"Are you sure about this boss" Dimitri looked over his shoulder as he dumped out the sack they had appropriated from a storage locker under the arena bleachers. "Do we have much of a choice? Now hurry up and get ready" Hector peered around the corner. "There still the right where they left them and people are still distracted at the betting tables, let's move" with that Hector straightened and strode around the corner Dimitri hot on his heels.
The arena floor was mostly abandoned with the fighters having left and a few workers hauling sand in to the fill the large hole from Vincent's technique. Staying close to the wall the two men circled around trying to stay out of sight yet casual as they approached their goal. Maybe goals is more accurate as they approached the two unconscious fighters who'd been left propped up against the wall. This was a crazy plan and Dimitri had no clue why his boss would think up something so bold but here they were.
"I've got his artifact, shove them in the sack and let's get out of here" Hector slid the orb into a pouch on his hip and kept watch as Dimitri shoved them into the bag before slinging them over his shoulder. Just like that the two men casually walked out of the area. Navigating through the hallways they found a service exit and shuffled out into the streets of Blackrock port. They had successfully kidnapped two high level cultivators with no one the wiser.
Big grins covered both men's faces as they made their way through the packed streets back to the verdant path corporation warehouse. Hector and Dimitri likely wouldn't be so pleased with themselves if they'd have noticed the figure following them from the rooftops.
"What the hell did you do" a stinging slap accompanied Hayden's wake-up call. He felt strangely twitchy as he rolled out of bed in Tang's makeshift hospital. "Um what" Hayden said dumbly as he stared blankly trying to get his barrings. "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO" Tang shouted pausing between each word like he was a child. "I was working on runes and I must have fallen asleep, I had a dream that I figured it out then achicken was dancing" Hayden shrugged "really strange dream honestly".
Tang slapped a palm to his face and breathed deeply "you blow your office, scared everyone half to death, had the thunder hens running all over the place and used all the yoke extract I've been able to process". "I assume you that it's not a dream Mr Pryor" Tang sighed "I guess congratulations are in order". "Congratulations for what" Hayden said more confused than anything else. "For becoming a cultivator" Tang said with a shake of his head "having that much energy detonate in someone's face would normally kill them but somehow you integrated it".
Initially Hayden thought he'd heard wrong but was soon proven that there was nothing wrong with his hearing and in fact it had improved. Tang had him run through the same reflexe, balance and strength tests as they'd done with all of the newly minted cultivators. "That's about what I expected" Tang said going over the results on a clipboard he'd been marking the results on. " And what's that" Hayden asked curious to hear his test scores. "Well everything aside from speed is about average for a new cultivator, the fact that you have used a lightning aligned material of high quality also explains that abnormality" Tang said frowning slightly.
"What's with that look" Hayden said gesturing toward towards Tang. "I guess my expectations are just all out of wack" shrugging Tang set down the clipboard and sat down "with all the spectacular developments and improvements to both my alchemy and understanding of cultivation I just expected everything to be that way". "I get how you could feel like that, everything has been going non-stop and yet I feel like we're all so far behind" Hayden dropped down next to Tang with a sigh. "Yeah, before working here I'd never even seen a high grade foundational material before" he said with a chuckle. "I got by processing low grade herbs, stones and beast parts mercenaries brought to me" he shook his head " barley qualified as alchemy so when I got the chance to do the real thing I was elated".
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Hayden just sat there listening to Tang pour his heart out. The man's story was actually very interesting as he had been Apprentice to a mortal physician when he got a lucky break. Bandits had attacked him and his master as they were attempted to render aid to a sick merchant. They had helped the guards fend off the bandits had killed Tang master in the process leaving Tang grieving. Despite that loss he still did everything he could to help his patient and the merchant managed to pull through. As a reward for the sacrifice of his master as well as saving his life the merchant was so grateful he gifted Tang with a middle grade foundational realm fire wisp pill.
"Everyone's journey as to start somewhere" Hayden said contemplating Tang's story. "Yes, luckily the fire wisp pill was very beneficial for alchemy especially since most alchemists around Blackrock port and the surrounding areas are water based" the man responded with a slightly less animated tone. "Water based" Hayden said with confusion "yes water based" Tang replied equally confused. "Most of the resources around the area are water alignment and the black turtle sect's manuals all require it" Tang said giving Hayden a strange look. "I guess you must do things differently wherever you're from" before Hayden was forced to make something up the doors opened and Hector and Dimitri strolled with big grins carrying a large black bag.
Thankful for the distraction Hayden hoped up to greet the two men " how was the tournament, learn anything important"? Hayden saw Dimitri and Hector give each other a strange look " this one's on you boss" Dimitri said walking over to the curtain separating Tang's office from the infirmary beds. With a sigh Hector when through everything that had transpired.
Starting from the beginning Hector talked about how the general level of competitors ranged from third to fifth step. "Well that's not that bad" Hayden Pryor said quite confident that their unique methods would give them a fighting chance. "That's what I thought as well" Hector shook his head "that's before the real matches started happening". Hector went into great detail on the higher step cultivators he'd seen and the techniques they'd brought to bare.
"Wait did you say nineth step" Hayden said in shock. Before he'd seen the changes from training Markus and the rest of the tournament team he really didn't have any references for cultivation levels. Yes he new that a higher number ment stronger but not with more experience he understood it wasn't necessary linearly. Depending upon the materials, training methods and personal talents a cultivator could be many times stronger than someone a single step lower. From Hector's description of Vincent black he was incredibly strong for his level.
"Well this is really bad" Hayden rubbed his temples "there's no way we can compete with that, as you said he'd already smashed through a group of high step cultivators". Hayden felt so frustrated at the situation, they'd worked so hard and risked so much hell he'd recently blown himself up reaching formations. "Well... we might have a way" Hector said almost sheepishly.
"How? With what? Were basically broke and if you have noticed we have just under three days thill the first round begins" Hayden said in disbelief. "That Vincent kid has been training his whole life with the backing of an entire sect and what do we have three weeks a cold rock we've already gambled away and some sparky chickens" Hayden snorted in disgust having given up.
"We've got us" Hector Vale said smiling smugly and catching a blank stare from Hayden. Hector told Hayden of the snatch and grab he and Dimitri had performed. "Our guaranteed tournament slots can be anyone not just our team, that's how you hired Pierre and his team to train ours after all". Hector's continued animatedly seeing he'd gotten his attention " I'm sure with our methods and tournament slots they'd be more than happy to get a little bit of payback on Vincent for us". "And in exchange they'd give us our frost orb when they win" Hayden said finishing Hector's thought "precisely" Hector said nodding.
A slow clap came from behind startling the two men who were wrapped up in the moment. A lithe and beautiful was floating behind them clapping with a coi smile on her face. "And here I thought you were mere opportunists, yet I find true schemers" Jen Lee blazed with interest and amusement. "So we're shall we begin" with a small step she glided forward "I'm more than eager to have a chance to properly shine".