CHAPTER 77: [ YELLOW SPIKE ]

"What does that have to do with me?"

Alexander’s tone was full of accusations. Sunder raised both palms up with the devious smile that always suited him.

"He’s the definition of a walking nightmare. Truly. When you awakened as a Cultist I thought he might seek you out, come out of hiding, yet he still hasn’t made a single move. He’s sure to make one, he could use an ally, and there’s no better allies than a new cultist whose every move might bring him right into an endless pit of insanity."

"I have no plans on going insane," replied Alexander.

"I know. By now, Xcxul was already on the very edge of sanity. You’re doing a lot better, which is a relief. Every dungeon runner out there will see you under that light, Xcxul too. If we can convince the guild that you’re nothing like him, maybe they’ll cut you some slack. If they don’t, just become strong enough so that their opinion doesn’t matter."

The system appeared before Alexander once more, cutting through their conversation.

[ Level up! ]

[ Your stats have increased! ]

[ Your companions grow stronger! ]

Sunder frowned. "Again? How?"

"She’s able to clear two dungeons a day."

Sunder frowned, "Again, how?"

He then raised both eyebrows in realization.

"Really? Really?!" he said, with an accusatory tone.

Alexander ignored his comments, and got his phone out of his pocket.

"It’s almost time for my next match. So, I have nothing to fear from this Xcxul?" he asked.

A loud sigh exited Sunder’s lungs.

"Not with me around. I’m the one who forced him into hiding, after all."

Alexander shrugged, he never looked into that cultist, he was completely uninterested when the story broke out. This meant he couldn’t tell if that statement made Sunder look strong or not.

He was able to hold his own against the number one guild and he did it single-handedly. Not just against their guild master, Midas. Most of the main roster was present too.

His whole persona, and the way people interacted with him felt as if he might’ve been the strongest one around.

The way magic circles kept fluttering in his eyes looked ominous, paired with all this jewelry Brak said was necessary for him.

"I need to go," said Alexander. "But thanks for your help."

Alexander exited the room, Sunder waved goodbye while remaining on the couch, in thought.

The corridors weren’t as busy as earlier, half the day had already gone by.

Alexander opened his phone, a message from Silver was the first thing he noticed.

He tapped on it while walking toward the tunnel leading to the stages.

He slightly shook his head while reading the message.

[ We’ll win next time. ]

Right under it was a picture of the four of them. Tricia had a wide smile, her sweet expression bright while she held a peace sign up. Shah simply looked into the camera, her head held looking ahead by Silver. He was also holding onto Hunter’s head, yet clearly unable to force him to look into the camera.

He could see more people in the background, most likely guild members.

Alexander chuckled, before putting his phone back into his pocket.

He had entered the tunnel, he could see the light at the end.

He activated [ Witness of All Paths ], his sight instantly widening as his eyes turned into crosses.

He took a deep breath, then proceeded forward.

The cheers were loud, the moment he exited the tunnel he could hear all of them calling him.

"Cul-tist, Cul-tist," their chants loud and clear.

The very thing they all hated about him, chanted by the crowd who saw him fight earlier.

Not only did he recognize some of the faces—more had been added. The amount of spectators increased, something he never would’ve expected for an E-tier match.

He felt like one of those gladiators from ancient times, regarded as scum by everyone yet chanted like a hero in the arena.

"Heeeere he is, the sole member of the "Solo" guild, Veil!"

The announcer had a field day stirring the crowd into a state of pure anticipation.

"We saw his tentacles! Then we saw his chains! What will we see next?!"

Ignoring the loud voice coming out of the speakers, he calmly walked toward his stage. Next to the stairs leading up to it was Stella, smiling widely as she gestured him to go up.

"You took the potion?" she asked, once he was next to her.

"I didn’t."

She rolled her eyes, "Really?" she said.

"Its effects would persist during my match, wouldn’t that be cheating?" he asked.

She bit her lip, as if caught red-handed.

She whispered. "I wouldn’t have told anyone," she said.

He looked on top of the stage, where the next guild waited for him.

"Still, I wouldn’t need it," he said, going up the stairs.

He could hear the stomping increasing in intensity as he went up each step.

The referee was in the middle of the stage, accompanied by the announcer who was right by his side.

He wore a shiny gray suit that sparkled with the sun and his curly hair was so puffy it poked out from under his top-hat.

The moment he set foot on stage, the announcer closed the distance between them.

He could hear the echo of every word through the speakers, as he asked him meaningless questions.

"How are we feeling, Veil?" he asked.

He then turned to the crowd when Alexander stood silent.

"Our cultist isn’t a talker! You have anything to say to the public, this evening? They all stayed around just for you!"

Alexander glanced at the public, then at the opposing guild.

He leaned into the mic.

"I’m sorry you’ve waited for a match that won’t last long."

The crowd, rather than booing, went into a frenzy.

"Heard that! Our cultist said he will make quick work of the up and coming E-tier guild, Yellow Spike!"

The announcer stepped away, invited off the stage by the referee, but not without talking the whole way over.

The referee then approached the middle, screaming the same rules as the last fight.

Alexander’s focus was on the opposing team.

Six dungeon runners. Two casters, two tanks and two archers.

A perfectly balanced team.

They all stared at him, anxiously waiting for the match to begin.

With [ Witness of All Paths ], he could see everything clearly. Every twitch in the opposing team’s fingers was a future action waiting to unfold.

They were scared.

The referee took several steps back the moment he was done talking, raising his hand in anticipation of the buzzer ringing the start of the fight.

The moment it did, the six dungeon runners collapsed to the ground.

The whole stadium had gone completely silent.

As if everyone held their breath.