Chapter 267: The Duel and the Reward
Kai, Farrah, and Alfie made their way through the western region of Cameron City, following Alfie’s lead.
He had been here yesterday, and his excitement was obvious.
"You’ll see," Alfie said with a grin. "The dueling grounds aren’t like anything else in this city. It’s chaos, but it’s also an opportunity to earn a lot of money."
Kai remained silent, his mind already weighing the risks. With their items, Gene Skills, and Talent, they should be able to fight well. Especially with the Spirit Knight and Gladiator beside him.
"Let’s see..." Farrah muttered. She was also looking forward to this Dueling Grounds... She knew that leveling up Gene Skills wasn’t easy.
However, if she fought here, she might be able to increase the mastery of her Skills and level them up without using her precious Skill Points.
As they turned a corner, the noise hit them first...
It was loud!
There were cheers, chants, and the roar of a crowd packed into a massive open arena.
The dueling grounds were surrounded by makeshift stands, banners fluttering, and vendors selling food and drinks to spectators.
Kai’s eyes widened as he stepped inside. He had expected survivors fighting each other, but what he saw stunned him.
"Wait... I didn’t know they had this as well." Alfie muttered.
In the center of the arena, a smaller version of a Tyrant Unit from the A.I. Army stood!
Its metallic frame was unmistakable!
It was not using a Furnace Core, but it was definitely similar to a Field Tyrant with the way it looks!
But that wasn’t the end of the surprise, opposite it was a man armed with nothing but a sword. No armor, no exosuit... just a white shirt, ripped skinny jeans, and worn‑out shoes!
Kai was impressed...
He recalled how he relied heavily on Atom to destroy a Tyrant Unit...
But that wasn’t the biggest concern now...
’Why is a robot being used as entertainment? Won’t this be a problem if the A.I. Army learns of it? Perhaps it’s been modified... but is it safe? No self‑destruction mode? No hidden weapons that could harm the crowd?’
At this point, Kai was guessing that it had been reprogrammed like what he had done with the Sentinels before.
In any case, the crowd’s chants pulled him back to the fight.
"Rufus! Rufus! Rufus!"
The man’s name was Rufus, and he moved with incredible speed.
His Gene Skill awakening was clearly tied to velocity.
He moved around the Tyrant Unit, with his sword flashing as he struck again and again.
At first, Kai thought Rufus’s attacks were too weak to matter.
The Tyrant Unit’s armor was thick since its frame was built for war. But Rufus wasn’t trying to destroy it in one blow. He was targeting the same spot every time... the left knee joint.
Farrah leaned forward as she studied his combat patterns.
"He’s dismantling it piece by piece."
Alfie grinned. "I’ve fought against many people with a similar style. They have to be filled with stamina to do this, or they’ll tire out and die..."
Clang!
The battle continued as Rufus used only one strategy. Finding a weakness and hammering it until the enemy collapses....
Soon, the Tyrant Unit swung its massive arm, but Rufus was already gone...
He reappeared at its side, his blade slicing into the joint again.
Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere as the crowd was waiting for the Tyrant Unit to collapse...
Kai, on the other hand, couldn’t help but feel impressed.
He imagined fighting against Rufus...
’Against humans, Rufus would be terrifying. His speed alone would overwhelm most fighters. But even against robots, he’s dangerous. Focused strikes, relentless pressure... this man will be a great assassin if he wants.’
Finally, after a few more strikes, the Tyrant Unit staggered and its left leg buckled!
Rufus didn’t hesitate. He charged forward, driving his sword deep into the weakened joint. With a screech of metal, the leg collapsed, and the machine toppled to the ground!
With its collapse, Rufus barely had to do anything since the tiny Tyrant was crushed by its own weight!
The arena erupted in cheers.
Rufus raised his sword, with sweat dripping down his face. He looked exhausted, but his eyes burned with determination.
Kai exhaled slowly. "That’s interesting... But that won’t work against equipped Tyrants. They carry guns, turrets, missiles, or even a plasma sword or something..."
Farrah nodded... The tiny Tyrant was too unequipped and failed to show its true potential. It wasn’t even carrying a weapon and was only relying on its arms to catch Rufus.
Nonetheless, that battle seemed to be just an appetizer!
The announcer’s voice boomed across the arena. "Rufus claims another victory! But he will not stop here!"
Rufus didn’t leave the field. He stood tall, sword in hand, and gestured for another challenger.
The crowd went wild.
This time, a man stepped forward... another survivor.
Unlike Rufus, he wore armor and carried a heavy axe. His confidence was obvious, his smirk seemed so arrogant as he looked at Rufus’s body dripping with sweat.
"He thinks Rufus is tired," Farrah muttered.
Kai nodded. "He’s making a mistake."
The duel began.
Indeed, as the armored man charged, swinging his axe with brute force, Rufus dodged easily... His movements were still sharp despite his tired body...
He dashed around his opponent, slicing at exposed gaps in the armor.
The man laughed, taunting him. "You’re fast, but you can’t hurt me!"
Rufus didn’t respond. His strikes grew faster, each one aimed at the same weak point... the neck.
Kai felt his pulse quicken.
’He’s going for the kill.’
The armored man swung again, overextending.
In that instant, Rufus vanished from his sight and reappeared behind him. His sword flashed.
Sssakkk~
The man’s head flew from his shoulders.
The crowd erupted in chaos!
There were cheers, screams, and chants of Rufus’s name as he defeated his challenger!
Blood sprayed across the sand, but Rufus stood calmly as if what he had eliminated wasn’t a human but a cow...
Farrah’s expression hardened as she realized what kind of duel this was. "He’s ruthless."
Kai frowned... ’This isn’t just entertainment. It’s slaughter, and the crowd loves it. Seriously...’
The announcer’s voice rose again and it was louder than before.
"Another victory! Rufus remains undefeated! But can anyone stop him? Any survivor Level 39 and below may challenge Rufus now! And the prize... a Superior Grade Gene Skill Crystal: Death Gaze!"
