CHAPTER 36: HAMDAL’S BET

"You don’t want to be promoted?" Zarnak asked, surprised at Grey’s refusal.

"No sir. I wish to stay in the C class." Grey said firmly.

"Like hell I’d like to go to S class and be the center of attention. I’m fucking free here right now."

If it would have been the previous Grey before transmigration, he would have jumped up in excitement. Ready to sail in the boat of S class right that instant.

But the Grey now was different. In C class he had freedom. The classes were less, no professor had any expectations from them, no one cares if they attend classes or not.

It was not mandatory to join a club like in the S and A class, so those days were off for him.

Grey’s priority right now was exploring dungeons, hunting eclipse beasts and leveling up. He was free from the constraints of S class and the mountain of expectations and hope placed on them.

"B-But why?" Even Thorgar was shocked at his choice.

"Why the hell are they so nosy. Now what the fuck do I say?" Grey was perplexed as to what reason he should throw at them. It should be convincing enough for them to believe and not too over the top, leaving space for doubt and speculation.

"Well...you see sir...I was fired up that day when you said that we are no less than the other classes, and it’s just that we don’t work hard. You promised to help us train and make us strong enough to defeat the S class."

"I want to prove this fact sir. I want to win against the S class while being in the auxiliary C class that everyone scorns upon, and show everyone that we are no less, we can be heroes too." Grey said with a zeal in his eyes, his fists clenched in determination as he squeezed out every single drop of acting in his bag.

Silence spread in the room. Thorgar didn’t realize when his lips had lifted into a wide grin, his eyes watery, almost on the verge of tears.

Grey’s words had even moved Zarnak and Flint as they nodded in praise for him.

"HAHAHAHAHAH!!!" Hamdal’s hearty laughter fell like a thunderclap on their ears.

"Amazing! Splendid conviction child. I don’t know how to counter you. I don’t wish to douse this intense fire of passion burning inside you. But, there’s no fun in accepting your wishes this easily." Hamdal smirked.

"Let us make a bet."

"What the hell is this old man thinking now?" Grey thought, an ominous feeling creeped up his spine.

"You’ll be representing the C class in the first-year final examinations. If the C class becomes the overall champion, then you can stay there itself. But, if you fail, and the S class wins, then you’ll be joining the S class from next year."

"And If you refuse this bet, then you’ll be joining the S class right this instant."

"What a psychotic old man. I’m gaining nothing from this bet."

"But what would I gain from this sir? It’s a completely one-sided bet." Grey said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Hoho! Look at this greedy brat. Alright, since you fight with your fists too, I’ll give you the weapon that I used in my younger days, my ’doom gauntlets’."

Gasps of shock followed right after the words left Hamdal. Zarnak and Thorgar’s eyes were opened wide in shock. They couldn’t believe what they had just heard.

Grey was confused, he didn’t know what kind of gauntlets these were, but seeing those two’s reaction, he guessed it was something good.

There was no choice left now. If he refused, he’d be labeled a coward. The headmaster and the professors would look down on him and he’d have to say goodbye to his freedom thereafter.

"I accept sir."

A wide smile of satisfaction and praise spread on Hamdal’s face. He was intrigued. Grey had not disappointed him.

*****

When Grey was busy with Hamdal and the others, Elena and her team were fighting a masked man in the outskirts of the city.

The masked man had a cube shaped box on one hand and a sword in the other. Also, a blue pendant glowed around his neck.

The five of them had surrounded him, and were trying to steal the box away from him.

"Water cannon." The gem on Silvan’s staff glowed, a ball of water formed in front of it. He pointed his staff towards the masked man, when the water ball shot towards him.

Aura covered the masked man’s sword. He slashed forward, cutting the water ball into two as two splashes of water fell at his side.

Mor rushed forward, his claws coated in aura, about to strike.

"Moon slash." Elena swung her sword, her skill activated as the sword arch zoomed away.

The masked man parried Mor’s claw strike with his sword and immediately jumped back to evade Elena’s moon slash.

But just when he landed on the ground, it started glowing amber, his feet felt hot, heat rising up.

"Inferno." Silvan had placed his skill right where the masked man landed, anticipating this beforehand.

A pillar of fire erupted, swirling like a tornado straight up. The masked man was completely engulfed by the fire inside.

They all waited for the skill to end with berated breath. They knew this would not kill that man, but at least they hoped the damage was significant.

The fire pillar died down, revealing burnt grass and charred earth, but there was no sign of the masked man.

"That was a nice move." The masked man appeared right behind Silvan, his sword slashing toward his back. The pendant on his neck cracked, on the verge of shattering.

"Sanctuary of the world tree." Just as Silvan called out his skill, thick dark roots pierced out of the ground, forming a dome shaped structure with Silvan protected inside.

The masked man’s sword slash struck at the roots. The hit shook his sword, the vibrations tarvelling back into his hands.

He thought he had ambushed Silvan perfectly. But his quick response of projecting the defensive dome up took him by surprise.

"Now!" Silvan’s shout pierced the thick roots, spreading out in a wave for all to hear present there.

The masked man heard booms of displaced air. Two projectiles inbound towards him.

"Shit." Before he could respond, two aura infused arrows were right at his face, the pointy metal ends gleaming with a mocking light.