69th Struck

In the fighting section in the Adventurer's Guild, the arena was less crowded than either Team 6 expected. The arena is huge, the audience area could fit 2000. It was not completely full, but there were at least 50-90 or so people in there.

"Is it like this every day?" Basically asked.

"It will be filled in no time." Draila replied with a smile, "I asked around and apparently there is an event one hour or so later before us. Adventurers like us are very combative people, so the number of people that come to watch these events in the arena is always pretty big."

Marcel nodded while he and the rest looked around. As Draila said, the Adventurers were looking at the arena in excitement, shouting and cheering the two combatants currently in the arena, wanted to see the person's talent in battle.

To be honest, they were not very strong, just two E-rank Adventurers, Rank 3, one Axe wielder and one Spear wielder, but their fight was pretty intense. Both combatants clashed against each other repeatedly, using their weapons to hit their enemy.

Two E-rank Adventurers' Fight:

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Video Play: Supreme Duelist Stickman Animation : Spear vs Axe

Link: https://youtu.be/fmTk_AwXP_Y

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Witnessing the fight, Delirious couldn't help but smile in excitement. 

"That's awesome!"

"Do you want to participate against the Caeruleum Guardians?" Moo asked Delirious by his side.

Delirious did not reply. But the look in his eyes was enough for some of the members of Team 6 knows his answer.

"If Mr. Delirious wants to participate against my party, I would love to! Also, what do you guys think about participating in the event later?" She asked the group.

"Mm? What is it?"

"The big dungeon raid" Said Peter, "You can make two or three parties in an alliance and work together in the dungeon. Five different party of C-rank Adventurers and one B-rank adventurers cleared Floor 99, and in the next 2-3 days we will participate in the huge raid towards Floor 100 where it is concluded to be the most dangerous of all."

Like what Peter explains, the Dungeon Tower in the city consists of 100 floors, with each floor as stated to be as large as an entire world, and every 10 floors there is a 'Boss Floor' with a 'Guardian' as its boss. In fact, with each floor they cross, it will be more difficult, but boss floors on the other hand are harder. And with the Guild clearing the 99th floor and reaching the 100th floor next, god knows what dagers lay over there.

That's why everytime the Adventurers finally reach those levels, the Guild decides to send out thousands of Adventurers to raid because of how dangerous it is to go alone. There are rumors about an A-rank Adventurer who just went solo and cleared out the 90th floor 6 years ago.

Hearing her explanation, most of Team 6 especially Delirious lips curved up. They seemed pretty eager to try.

"What about you, Mr. Vanoss? Want to join in the fight?"Peter asked, this time looking at Evan.

"I'm alright, I prefer just to watch."

"Oh, I will join! I am up for some action" Delirious said excitement.

"Me too!"

"I guess It's Nogla, Delirious, and Wildcat."

"By the way, Miss Draila, is it not dangerous? Basically asked cautiously. No matter how he saw it, such duels could easily lead to death.

To his surprise even some of his friends, the silent Sokushi spoke out, "Although we Adventurers are very experienced in fighting, we in fact forbidden senseless killing. Therefore, despite there being tens of combats every day in the arena, we seldom have deaths. In fact, every fight is supervised by one or several people of a higher rank, and there are several Healing mages outside the arena waiting to treat the injured."

"Since when did the quiet kid speak? That is rather unexpected." Wildcat said, but also agreed to the Oni's words as it seemed true, so they nodded in understanding. They first expect this kind of place to be wild and uncultured.

In the end, Delirious, Wildcat, Nogla, Peter, Vinx, and Sokushi in two different groups that signed up to participate against each other.

What Team 6 knew about Sokushi, Vinx, and Peter is that people like Peter and Vinx were at the same rank as them, Rank 4, but Sokushi however is the only one that has the highest rank among them, Rank 5, just at the Master Realm.

"Alright, are you combatants ready?" The referee yelled out to the two parties, "In 3..."

Turning to Nogla and Delirious, Wildcat shouted, "Alright, you two! Nogla, you handle the quiet kid! Delirious, you take care of the midget! And I will take care of that furry!"

Hearing Tyler's words, Delirious and Nogla nodded.

"Are you guys sure you wanna do that? You might get killed, especially Vinx' artifacts." Peter spoke to the three.

"Yeah, I want you to be careful, my babies are pretty quite destructive." The pink headed female dwarf said.

"HAHA! We will see about that!"

"2....1.... GO!"

Immediately, Peter rushed at Wildcat at 600 kilometres per hour, as he pulled out his double edged sword, in response, Wildcat took out a random sword from [Gates of Babylon] and blocked the attack easily.

"Hmm, not half bad." Peter smiled. He jumped back and slashed at Wildcat again, but this time it's three times stronger than before as his combat movements surpass the sound barrier.

The reason is simple, he uses a skill called [Mana Burst], it multiplies the user's physical and magical capabilities by three times in 10 minutes. So that means Peter is three times stronger, nearly as strong as Sokushi or any Rank 5 individuals.

"Not bad at all! But still..."

[GIF]

"THAT IS SOME BORING ASS ANIME CLICHE YOU DAMN FURRY!"

BAM!

'Damn, thank goodness we half-beastmens have [Beast sense]' Peter thought as he dodge the attack in time.

[Beast Senses] was a trait unique to the beastmen or demihuman race, unlike any race like humans, it could be considered as their racial talent. All of them are naturally born with the passive skill, it's the real reason their race has more senses than humans. Wildcat isn't born as a beastmen but he becomes one in this world, which he got the skill without getting it.

While Wildcat countered Peter's attack, instead of getting mad, he smiles.

"You good, I like you."

"Bruh... that's gay. And we just met."

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"

"I know >:)"

Then without wasting time, they all charged at each other.

"HAAAAAAAAAA!"

"HAAAAAAAAAAA!"

[GIF]

"GO BACK TO THE FUCKIN' JUNGLE YOU BALOO'S BASTARD SON! HAAAAA!"

While the two beastmen were fighting, other adventurers looked at them with awe and astonishment.

"Dayum." One of them murmured.

"He could match with Peter even using [Mana Burst], making him the most strongest combatant than someone in his rank, and that pig beastmen is still keeping it up!" Another adventurer said, "I'm also curious about the new guy's skill to counter Peter."

Well... it's not more like a skill but Wildcat simply uses the good old affect potions.

Meanwhile in the battle between Delirious and Vinx.

Compared to Wildcat who is having fun, Delirious on the other hand has a difficult time.

"Oh shit!" Delirious cursed as he dodged another explosion. Another projectile came flying through and almost hit the mask man. He run around, screaming like a crow and tries to counterattack but the girl's weapon is pretty annoying.

"What the hell you have a fucking rocket launcher?!?!" Delirious exclaimed as he dodge another explosion.

"Yeah! I call her Suzi." The pink headed dwarf said as she raised an oversized six-barrel rocket launcher, the size of it was twice as big as her. Dwarves were naturally stronger and smarter than an average human which they could easily lift a 100 kg object while they were mere Rank 1.

As the girl finished reloading at incredible speed, she began to continue shooting Delirious with more rockets. The undead clown yelped and ran as he avoided the projectiles like dodging artillery.

The young Dwarf girl continues to fire rockets after rockets at Delirious, forcing him to run for his life while trying to think straight.

As he turned right, he then met three more rockets towards him.

'Ah, screw it!'

Without any choice, he pulls out a pokeball from his inventory and immediately throws it.

"Xavier Number 2, I choose you!"

As the ball dropped to the ground, a large figure appeared instantly, revealing the mighty Iron Golem himself, Xavier.

By the time the golem appeared, the three rockets hit the golem creating a large explosion that shook the building, but when the dust was cleared, it showed Xavier, didn't flinch as the rockets were pretty much ineffective against him.

First seeing the golem, Vinx lowers her weapon and her eyes sparkles by the time she sees the Golem.

"Very elegant! What is this beautiful contraption?"

"It's an Iron Golem 😐"

"I see, but he seemed no ordinary Iron Golem, he looks more special. I like to see what it's inside!"

Xavier: O_O;

"I don't think he won't like it." Delirious said angrily at the girl, clinging to Xavier's back, making seem like it was his property.

'I never expect there will be a woman of science in this fantasy world.' He thought.

"Hehehe, maybe later. But first. I like to check what its physical capabilities are!"

Putting her weapon down, she then takes out giant metal gauntlets as she wores it. 

[IMAGES]

"What do you think? These babies utilize magic and if this thing is on full power, it could shatter ten layers of Adamantite like paper!"

"Uh huh, good for you."

"Anyway... HAAA!"

Rushing towards the two, in response, the Golem rush towards her as well, both readying their fist.

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM

While the two continued to throw punches after punches at each other. Vinx says to the mask man with sparkles in her eyes not bothering the upcoming punches from the Golem

"Hmm, fascinating, it's strength is Variant! Mr. Delirious, your Golem is incredibly special, even if it does not have mana, it is still incredible. It has a skill that depends on the opponent!"

"Sometimes, I don't know how smart dwarves really are."

"Trust me, Mr. Delirious. Dwarf races are smarter than you think."

———————————————————————

"These two different Parties look to be evenly matched so far." Aline commented whilst staring at the arena in front of her. Instead of a happy little receptionist she was, her expression seems very cold and indifferent that will also shiver strong individuals including Demigods. Sitting beside her, the Guildmaster nodded his head in agreement.

"You're absolutely correct. The contestants seem to be perfectly matched at the moment. Whenever one of the two has the upper hand, the other quickly pulls out a new move to once again regain the upper hand."

Pressing both of his hands on the table, Guildmaster leaned forward to get a better look at the battle.

The Guildmaster of the 2nd Orazvil's Adventurer's Guild is a strong individual. Over in his mid 50s, he is a powerful Rank 9 at the Knight-Mage class.

"Alina. Who do you vote for to win? I shouldn't expect more on [Caeruleum Guardians] because I have no clue about the other opponent's capabilities."

"I would vote for the Banana Bus Squad, sir."

"Why is that?"

"...Just a guess."

———————————————————————

Back in the arena, Wildcat and Peter still continue to fight each other, Delirious and Xavier fight against Vinx, the view shifts towards Nogla fighting against Sokushi with his bladed katana, while Nogla tries to attacl him... with a diamond shovel.

"24! 25! 26! 27! 28! 29!"

'Why is he using a shovel as his weapon? And why is he kept counting every time he attacks?' Sokushi thought as he parries Nogla's attacks with ease, and decided not to even use half of his strength due to their levels and stats being far ahead.

The ninja also didn't understand what his opponent was doing. By the time the fight starts, he expects his opponent will be a challenge but he notices the first thing his opponent did was keep swinging his shovel at him but he easily blocks it. He just kept swinging and swinging and counting it. He didn't even use his skills! He began to feel envy on his Party members on how great their fight was except for him. He began to feel regret on choosing Nogla.

But before he would immediately finish his fight with him, his senses alerts him by the time Nogla does the 45th strike. 

But then that's where he notices, each swing Nogla uses, he feels his getting stronger and faster the more he strikes him.

By the time it reaches the 50th strike, his attacks are getting more fiercer, making Sokushi stumble abit, but Nogla doesn't stop, he gets even faster and stronger until it reaches the point where Sokushi has a difficult time to block each swing.

'What is this?'

'58! 59! 60!'

Now finally at the 60th, his attacks get worse! Sokushi realized he underestimated that dumb human! Before his attack and speed were equivalent to a <E+>, but now it became <D–> then to <D> in seconds, making him turn serious.

With a frown expression towards a surprise, to shock, then fear by the time Nogla was on the 68th strike!

'Fuck!'

With no other choice left, he uses one of his skills for the first time as tens of invisible strings come out of his body and head towards Nogla at deadly speeds. The strings were powerful that could cut metal like butter, but killing is forbidden so he would just hold back.

But his strings are an instant too late.

"69!'

When Nogla's voice sounded, the atmosphere in the entire arena changed.

It was as though a terrible monster had been released by the time he said that number, destined to bring destruction to all things, destined to give Arithmophobia to everyone in the world, and to bring everyone in the world to fear on a single number.

69

Instinctively, the strongest Adventurers in the audience immediately raise their guards. Even when the attack was not directed towards them, their instincts told them to protect themselves.

At the same time, the Referee's face changed.

"WAIT!"

But it was too late.

Under Sokushi's azure eyes, the 69th strike was used, the shovel bypassed all of his indestructible strings, broke through his mana defenses, cut through his skin, and pierced his bones.

The Oni did not even manage to react. Only his incredible senses told him that something was terribly wrong.

'Shit, I'm dead...'

But then-

BAM!

A hand appeared suddenly in the path of the Shovel's blade, grabbing it before it could go any further.

Then, the Guildmaster of the Guild grunted, clenching his hand and turning the wall of mana into a powerful mana storm that struck Nogla's shovel.

"Break!"

Instantly, his mana clashed with Nogla's shovel, quickly wearing him down until he was exhausted.

When he was done, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Nogla with a sharp gaze.

"Very impressive." He then smiled before noticing there was a drip of blood in his nose and grinned before looking at the audience.

"The match is over. It is a draw."

Only at that moment did the people in the stands react.

"Wait, what in the hell happened?" Draila could not help but ask, confused.

She only saw Nogla do his 69th strike at Sokushi. Then, the Guildmaster appeared in front of Sokushi and announced the match was over.

But in the next instant, the red headed Adventurer's eyes shrunk.

Because she saw that her friend was standing behind the Guildmaster with his body drenched in blood and his eyes opened wide in shock and disbelief.

And in his body, a long cut extended from his right shoulder, stopping just a few centimeters before reaching his heart.

A freaking shovel literally did that.

But then, she immediately remembers the skills she peek at the seven.

"I see... you guys really have some hidden power."

"True. We got that from a dead guy's house before I blew it to shit." Vanoss said from her side with a smile.

Draila was not the only one surprised. Most of the people in the audience including Vinx, Peter, even some of the members of the Banana Bus Squad could not understand what happened when Nogla swung his shovel down.

Only a few were looking at Nogla and his friends with a solemn expression.

"A group of monsters..." The leader of a party of C-rank Adventurers could not stop himself from sighing.

"Leader, what in the hell did he do?" One of his party members asked.

"I don't know.... However, if someday you have to fight him, you better not try to block his 69th swing."

"Huh?"

"I would be confident in beating him but whatever this man's skill is, I am not confident about blocking the last swing he just did, neither I will have to avoid it. But to tank it."

The member of his party opened his eyes wide in surprise. His leader, a powerful C-rank Adventurer says like that to a mere E-rank adventurer, not to mention he seems the most unintelligible than anyone in the guild. And his leader, the very same leader he worships, says it like that. Then, he looked at the young man and his friends in nervousness.

"I don't know who they are but they can't be underestimated based on their ranks and appearance. You should know that we live in a world full of talented people. Some people's talents are incredible and some are monstrous. In my experience, you should be fully aware of your opponent's strength, boy. Or you will face the consequences."