Kento didn’t dare to block it like Carter did this entire match. He ducked away.

But the silver-haired man chased after him. His other hand flew up from below and delivered a devastating uppercut.

"Aw, come on!" Kento blocked his face with both of his arms.

Carter’s fist slammed on Kento’s forearms. The flame exploded and sent Kento flying away from the arena.

He lost. He lost after delivering hundreds of punches and receiving only one single punch.

The flame burned deep and burned painfully. Kento was rolling around in the ground, trying to put if out.

Carter flicked his fingers. The blue flame detached from Kento and flew back to him.

Ryuja was surprised again.

Fighter could use the Sacred Word to enhance themselves or use Elemental Attack. But they could not control the elements. What Carter just did was the power of an Invoker, not a Fighter.

Kento realized the pain had gone. He sat up slowly and sighed. The man was thrown off the arena.

"I lost."

"The winner is Ginro Musashi!"

Carter wasn’t surprise to be honest. The only one here that could threaten him was Ryuja. And even him only had a extremely minor chance to stand on par with Carter.

The silver-haired man approached Kento and reached a hand out.

"You’re good?" Carter said.

"Yeah." Kento grabbed Carter’s hand and got up.

"You have talents, Kento."

"Please... Don’t mock me. I’m the least talented person here." Kento scratched his head.

"No. You have potential. You just don’t know how to use it. No one has guided you. What you need is a teacher." Carter said.

"You want to be my teacher?" Kento said. He suddenly had a pair of glimmering puppy eyes.

Carter laughed, "I’m not the one who is suitable to teach you."

Ryuja was whispering something with the organizer. The organizer then approached Carter.

"Master Musashi. The King would like to have a private meeting with you after the matches. Master Shinka is also invited."

’He finally can’t wait anymore, huh?’

Carter nodded, "We will be there."

"Wow! The King is interested in you. You’re rich now, Master Musashi." Kento said.

"Nothing is at it seems, Kento." Carter said.

The matches continued. A staff of the tournament walked by Carter and secretly slipped him a small piece of paper.

It was a message from Kintaro.

"Do not go." It said.

Carter smiled. Fire engulfed the piece of paper and destroyed it. The Silver Blade was trying to save him. But he needed no saving. The one that needed it was Ryuja.

Carter’s gaze glanced at the King sitting on the throne.

The matches ended not long after. Carter, Tenmaru, and a few other Fighters are invited to see Ryuja. This was what people rumored as the blessing of the king. Ryuja would invite a few Fighter to work as his personal Royal Guard while the rest would continue in the Chuuchi Tournament that would take place a few days after.

The latter tournament would show off to the merchants and other officials the potential of the remaining Fighters. They would offer a position to the Fighters that were chosen. A job basically.

It was also just a coincidence that all the Fighters that were picked by Ryuja had very unique techniques. Carter was one. Tenmaru with the techniques from his royal family.

Ryuja met them in a private room.

"Welcome, Fighters! I saw your performance! You are the most talented warriors I’ve seen in recent years."

A few Fighters got their ego stroke and got all high and mighty. Carter didn’t say anything. As well as Tenmaru.

Tenmaru knew his Master well. He could feel something was wrong. He secretly stood closer to the silver-haired man.

"Now. Let’s all of us cheer for your achievements!"

Ryuja prepared a tray of cups. "This is the best alcohol in all of Jado."

The Fighters picked up the cups. But Carter didn’t. Tenmaru didn’t pick it up as well because his Master didn’t.

"Well? Aren’t you going to drink, Master Musashi?" Ryuja smiled.

Carter didn’t move. His behavior alone raised a concern in the other Fighter. The King in front of them was the master of poison after all.

A Fighter smacked his cup on the ground. The liquid spilled out and corroded the floor like acid.

"Your Majesty?! How could you do this?!" A Fighter shouted.

The other Fighters also smacked their cups. Ryuja’s expression darkened.

"What is the meaning of this? We are Elite Fighters."

"There must be a mistake, Your Majesty. We aren’t spies or anything."

"Of course I know you aren’t spies. But you guys are useful to me." Ryuja gently waved the paper fan in his hand. "It could have ended so much more simple with much less pain. But you just have to ruin it all, Master Musashi."

A Fighter suddenly trembled and lost his balance. He caught himself.

"This feeling... Wudusan?"

"The Stone Poison! It shuts off your movement and restricted you from using Martial Arts!" Another Fighter shouted. He tried to turn around and run but his body fell to the ground.

Everyone fell. Their body became paralyzed like they were turned stone. Tenmaru was also one of them.

But Carter stood. His gaze stayed fixed at Ryuja.

"How did you find out?" Ryuja smirked.

"Find out about what?" Carter raised an eyebrow.

"That I released the poison to the air, of course." Ryuja chuckled lowly. "Kekekekeke!"

"I didn’t."

"Then why did you..." Ryuja widened his eyes. Greed flooded to his gaze. "I see! You have poison immunity. How particular. If that’s the case, I must turn you into a pill!"

Ryuja rushed at Carter. He didn’t think much of Carter at all. He was a powerful Elite Fighter but Ryuja was a Peak Champion. For Ryuja, Carter was no difference than an ant.

Carter lowered his body and went into his stance.

"Primal Spiritualization! Zodiac Formation!" Carter shouted again. The Tiger projection appeared behind him. Orange flame burned bright.

"Spiritual Transference!" His body changed and gained the characteristics of a tiger. Tiger claws, tiger fur, tiger whiskers and teeth.

"Rin!" His orange fur burned bright. Then they turned blue by the power of the Sacred Words.

"Twenty times!" The thick red aura wrapped around Carter.

"This is..." Ryuja widened his eyes.

Four stacks of different powers, animal power of Primal Spiritualization, element power of the Zodiac Formation, transformation power of Spiritual Transference, flame-enhancement power of the Sacred Word "Rin". Then all of it was amplified by Adrenaline.