Understanding Oneself

As Key took the initiative to perform the technique, a name came to mind.

"Cleaving Imprint."

The words that left his mouth was followed by a flash of four crescent-shaped energy blades rushing through the air.

Bang!

Despite being a cutting attack, its impact was carried out like a thrusting strike. Once the results showed the mark left behind, the crowd went silent. This was especially true for the owners taking part in the bet against Ethia.

There on the clay boulder was a mark the same as the stone tablet. Of the two markings, it could be said that Key's was more profound than the other one.

The difference between the two was so far apart that, calling the stone tablet an amateur's work, was still being said politely.

Was there still a need to continue the first testing? Who could claim that their results would surpass that?

All of the tamed specks waiting for their turn, suddenly lose all drive to perform to their greatest abilities. What owner hadn't instructed them to aim for first place or else? This scene was the same as declaring a foregone conclusion to their punishments.

A small while ago, everyone agreed that the best course of action was to raise the betting price. And not only did they raise their offers, but some had even put their whole life savings on the bet. They and their families were finished if the sight they saw was real.

This thought process wasn't just a few, even Pierce was apart of the group regretting their decision. His case also was more sorrowful.

Seeing the chance to truly have Ethia dig her own grave before she was forced to run into his arms, he had bid the highest offer.

But, just having the highest offer didn't make this a real problem, it was the following condition that he and Ethia had on the side.

Each event would double the previous offer!

It was no longer just about him losing a little bit of money, if he didn't win the final event, that would be the real tragedy.

However, no one's shock could compare to how astounded Ethia was feeling. Unlike the others, she was the one who understood Key's abilities the most.

When they first met, he was only at the level of a three-star Adapter. Just fighting an average wild insect at the first level entry of being titled caused him to nearly die an early death.

But now, his level of comprehension left feelings of uncertainty. No matter how talented someone was, Adapters without titles had a limit to their intuition. Only by being titled could the true benefits of an Adapter start to show.

Before this, she had thought, given his abnormal potential, he could easily become a five-star Adapter in a single night with her help. She had this much faith in his talent.

But the difficulty of becoming titled was of a different matter. The final factor wouldn't be talent. Instead, will and ambition are what mattered the most. If these were lacking, no amount of talent would help in crossing over.

Was she still underestimating the young speck that she saw promise in? Did he really become titled?

...

Quickly, the old man in black robes regained his composure. There was no need to over think the scene before him. In fact, it was a good thing. This just showed that his Fang family would finally have a decent recruit.

As for the rest of the garbage outside of the city, he didn't hold much hope. If he came across more? Good! If not? Then it would be within expectations.

After being told to step down, what happened next was an angry group of owners barking and demanding their tamed specks to do better.

Some would be beaten harshly before being forced to outdo Key's performance. But in the end, the results were not surprising. A few performed well, but not at Key's level of well.

With such treatment being shown, Key's frown deepen. Although he was the type to let others handle their own problem, did he really feel that way?

His present and greatest ambition in life were to allow the human race to breathe. In Graden Country, as Ethia had told him the name, humans lived in fear of the surface and giant insect.

In the present country, that he stood, humans were treated as slaves. In both of these situations, he could only sit back and watch. Just like how he believed his true nature used to be.

Was it just the places he had visited so far? Or was the whole world like this? Did this mean in the future, the whole world would be an obstacle in realizing his ambition?

Just having Queen Widow as an obstacle to threaten his ambition, was already creating a great pressure on him. If it would be the world, his present way of doing things wouldn't work.

Instead of being defensive, he needed to be more aggressive and bold.

Since Ethia had yet to outright deceive him, her words of the Fang family being weaker than Queen Widow's kingdom should be true.

In this case, shouldn't he use this 'kingdom' to sharpen himself? It was already a place that would come in conflict with his goals because they believed in enslaving humans against their will.

This meant, there was no point in avoiding them. After all, it was always advised to take care of the weaker opponents when there were groups coming together.

"Alright, the second testing Adaption Crisis will be next. For those who passed, come up on the stage."

Hearing the old man in black robes, Key made his way to one of the stages. Feeling more relaxed than when he first showed up.

Since the Fang family insisted on helping him down his path, he would take all the benefits offered. If they could see reason and stop slaving his people, then good!

However, if they were too far gone in their ways, it wouldn't be too late to be ruthless after sucking them dry.