair swayed across his face. His fingers danced across the handle of his silver broadsword. The blunt design specialized in destructive force rather than slicing like normal longswords or greatswords.


    「Lv.50 Zerim Ignis, The Torrential me (Epic NPC)


    ss: me Razer


    Health: 28,900,000/28,900,000 (100%)


    Affiliation: ?War Deity Council? 」


    ‘Level 50,’ Kieran thought to himself. His grip on Crimson Ashrune subconsciously tightened due to Zerim’s level. Lv.50 indicated a special state for denizen Intermediate Beings; it was the intemediary threshold.


    Unlike yers, an NPCs level wouldn’t change without firstpleting their advancement.


    In this regard, Kieran was more simr to an NPC and not a yer, thanks to his Zero Loss of Potential trait. It acted as a toggle switch to switch his leveling experience from that of a yer to that of an NPC.


    It had its drawbacks, but it also possessed immense benefits.


    Although he could no longer obtain Unassigned Attribute Points or Skill Points due to his frozen level, it gave him timeplete tasks that most yers would otherwise forget if their level surpassed the permitted range.


    With a frozen level, Kieran’s Experience would be stored in a pool forter ess while he continued with his normal activities. And despite the temporary loss of UAP and SP, all hopes weren’t lost for Kieran.


    He was well aware of a few extraordinary sources. For example, one could obtain the First Clears of more Dungeons or obtain the Firstblood of superior bosses. His path to additional points without leveling up wasn’t sealed as long as he could fulfill the criteria.


    After falling silent for a few seconds, Zerim was the first to speak. “You’re the inheritor of Commander Scar’s power, right?”


    “I am,” Kieran nodded.


    Zerim’s expression remained unchanged while subtly nodding. “I will admit, I can’t disregard you—you’re strong. Despite your low level, which tells me you have yet to reach the pinnacle of our stage, you have continued to shock many people—myself included.”


    “I appreciate the praise,” Kieran calmly remarked.


    He could sense confidence but, most of all, pragmatism from Zerim. Scar had alerted Kieran of a few people beforehand, and Zerim was one of them. While he was unfamiliar with Zerim’s character, Scar stressed that his strength should be irregr for his level.


    Why? Because the Ignis Family possessed a background simr to Scar’s, their power came from a source. It was incredibly diluted, but it was an authentic draconic bloodline.


    Even though it thinned over the generations, even the slightest bit of dragon blood, particrly a me Dragon, was enough to increase an individual’s affinity with the Fire Element by leaps and bounds.


    However, the Ignis Family’s bloodline didn’t just increase their me affinity; it tampered with their tempers as a side effect. But from what Kieran witnessed, this side effect was lost upon Zerim.


    Contrary to Scar’s warning, Zerim exhibited some of the highest control over his emotion he’d ever seen. Perhaps in Zerim’s case, he was affected by the inverse effect.


    Many bloodlines carried side effects but also an infrequent inverse effect that would awaken sparsely throughout the generations.


    Zerim’s control was the source of Ezrath’s confidence. Zerim aplished what he never could, subjugating the innate mes of being a quasi-Dragonborne. With his potential, Ezrath estimated Zerim would at least be a future General within the War Deity Council.


    “I will not dissuade you from fighting me. But, I want to warn you that I won’t be holding back. Should you suffer damage, it is not my fault. I have forewarned you,” Zerim said.


    After speaking, the austere broadsword in his hand became engulfed in mes. Once the mes dissipated, the broadsword adopted a red sheen with several scales across the de.


    The handle changed to match the horns of an infant dragon, one that bestowed a presence of superiority. A ribbon of mes danced around Zerim as he immediately prepared for battle.


    “In a battle, the one who is dissuaded is one of broken confidence. The moment you lose your confidence is the moment you lose the battle,” Kieran said.


    Like Zerim, a ribbon of blood swirled around Kieran’s body as he slowly lifted Crimson Ashrune


    “I agree with your views,” Zerim said with a slight smile.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    Bang!


    Their swords met in the middle of their isted stage. The exchange happened swiftly, but neither side retreated.


    “Sanguine shes!”


    ng! ng! ng!


    Kieran and Zerim exchanged attacks at a frightening pace. Despite the size of theirrge weapons, they were wielded as if they were simple longswords.


    A destructive strength flowed through Kieran’s arm as he noticed something unusual about Zerim’s striking pattern. During every swing, a subtlebustion elerated the movement, thereby greatly increasing the force of his swing.


    ‘A skillful application of his Fire Element to increase the destructiveness of a simple sword swing. I’m beginning to understand the reason for his ss. As for his title….’


    Kieran analyzed the ribbon of thickening mes that swirled around Zerim’s body. The gradual increase of his mes made Kieran assume arge strike was bound to ur.


    “mes of Subjugation: Descending Raze,” Zerim said calmly.


    The angle of his sword attack shifted, creating the image of a ming beast. The beast’s presence wasn’t the focus of this technique; the true focus was the ws of the beasts—sharpened and giant, made to resemble the weapon in Zerim’s grasp.


    “Ordinance of Protection!”


    Kieran activated the Item Ability attached to the Shaman’s Bracelet of Ordinance. It only sufficed for one attack, but Kieran rushed through the aftermath of the mes with the ability’s protection.


    ‘A truly difficult opponent. I’ve yet to ce a single Bleed stack upon him despite the disparity in our speed,’ Kieran thought.


    Due to the passives in y, Kieran’s Attack and Movement Speed surpassed Zerim. However, his adept usage of his Fire Element filled the gaps in their speed. If used properly, any element could produce unquestionable superiority.


    Although it wasuded for its capacity to destroy, the Fire Element could be utilized in various ways. Zerim’s method of applying the Fire Element was merely one of many.


    During times like these, Kieran disliked hisck of an Element. Even if it didn’t make a significant difference damage-wise, the auxiliary properties were too great to ignore.


    ‘Unfortunately, outside paths that intersect with Mages, naturally acquiring an element is extremely difficult. If I meet with Agrianos soon, I should ask him how he aplished such a thing,’ Kieran thought to himself.


    A secondter, he stepped to the side and Zerim’s attack.


    “I can see your mind traveling elsewhere during the battle. That is a sore mistake.”


    Kieran’s eyebrow arched as he felt this situation wasughable. ‘Oh? I’m being schooled in the ways ofbat?’


    The light in Kieran’s eyes changed, bing deeply focused. The sudden switch of demeanor surprised Zerim, but it was nothing abnormal in his eyes. Zerim had fought against several people of extremebat ability.


    As long as he kept his cool, Zerim felt he could overwhelm Kieran. He had noted Kieran’s Mana usage, or rather theck thereof. He perceived this as a direct sign that his Mana capacity was sub-par.


    ‘I’m sure Commander Scar has taught him destructive techniques. But, the fact he hasn’t revealed them means his sights are set on the future. Unfortunately, I will make you reveal them. We should all know the extents of our strength before attempting the impossible.’


    “I can tell you desire to go far. But that is impossible without the prerequisite strength. We must suffer through grueling circumstances to even consider the notion of standing above all,” Zerim said.


    Kieran’s eyes narrowed as he sensed a hidden meaning in Zerim’s words. ‘Is he saying I can’t emerge victorious?’


    As someone who defied odds once before, Kieran felt Zerim’s opinion was incorrect. In Kieran’s eyes, while strong, Zerim wasn’t an obstacle that could stop his inevitable uprising.


    “me Practice: Razing Torrent,” Zerim called out.


    Zerim drew back his sword with his arms crossed. After drawing his weapon back far enough, the de ground against his armor, creating a spark that grew into an outrageous me.


    A secondter, Zerim released the attack with a thrust of his broadsword.


    The torrent of mes engulfed more than half of the stage, robbing Kieran’s ability to evade the attack. If he wanted to deal with it, he would have to use a skill of simr power.


    Based on the me’s intensity, this attack rivaled an A Rank Skill or an exceptional B Rank Skill at the very least.


    ‘Trying to leave no way out for me? Unfortunately for you….’


    Kieran lifted his palm as his body exuded an imperious aura. “I am known to make a way even when the odds seem impossible.”


    Bang!