Quickly Rising

As Asher dispersed his Spirit Aura, lowering his arm after firing off his Omni Striker Skill, he indifferently watched Firestorm's corpse go rigid for only a brief second.

No blood, guts, or any horrifying fluids sprayed out Firestorm. Instead, there was only a wide-open hole of where Firestorm's chest was supposed to be.

When looking into the hole he carved in, Asher only saw uniquely blue-colored steam flowed out of it.

'So it increased this much, huh….'

Asher mused as he observed that his Omni Striker Skill fried all organs inside Firestorm's chest into a burnt crisp. His second time killing, yet Asher was indifferent as ever, really only thinking about how stronger his Battle Skill is.

Although, Asher could admit Firestorm's current image was quite dreadful, to put it lightly. While there wasn't any blood spewing out, Firestorm's steaming corpse was haunting to gaze upon.

Just like with Dragon Grass, Asher's prowess was far too overwhelming, causing Firestorm's mask to get smashed apart from the aftermath.

And revealed to Asher and the whole audience's gazes was a gaze of absolute horror upon a dead man's face. It was like before he died, he had just witnessed a terrifying nightmare.

Even before death, Firestorm couldn't fully comprehend what had just happened. His last ever thoughts frantically revolve around this mysterious, terrifying figure named Ghost.

Firestorm's mind collapsed in itself in the face of Asher's overwhelming prowess.

There was only a single second of utter silence that permeated throughout the entire underground arena. Nobody moved, and all eyes were squarely on Asher.

To any onlooker, it would look like everyone had wholly frozen in time.

Only one emotion ran through the surrounding audience members; utter disbelief!

Right then, in the midst of everyone's minds recovering from a tremendous collective shock, Firestorm's corpse suddenly slumped backward.

A resounding sickening thump sounded in the whole entire underground arena as Firestorm's charred corpse crashed onto the stage. The haunting impact of death seemingly awoke the audience out of their trance.

But not in the way Asher expected them to react.

"Amazing! In only just one move! I can only count on my fingers how many times I have seen this happening!"

"That simply wasn't even a match….just a straight slaughter!"

"Is this truly the prowess of a Peak Early Stage warrior?? He has to be a Mid-Stage! Just who this guy?!"

Truth be told, despite the audience going wild, their reactions genuinely weren't over-exaggerated at all.

The prospects of System's Soul cultivators fights are incredibly complex and complicated to determine most of the time. Unless one is challenging someone above their level, it would be difficult, if ever, to see someone ending a match within one move.

The only way that could ever happen is if one of the people fighting was quite literally someone who had just recently awakened their System Soul.

But neither Asher nor Firestorm were fresh, newly awakened System Soul cultivators.

Even for the people who didn't see Asher fight his previous match, they could sense he wasn't fresh meat because of his controlled Magical Aura.

And Firestorm was a reputable person with a strong record barely any Early Stage warrior would dare to challenge.

In everyone else's expectations, they all believed it would be a splendid show of intelligent and powerful moves performed by both parties.

Not just an utter stomp where it seemed like Firestorm is just a mere ant!

With everything witnessed and sensed from this match, all audience members could only reach one unfathomable conclusion. Nobody certainly wouldn't believe this was possible before. But the evidence was undeniable.

Ghost must have Mid-Stage Spirit Tier prowess despite being an Early-Stage warrior!

While this fight was going on, Asher's fame never stopped growing. His match with Dragon Grass was too outstanding to not be forgotten.

But now, after this one move killed, Asher's fame will explode to unbelievable heights!

"That power….there's no doubt in my mind now…." Elsa quietly muttered to herself, her eyes boring a hole into Asher's tall frame.

She was suspecting it before that Asher's prowess had achieved a legendary feat. But his Battle Skill ultimately confirmed all of her suspicions.

Asher is a legendary genius with realm skipping abilities!

Upon this realization, Elsa felt weirdly mixed.

With all that Asher shows and how much he improves every day, that wide gap between them is quickly becoming narrower.

Elsa suspects that it may not take long at all before Asher could catch up to her level of prowess.

That shocking thought….it made Elsa subconsciously clenched her fist a bit. The pride she has in her genius prowess continually stirred.

At this point, she didn't even have her mind on seeing another human being death. Asher's explosive growth in prowess was taking complete precedence, and she can't afford to simply let him easily overtake her!

'Hehe~. Now that's a might of a Battle Skill! After this! I won't be surprised if these Early Stage brats get cold feet around you~.' Yuki's jovial voice echoed in Asher's mind.

Asher let out a slight smirk from Yuki's praise. But before he could respond, his and everyone else's attention was taken by another presence appearing upon the stage.

Asher's gaze crossed with the announcer, and a curious feeling struck him.

Within the announcer's eyes, Asher could spot a noticeable gleam shimmering. It was a look of overt interest, not even attempting to be subtle about it.

When thinking about his previous match, Asher didn't see any overt interest in that announcer's eyes. Sure his match with Dragon Grass was unique, but it wasn't enough to catch the staff's interest.

However, with his display with Firestorm, it would be impossible for Asher's fame to not rise within the staff working here.

Although that gleam within the announcer's eyes only lasted for a split second. Nobody else had even noticed the announcer showing a particular interest in Asher.

And as attention drifted on him, the announcer shouted, "A magnificent show! The winner, Ghost! And such a spectacular kill, using only move! A rarity that seldom happens."

From the increasingly rising cheers by the surrounding audience, Asher could plainly hear that they all were in agreement.

And while Asher was excited about his fame spreading like wildfire and the far better rewards he can obtain. He also felt his guard subconsciously rise.

Just that look from the announcer's eyes told him that this organization might develop a particular interest. Of course, Asher wasn't naive to believe they were just taken aback by his prowess.

Even though this could be a potential risk, Asher didn't regret any of his actions at all. For Elsa, his relationship, and his own mental fortitude this had to be done.

As Asher gradually became warier, the announcer had suddenly set his sights back on him.

"Come with me. Your rewards will be quite special this time around."

The announcer explained in an even tone. You wouldn't be able to tell at all he had an overt interest in Asher from this calm way of talking.

Asher didn't verbally respond, only silently nodding in confirmation. Promptly then, the announcer began to walk off stage, and Asher followed behind.

When they both reached the exit corridor, passing by Elsa, the announcer didn't even spare a second glance as if he already knew she and Asher were partners.

Asher noted the almost too casualness, believing he should've at least had one question if he didn't know they were partners.

But before he could think too deeply about that, Elsa's soft, warm hand gently grasped his.

"You have truly grown." Was Elsa's sweet and short words of praise.

Genuine emotion accidentally spilled over her tone as she recalled precisely why Asher is taking things to the extreme level.

"And this is just the beginning for us. So Cmon, let's go." Asher said while gently squeezing Elsa's hands in response.

Afterward, the lovely couple let each other's hands go and continue following the announcer, both of them heavily eager for their rewards.

….

Eventually, Asher and Elsa made it towards a slightly different-looking record room with the announcer. Inside this room, a few electrical devices looked distinctly different from the first record room they visited.

But it wasn't anything Asher or Elsa entirely took notice of. In any case, both of them know they wouldn't be able to ever understand the technology here.

Despite being in the modern age, Asher and Elsa were more heavily dedicated to cultivating than their fellow peers.

Currently, Asher had already traded in his Night Badge to record his victory and was now waiting on the total calculation of his rewards.

From all the talk he picked up on by the audience, Asher was assured of his reward being at least in the 300s.

This time, Asher and Elsa had already steeled themselves to be calm for their rewards, not wanting their inexperience to show. However, the announcer's following words left them absolutely star-struck.

"For killing an impressive foe like Firestorm in merely one move plus his valuables alongside the bets made, this would make your rewards add up to….800 Origin Crystals. Even for our most impressive fighters, this is quite the considerable sum.." The announcer couldn't even hide his unconcealed shock.

"Th-th….that is a huge sum for sure…." Asher and Elsa nearly blurted their shock out loud.

Because of their already temper mental fortitude, the duo could quickly regain their calm. However, their minds were still recoiling in shock.

In just one night without breaking a sweat at all, Asher had earned over 1,000 Origin Crystals!

From having only the scraps he used to support himself, Asher had just gone beyond all ordinary Spirit Tier's family in terms of wealth by simply using talented prowess.