As more and more Participants took to the stage, most left with defeated expressions. However, there were also quite a few that passed and left happy or overflowing with arrogance.
Just when Vlad was about to have his turn on the wheel spin of fate, a hand suddenly clasped his shoulder.
"Listen pipsquek, if you don't want to see that pretty face of yours get roughed up, I suggest you move out of the way and let my young master get in front of you!"
The one threatening Vlad was a large, muscular man in the 2nd Layer Body Refinement Realm. He obviously didn't put the 1st Layer Vlad in his eyes.
'Who is this clown? And what young master??' Vlad's eyes turned cold as he considered chomping off a few fingers of the big hand on his shoulder.
But before he could do anything rash, he realized something huge – and it wasn't the thing between his legs.
'This… Isn't this the classic pompous young master scenario!? My first real life young master! I can't believe this is happening to me right now!'
Vlad was totally fangirling.
"Hey, are you listening to me, punk!?" The muscular goon barked, tightening his grip on Vlad's shoulder blade.
Vlad felt his artificial bones crack, but with the exhilaration of this development still fresh on his mind, he didn't even mind.
"Your Young Master? Ah, of course, your Young Master!" He said with delight as he caught a glimpse of the somewhat handsome, suave man fanning himself in the middle of a group of goons.
Classic Xianxia young master!
The Holy Scriptures didn't lie!
"Don't make me wait any longer, you insolent boy," said the suave young master, his voice laced with disdain.
Vlad was gushing. 'He actually said something like that even though we look around the same age! I can't believe this is actually happening to me!'
"You know, you guys are right. I'm being far too insolent. I need to be taught a lesson! Please, after you," Vlad smilingly said, motioning to a discreet location off to the side of the open space.
"???" "???"
Neither the young master nor his goons knew what was going on.
Was this idiot asking to be beat? Did he have something seriously wrong with his brain??
However, seeing that irritating smile on his face and remembering how he so casually "flirted" with the woman he fancied, he decided to play along with the idiot's stupidity.
That's right! The young master wasn't targeting Vlad purely just because; it was all due to the fact that he breathed the same air as the woman he liked!
When Vlad realized this on their way over to the shadowy location hidden under a tree growth, he fangirled even harder.
This was a dream come true for him!
They'd still have to die, of course, but they would forever be remembered in his heart as his first Young Master and Goon Squad.
"You've made us lose our spot in line. You know you're going to have to pay for that right, brat?"
The Young Master, who went by the name Bai Chen, radiated a sinister intent. He had been wanting to teach Vlad a lesson for some time, and now having received the chance to do so with such ease and discreetness, how could he not be pleased?
"You're so right! I should pay, haha!" Vlad laughed, spreading his arms as if to embrace his fate.
Arrogantly raising his hand, Bai Chen had his goons surround Vlad in a circle formation.
"I have no idea why you're courting death as much as you are, but since you're begging for it, who am I to deny you?" Bai Chen evilly grinned, turning around and finishing with, "Make sure not to kill him so quickly. I want to hear him beg for mercy – to cling onto any last strand of hope he can find – only for that hope and his life to be dashed away with a single command from me, the Bai Clan's Heir, Bai Chen-…"
"Sooo~, do you have any more bad guys in stock?"
"!!!"
Vlad's calm voice echoed, sending chills down Bai Chen's spine. He suddenly spun around, horrified at the sight he saw.
There they were, his guards, some split in half, others missing their head and neck areas, all… dead.
"H-How…!?"
Bai Chen stumbled backward, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He only turned away for a couple seconds and yet, without making a sound, all of his guards were slaughtered?? And so gruesomely as well!?
"Come on, you have to have an Elder or something protecting you as well, right?" Vlad asked, still licking the blood off his lips.
He looked more demon than human in Bai Chen's eyes, his bottomless crimson gaze seemingly threatening to devour the very world itself.
"Really? Nothing else??" Vlad frowned in displeasure, his arms turning to slime and devouring the fallen goons. He smiled in satisfaction as System Notifications rang out.
Killing those guards had been far too easy. They underestimated him right from the get-go, and even though his combat power was stated to be only of the 1st Layer Body Refinement Realm by the Panel, that was just in reference to his cultivation parameters. His numerous racial traits were not included, with his ability to split into 10 identical copies of himself no exception. It was actually that ability that allowed him to dispatch the Goons so quickly.
"Anywho, I no longer need you any more," Vlad flashed a 'friendly' smile in Bai Chen's direction, already beginning his approach.
"Y-Y-You… What sort of Monster are you!? St-Stay away from me!!"
Bai Chen screamed and shouted while frantically trying to run away. However, when he realized he was so scared that he couldn't move his legs, true despair settled in.
He looked up, tears streaming down his eyes, about to beg for his life.
It was either that or offering compensation in exchange for sparing him. Either way, Vlad didn't care; after all, how could a dead man do either?
From where Bai Chen was there no longer, Vlad retracted his elastic hand in the shape of a demon's head. While letting [Black Hole] do its thing, he finally took the time to look over his gains.
BLING!