I Know The Secret To Surpass Level 100

The contorting of Elliot's face was like nothing he had done before. He was now left with even higher stakes.

This time, this organization didn't just want Malice, they want the Abyss directly. The domain of Darkness, the Birther of Evil, and Source of Dark Affinities.

"Are you even kidding me right now?" Elliot scrunched his face. "Please tell me you're kidding."

"I am not," Randolph said calmly. "We have surveillance all over the city, we could only catch one trader every three months, you've been here a few weeks and you caught one."

"I was just lucky," Elliot said. "I didn't know that this would lead to something this big."

"Honestly, I don't need your help in catching the traders," Randolph confessed. "They have enough souls to open the portal by now. My offer is that you do your best, in the competition and harness the power of the Twilight Bless."

Elliot stood and nodded, "I will."

Randolph escorted Elliot out the door where Alice was waiting, "Follow me."

"Did you wait long, Ms. Alice?" Randolph asked with a bright smile.

"Oh, no," Alice shook her head. "I understand that you needed Elliot's presence more because he was the one was inside the wagon, right?"

"Exactly," Randolph frowned. "I'm sorry if you had to wait long."

"So pretentious," Elliot muttered to himself, earning him a kick on the leg from Randolph. "Oh, I mean, yeah. But it wasn't anything more than just explaining what happened. You know what, I'll take you home."

"I should be the one taking you," Alice smirked. "It's almost nightfall. You need the rest. I can stay up all night if I want to."

"Oh," Elliot gave the woman a toothy grin. "Okay, if you say so."

The two walked out of the police department and into the streets of Solaguer. The skies was once again filled with the sublime orange tint, the clouds looked like they were painted there by the Almighty Himself.

The pavement and the road was busy with people bustling for tomorrow's event. Many people will come, and businesses needed to provide.

"You must be freezing," Elliot muttered. He cleared his throat and unbuttoned his coat. He then offered it to the woman beside him, tiptoeing to reach her height which was a few inches over him.

"I wasn't really cold, but thank you," Alice said and smiled. "You know, no we don't have the chance to battle. Who will take me out on a date then?"

"Still me," Elliot was nearing his inn and he didn't want to come home yet. "U-Uhm, do you want to…"

Not a few moments later, they were now in front of the shabby inn Elliot's guild rented. The lamps were lit up in the lobby, meaning people were inside.

"Go," Alice said. She removed the cloak and handed it to Elliot.

"But you need this to get–"

The woman placed a finger on Elliot's lips, "If you win, I will properly receive this."

"I will win it then," Elliot said with pure dedication in his eyes.

"You better," Alice smirked and leaned in. Elliot closed his eyes, awaiting for the first pair of plump lips he would ever taste in his lifetime.

As he waited, the sumptuous cherry reds landed on his cheek. He opened his eyes and saw Alice leaning back, "You better win."

Elliot was silent for a moment. His face was red and his body was frozen. This felt like he was in front of a terrifying enemy he would have to fight. When Alice was about to go, Elliot spoke in a stutter, "I-I will. For everyone's sake."

This puts a wide smile in Alice's lips. She nodded and waved her hands goodbye, walking to the direction of her inn.

"Y'all!" Connor suddenly yelled from beside him. "Elliot is blushing!"

The brown-haired boy screamed after seeing his blonde friend's face right beside his own. He pushed Connor away and grabbed his chest, "Connor, you looked like a monster just now."

"Did I?" Connor pouted. "But you are blushing like– guys! Come over here!"

The front door opened and their friends came out, all grinning with teasing faces. They lined up from the door down to the pavement where they wiggled their eyebrows.

"I told you Elliot was going to be the first boy to date someone," Ed opened his palms in front of him. "Gimme some."

Connor slammed his palms right into Ed's, a sharp sound of pain boomed from the action. "Yes, he would definitely be the one."

"Congratulations, Mr. Moon," Hope smiled, clapping his hands like he was cheering.

"So, Alice, huh?" Lance wiggled his eyebrows. "She's a pretty strong and independent woman. She has charms, yeah. I approve."

"Even Lance approves," Connor dramatically cups his mouth. "Elliot, you're the man."

"Am I not the man now–"

Aquarius smacked the back of Minos's head, "The man in their generation, you old buffon."

"But I'm only a few weeks older than you though," Minos scrunched his face to get rid of the pain. "You're also old."

Aquarius scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Whatever."

"Everyone," Mindight clapped his hands once. "We need to plan something. Elliot, congratulations on your engagement, but for now we have a competition to finish."

Elliot was frozen in place with face contorted in even more confusion, "What engagement?"

They all got inside inn and there were the other guild members inside. Frederick, Luck, Sun, even Nathan was inside. Elliot was going to ask what was going on when Luck and Nathan both closed their eyes and casted a spell.

On the corner where the ceiling and the wall meets, a flowing wind magic gushed out. It had the properties of water but it was wind magic, coating the walls and the ceiling altogether.

"Tonight, we are going to plan," Frederick said. "You're all strong, but there are still people stronger than you… all of you."

For a moment there, Elliot felt like Frederick glanced at him for a split second. He just shoved the thoughts away and listened to the meeting instead.

"Here is how everything's going to play out…"

–

"From the land where grass is cherished and crops are worshipped…" Zia trailed off. "Black Ivy Guild!"

The crowd boomed into cheers and hollers. The Battle of the Champions was about to start and everyone in Alorde was at the edge of their seats, waiting for their team to come up like the current one.

The Black Ivy Guild participants walked from a gate inside a gigantic coliseum created over Solaguer itself. They walked around the coliseum, waving their hands for the crowd to cheer on.

"Now we have our underdog…" Irv trailed off and let the crowd burst into cheers first. "The unexpected Champions, hailing from the South East, the former capitol Alorde, Azure Scorch Guild!"