***

[Randalvine Battle Arena, Randalvine]

The tournament kept ongoing with the top three spots remained unchanged. Basil, who got bored with the tournament, did a good job to hide his boredom. He found conversing with Xiu Li was way more interesting than the match.historical

Surprisingly, Basil wasn't the only one who thought that way. The audiences also thought the same. They couldn't help it. What they had witnessed up till then had been bloody matches between bright Junior Mages, like Basil, Xiu Li, and Kinsey.

The current match was really pale in comparison to the previous matches. It was within expectation. No one will admire marbles, after seeing rubies.

"Brother Basil, I know it is rude to ask a Mage about their Art, but... I'm really curious. May I ask you?!" Xiu Li looked at Basil with eyes lit in curiosity. Quirking one of his eyebrows, Basil responded, "Hit me."

Xiu Li's face contorted, before saying, "No, Brother. I won't hit you. Why would I do that?" Sighing to himself, Basil explained himself, "It's an expression to say, 'Tell me.' in Exon." At this, Xiu Li made an 'O' with his mouth.

"I am sorry, Brother. I am new to Western Culture."

"I can see that. Now, what do you want to ask?"

"Ah, right. I want to ask whether you are a Mentalist."

"No, I am not."

"Do you master [Telepathy]?"

"That's the same question as asking whether I am a Mentalist."

"Then, how did you instruct me to forfeit at that time?"

Xiu Li stared at the chilling Basil intensely. He was curious by nature, and liked to learn something new. Normally, he wouldn't act this way. However when the permission was given, he wouldn't hold back.

"I didn't."

"Eh, what?" Xiu Li was bewildered. He was pretty sure Basil had instructed him to forfeit, before Basil arrived by his side to fend Kinsey's attack.

"To learn [Telepathy], I have to enter the Middle Realm first. Which means, the minimum requirement to learn it is to be a Fourth Circle Mage. Therefore, I didn't use any [Telepathy] on you."

"Then?"

p "You are talented as a Mage not because your quick comprehension towards Magic, but your keen sense towards Mana. I merely sent you a warning with my Mana Wave, and your brain picked that as an instruction to forfeit."

"Uh, what?"

Xiu Li was embarrassed. He didn't understand half of what Basil had explained. Surely, Basil didn't intend to repeat his explanation. He was a man of action. Therefore, he merely demonstrated what he had explained.

Basil exposed his Mana Wave toward Xiu Li and leaked his killing intent to it. Xiu Li's eyes widened in surprise. His pupils dilated in terror, and his mind told him only one thing.

Run!

Then, as fast as it came, it was gone just as fast. Xiu Li calmed his beating heart, then looked at Basil in surprise.

"So, that was the case. I get it now. I didn't know our mind can do that."

"There are so many things we do not know about our mind. It is the most overlooked, and the scariest place in the universe."

"I agree with how scary our mind could be."

Someone who sat beside Xiu Li, the only female who had managed to pass the Selection Stage, the one and only Kimberley Bulmer, looked at the conversing duo in wonder.

She had realized how exceptionally close the two since their meeting at the Selection Stage. If she were that 'type' of woman, she would have been already thinking about who would be the top and who would be the bottom in Basil and Xiu Li's relationship.

She quickly shook her head to abolish the accursed thought. Thinking that unsightly thing about someone was unacceptable. She was a prideful Mage who respected other's privacy and rights, after all!

Heaving a sigh softly, she right herself up. Clenching her fist, she put it on top of her chest. Her eyes heated, and determination filled her entire existence. She couldn't win this way. She had to fight to win. She would let everyone know of her family's name!

[The next challenge is ready to be proceeded.]

Kimberley stood from her seat, and the motionless and unamused audiences threw their gaze at her. Their eyes slowly lit up in interest. Knowing that the people's attentions were all on her, Kimberley mustered her valiance, and declared.

"I, Kimberley Bulmer, challenge Basil Pacifer of the First Rank!"

Whistle.

Some of the audiences whistled in amazement at the bravery of Kimberley. Not even those wimps, who had dicks between their legs, dared to challenge Basil, after witnessing his ferociousness.

However, Kimberley, despite being a woman, still dared to challenge Basil. Just the bravery alone was praiseworthy. Therefore, the audiences put their keen attention on her.

[Rank 3 is challenging Rank 1. Basil Pacifer, will you accept the challenge?]

"I accept."

Surely, Basil didn't disappoint them. He accepted the challenge, and was the first person to appear in the arena. They audiences were mildly bewildered. However, that was it. Basil had done more bewildering things than that. In a way, they were desensitized already.

"I need you to fight in your true power. I don't want you to show me any sympathy, just because I am woman."

Kimberley, who had just arrived in the arena, stared at Basil and exclaimed valiantly. The response she got was Basil's unamused gaze. She tried so hard to prevent her brow from twitching.

Luckily, Basil gave her another respond, "Do not worry. I am an advocate of gender equality. I will make you the person who helps me to prove my point." Sadly, the response she got this time wasn't any better than the previous one.

"Alright, kids. You know the rules."

The referee looked at the two conversing youths seriously. However, it was merely his attempt to hide his amusement. Basil irked everyone he met, it seemed. Raising his hand to the air, he brought it down violently, while declaring, "Begin!"

Contrary to everyone's expectation, Kimberley stayed on her position, unlike Basil's previous opponents. Basil stood uprightly, and as unamused as before. Kimberley looked at that Basil curiously.

"Are you not surprised?"

"I will, if you turn out to be my sister."

Tick!

This time, Kimberley couldn't hold back her mouth from twitching. Sighing to herself, she infused her Mana to her Spatial Bracelet. It flashed briefly, then a lance appeared in her hand.

Staring at Basil deeply in the eyes, she was met with Basil's own gaze that conveyed his slight interest. Readying her stance, she activated her Art.

[Dash]!

Her Art was activated silently. No one could hear her say a thing. In response to her Art activation, her body moved like a flash, before reappearing in front of Basil. Her lance was firmly held on her hand, and its pointy end was directed to Basil's heart.

Clank!

Her eyes widened in surprise. Basil didn't even need to take his weapon out. Basil just slapped her lance to the side with his bare hand! Such a move was as ridiculous as it was amazing.

"What...?"

"I know you are not comfortable fighting like that."

"That is... Why didn't you finish me?"

Kimberley asked while glancing at the tip of Basil's finger that was touching her forehead. She was sweating coldly, and gulped dryly. However, her eyes were still as fiery as before.

"You are looking down on me by doing that. Therefore..." Without any warning, Basil's foot flashed and hit Kimberley in the abdomen. Right before she was thrown away, she heard Basil said, "I will play with you."

"Gahh!"

"Ooohhh... I expected a 'Kyaaa!' out of her."

"Dude, you are stereotyping."

While watching Kimberley thrown away by a mere kick from Basil, the audiences commented on her reaction. They didn't sympathize with her. That is how the world works. Gender doesn't matter in reality, power does.

Skid!

Kimberley managed to stop her body from rolling on the ground. While looking at Basil in slight resentment, she clutched her lower abdomen painfully.

'He kicked me right in the womb! What a savage!'

She knew she was being unreasonable, considering what she had said to Basil. However, she couldn't help it. The pain made her irrational. Inhaling a deep breath, she exhaled softly.

"I am sorry, I didn't fight to my best. I will do it from now on."

"Show me."

She paid Basil no mind. She merely stabbed her lance to the ground, and closed her eyes in concentration. Quickly enough, a Magic Circle that was unlike any other Magic Circles carved on every Mage's heart appeared on the ground.

Boom!

Mana exploded, and three Magic Circles appeared behind her back. All of them were Major Circles. Opening her eyes, she stared at Basil valiantly. The Magic Circle below her expanded, before shining intensely.

The Magic Circle spun, before it shrunk. Then, something emerged from the magic Circle, and positioned itself beside Kimberley.

"Ooohhh! That is!"

"Woah.. we have many bright Junior Mages this year."

"Dude... You know that they are of our age, right?"

"Curse you! Why do you have to remind me that?!"

"A Summoner has appeared."

Most of the audiences sighed in amazement, while some in envy. Beside Kimberley, they could see a healthy white horse with wings attached to its side. On its forehead, anyone could see a unique shaped horn.

It was no other than the famous Unicorn. It was a high class Summon that could rival Mythical Beast. To establish a contract with them, one needed to have a pure heart, and pass some of their tests. Meanings, it was very hard.

For Kimberley, a Third Circle Mage, could establish a contract with a Unicorn was really baffling and amazing. Therefore, they couldn't help but sigh in amazement. Kimberley reveled in the people's reaction, then looked at Basil to see his.

Sadly, Basil wasn't even surprised or amazed. He was even less interested than the first time he saw her taking out her lance!

"Hmm... She must be around 18 years old. So young. I wonder whether it is bound to you since birth."

Funnily, the one who was surprised was Kimberley. Basil had just figured out everything correctly! She was bewildered beyond belief. Still, she managed to regain her composure.

"Huuh... Yes. She's bound to me since birth."

"So, most of your family is a regular to the Unicorns."

"You can say it that way."

"Interesting." Basil cupped his chin, while scrutinizing the Unicorn.

The Unicorn squirmed as if she was uncomfortable. Basil was mildly surprised at the reaction. He didn't expect his past act of slaughtering too many Unicorns in rage made him being a feared existence among Unicorn even in this life.

Sadly, Kimberley misunderstood this. "Hey! I respect other's sexuality. However, you can't do that with Acacia!" Throwing his unamused gaze at Kimberley, Basil responded, "With a heavy heart, I prefer to ride you than your Summon."

Instantly, Kimberley's face went red. Surely, it wasn't unnoticed to Basil. Therefore, like always, he said something that irked her even more, "Hmph! Such a dirty mind. I wonder whether your Summon was forcefully bound to you."

"She wasn't!"

Basil heard none of her excuse, and looked at the audience seat. There, he could see a fluffy little creature being hugged by Clarissa. It was none other than Deacon, who was having the time of his life.

At this point, Basil couldn't even tell what caused Deacon to be excited. His attention on Deacon or the bountiful where Deacon's head laid. Maybe both. Sighing softly to himself, Basil snapped his finger.

Snap!

The sound reverberated through the whole area as it was amplified by Wind Magic. Deacon, who understood what it meant, quickly jumped out of Clarissa's hold. Like a black flash, he appeared next to Basil.

"Ooohhh!!!"

"Kyaaaa!!! How cute!"

"Whose puppy is that?! I want to have one!"

"Oh my, such a cute little puppy!"

When the audiences properly saw what was beside Basil, all of them exclaimed in excitement. Deacon's cuteness was that much. He could pull a reaction out of both genders!

"Why are you calling your dog? You want to fight Acacia and me together with him?"

"Hm."

Kimberley chuckled rather condescendingly. Normally, she wouldn't do that. However, her stress over facing Basil's indirect insults had finally taken over her. Surely, her laugh didn't last long.

In the next moment, the cute and small Deacon turned bigger and bigger. His fangs turned thicker, then protruding out of his mouth. Not long after, the cute Deacon was replaced with a big and ferocious King Saberwolf. He was still fluffy though.

The audiences turned silent. Kimberley lost her laughter. She didn't know how to react to the 4 meters tall Deacon. Looking at Basil standing beside Deacon, her mind could only think of Basil with one word.

Overbearing!