Chapter 506

Chapter 506

As Bri yells out that the match is over, another voice responds while a beam of golden light erupts into the sky.

"Double or nothing! Ten more seconds, what do you say, Jay? Take me on alone. I wasn't aware the power you wield is cursed energy too..."

Rodrigo turns his head toward me with sharp eyes and his whole body glowing gold.

By cursed energy, he must mean Soul Energy. It seems the Association calls it something different.

I respond with my fists raised, covering them in red Soul Energy and shielding the rest of my body with a layer thick enough to block any of his blows if needed.

"What's in it for me? I already won our bet; taking you on now would only be a risk."

Truthfully, I want to fight him to see how powerful he actually is. I'm certain I can win, but I might as well get more out of this if I can.

He responds.

"What do you want? Same rules, 10 more seconds fighting. If I win, you're not getting an invite to the exams. If you win, you'll get—"

I interject as I think of something that I desire.

"Let me make 20 respawn items using your skill as a catalyst. If I win, you let me make them."

I smirk as his expression changes to annoyance.

"I'm property of the Association. I can't be giving out their resources like that without authorization..."

I cross my arms.

"So, you're saying you'll lose?"

I shrug and start to turn away, but he calls out.

"Fine. I'll let you make 1 respawn item. It may take a few tries, but I'm confident Bri can craft one with enough of my blood. The only condition is you cannot sell it. The item has to be worn by you alone."

I continue turning and shake my head.

"Not worth it. If you're so worried about it being illegal, then 1 is just as bad as 20. I'll just take my invite to the B-Class exams, no need to fight more."

He grits his teeth, and I see the golden light around him grow even denser.

"Five. I'll give you five."

I turn around.

"Make it 15, and I want to give them to my close allies. I don't like this rule that only I can wear them."

He pauses and looks me in the eyes as red aura seeps from my fists at the same rate the golden light radiates from his body.

"10 crafts. You and your allies only. I can be killed for a stunt like this, you know."

I grin.

"Deal."

Bri starts the clock again on the top of the hill, but Rodrigo doesn't wait for her words to start; he lunges forward at me with everything he has.

Our punches and kicks fly.

The Soul Energy collisions make the physical dungeon mass vibrate and echo. All of the hunters within a few kilometers doing their normal farming can definitely sense there is something happening deep in the dungeon even without any Qi-based perception.

I block every one of Rodrigo's incoming punches and kicks.

They feel almost 50% stronger than the one he threw at me at the end of our last fight, and I can tell he's really giving this his all by his instant heavy breathing and sweat dripping down his forehead.

Tens of meters of dungeon mass are stripped away with every blow, and I have to actively use strong Soul Energy to block each of his strikes.

I raise an eyebrow at his statement, but dont hesitate to pull 10 item drops from floor 31-39 in the labyrinth, ranging from fangs to scales to horns, and craft them all into rings, amulets, and charms while imbuing the [Respawn] skill into them while I'm still making contact with Rodrigo's hand.

It only takes an instant, and his eyes widen with shock when I let the items fall into my storage less than a second later and release my grip.

"Done. You have my word, no one from the association will ever get their hands on these. Now, you hold up your second part of the bet, get me and Ember a spot in the upcoming exams."

He stares down at the place where the 10 items disappeared into my storage and replies, but not to my statement.

"W-What do you mean done? Imbuing skills into items is a gamble. Every time Bri does it, it usually takes dozens of tries and liters of blood before she can even get one right... what kind of ability do you have..."

Bri interjects.

"Brother, that's not for you to worry about. Jay's crafting ability far surpasses my own."

I add to her remark.

"It may even surpass the old Sector 2 leader soon if you'd believe it. I heard there's new management with exceptional talent accepting new trade deals in the Dark Continent."

Gears begin turning in his head as he realizes who this new hidden contact for trade deals that many regions have just started doing trade with is, and puts together even more connections that his sister must be helping with the high order volume too.

He speaks up, in a much more professional tone now.

"Right... With the recent dungeon surges, the expansion of the abyss, and fall of leadership in the Dark Continent, it seems there may be a lot of change happening in this world. However, do not underestimate the Association just based on my performance... I may be strong, but there are stronger enemies with much deeper ties of loyalty to the Association than me."

He points to his golden glowing collar.

"This is not the only thing that keeps us in line. If you're truly going to challenge them, take your time and calculate every move you make."

He lets out a sigh, and I nod, then silence falls among us all.

Bri speaks next.

"Don't you think you should be getting back about now?"

Rodrigo nods and turns to the direction of the dungeon exit.

"Yes. It is about time. I should be off now. I'll make contact with you again next week. I assume by then you will have the fake ID names for these two. I'll have them registered as last-minute applicants."

He turns to me and Ember.

"This was fun. Thank you for opening my eyes. I still don't like any part of this... but a bet's a bet. You have my word I'll get you in. You better get even stronger than you already are. Whatever you're planning to do in the exams, don't leave any part of it to chance."

We both nod, and Rodrigo flies off toward the dungeon exit to go back to the Association and hand in the blue recording crystal of his meeting with Bri.

Ember speaks up once he's gone.

"Well then, now that that's out of the way, how about we start on making that teleport platform."

Bri nods.

"My schedule is definitely clear now."

I place a hand on both her and Ember's shoulders.

"Good to hear. I'll bring us to the craft site now. We should have everything we need to create the platform here."

I dungeon walk us into the canyon of dungeons.

"Bri, I'd like to show you the home base I'm building in Sector 2. This is where the first teleport platform will be created."

We step out of the dungeon exit and walk up the stone walkway to see the setting red-orange sun shining down rays onto a long path leading to the town being built in the distance.

"Welcome to the Crimson City."