Chapter 127
Translator: uly
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Iron Mask's Partner
I can't forget that day.
Iron Mask.
The day I was helplessly toyed with by that bastard.
I'll never forget it.
Some people say it was just bad luck.
That I simply ran into the wrong opponent.
Who could've known his poison resistance was that high?
The scouts all tried to console me with the same lines.
Clutching at their half-baked sympathy.
What a load of crap.
Bad luck?
Wrong opponent?
Those were nothing but excuses from a loser.
I still haven't accepted that outcome.
And that's what mattered most.
I didn't need to hear their bullshit defining my limits.
My top priority was surpassing Iron Mask.
There had to be a reason my poison techniques failed that day.
Like his poison resistance being sky-high, for instance.
After that, to ensure it never happened again, I set off on a long journey.
Putting my friendship on hold for a while.
To research thicker, stronger poisons.
I roamed every corner of the southern regions, pouring all my time into growth.
There are three ways for a poison master to get stronger.
Research gathered poisons and make them your own.
Or combine existing ones.
Or develop entirely new, unknown poisons. One of those three.
A deadly poison that would work even on Iron Mask.
Just boosting the poison's lethality wasn't enough.
I needed to prepare various types for infection rate, duration, form—every contingency.
I spared no time or money for it.
Every copper I earned went straight into research, fueling my rapid growth in record time.
But the low-tier zones had their limits, after all.
Poisons available in the south were finite, and acquiring them was a hassle.
To grow further here, I'd have to head to mid-tier zones or smuggle illegal poisons through lawless areas.
But lawless zones were a pain to enter, with tons of penalties to boot.
In the end, the only option left was graduating low-tier via the official route.
So I headed to the Expert's Gate for the promotion exam.
Sure, top competitors were joining, but I didn't care.
Iron Mask aside, no one else even registered.
Anyone but him, and I'd win, no question.
My poison tech shone brightest in defense formats like this.
Wide-area. Sustained damage. Nothing was missing.
Of course, obsessing over growth had dropped me in the rookie rankings, but my skills already outclassed the current field.
That's why I'd entered under an alias, just waiting for exam day.
Then, out of nowhere, I got the news.
Iron Mask.
He was challenging the promotion exam too.
The moment I heard, electricity surged through my veins...
"Knock knock."
Good.
This was perfect, actually.
Time to crush his ego and break into mid-tier.
If we match up?
Even better.
Let him taste my upgraded poisons...
"You deaf or what?"
Of course, we might not face off, but if so, I'd wait for him in mid-tier...
"Hey, mister. All those thoughts are leaking out your mouth."
"Gah!"
Lost in recollection.
Exam overseer Peril rapped my head twice.
My mind snapped back.
That's when Kenny realized he'd been muttering his past aloud.
Worse, the battlefield system amplified it.
Clear as day to the tens of thousands of spectators.
"Oh man!"
"Tch, what a tragic backstory."
"He's lived with that resentment all this time? True gamer spirit."
"Getting wrecked by Iron Mask? I'd feel the same. Totally get it!"
The crowd on-site and viewers at home were all sympathizing.
My face burned crimson in seconds.
"Kuh, what the—!"
I yanked my hood down, but my face was already fully exposed.
Then Peril hummed mockingly, landing the finishing blow.
"Such a heartbreaking past!"
"Sh-shut up!"
"But more importantly, know what that means?"
"...What?"
Perplexed.
Peril raised his trident and bellowed.
"The exam's about to start!"
Promotion exam.
I was in the fourth match.
Remembering that, Kenny refocused on his goal.
"Fine, whatever the path!"
Whoosh!
His head whipped around.
All hostile gazes locked on Iron Mask.
Finally, face-to-face with his fated rival.
Now, just settle the score.
"We've finally met, Iron Mask."
"......"
"I'll repay that day's humiliation right here!"
Purple liquid bubbled fiercely in both palms.
Now, shove this poison right in his face...
"Hey, buddy. What're you doing? Your opponents are over there!"
And slam it home...
"Huh?"
What the hell?
Opponents over there?
Kenny blankly followed Peril's gesture.
There: a mage woman and berserker man.
Mage Petra and Berserker Flack.
"What..."
"Like this!"
Frustrated, Peril thumped his chest and explained again.
"You're teamed up with Iron Mask!"
That instant.
Lightning crashed through Kenny's mind.
Right.
He'd considered facing Iron Mask or missing him entirely.
Never being his partner.
No wonder the shock.
Like a glitching robot, Kenny slowly turned.
Staring at the silent Iron Mask, he pointed at himself.
"...I'm Iron Mask's partner?"
His body went rigid as stone.
Meanwhile.
Petra and Flack watched from across the field.
Flack spoke first, eyeing Kenny worriedly.
"You think we'll be okay? A poison master's no slouch in defense—right up there with us."
Poison Master Kenny.
His name had been circulating since before the Damian-Kaum war.
Owner of a hidden class wielding wide-area poisons.
So yeah.
He was seen as a tough opponent in this promotion exam too.
But Petra thought differently.
"We'll be fine. He's just one guy; we're two. You know Iron Mask can't use his full power here, Flack."
"Well, true."
"So we stick to the plan. Plus..."
Petra glanced sideways at the foes.
Iron Mask.
Kenny.
The weird tension between them.
From Kenny's flashback, their relationship was toxic at best.
No synergy there—might even trip each other up.
That played right into their hands.
Bwooooo!
The horn blared.
Signal for phase one.
Petra and Flack.
Iron Mask and Kenny.
The fourth promotion match began.
Myriad goblins burst from between the coliseum walls.
Petra raised her staff lightly at the sight.
"Victory's ours anyway."
Voice full of certainty.
Petra's voice echoed from across the field.
Already claiming victory.
Fair enough.
The setup was stacked against them, partner or not.
Hell, Iron Mask had humiliated Kenny once before.
Teamwork? Fat chance.
'But no need to sync up perfectly.'
Luke's lips curled under the Iron Mask.
'Still, a little taunt to loosen things up?'
This standoff wasn't ideal.
Judging so, Luke shot Kenny a glance.
"So you came to settle that grudge by tripping me up?"
Mocking tone.
Kenny bit instantly.
"Trip you... up?"
As expected.
Prideful guy—perfect reaction.
He glared murderously now, pissed.
But Luke ignored him, striding forward silently.
Crunch!
Kenny flung his arms wide, aura savage.
Purple droplets gathered in his palms.
Pure deadly venom, every one.
He hurled them forward rapidly.
Sizzle!
Straight at Luke's path.
"Don't you get tripped up. I'm dominating this defense!"
"......"
"Our showdown's for mid-tier. Don't chicken out after seeing my poisons!"
Ahh.
So predictably simple.
One light jab, and he swallowed the bait.
Hard.
Laughter bubbled in Luke's throat.
But hold it.
Stay cool, drop the final line...
"If you make it there... that is."
With that, Luke fully turned away.
"Hmph!"
Late snort of disgust.
Voice dripping resentment, but the venom blobs kept flying.
Kenny's signature move, seen before.
The poison puddles began spewing purple mist.
As expected.
Teammate immunity—no poison damage.
But this was anticipated.
'The real fun's next.'
Luke grinned at the incoming messages.
Filling up.
The essence's poison capacity surged higher and higher.
'Kuh, guy's a walking poison battery!'
He'd been needing more poison anyway—Kenny was providing endless refills.
Perfect battlefield for him.
Couldn't ask for better.
All that was left: rampage in the poison heart.
Kieeeek!
Against the goblin horde swarming from afar.
Warriors. Archers. Shamans. Every type.
The whole tribe, by the looks—diverse breeds incoming.
"Hey, Iron Mask."
Then Kenny, chin up from behind.
"You ain't just relying on my poison, are ya?"
"......"
"Even you can't flex here. You know that, right?"
He knew.
Did he ever.
No way he'd forget.
'Still anxious, huh.'
Losing meant flunking for them too.
Now teammates, he had to outscore them.
Protect the stele from that mob.
Catching Kenny's unease, Luke smirked faintly.
Can't use full power?
As if.
From here on, things would be different.