Baby Blue

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Later on, the battle continue for some time. It was on the part where those at Fifth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage battle.

As for Cole's travel companion - Nick, Ben and Ken - they all defeated their opponent and were now officially a disciple of Five Element Sect. Although it's hard, as they were almost defeated by their opponent, but they managed.

Of course, Cole and Ricky were happy for them as their purpose was achieved.

Minutes later, a rowdy man with a strength of Fifth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage hop on the stage.

"I'm Brow! Fifth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage! Check pointers with me!" Brow announced loudly.

"I'll share pointers with you." Cole shouted back. He then look at Ricky and said, "Stay here and watch."

Ricky nodded, "Yes, big brother!"

Cole started to walk towards the stage.

"Isn't that guy the Stone Breaker? As far as I remember, he's a Fourth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage right? Why is he battling a Fifth-Level?"

"Beats me. Maybe he's a genius who could defeat opponents with the level difference?"

"Psssh, genius? More like he have a death wish. He definitely just wanted to show off with the girls!"

Cole shakes his head internally after he heard the whisper, or so he thought as they didn't bother to lower their voice, specially the nickname Stone Breaker.

Is Stone Breaker connected to the Testing Stones?

Tsk...

Besides, he was sure to himself that he would impress anyone but woman.

"Were you sleeping little lady? Are you sure your not in the wrong battle platform?" Brow said the moment Cole step on the stage.

"I'm not little and definitely not a lady!" Cole retorted. It's not his fault that his opponent were as tall as a grown bear, making him look a little short next to him!

The nerve!

He already accept the fact that he look like a girl, eventhough most of his face admirers were all perverts so far, but the height...

Grrr~~~

"If I defeat him, is it still counted as my points?" Brow ask the judge of the battle platform as his challenger was a kid at Fourth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage.

The judge nodded, "Yes. However, the moment we verify that you two are accomplice to pass, then we'll disqualified you both."

"Don't worry. We are not." Answered Cole.

"Yes." Brow also answered fired up.

"You can start at any moment." The judge said.

Brow smile at Cole, "Get ready to lose little lady."

Cole smile at him and started to move and ran.

Of course, Brow had to chase after Cole as he treated him as a running free points.

"You don't have to run, little lady!" He shouted as he chase after the running kid.

Seconds later, Brow shorten the distance between them. He knew that the kid can't outrun him as he was fast despite his big body. And without suspense, he arrived near at Cole's back. He then started to punch.

Of course, he controlled his strength as he don't want to fatally injure his opponent. As Elder Three said, this wasn't a life and death battle where the outcome could only be seen after the other one was eliminated.

To his surprise, as if the kid have an eye at the back of his head, he dodged. He immediately regain his wits and once again punch the kid repeatedly. However, the kid continue to dodge which left him quite frustrated but he still continue.

If I can't hit you with a hundred punch, then a thousand punch it is!

He won't believe that the kid could continue to perfectly dodge!

Moments later, he stopped his assault after he saw where they were currently standing. They were at the edge of the battle platform!

"Hehehe... Nowhere to run, little lady?" Brow taunted Cole.

Cole just sneered at Brow but didn't voice out his answer. This time, Cole didn't started to run but pose a fighting stance instead.

Brow secretly laughed. The twig in his front actually wanted to put out a fight.

Hehehe... Little lady~

"[Quake Punch]!" Brow muttered as he look at his cornered opponent. This is his most powerful fist technique and it has the ability to add a vibrate force like of earthquake.

He started to step forward—

Bam!

What...?

The excited and little arrogant Brow look below and saw his feet touching the ground... out of stage.

He instantly got confuse. He was sure that he was on the verge of winning just a while ago, ready to punch the twig out of stage.

He wanted to ask the judge what the hell happened, as well as a rematch as he felt that it was too shady match, when he saw the look the judge gave him. He also look at the crowd and saw that their reaction were all the same; they were all looking at him differently as if they were looking at a crazy guy. The only different reaction was the twigs', the guy was sneering at him.

Cole openly sneered at Brow. Every dragon has their reverse scale and his was his height. It maybe becuase his body back on Earth were kind of have stunted growth and was considered dwarf, his height was always marked-at to the point of great humiliation that eventually turns to great anger.

The technique that left Brow in despair was Blue's [Thousands Illusions]. After he answered the judge, he instructed Blue to use the skill. It was executed perfectly that Brow didn't even know that he was already inside the perfect illusion.

But Brow couldn't be blame. One of the scariest point of Blue's [Thousands Illusions] were hard to be detected thus can't easily be avoided and dodge, specially those at the same level of strength. Added to Blue's [Mental Corrosion], it was harder to break free the longer they remain inside. It was the power of illusion.

He puts Brow inside the illusion that he was running for his life due to their level difference until almost at the edge of the battle platform but the truth was they, or just Brow, were truly at the edge of the stage. One step away from the edge exactly. So the moment Brow resumed his assault, he was sent out from the stage by his own.

Brow face darkened. He felt humiliated. He could endure if there were only few but it was different if the whole crowd ridiculed him. He always wanted to be the center of the attention but not this kind of attention.

"I don't know what you were up to but you run the whole time in the battle platform while punching 'something' or 'someone' in your front. You even said a taunt. And as you're out of the circle..." The judge said while he look at indignant Brow. "...I hereby announce that Cole is this match winner. He defeated a Fifth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage with his cultivation of Fourth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage. He is now eligible to enter the Five Element Sect as a disciple." The judge announced.

"Wait!" Brow shouted angrily. "I'm not convinced! He cheated! I want a rematch!" He rebuked.

"Convince or not, that is not our problem. You're the one that battles him so you should know his abilities are." The judge started which makes Brow more unconvinced. Yes, he was the one who battle him—or was it a battle since the the twig just run and avoid his attacks—yet he was also the only one who didn't know how he was defeated and what technique that defeated him. That was his most biggest question.

If he's beaten 'till black and blue by the twig, then he'll definitely got convinced but he was almost winning then got defeated in the next second. It definitely left him unconvinced.

"He didn't cheated 'cause he can't. The moment he did, I may not be able to detect it but Elder Three definitely can as he was still expectating and checking this event. And as you can see, Elder Three didn't appear which signifies that he didn't cheat. If you want to insist then I'll call Elder Three. About rematch, the sect didn't disallow it but the winner, regardless its you or Cole, won't receive any points."

Brow didn't answer but clenched his fist hard. He might have a great background and backing but if an Elder were added in this problem, it will be a great problem not only him but also the people at his back. He don't want this subject to drop but he should to avoid implications and problems.

"He win, fair and square." A voice of a male suddenly rang out. Moments later, a male with a great resemblance to Brow but look more older appear and near at their location.

"Brother!" Brow exclaimed and salute at the newly arrived individual.

The guy nooded his head, "No need to make this issue bigger. You may got defeated here but look at the bright side; your strength didn't diminished for a bit. You are still at your peak. Just find another opponent."

"Yes!" Brow answered a little motivated as what his brother said were true. The only time he truly make a move and put a little toll to him was when he used the [Quake Punch Technique] but it was almost negligible. He nodded his head to judge and to, very reluctant and out of his will but just treated as courtesy, Cole.

Cole also nod as he don't want to be known as a rude and snob person.

Brow then left the stage and look at the stage where, luckily, someone was issuing a challenge with his strength as Fifth-Level Mana Gathering-Stage, the same level as him. He hurriedly run to the battle platform yet when he arrived and hop on the stage, the guy look him with ridicule. His face immediately darken as he knew that his reputation was at the rock bottom at this time because of his last and humiliating battle.

He just have to take it back then!

As for Brow's opponent, the poor guy, got his future ruin just because of his arrogant expression. He was beaten until he was black and blue and didn't even have an ounce of strength left to move much less to continue to battle. He was disqualified for the recruitment, without a doubt.

After the battle, Brow's heavy feeling lighten up immediately. His reputation was saved from the drain and he even showed off his capabilities. He then look at the moaning guy in pain and smile in his masterpiece. He used his almost nonexistent knowledge about the human bodies to beat the guy's body without injuring him fatally, thus, although his ex-opponent looks like would die from any second, he wasn't disqualified.

The guy would be alright after a few days, or weeks, of rest.

As for the spectators who wanted to watch how a Brow would get humiliated a second time, they were dumbfounded.

That guy is scary... And strong...

They then immediately turn their head at the battle stage where Cole was.

Goodness! He defeated a guy this strong and he did it without effort?! How strong he really is?! What skill did he used?!