After another day fully grinding his newly gained [Ego: Runic Bear], Sammuel realized something important. The thought of why people didn’t go out of their way to kill everything in their sight was simply because of one reason.

[Name: Sammuel Arthus

Ego: Runic Bear

Card Quality: Bronze

Star Quality: 1 | 3/10 | 1.74/100%

Affinity Level: 4.5%

Combat Power: 22.76]

His Combat Power might’ve increased to an unbelievable degree yet it was evident that this was going to take him an extremely long time. What made it difficult was that the amount of EXP he gained was unbelievably negligible.

[Earned 0.02% EXP ]

Killing a creature with a Colorless Card Quality gave little to nothing. With Sammuel needing to scout, find, and slay these creatures, this wasn’t worth it. He traveled even deeper but he came to understand that he was entirely out of his league.

Why?

[Combat Power: 78]

[Combat Power: 46]

[Combat Power: 96]

The disparity between the outer areas and the deeper areas was clear. The Colorless area only had a few creatures that had a Bronze Card Quality. This made his decision to get [Ego: Runic Bear] extremely worth it. If not for that, he would be hard-pressed to find such a good opportunity again.

As for this deeper area, it was riddled with terrifying creatures that did have a Bronze Card Quality but they were far stronger than what Sammuel could realistically. The EXP he would gain would actually be substantial enough to warrant the risk.

Instead of such a paltry sum, when he had slayed the Runic Bear, it had given his [Ego: Base] 20% EXP. This is the general range of what he would stand to gain. After traveling the Colorless area for an entire day, he had only managed to find 4 creatures that had a Bronze Card Quality.

Previously, he would gain entire levels after clearing out one group but now he was hard-pressed to keep going. With mindless slaughter no longer a reasonable choice, he no longer had a reason to keep risking himself out here when he could just practice by himself.

Heading back, he had taken out a few valuable materials from various creatures. They weren’t all inherently valuable but with the amount that he had managed to slay, he managed to earn a lot. Selling his recently acquired materials out on the street, a few hagglers tried to get his prices cheaper than the market rate.

“If you buy everything here I’ll give you a 20% discount.” Sammuel had better things to do than wait around here.

“Just 20%? Tsk, tsk, there are a lot of bad-quality parts mixed in. Bring it down to 40% and I’ll take it off your hands.” A man fully strapped in clothing barring his eyes spoke out. From the looks of it, he knew his way around this city.

“25% for anyone that isn’t this guy.” He wasn’t going to play along with this haggler. “If no one buys I’ll just throw them all away.”

“I’ll take it.” Another person watching on came to give Sammuel 8 silver coins. “Keep the change.”

Leaving satisfied, he went and placed the items he had just bought on his own stall with a 200% markup. He snickered as he knew how easily taken advantage of people like Sammuel. As for Sammuel, he didn’t mind as much, as long as he could sell it fast, it wasn’t all too bad.

The initial haggler clicked his tongue and went away trying to spot another person he could take advantage of.

Going back to the inn, he noticed a small flyer recently placed on the side. This board usually consisted of news surrounding the city to inform the public. There was a small request from a group needing a skilled person to guard them as they gathered some materials. It would take an entire day and they were willing to pay 50 silver coins for it. The only requirement was that they needed to be the strongest person that showed up.

“Interesting.” Sammuel took notice of this flyer and went back to his room.

From a person who had awakened to mana, 50 silver coins weren’t all that impressive since they would be able to earn much more from that. This meant that this was entirely asking for help from those in the Mortal Stage. If there was anything Sammuel believed, it was that he was a very formidable person among those in the Mortal Stage.

His current Combat Power with [Flowing Swordsmanship] had given him enough confidence to be the person that would take on this job.

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Following the directions on how to get to the requester’s area, the surroundings started to change. The previously rowdy and bustling city turned into a more prim and proper area with mostly residents walking around. This was where the locals lived. As such, there were even more guards set in place to ensure peace.

Walking off, he could see a somewhat large crowd filling up the plaza before him. Wearing their own weapons, they all surrounded this one man. He had round glasses and messy unkempt brown hair. His white coat had stains dirtying it, turning it into a murky black.

“I just need one person to protect me. I didn’t expect so many people to show up.” He might’ve seemed like a pushover but it was clear that he was firm in his decision. “Regardless, I guess you should talk among yourselves to see who’ll get the job.”

Another young man had a spear strapped to his back and stepped forward. He reached out his hand and challenged everyone before him. “How about we settle this like men? A simple battle of strength. All of us want this job but there’s only one winner. This is the most logical choice.”

Hearing this, the crowd agreed. If they won, they would continue on but once they lost even once, they could only give up. Sammuel quietly joined in this small competition fully knowing that he would win.

From his observations, the person with the greatest base Combat Power was the guy who brought forward this small competition.

[Combat Power: 8.55]

He was genuinely a formidable foe. Too bad Sammuel’s [Ego: Runic Bear] had an oppressive Combat Power of 22.76. Though there was no reason to go all out like this.

[Switch Ego: Mineral-Clawed Ferron]

[Combat Power: 11.38]

The competition slowly reached the point of only having ten contestants left. Now that it had reached this point, it was no longer just a competition but also a show. Those who lost didn’t take it to heart. They lost fair and square, crying over this would only make them look like fools.

Sammuel had completely suppressed every single person he had come into contact with. It wasn’t even close. His completely overwhelming raw strength came from a creature much stronger than a normal human person.

Xeril was enjoying his free victory. He had needed that tiny bit of money to join an institution and learn one technique. Once he received the 50 silver coins, his strength would improve by leaps and bounds. Then after taking a few more jobs, he could purchase a mana stone and finally awaken.

Taking the hand of a person with a larger frame than him, he didn’t despair. He had full confidence that he would win against these commoners. Unlike them, relying on their natural aptitude to continue, he endlessly trained his body to reach a heightened physique.

Both of them struggled to compete with raw strength. Xeril gritted his teeth and genuinely struggled. Although his Combat Power was 8.55, his opponent had a Combat Power of 7.92. It was relatively close as the man before him pushed on as if his very life depended on it.

Xeril mustered all the remaining strength within his body and pulled through. It was his victory. Looking at a grey-clothed person standing before his success, he widely smiled.

“So you’re left?” Xeril shook his hands. He placed it in front of him, waiting for Sammuel to grip it. With both of them firmly waiting for the signal to start, everyone was taking their sides on who was going to win.

Would it be the hot-headed Xeril or the calm and collected Sammuel? The onlookers might’ve not gotten such an easy job but this made for good entertainment.

Xeril prepared himself by meditating a short bit before proceeding with achieving victory. He had a trump card he had been saving up for this one moment. One skill that would completely decimate Sammuel’s chances of victory.

After all, learning a [Skill] while you’re in the Mortal Stage is an explicit sign of a prodigy. Sorry, pal, but I need this job.

As the signal was unleashed, Xeril first determined just how strong Sammuel truly was. It was when he realized it, this seemingly calm youth before him was someone who was even physically stronger than him. Xeril wanted to deny it but he knew the truth, with their base strength, he would lose this.

As such, Xeril shook his head, it was cruel but Sammuel could only blame his inexperience with [Skills].

[Raw Explosive Strength | Gain Combat Power: +6.2 | Xeril: 14.75]

Sammuel’s eyes enlarged as he felt his hand immediately weaken its strength. He saw that Xeril had activated [Raw Explosive Strength]. If anything this was cheating. Not that Sammuel had anything against it since he was also going to cheat.

If that’s how you want to play then let’s play. Sammuel narrowed his eyes.

[Switch Ego: Runic Bear]

[Combat Power: 22.76]

From a viewer’s point of view, Sammuel initially had the advantage, slowly winning against Xeril. It was then that Xeril somehow found a way to turn the tides, almost winning when Sammuel fought right back. Sammuel’s counterattack was so explosive that he unwittingly exerted far too much strength behind it.

Xeril’s arm turned in an arc, dislocating his shoulder. Sammuel had brutally fought back with such severity unknowingly. He had thought that Xeril would be able to handle this yet he expected far too much.

Crying out in agony, Xeril grabbed hold of his broken arm and took quick breaths.

“That was my bad…” Sammuel sighed. He hadn’t been accustomed at all to dealing with other people. If he was any better, he would’ve been able to win this small competition without inflicting too much harm on Xeril. “I’ll pay for your injuries.”

The competition in itself wasn’t malicious. There was no reason to push it this far.

Trying to bear with the pain, Xeril looked up at Sammuel. “I’d actually like that.” Another person who knew basic first aid came up to secure Xeril’s arm so that it didn’t flop around. After receiving 20 silver coins, he could only give up this time around.

“Again, I didn’t expect you to do that. I was just surprised.” Although Xeril started it first, Sammuel was the one that took it too far. The rules were blurry at the start.

“If you want to make it up to me then how about a drink after your job? My treat. And those who want to join in, you can pay for your own.” Xeril took this much better than Sammuel had anticipated.

Instead of being filled with fury and rage, Xeril understood the implication of him losing here.

Someone who also has a [Skill], he’s definitely worth befriending. So what if I got a broken arm? I can turn this into an opportunity. What’s more, he’s a swordsman, he’ll definitely be skilled.

“I don’t mind that.” Sammuel was relieved that Xeril acted this way. At least he didn’t have to do something that both of them would regret. “So, Lawrence, shall we get going?”

“It’s overkill but I guess I got lucky this time around. Let’s go.” Lawrence shrugged off the interaction before him. If they managed to reconcile then it was good for them. All he wanted was the most fit person for the job.