Krune then took in a deep breath. So what if you appeared? I can feel you, you know? Krune quickly gave up taking that lot and moved his hand to grab the next one. However, the Calamity Laws also moved away, now acting on the lot he was about to take.
Veins began to appear on Krune's head as his expression turned dark.
He ran his hands right and left, moving between the lots. Unfortunately, the Calamity Laws, or Little Cally, moved together with him, making sure that it was on the lot he wanted to draw.
"You're too despicable!"
Goken's mouth, who was holding the lots, twitched in response. Despicable? Sure, the test wasn't fair, but why was he being cursed out of nowhere? Goken then grabbed Krune's head as his face burned with anger.
"Do you want to die?"
The others looked at Krune with their eyes wide open after hearing his words. This guy sure had guts! To go out there and say such a thing to the supervisor right in front of his face. Even those at the 1st Stage of the God Core Realm wouldn't dare to say such a thing.
Krune really felt like dying right now. I'm not talking about you at all! It's Little Cally! He's the culprit! Of course, it would be hard to convince anyone to think that way.
"Ahem... my apologies, Senior Goken. I misspoke. I definitely wasn't talking about you."
Krune's head worked quickly as he thought up an excuse.
"It's just that drawing lots reminded me of a certain someone I'm not on good terms with. In the end, I couldn't hold my emotions and spoke such disrespectful words. I hope this senior here can forgive this weak little one. I truly had no intention of offending you. After all, who would be idiotic enough to do such a thing here?"
As Krune said that, a familiar voice echoed in his mind...
'Hahahaha! This is too damn funny. You really are the best!'
Krune truly wanted to curse out loud again. However, he knew that he might die if he did so. He could only endure the boiling rage inside him and take a deep breath.
Goken narrowed his eyes and eventually let Krune go. In the end, Krune's argument made sense. He would truly have to be an idiot to curse him in such a place like that.
"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you go. Now, stop wasting my time and grab a lot already."
Krune nodded, thanking the man in front of him.
"Thank you, Senior Goken."
Without any other choice, Krune pulled one of the lots, which Little Cally obviously altered somehow.
'Ignore it. Ignore it. Pretend Little Cally doesn't exist. He will get bored at some point and leave.'
The other participants were surprised that Krune still escaped a beating. However, that was just about it. They put those thoughts behind their heads and went to take their lots as well. After some, everyone had finished taking their lots.
Goken nodded after that before he activated another formation. Suddenly, everyone's lots began to shine as some numbers appeared on them. Following that, a screen lit up on the wall, showing everyone's three opponents for the test. If they wanted to pass it, they had to win all three battles.
At first, everyone only paid attention to their own opponents. However, once they finished looking at their own, they also looked at the other battles that would happen. It was then that they noticed something off.
"That guy... is going to fight three God Core Realm participants?"
In an instant, everyone looked at Krune, the only 1st Stage God Foundation Realm participant this time around. In fact, everyone wished to take him as an opponent. However, none of them thought that the three strongest participants would end up fighting the weakest one.
Krune's mouth twitched as he looked at the result.
Out of nowhere, someone patted Krune's shoulder, showing some pity on his eyes as he said.
"Brother, how are you so unlucky? Well, I guess you can also consider it as another form of luck."
Another one nodded, saying.
"That's destiny telling you not to become a mercenary with your current cultivation."
"The gods must have done it. It's a sign, trying to make you give up the battles before they start."
"In a certain way, this is the God Realm thinking of his wellbeing. Just admit defeat when your battles start, brother."
Krune's expression became darker the more everyone talked.
'What destiny? What fate? Fuck all of that. It's all Little Cally's fault! He was the one who did it! Everyone's doing it for my wellbeing? There's no way in hell that Little Cally wished that!'
Of course, Krune didn't say that out loud.
'Stay calm. Pretend you didn't hear anything. If I really leave today, Little Cally will come and bother me again tomorrow. Krune, you won't let that perverted law bother you. Your mind is still. Your body is water. You are still water! Nothing can bother you! Litle Cally simply doesn't exist. Yes, let's go with that. There is no such thing as sentient laws. That's perfect!'
As Krune tried his hardest to maintain a state of 'still water,' the battles started. Naturally, those three God Core Realm participants were quite pleased. Their main concern was to fight against each other. But in the end, they only got those in the God Foundation Realm as opponents. They were even more pleased that one of them was Krune.
Without much issues, the first God Core Realm guy won in the fight against his opponent, and so did the second one. Eventually, Krune's turn for battle arrived.
"Krune vs. Lotaro. Come forward."
Lotaro snorted as he stood on one side of the arena.
"Hey, idiot. Just leave the arena already. I won't gain anything even if I beat you out of here."
Krune arrived right after. However, it was as if he didn't hear Lotaro at all. Well, that was the truth. At the moment, he was just thinking about himself.
'Still water... still water... you are still water.'
At first, everyone didn't pay much attention to this battle. They all thought Krune would admit defeat straight away. After all, we're talking about an entire realm of difference here. However, their predictions didn't become a reality.
"Is he... ignoring Lotaro?"
"That can't be... right?"
"Is he suicidal or something?"
"Perhaps...? There are crazy people and beasts for everything."
Goken's eyebrows raised a bit, noticing that Krune didn't leave the arena. However, that was about it. Whatever happened to Krune wouldn't be his problem.
"Start!"
Lotaro narrowed his eyes as he looked at Krune. Even up to now, Krune didn't look at him at all. It was as if Lotaro wasn't even there. Naturally, that displeased Lotaro a lot.
"Hey, beast. Are you listening to me?"
Nothing... However, another vein popped out of Krune's head.
'Still water... ignore the noise, still water...'
Lotaro's patience was already running thin by now.
"You dare ignore me?"
Lotaro's God Energy began to overflow as he dashed in Krune's direction. Each step made the ground tremble with his power.
Well, he wasn't the only one losing his temper.
"Shut up! Can't you see I'm trying to maintain a state of still water?"
Huh? That was the thought inside everyone's minds. Still water? What the hell was he talking about?
Lotaro was taken aback for a second. But soon after, he finally exploded in rage. A puny 1st Stage God Foundation Realm cultivator was treating him like air in front of everyone. How could he bear that?
"Fuck you, you piece of shit. You asked for it!"
With that, Lotaro pounced forward as he brought his weapon forward, an enormous hammer. His momentum increased as the Earth Element and laws gathered around his body. The arena trembled even more before he arrived right in front of Krune.
"Die!!!"
Eventually, Krune's temper exploded as well. God Energy burst out of his body together with all the elements and laws. Krune didn't retreat from the attack at all. Instead, one of his new shields came out of his Spatial Ring, stopping right in front of his fist.
"I told you... to SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Soon after, Krune punched out with his shield.
At first, everyone thought that Krune had gone mad. Yulian even made his way to the arena, ready to break into the protection formation to save Krune. However, the unbelievable happened after that.
They all expected the shield to break apart or to be sent back, smashing Krune's arm and body together. In their eyes, Krune was already dead. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen. Instead, Krune's shield flashed with a rainbow light for a second. They didn't know what it was, but they all saw how Lotaro's hammer crumbled in front of Krune's Shield Punch!
Krune's momentum didn't stop as he hit Lotaro's body right after.
*Bang!*
Not long after, Lotaro shot like a cannonball back from where he came.
*Bang! Shatter!*
He hit the protection formation of the arena, which couldn't bear the power of the impact and shattered as well. Eventually, Lotaro collided with the wall all the way back, leaving a human-shaped indent on it before he slowly slid down.
"Phew... That feels a lot better. Still water. I am still water. Nothing can anger me. Yes, definitely. I'm totally calm."
Krune then took in a deep breath before looking at Goken, who had his mouth agape. He then asked.
"Senior Goken, when does my first battle start?"
*Bang!*
Everyone fell with their faces on the ground.
Brother! You can't be serious, right? Was Lotaro's existence not that substantial to you?
Goken quickly recovered before asking.
"Are you making fun of me? Didn't you just send your opponent flying right now?"
Krune was taken aback. Eventually, he realized what Goken was talking about.
"Ah! But... I just attacked him because he didn't shut up. Was that considered the first battle?"
Goken's mouth twitched in response, trying his best to maintain his calm.
"Why the hell do you think I called you then? Can't you see where you are? This is the testing arena! Why did you come up?"
Krune scratched the back of his head as he responded.
"I wasn't paying attention. My body moved by itself when I heard my name."
No one knew whether they should laugh or cry. Doesn't that mean that Krune wasn't showing his full power at all? If one was this strong when one wasn't paying attention, then just how strong can one be if one took it seriously?
Krune couldn't help but sigh, eventually asking.
"Then... Can I fight the other two already?"
As soon as he said those words...
"I admit defeat!"
"I admit defeat!"
The other two God Core Realm guys admitted defeat straight away. Are you kidding? Lotaro was already half-dead! Lotaro wasn't much stronger or weaker than themselves to start with. If they went up to the arena, they would definitely end up in an even worse state. There was always tomorrow's test. They could try again by then.
Krune, of course, didn't know how to react, scratching his head as he asked with an awkward chuckle.
"Errr... Ahem... Does that mean I passed the test?"
Goken's mouth twitched again before saying.
"If you didn't pass, then who would?"
Krune then took in a deep breath. So what if you appeared? I can feel you, you know? Krune quickly gave up taking that lot and moved his hand to grab the next one. However, the Calamity Laws also moved away, now acting on the lot he was about to take.
Veins began to appear on Krune's head as his expression turned dark.
He ran his hands right and left, moving between the lots. Unfortunately, the Calamity Laws, or Little Cally, moved together with him, making sure that it was on the lot he wanted to draw.
"You're too despicable!"
Goken's mouth, who was holding the lots, twitched in response. Despicable? Sure, the test wasn't fair, but why was he being cursed out of nowhere? Goken then grabbed Krune's head as his face burned with anger.
"Do you want to die?"
The others looked at Krune with their eyes wide open after hearing his words. This guy sure had guts! To go out there and say such a thing to the supervisor right in front of his face. Even those at the 1st Stage of the God Core Realm wouldn't dare to say such a thing.
Krune really felt like dying right now. I'm not talking about you at all! It's Little Cally! He's the culprit! Of course, it would be hard to convince anyone to think that way.
"Ahem... my apologies, Senior Goken. I misspoke. I definitely wasn't talking about you."
Krune's head worked quickly as he thought up an excuse.
"It's just that drawing lots reminded me of a certain someone I'm not on good terms with. In the end, I couldn't hold my emotions and spoke such disrespectful words. I hope this senior here can forgive this weak little one. I truly had no intention of offending you. After all, who would be idiotic enough to do such a thing here?"
As Krune said that, a familiar voice echoed in his mind...
'Hahahaha! This is too damn funny. You really are the best!'
Krune truly wanted to curse out loud again. However, he knew that he might die if he did so. He could only endure the boiling rage inside him and take a deep breath.
Goken narrowed his eyes and eventually let Krune go. In the end, Krune's argument made sense. He would truly have to be an idiot to curse him in such a place like that.
"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let you go. Now, stop wasting my time and grab a lot already."
Krune nodded, thanking the man in front of him.
"Thank you, Senior Goken."
Without any other choice, Krune pulled one of the lots, which Little Cally obviously altered somehow.
'Ignore it. Ignore it. Pretend Little Cally doesn't exist. He will get bored at some point and leave.'
The other participants were surprised that Krune still escaped a beating. However, that was just about it. They put those thoughts behind their heads and went to take their lots as well. After some, everyone had finished taking their lots.
Goken nodded after that before he activated another formation. Suddenly, everyone's lots began to shine as some numbers appeared on them. Following that, a screen lit up on the wall, showing everyone's three opponents for the test. If they wanted to pass it, they had to win all three battles.
At first, everyone only paid attention to their own opponents. However, once they finished looking at their own, they also looked at the other battles that would happen. It was then that they noticed something off.
"That guy... is going to fight three God Core Realm participants?"
In an instant, everyone looked at Krune, the only 1st Stage God Foundation Realm participant this time around. In fact, everyone wished to take him as an opponent. However, none of them thought that the three strongest participants would end up fighting the weakest one.
Krune's mouth twitched as he looked at the result.
Out of nowhere, someone patted Krune's shoulder, showing some pity on his eyes as he said.
"Brother, how are you so unlucky? Well, I guess you can also consider it as another form of luck."
Another one nodded, saying.
"That's destiny telling you not to become a mercenary with your current cultivation."
"The gods must have done it. It's a sign, trying to make you give up the battles before they start."
"In a certain way, this is the God Realm thinking of his wellbeing. Just admit defeat when your battles start, brother."
Krune's expression became darker the more everyone talked.
'What destiny? What fate? Fuck all of that. It's all Little Cally's fault! He was the one who did it! Everyone's doing it for my wellbeing? There's no way in hell that Little Cally wished that!'
Of course, Krune didn't say that out loud.
'Stay calm. Pretend you didn't hear anything. If I really leave today, Little Cally will come and bother me again tomorrow. Krune, you won't let that perverted law bother you. Your mind is still. Your body is water. You are still water! Nothing can bother you! Litle Cally simply doesn't exist. Yes, let's go with that. There is no such thing as sentient laws. That's perfect!'
As Krune tried his hardest to maintain a state of 'still water,' the battles started. Naturally, those three God Core Realm participants were quite pleased. Their main concern was to fight against each other. But in the end, they only got those in the God Foundation Realm as opponents. They were even more pleased that one of them was Krune.
Without much issues, the first God Core Realm guy won in the fight against his opponent, and so did the second one. Eventually, Krune's turn for battle arrived.
"Krune vs. Lotaro. Come forward."
Lotaro snorted as he stood on one side of the arena.
"Hey, idiot. Just leave the arena already. I won't gain anything even if I beat you out of here."
Krune arrived right after. However, it was as if he didn't hear Lotaro at all. Well, that was the truth. At the moment, he was just thinking about himself.
'Still water... still water... you are still water.'
At first, everyone didn't pay much attention to this battle. They all thought Krune would admit defeat straight away. After all, we're talking about an entire realm of difference here. However, their predictions didn't become a reality.
"Is he... ignoring Lotaro?"
"That can't be... right?"
"Is he suicidal or something?"
"Perhaps...? There are crazy people and beasts for everything."
Goken's eyebrows raised a bit, noticing that Krune didn't leave the arena. However, that was about it. Whatever happened to Krune wouldn't be his problem.
"Start!"
Lotaro narrowed his eyes as he looked at Krune. Even up to now, Krune didn't look at him at all. It was as if Lotaro wasn't even there. Naturally, that displeased Lotaro a lot.
"Hey, beast. Are you listening to me?"
Nothing... However, another vein popped out of Krune's head.
'Still water... ignore the noise, still water...'
Lotaro's patience was already running thin by now.
"You dare ignore me?"
Lotaro's God Energy began to overflow as he dashed in Krune's direction. Each step made the ground tremble with his power.
Well, he wasn't the only one losing his temper.
"Shut up! Can't you see I'm trying to maintain a state of still water?"
Huh? That was the thought inside everyone's minds. Still water? What the hell was he talking about?
Lotaro was taken aback for a second. But soon after, he finally exploded in rage. A puny 1st Stage God Foundation Realm cultivator was treating him like air in front of everyone. How could he bear that?
"Fuck you, you piece of shit. You asked for it!"
With that, Lotaro pounced forward as he brought his weapon forward, an enormous hammer. His momentum increased as the Earth Element and laws gathered around his body. The arena trembled even more before he arrived right in front of Krune.
"Die!!!"
Eventually, Krune's temper exploded as well. God Energy burst out of his body together with all the elements and laws. Krune didn't retreat from the attack at all. Instead, one of his new shields came out of his Spatial Ring, stopping right in front of his fist.
"I told you... to SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
Soon after, Krune punched out with his shield.
At first, everyone thought that Krune had gone mad. Yulian even made his way to the arena, ready to break into the protection formation to save Krune. However, the unbelievable happened after that.
They all expected the shield to break apart or to be sent back, smashing Krune's arm and body together. In their eyes, Krune was already dead. Unfortunately for them, that didn't happen. Instead, Krune's shield flashed with a rainbow light for a second. They didn't know what it was, but they all saw how Lotaro's hammer crumbled in front of Krune's Shield Punch!
Krune's momentum didn't stop as he hit Lotaro's body right after.
*Bang!*
Not long after, Lotaro shot like a cannonball back from where he came.
*Bang! Shatter!*
He hit the protection formation of the arena, which couldn't bear the power of the impact and shattered as well. Eventually, Lotaro collided with the wall all the way back, leaving a human-shaped indent on it before he slowly slid down.
"Phew... That feels a lot better. Still water. I am still water. Nothing can anger me. Yes, definitely. I'm totally calm."
Krune then took in a deep breath before looking at Goken, who had his mouth agape. He then asked.
"Senior Goken, when does my first battle start?"
*Bang!*
Everyone fell with their faces on the ground.
Brother! You can't be serious, right? Was Lotaro's existence not that substantial to you?
Goken quickly recovered before asking.
"Are you making fun of me? Didn't you just send your opponent flying right now?"
Krune was taken aback. Eventually, he realized what Goken was talking about.
"Ah! But... I just attacked him because he didn't shut up. Was that considered the first battle?"
Goken's mouth twitched in response, trying his best to maintain his calm.
"Why the hell do you think I called you then? Can't you see where you are? This is the testing arena! Why did you come up?"
Krune scratched the back of his head as he responded.
"I wasn't paying attention. My body moved by itself when I heard my name."
No one knew whether they should laugh or cry. Doesn't that mean that Krune wasn't showing his full power at all? If one was this strong when one wasn't paying attention, then just how strong can one be if one took it seriously?
Krune couldn't help but sigh, eventually asking.
"Then... Can I fight the other two already?"
As soon as he said those words...
"I admit defeat!"
"I admit defeat!"
The other two God Core Realm guys admitted defeat straight away. Are you kidding? Lotaro was already half-dead! Lotaro wasn't much stronger or weaker than themselves to start with. If they went up to the arena, they would definitely end up in an even worse state. There was always tomorrow's test. They could try again by then.
Krune, of course, didn't know how to react, scratching his head as he asked with an awkward chuckle.
"Errr... Ahem... Does that mean I passed the test?"
Goken's mouth twitched again before saying.
"If you didn't pass, then who would?"
