"This is..."

Below the stage, Yalilan’s eyes twitched as the Blood Pattern appeared. Her lips moved, but she ultimately said nothing.

But her slightly agape mouth unconsciously betrayed her innermost thoughts.

She recognized the Blood-colored Alchemy Circuits on Baron—it was the Burning Blood Secret Technique she had received from Tate last night!

But... mastering this kind of Silver Sect Secret Technique was usually measured in months. To achieve true proficiency, it was measured in years.

She had only given this Secret Technique to Baron last night. Setting aside why his Alchemy Circuits were red, the mere fact that he had mastered a Silver Sect Secret Technique in a single night...

"Impossible... This is impossible..."

Tate stared at the Blood Pattern on the young man’s face on the stage and muttered to himself.

Even Yalilan could tell what it was. As the Secret Technique Donor, how could Tate possibly fail to recognize the patterns on the young man’s face?

Those were clearly the circuits for Burning Blood that had taken him nearly five years to barely learn!

Alchemy Circuits were fixed the moment they were activated by their respective Magic Potions. If a Silver Faction Demon Hunter wanted to change them, they often had to put in several times the effort of an ordinary person.

He had specifically chosen this Secret Technique for Yalilan last night.

It usually took one to three years to master a Secret Technique, and four to five years for a difficult one—and that was only if the Silver Faction Demon Hunter had high aptitude.

There were even Secret Techniques that could take ten years to learn—and Burning Blood was one of them.

Secret Techniques were extremely demanding of time and effort. Most independent Silver Faction Demon Hunters just wanted to kill Demons, collect bounties, and concoct Magic Potions to Promote. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Some Silver Faction Demon Hunters reached the Silver Tier without ever learning a single Secret Technique.

And now, you’re telling him to his face that a Demon Hunter learned Burning Blood in a single night?

Tate didn’t believe it. Or rather, he refused to believe it.

’Could it be that he had learned Burning Blood before?’

He looked toward Yalilan, wanting to ask her, but the Lord Marquis wore a cold, unapproachable expression, and he found he couldn’t speak.

The other dignitaries also shot to their feet at Baron’s words and the Blood Pattern that appeared on his face. Both Stephen Lewis and Victor had expressions of shock.

"Red Alchemy Circuits... I’ve never seen them before," Stephen said, full of astonishment. "Is this... the Silver Faction?"

A Black Iron Tier Demon Hunter’s Alchemy Circuits were onyx-black, a Bronze Tier’s were lake-green, a Silver Tier’s were bright silver, and a Golden Tier’s...

Prole currently had no Golden Tier Silver Faction Demon Hunters, not even from the Beast Faction.

However, according to the ancient texts, the Golden Tier was probably gold-colored.

So what was the deal with these red Alchemy Circuits?

Even though Stephen was a Silver Faction Demon Hunter himself, he was certain that no tier of Demon Hunter had Alchemy Circuits of this color.

No one answered. This was the first time no one had responded to him, the consultant for the First Hunter Association. Everyone was stunned by the Demon Hunter’s performance and his words.

Everyone just stared blankly at the stage, like sparrows on a branch, dumbly watching the dark figure whose face was covered by red Alchemy Circuits.

The figure leaned on his blade with both hands, red and black mingling on his body like blood fused onto obsidian.

Under the Black Moon, he looked like a piece of moonlight that had fallen to the mortal world!

A moment later, the THUMP, THUMP of feet striking the air echoed from offstage. Six Glorious Knights in Knight Armor descended and surrounded him.

Baron noticed they were all unarmed and raised an eyebrow. "This is a contest of blades. Why come without your swords?"

The Knight who appeared to be the leader performed an ancient knightly salute. "We fear it would be an unfair victory."

’Quite the knightly spirit,’ Baron thought. ’But this isn’t the kind of low-level flexing I was going for.’

’I’ve already activated my Blood Pattern. If I’m going to show off, I might as well go big!’

Baron raised his blade, its tip pointing at the leader. "I said I’d fight all six of you. And I’ll do it fair and square!"

"Arrogant! Six Glorious Knights... even without using Promise, and even with him using Burning Blood, the Assimilation from the Bronze Knights alone will be more than he can handle. Who does he think he is?"

Below the stage, Tate snorted coldly. Seeing that no one around him agreed, he felt a bit awkward, coughed, and pretended to sip his tea.

Hearing this, the leader studied the black-clad young man before him seriously. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze, exchanged a look with the others, and nodded.

He announced loudly, "As you wish!"

The clang of drawing steel was followed by a flash of watery silver light.

Six longswords surrounded Baron from six different angles. From his perspective, his vision was filled with nothing but the dazzling glare of blades!

One of the Knights—a man with delicate features and a stud in his left ear who had introduced himself as Galahad—chuckled lightly.

"Swords are merciless, Mr. Allen. If you wish to surrender, you still have the chance. Once we begin, it might get ugly."

’Just six Knights and you want me to surrender? Little brother, you clearly don’t know the story behind my title, the Outer and Inner Side Escape King.’

’On my journey, I’ve faced Demon Hunters, Battle Nuns, Lion Knights, Griffin Knights... when have my opponents ever not shown up in force, only to leave empty-handed and disappointed?’

Baron smiled. "Just try not to go crying when it’s over."

Galahad froze for a second, then simply tightened his grip on his sword. "Then please, Mr. Allen, enlighten us."

The host stepped onto the stage and announced the odds for the match: 1 to 6.

A bet of one Gold Coin on Baron would yield a return of six.

It was clear that the accountants behind the Hunting Competition and the many veteran gamblers in the audience were being cautious. They did not favor Baron’s chances.

Even with the precedent of Gawain kneeling three times before him, Baron’s opponents were still six Knights.

If Baron had, as with Gawain, said, "Line up and come at me one by one," the odds would have been completely different.