CHAPTER 14

"All I want is to be given a chance to participate."

Mr Bushman was stupefied. Tate must really be stupid.

He wanted to knock some senses into Tate's head, but Sir Connor had already told him not to interrupt again.

Tate stepped forward as he continued.

"Me winning would make Apex Grove famous and the arena as well. I would give you the prize money to pay off all the debts I owe. Everything!"

Mr Bushman's face was only darkened more by Tate hogwash words.

Sir Connor steady his eyes on Tate.

"So you plan to win today's final"

"Yes."

Tate sounded right away. In order to claim his ticket to the state tournament, he must win his area tournament, which was being held in Apex Grove arena.

There were upto two fighting arenas in Apex Grove, but Apex Grove arena had always been the ones hosting the area tournament.

Sir Connor rested his head on his right palm.

"So what if you fail. How would that be beneficiary to me."

Mr Bushman was flabbergasted by Sir Connor's words.

"He is just a local street fighter, what makes you think he even stand a chance to climb the state tournament arena!"

"A loser like this can never go anywhere in the tournament let alone reach the final. He won't even make it to the quarter final!"

Mr Bushman looked at Tate and continued.

"It would be a waste to pack our resources on a dunce like this. There is nothing here to consider, you are just not upto the state standards!"

Tate didn't respond to Mr Bushman's words.

"If I lose. I will fight in Apex Grove Arena till I die. Even if I accumulated the debt money!"

Sir Connor's lips formed a half smile then. Mr Bushman also had a smile on his face, but it immediately vanished, making his expression poker again.

Sir Connor was silent for a while before he said.

"Not only that. Your father property and your sister would be included, if you were to fail!"

Tate's heart was heavy when he heard that. Despite having this strange power, he had a little doubt inside him.

The state tournament was different from what he had been facing for the past three years now.

It comprises of the best fighters in thirty–two local areas in the state, fighting to be called the strongest martial artist in Aetherfield.

He doesn't know if he was strong enough yet to face off against a challenge like that, but... but.... but, it was now or never for him.

Tate squeezed his fist hard. There was nothing to think about here, and the system demands that he must never lose, so losing was never an option for him the moment he got this strange power.

Tate looked back at Sir Connor. He wouldn't lose so there was no need to think about the consequences.

"It's a deal!"

Sir Conner's cheeks moved a little. He straightened up on his chair.

"The documents would be drafted right away. kindly wait to get it signed."

Tate nodded to Sir Connor's words. He wouldn't have left without getting the paper signed.

In a few minutes the papers containing all the details of the new contract were brought in. Tate and Sir Connor signed and both kept one of the documentation for themselves.

"See you at the arena tonight."

Sir Connor said as Tate made his way to the exit. Tate stopped but he didn't say anything. He continued walking. He had already signed the document, he had signed his freedom from Sir Connor hands, if he wins the state tournament, he would be completely free from Sir Connor, and the chances of getting signed by an agency was guaranteed.

That would be his first step to glory! He couldn't wait to get started.

Tate came out of the mansion. He decided to check the system messages.

[The first edition One Hour Jackpot has come to a close. 

The winning numbers is 456799]

Tate eyebrows moved a little, he totally forgot about the lottery, so it was an hour already.

'I guess I didn't win anything. I knew this thing was crap!'

Tate displayed an angry expression, but his expression slowly changed when another message came up next.

[Congratulations Host! You won the One Hour Jackpot.

You have been gifted with a special random box]

Tate jumped happily like he won a billion dollars lottery in real life.

He felt like running around the country, seeing he actually won  the system lottery with a single ticket.

It seemed the system wasn't that bad after all.

"Open the random special box now!"

Tate couldn't wait to see what the box would contain. He hoped it would be something useful, not like what the daily task reward gave him.

Well, he wouldn't just be given another lottery ticket, would he?

The random box  somehow came out of the super screen. It rotated in front of Tate for a few seconds before it started glowing.

The box opened and a system message appeared in Tate's eyes.

[Host has been rewarded with an active skill]

[Host has been rewarded with a Zone skill— Hellfire]

Tate was stunned to the bone. He couldn't believe what the lottery special random box just gave him.

A Zone skill!

'This is a grade higher than the mega skill, so this is definitely better than Rapid Punches'

OMG!

Tate couldn't imagine what the zone skill would be all about, he already knew it would be locked, but he wanted to check it out.

The title of the zone skill was quite confusing to him. Would it have something to do with fire or it was basically a fearless skill name.

Tate clicked on the skill.

"Open skill information!"

His heart was drumming. He desperately wanted to know what he would be expecting from the skill.

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