Chapter 50: The Lancer's Style

  "Manager, why did you move your shop? And why only a few feet away?" You Jiu asked as she followed close behind.

  "It’s not a move; it’s an expansion," Kael explained.

  "Big Brother, do you want some meat? This is Flame-Horned Boar meat—it’s super tasty!" As soon as Lan Zi’er entered the shop, she hopped onto the counter and produced a large chunk of roasted meat, glowing red and glistening with oil.

  "Thanks." Kael never turned down such earnest, simple kindness.

  After tucking the meat away, he added, "If you need gear, you can head through the side passage. I believe I have all the weapon types you were asking for now."

  Kael recalled their previous complaints about the limited selection.

  "Do you have shields too? Mine's broken—that Flame-Horned Boar gored a hole right through it," Lan Zi’er asked, leaning on the counter while swinging her short legs back and forth.

  "Of course," Kael replied with a rare smile.

  "What about pills?" Xiao Ya piped up immediately.

  During their recent hunt deep within the Cloud Mist Forest, while gear was vital, the pills had been the true MVPs. They had even allowed the squad to take down two Rank-class monsters.

  "No new stock for pills yet," Kael answered.

  He had begun to realize that his current "supply pool" was likely a streamlined version provided by the System. Otherwise, the variety wouldn't be this limited.

  "Oh," Xiao Ya murmured, looking a bit dejected as she followed the others—whose weapons still needed upgrading—into the general store next door.

  Blue Leaf and Nalan Qinqi stayed behind to chat with Kael at the counter.

  "Kael, what are those crystal balls actually for?" Nalan Qinqi tapped on the counter and spotted the notice board. "Two Spirit Crystals an hour? That’s incredibly expensive!"

  "I trust that Manager Kael wouldn't sell anything that doesn't live up to its price tag. I'm just curious what this shop is actually providing," Blue Leaf said with a smile after reading the board.

  Another group of challengers for the Arena. This is getting interesting, Kael thought.

  He remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "Simply put, it’s a trial space designed to hone your combat techniques and battle awareness."

  "A trial space?!" Blue Leaf gasped in shock.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  She thought to herself that Manager Kael was truly a man of hidden depths. Not only did he sell high-quality gear and god-tier medicine, but his new facility actually offered access to a trial space at will. At two crystals an hour, it was practically a gift. But she wondered why it was priced like that—weren't trial spaces usually one-time-use environments?

  Seeing the look on Blue Leaf’s face, Kael knew she had misunderstood. He quickly clarified, "I only used that term so you'd understand the concept. The crystal ball is actually an Arena—a simulation similar to a trial space."

  "In that case, let me give it a try." Blue Leaf fished two Spirit Crystals from her pocket.

  "I want to play too! Kael, let me in!" Nalan Qinqi also handed over two crystals.

  "Find a seat and place your hands on the base of the crystal ball," Kael said casually as he pocketed the crystals.

  Blue Leaf nodded, found a center booth, and sat down. As her hands touched the base, a synthesized voice rang in her mind.

  [Welcome to the Combat Strength Arena.]

  Then came the standard rule introduction for newcomers. It was very detailed and dispelled Blue Leaf's earlier assumptions about it being a traditional trial space.

  This must be a powerful alchemical artifact, Blue Leaf mused. Alchemy was well-developed in this world, and rare, functional artifacts were usually created by pouring massive resources into them. It seemed Manager Kael’s background was far deeper than they could have imagined.

  Nalan Qinqi found a booth right next to the counter. The soft, genuine leather sofa immediately let her sink in; it was so comfortable she didn't want to move.

  It should be fine to rest a bit and let Sister Leaf go first, Nalan Qinqi thought cleverly.

  The Arena’s rules were simple enough that someone as sharp as Blue Leaf understood them instantly. She projected her consciousness into the crystal.

  "Select opponent... I'll go with the Lancer." After some thought, Blue Leaf chose an opponent who used a weapon similar to her own.

  Inside the simulation, she reached out, and a longspear materialized in her hand. Unfortunately, the Arena couldn't manifest mounts yet, so she couldn't utilize her full strength as a prospective Spear-Knight.

  Below the stage, the four opponents looked remarkably similar—all young men with the kind of average, plain faces you’d lose in a crowd. However, once the battle started, their eyes would flash with a terrifying, predatory glint.

  [Battle Start!]

  Boom!

  The Lancer kicked off the ground, launching himself forward like a cannonball. Unlike the Swordmaster’s trickery, the Lancer’s style in the Arena was one of "charging forward without a thought for survival."

  Kael had fought the Lancer several times and found him a headache to deal with. That relentless, overwhelming pressure was far more difficult to counter than the Swordmaster's subtler maneuvers.

  If Kael found him troublesome, Blue Leaf was in for a shock. The Lancer’s combat method was utterly dominant. While the Swordmaster killed quietly, the Lancer simply hammered Blue Leaf right off the stage.

  Less than ten seconds in, Blue Leaf was staring blankly at the crystal ball.

  "I... I lost? Just like that?" She couldn't believe her eyes.

  Blue Leaf wasn't the captain just because she was the oldest; she was the strongest fighter among the seven. In the entirety of Cloud Mist City, perhaps only Tiger Hunt possessed martial techniques superior to hers.

  "No, I’m going again. I just wasn't paying attention," Blue Leaf lied to herself, re-entering the Arena.

  "Select Lancer."

  "Battle Start."

  The emotionless voice echoed. The Lancer exploded forward again, crashing across the stage like a wild beast.

  There were currently only four opponents available, and their combat styles were fixed. The Lancer’s "all-or-nothing" pressure remained absolute. Even with mental preparation, Blue Leaf couldn't withstand the onslaught.

  His spear-work was like falling stars—striking with the ferocity of a dragon. Wave after wave of attacks hit her like an endless tide. Once you were suppressed by the Lancer's momentum, the outcome of the match was essentially decided.