The further they drifted away from the pillar of crystal, the more measured the responses of the E Rankers around them became. Although each of these titans could have normally observed everything occurring within such a small segment of reality, there was such a density of power around them that distinguishing the actions of one challenger above the metaphysical din was almost impossible. Of course, there were downsides to this...

“Pinkfleshes,” a muscular Teruvarian man exclaimed, leering at them as they approached. The orcish analog was a stereotypical representative of his species, brutish and green of skin. He was surrounded by a small circle of sycophants. “It has been too long since I have tasted one of your kind.”

Sam raised an eyebrow, but internally, his Dao was already beginning to surge. “Excuse me?”

“I forget. You lesser races all look the same. Your pathetic species is just one of many. What are these creatures called again?” He asked, turning to one of his lackeys.

“Apes?” The woman suggested. Sam had to admit, it was hard to tell that she was a woman, so muscled and blockish was her appearance.

Sam felt a sudden explosion of rage from the Overlord, but for now, it was kept within. Sam’s own Dao was starting to heat up as well. “Let me get this straight. Not only do you admit to us that you have consumed members of our species, but then proceed to belittle us? This is not a playground, you bastard. There is nobody here to save you.”

“Do you hear that, Gralza?” The Teruvarian exclaimed in delight, addressing his female companion. “They actually think they have a chance.”

“I’m going to kill him,” the Overlord muttered, already gathering his power.

Sam held out hand to stop the man before he did something rash. Clearly, there was some sort of ulterior motive here on the behalf of the Teruvarian. No real person acted in such a cartoonish manner without wanting something from it.

“What are you playing at here?” Sam asked, concealing his rage for a bit longer. “Are you simply begging to die?”

“Why don’t you find out?” The other man asked, his eyes flickering downwards. It was at that point that Sam realized the odious figure was eyeing up Terra’s Will. He looked over the green skinned fighter, and saw a large hammer attached to a strap on his back. It was quite clear that he was looking for a replacement.

“Ah, I see,” Sam said simply. “You’re looking for an excuse to fight and claim my weapon. This whole charade is to taunt me into accepting your challenge. Unfortunately, I have no reason to do so.”

“However, I do,” the Overlord added, cracking his knuckles. It was quite odd to Sam that such things worked, even though the E Ranker no longer possessed any bones. “Anyone who claims to have eaten a member of my species deserves to die.”

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“An idealist, eh?” The Teruvarian asked, his face falling slightly. It was clear that he had wanted to fight Sam, but he saw this as an opportunity to take away his only ally. “It has been a while since I fought one such as you. Most do not care for much beyond their own power. Very well. I am Usharn Garavol. Take that name to your ancestors.”

All around, the other E Rankers in the vicinity made way, recognizing that a fight between elites was about to go down. Sam merely stood there, confident in his own power to let him watch without fear. As neither he or the Overlord had unleashed their auras, there was really no way to tell how strong they truly were.

The Overlord watched as Usharn stepped forwards, taking his hammer from his back and clutching it tightly. It had a large metal spike on its end, and a blunt head the size of a man’s. Compared to Sam’s weapon though, it was essentially a piece of trash. Barely E Rank in power, it was simply cobbled together from various materials. Looking around, Sam saw that few others possessed anything better. Perhaps they thought that he was the scion of some wealthy sect.

Usharn let out a bellow and activated a movement skill, his body erupting with speed. The ground beneath him cratered, and he surged through the air. Many of the onlookers were unable to track it. Of course, to Sam and the Overlord, it merely looked like the Teruvarian was sprinting. His hammer came down, wreathed in an orb of putrid purple light. Whatever elemental energy it was, it felt foul.

The Overlord waited until the last moment, acting as if he could not perceive the incoming attack. Then his hand whipped upwards, a sonic boom ringing out. The hammer stopped dead before his hand, and Usharn’s body crumpled. Had he still possessed bones, they would have snapped under the force. With a look of disgust on his face, Sam’s father gathered his Dao energy to his hand and began to squeeze. Corded muscles bulged on his forearm, his body creating the facsimile of normal bodily functions to facilitate the expression of his strength.

The ground exploded outwards below him, but most of the force was channeled through his body, causing him to vibrate visibly. It did little to him though. The hammer head deformed and then, with a thunderous snap, burst apart into a spray of fragments. Before Usharn could react, the Overlord tore the weapon’s remains out of the man’s grip and drove his fist into his face. There was a colossal bang as pure Dao energy ravaged the man’s form, tearing apart his fused body, soul and mind. His entire being unraveled, and a moment later, bloody chunks of flesh scattered across the ground. With a single strike, the Overlord had utterly destroyed a being who would have been counted among the elites of the E Rankers of the Multiverse.

He snapped his hand through the air, clearing off the blood. Then he set his suddenly glowing eyes upon Usharn’s companions. Only then did his aura finally appear. A wave of blisteringly hot energy, imbued to the utmost with the ideals of Supremacy, rippled outwards and drove the challengers to their knees.

“Be lucky I do not end you for the sins of your leader,” the Overlord declared. “Now, leave my sight.”

The Teruvarians scurried away, their tails between their legs. A wave of energy rushed into the Overlord, boosting his Dao. Sam shook his head, and continued. At this rate, everyone on the floor would know who they were. He could tell that most saw him simply as some sort of sidekick to the Overlord, save for those who had been at the pillar. After all, what were the odds of two prodigies not only being on the same floor, but fighting alongside each other?

As Usharn’s corpse cooled on the ground, a notification rang out to everyone on the floor.

The first event is starting in one minute. It will be selected randomly at the time.