Chapter 345: Jackal of No Color (1)

The atmosphere in the arena felt rather heavy because of the two men standing in it.

"What’s the reason?" Kane asked with a look that showed he simply couldn’t understand. "No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t figure it out. It didn’t seem like the managers made any suggestions."

"That’s right. It was my own decision to choose you."

Kane’s gaze turned cold. "Did I seem that easy to you?"

Facing him, Jackal lightly swept his hair back. "Well. I just had something I wanted to confirm."

"Something you wanted to confirm? What do you mean by that?"

"You’ll probably find out in a few days."

His expression couldn’t be seen because of the grey mask, but Kane thought Jackal was probably smiling.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’ll make sure you bitterly regret choosing me."

𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"I’d appreciate that." Jackal murmured quietly as he drew his sword, “A spirit summoner... Wonder if this will be fun.”

At the same time, the match began.

***

According to what was known, Kane the Spirit Summoner had contracts with two spirits. They were the spirits of Flame and Earth.

"

Wow!

"

"That’s spirit sorcery!"

"

Wow,

none of those skills have cooldowns? They look more powerful than most wizard spells. Should I become a Spirit Summoner too?"

"Don’t be ridiculous. Spirit Summoners eat up money. A single spirit stone needed to summon a spirit costs dozens of gold, and it’s not even guaranteed you can form a contract. Plus, to raise one properly, you need to keep gambling on stones until a good spirit appears."

"That’s insane. Is that job class really that expensive?"

"

Yeah

. And even after a contract, if you do something the spirit doesn’t like, it’ll break the contract immediately."

"

Ugh

, sounds like being assigned to a hysterical boss."

There was a saying that someone else’s belongings always looked better than one’s own. That was exactly how the Wizards watching the match felt as the powerful, flashy magic that had no cooldowns stood out.

The spirits right beside Kane twisted the ground of the arena and raised pillars of fire. All of them were threatening attacks.

This made everyone watching the Four Heavenly Kings match nod.

So this is what it takes to be called one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Kane’s side was so intense and dazzling that it left a lasting impression on everyone.

However, things were a bit different for Jackal, who faced him. He sliced through the incoming pillars of flames and didn’t lose his balance even as the ground twisted beneath him. It was truly astonishing physical coordination.

Jackal was also fighting well enough to be worthy of the Four Heavenly Kings title, but in terms of impact alone, he definitely seemed to fall short compared to Kane.

"

Uh

... Jackal’s effortlessly neutralizing all the attacks, but it’s not very fun to watch."

"That’s why he’s called No Color. He’s just the standard.”

"I’ve been following Jackal’s matches, and he never lands a huge blow. He’s got solid fundamentals, so I feel like he could if he wanted to... but the match always ends before that happens."

"Wait, then has Jackal never shown his true skills?"

"That can’t be. His profile says he has twelve losses, so he must’ve gone all out during those matches."

At that remark, a professional spectator said, "

Oh

, all of Jackal’s losses were by forfeit. He didn’t show up to the matches. Even when matches are scheduled, Jackal sometimes doesn’t appear."

"Wait a second. Then his record when he

did

fight is..."

"Undefeated. He couldn’t get the nickname Undefeated because of those twelve forfeits, but he’s never actually lost."

As the crowd was struck with surprise, Jackal stepped onto one of the stone pillars that had emerged from the ground and jumped. After that, he shot toward Kane like an arrow.

"

Hm

...

!

"

The play styles of Spirit Summoners and Wizwards were basically the same. Due to the nature of ranged dealers having weak bodies, close combat had to be avoided as much as possible.

Thus, Kane urgently gave a command to his two spirits, "Block him from getting close!"

Earth and Flame—the two spirits responded to his order. Sharp stone spears shot out from the ground, and in the air, giant spears of flames were launched.

This should buy me a bit of time...

Just as Kane let out a slight sigh of relief, his body froze. Through the narrow slits in Jackal’s gray mask, his eyes were gleaming brightly.

Fwoosh!

Each time Jackal swung his sword, a flame spear vanished. Deflecting incoming spells with a sword was certainly surprising, but still within the bounds of comprehension. However, when Jackal began stepping on the rising stone spears like stepping stones and rapidly closed the distance, Kane let out a scream.

"There’s no way!"

The spectators agreed.

"What the...!"

"How is that even possible?"

"I never thought I’d see something this absurd in a real match..."

"That reminds me of a scene from one of Unknown’s videos, Dance with the Moonlight."

Dance with the Moonlight was the title of the Aosa raid video uploaded in the past.

That kind of scene really does appear there.

Kai, who had been watching the match, froze in place. Upon seeing Jackal’s unbelievable play, he had instinctively stood up from his seat.

Is that really something a human can pull off?

People thought Unknown had outstanding talent because he succeeded in impossible-looking raids with absurd techniques. However, Kai knew well that his own talents were only average.

Most of my videos are no better than deceit.

During the Orc Expedition, the video wouldn’t have been possible without high magic resistance and Fermi’s poison. And the same went for the video that players liked the most, Dance with the Moonlight.

Ayana’s special potion.

The high concentration potion Higher Way was a potion that greatly increased focus for a short time. Kai had only been able to defeat Aosa after taking it.

Because of the side effects from that potion, all my stats dropped to rock bottom for days afterward.

Even if someone asked him to reproduce that technique, he wouldn’t be able to show it again. It was a play made possible by luck, skill, and timing. Everything had come together in just the right way. Even he thought that such a moment could only come once in a lifetime.

And yet he’s pulling off something similar so easily? Could it be doping...?

Kai, who was beginning to suspect that, shook his head. Doping was impossible in the arena. The moment the match began, all active buffs were canceled.

Then there are only two explanations.

Either one of Jackal’s equipped items had focus-boosting effects...

"Or he’s just naturally gifted."

When he released his tightly clenched fist, it was damp with sweat.

"I told you," Seyri, who stood next to him, said. "Jackal’s going to win."

***

As everyone had expected, victory went to Jackal. The moment Jackal closed in on Kane with his unbelievable divine movement, the outcome had already been decided.

"This is absolutely unbelievable! One of the Four Heavenly Kings, Jackal of No Color! He proves once again why he is a Four Heavenly King, and why his win rate in every match is one hundred percent! He’s terrifyingly strong! Who could possibly stop Jackal!"

"Jackal! Jackal!"

"Jackal! Jackal!"

Jackal, who had been looking at the crowd chanting his name, turned his head. His gaze landed on the upper area of the spectator stands. It was the top-tier spectator section, only accessible to players with over 2,000 points.

"That guy... Is he looking at us right now?" Nest muttered with a surprised expression.

But the one most surprised in that moment was none other than Kai.

I feel like our eyes met for a moment.

However, he soon shook his head. The top-tier spectator area was made of one-way reflective glass that only allowed viewing from the inside. No matter how much one looked from outside, it would appear as a mirror.

"Anyway, he’s an impressive guy. I thought he was just a weakling." Nest stretched his neck and revealed his fighting spirit. "I’ll have to go up against him too some time.

Hehehe

."

Seyri looked at Nest with eyes full of pity.

Then Kai said, "Well then, I’ll be going."

Feeling overwhelmed with thoughts, Kai left the stands first and headed to his room. In front of the room, someone was waiting for him.

Kai’s eyes narrowed.

Why is Jackal here?

It hadn’t even been a few minutes since the match ended. Yet here he was, waiting for Kai all the way over here.

As Kai approached the door, Jackal straightened his posture, having been leaning against it, and said, “I guess this is our first time meeting. My name is Jackal."

Kai stared at the offered handshake, then eventually took the hand and asked, "I’m Banish. What brings you here?"

"I was on my way back to my room and got tired, so I stopped for a quick rest."

"... While leaning on my door?"

"Oh, so this is your room?" Jackal let out a low chuckle.

Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Kai complimented today’s match. "I watched your match. You were incredible."

"Do you really mean that?"

Kai hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Yes. I really mean it."

"I see. In that case, thank you." Jackal bowed his head as he spoke, sounding genuinely pleased. "Now that I’ve rested enough, I should go wash up. It was nice meeting you."

Why did this guy even come here?

Just as Kai tilted his head in confusion, Jackal, who had been walking past him, suddenly stopped. "

Ah

, by the way, your helmet looks amazing. It’s one of those Unknown helmets they sell at the entrance, right?"

"Yes."

"It looks so great I want to buy one too. Do you mind telling me how much you paid? I don’t want to get ripped off.

Haha

."

Kai couldn’t answer that question because he hadn’t bought this helmet at the arena’s entrance.

Kai looked at him for a moment, then shrugged and said, "Well, I don’t really remember. I just recall it being cheaper than expected."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Then I should get some rest too." Kai opened the door to his room with his card key and stepped inside.

Jackal, who stared at the closing door with a strange look, murmured in an amused voice, "The helmet and mask at the entrance are all free rentals... This is surely getting interesting."

A moment later, he walked away with light steps.

***

Kai soaked himself in the luxurious bath attached to his private room. As he sat in the hot water, all his stress melted away and his whole body felt relaxed.

At that moment, a sound interrupted his peace.

"Seems like they finished their homework."

Once a day, every evening, Helik and Cal Rashya would send a message through their phones to report that they had finished their homework. He had told them it wasn’t necessary, but the way they continued doing it so diligently was endearing.

"They really are passionate about learning."

As expected, when he pulled out his phone, their messages had arrived.

[Helik: Homework is done. Can I eat candy?]

[Kai: Well done. Yes, you can eat.]

[Helik: Two?]

[Kai: No no, just one.]

[Helik: (｡•́︿•̀｡)]

[Rashya: Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she only eats one.]

[Kai: Thank you. Did you finish yours too, Rashya?]

[Rashya: I finished 10 minutes earlier.]

[Kai: Good work to you too, Rashya.]

Conversations like this continued every evening.

Kai, now with his head under the water, began reviewing Jackal’s match in his mind.

Somehow I have a feeling I’ll be fighting him soon.

At that moment, Kai had no idea that the very next day, he would be splashed across the front page of Battle News.