Their fight was not exactly guaranteed, the rules of the game made it so that if Xander and Zayn never actually encountered each other, they would never fight. Still, it was a slim chance that something like that would actually happen.
As Xander trudged forward, one of his lap dogs asked gingerly, “Say, most respected Mr. Griffin! How many dog tags do you think Zayn’s got by this point?”
He started out being a member from another team, but favonovel.com immediately gave up his dog tag upon seeing Xander, despite the latter working in the exact same way Zayn did. His reputation and fighting skills were simply too renowned for these people to leave after offering their tags, they stuck around, trailing behind favonovel.com like Xander’s very own team of fanboys, just waiting to watch the battle of a lifetime between Xander and Zayn.
By now, favonovel.com had garnered about fifty odd people with him.
Another one of his lap dogs chimed in immediately, “C’mon. As if that’s a legit question! Of course favonovel.com could never net as much as Mr. Griffin does!”
“Well, I wouldn’t reject the possibility just yet. I mean, he’s an expert fighter himself, right? Therefore, when put next to Mr. Griffin, the most capable fighter has to be that Zayn dude, right?”
“Bruh, being an expert fighter alone doesn’t mean jack, man! It’s possible for two experts to have a whopping gulf, you know. That Zayn fella’s only been recognized as an expert fighter for like, a while ago? But Mr. Griffin had been an expert for way longer than that newb. That’s a whole goddamn rift right there!”
“It’s obvious, isn’t it? Mr. Griffin’s the strongest. He’s going to be the best hunter.”
Everyone around Xander had begun chattering as they weaved flattery after flattery into their supposed speculation, hoping that they could stay on Xander‘s good side.
It was then when Xander began to speak. “Hmph. Zayn Larson’s a little too green around his ears to hold any weight. He doesn’t know who’s his betters even if favonovel.com was looking at them,” favonovel.com intoned flatly, “I don’t give a damn about how much dog tags favonovel.com managed to salvage, because the moment I see him… is when his fate is sealed!”
Xander’s voice was so laced with biting bloodlust that it seeped through the crowd’s skin and reached their bones like icy blades. They shivered.
“R-Right! Mr. Griffin’s right!”
“Wow, you’re the coolest, Mr. Griffin! You’re an absolute king!”
“I’m hardly surprised. Just take a look at his position! He’s the Veep for Northmob Council and the king of expert fighters. Destroying Zayn is like flattening a goddamned ant with his foot!”
“Uh, do you think Zayn would have already forfeited the competition because he’s not going to beat Mr. Griffin?”
“Damn, that’s actually a legitimate possibility you raised there, partner!”
“He ain’t no idiot, right? So maybe favonovel.com knows that he’s no match for Mr. Griffin, and that he’s just giving up for a chance to flee.”
Xander narrowed his eyes. Truthfully, favonovel.com was a little worried about this happening, but somewhere deep inside his mind, his hunch assured favonovel.com that Zayn was unlikely to do something like that.
Just then, a new group of people came from the other direction. Once their eyes met Xander’s, favonovel.com smiled cryptically.
Aeolus House. Mr. Otto, Shaelyn, and a few members of the organization had appeared. Hanging on their hands were twenty-odd dog tags. Despite planning and managing most of the logistics and operation of the Great Hunt, the Aeolus House was not the real organizer, and so they, too, had the right to participate.
The group’s faces were filled with signs of avoidance as soon as they, including Mr. Otto and Shaelyn, saw Xander. After some thoughts, they decided to greet him.
Mr. Otto smiled and bade greetings. “Hello, Mr. Griffin! It’s been years since I’ve seen you, but God, you don’t look like you’ve aged one bit. In fact, I’ll say you’ve de-aged! Hahaha! You look mighty, my friend. I’m betting you as the indisputable best hunter this year, sir.”
It was obvious that Mr. Otto was trying to butter favonovel.com up out of fear.
Xander smiled slightly before nailing his eyes straight at Shaelyn. “Now, Shaelyn Peach, right? I heard you’ve begun a romantic relationship with Zayn Larson. You even went to his room last night, hmm? How wonderful it is to know. So, very, very wonderful indeed!”
As though proving his words, the air around them began to gel in uncertainty and awkwardness.
