Force crushing finesse!

  In front of a Berserker, refined techniques meant little. As long as you were dragged into a Berserker’s rhythm, you were forced into a raw contest of strength. For most other Classes, trying to out-muscle a Berserker was a death wish.

  Tiger Hunt was currently attempting to do exactly that: force the Lancer into his own pace.

  One had to admit that in terms of pure combat intuition, Tiger Hunt was leagues ahead of the others. The moment the swarm of spear shadows shattered, he swung his roaring great axe in a devastating cleave directly at the Lancer.

  When the spear’s momentum is broken, the rhythm of the attack inevitably falters. In that split second, an opponent should be riddled with openings.

  However, Tiger Hunt never expected that the Lancer, even as his offensive collapsed, wouldn’t retreat a single inch. Instead, the AI charged forward again without hesitation.

  Charging forward, with no thought for survival.

  No matter how powerful the opponent, the Lancer’s spirit could not be crushed. In an instant, the storm of spear shadows returned with a vengeance.

  Tiger Hunt realized that the Lancer wasn't just blindly charging; he was using high-level techniques to suppress the axe's momentum. Every time the great axe swung, its destructive power was chipped away and dismantled by a barrage of precision strikes.

  Unsurprisingly, while the battle was the most exhilarating Tiger Hunt had ever experienced, it ended with his chest being run through by the spear.

  "Good! Incredible!" Tiger Hunt couldn't help but roar in praise the moment his consciousness returned to his body.

  Standing behind him, Blood Wolf was stunned. It seemed Tiger Hunt’s reputation as the "Number One Solo Combatant" in Cloud Mist City was no exaggeration. To hold out that long in a first attempt—Tiger Hunt was truly a combat prodigy.

  Then there was that "useless manager," Kael. He was the only monster Blood Wolf had ever seen actually complete the challenge. That went beyond talent; it was freakish.

  When Blood Wolf sat back down to continue his own session, a friendly notification appeared on his crystal ball:

  [The daily usage limit for the Combat Strength Arena has been reached.]

  "Tsk. I spent too much time watching Tiger Hunt play. Didn't even get a win today," Blood Wolf spat.

  He walked over to Tiger Hunt’s booth and said, "Tiger Hunt, didn't you say you were heading to the forest? Let's head out together."

  "To the forest? When did I say that? This is where I belong. This is the fight I’ve been waiting for!" As he spoke, Tiger Hunt’s consciousness plunged back into the crystal, only to fall once more under the Lancer’s spear.

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  Yet, there was no frustration on his face—only the raw excitement of someone who had finally found a worthy rival.

  Didn't you say it yourself? Am I the one going crazy? Blood Wolf grumbled inwardly, but he didn't voice it. He simply turned and walked back into the general store.

  "Blood Wolf."

  "Yeah?" Blood Wolf looked back at Kael, confused as to why the manager had suddenly called out to him.

  "Are you interested in becoming a Guardian Knight?" Kael asked tentatively after a moment of consideration.

  "Huh? What are you talking about, Boss? I’m already planning to advance to Guardian Knight. I wouldn't trust anyone else to protect my brothers," Blood Wolf replied, even more bewildered.

  "I see. Well, I have a sword here that is exceptionally suited for a Guardian Knight," Kael said, then stopped.

  "Is that so? But I haven't found a Trial Crystal yet. And given the prices in your shop... let’s talk about that later," Blood Wolf said sensibly.

  "Fair enough," Kael nodded.

  Offering the suggestion was his limit. There was no way Kael would chase a customer down to make a hard sell. Blood Wolf chatted for a few more minutes before bidding farewell.

  Sigh, failed to sell another one, Kael thought, glancing worriedly at his two Rare-grade weapons. If he couldn't move these, how was he going to sell "Epic-grade" items in the future?

  After the System’s reminder, Kael realized that his shop’s foot traffic and popularity were still severely lacking.

  Four hours passed in a flash. Tiger Hunt, who had already come out once to top up his Spirit Crystals, emerged again.

  "Boss, what do you mean by 'usage limit'?" Tiger Hunt asked, his face showing he clearly wasn't finished.

  "It means you can only play for four hours a day," Kael said.

  "Four hours isn't nearly enough! Boss, give me two more hours," Tiger Hunt urged. He was officially addicted. You couldn't find an opponent that powerful in Cloud Mist City or even the forest. Besides, in the Arena, you could fail without getting hurt—it was the ultimate training ground.

  "No. Rules are rules," Kael shook his head.

  He didn't know why the System imposed a time limit; from his perspective, it was just getting in the way of him making money. But he had no way to change the System's decrees.

  "Look, I'll pay extra! How about ten crystals an hour? No, twenty! Boss, just consider it," Tiger Hunt pleaded.

  System, why don't you consider it? Kael pleaded fervently in his mind.

  [System: Host, you are a man destined to become the most powerful Manager in existence. How can you be swayed by a measly few Spirit Crystals?]

  "What do you know, you little System? Mountains of gold are built one coin at a time," Kael countered.

  [System: Very well. For every rule the Host breaks, the Host's share of the revenue will decrease by 1%.]

  Kael’s indifferent face instantly transformed into a mask of righteous integrity. He looked at Tiger Hunt and said: "Without rules, there is no order. Since I set these rules, I have no reason to break them."

  Tiger Hunt was shaken to his core. He hadn't expected this stingy manager to have such an unyielding sense of principle. Even when offered ten times the price, Kael had refused with such moral conviction.

  It seems the gap between the Boss and me is still vast, Tiger Hunt thought, bowing his head. "You are absolutely right, Boss. I was out of line. I’ll come back tomorrow."

  "Come back anytime," Kael nodded, suppressing the physical ache in his heart as he watched Tiger Hunt walk away. During a quest, every single crystal counted toward progress. What a waste.

  Cloud Mist City, City Lord’s Manor.

  Qin Ming was reviewing official documents when his guard knocked gently on the mahogany door.

  "City Lord, Captain He Xiao of the Fourth Squad, Second Battalion, Third Regiment of the City Guard, requests an audience. He claims to have an urgent matter to report."

  The Third Regiment... isn't that the unit dispatched to the forest to cull monsters?

  "An urgent matter? Has something happened in the forest again?"

  Qin Ming set down his pen and thought for a moment before calling out, "Let him in."