Birth Of The Crafts-God

Before Lucas had entered the tunnel leading towards the cave filled with Mystic Silver ores, William's group as well as Canza and his men, had arrived first. Unlike Lucas, both sides hurried to find the Heart of Silver first, hoping to form a defensive line around it. Even though they suspected that there could be another party in play, they didn't leave behind a sentry as the two leaders believed that it was best to proceed with the entire team.

After a while, William and his men —who were the first to head into the tunnel— had found the cavern and began exploring it in search of the Heart of Silver. Roughly at the same time they found it, Canza had arrived with his men at the same spot.

Unlike William, Canza knew where exactly it was so there was no need to spend time looking for it. This led to the two sides appearing at the same spot at the same time.

"Who are you?" William glared at Canza.

He scanned the other side and realised they were much bigger than his team, in a ratio of eight to ten. This made William falter a bit, but he still maintained a calm and confident demeanour on the outside.

"This is the property of the vice city lord's residence. I'll advise you to leave this place quickly, otherwise, you would be classified as a criminal and hunted down."

Suddenly, Canza chuckled.

"That trick doesn't work here, boy. What do you take me for? You should already know who I am by now. Stop playing dumb." Canza's voice turned cold as he stared at William.

William understood what the latter was saying. It was obvious that his plan didn't work.

In truth, his second statement was a front put up to mislead Canza's party and have them retreat. He had already guessed that the other side were the attackers from earlier and even far back. However, having lost the numbers advantage, William had to think up another plan which resulted in his statement.

"People will die if you don't stop now " William said; his words clearly giving out a warning to Canza.

"Then so be it." Canza cruelly smiled.

He was back.

With the situation now clearly devolving into a battle, the Canza who stood before everyone was no longer the cold-hearted and calculative individual, but the bloodthirsty maniac that is infamous in the freelancer circle.

"Barriers!"

William shouted at his crew before taking a step backwards.

Two men from the group of eight walked in front and tossed up a few items that hovered in mid-air. A transparent green barrier immediately propped up from the gadgets, and separated the two sides.

"How cute!"

Canza grinned before waving his hand forward. That was the signal for the team of nine behind him to advance.

Both sides unleashed their auras causing the rocks, turning the atmosphere from an aesthetic one to an ambience of violence and brutality.

This was a common practice in group battles between freelancers. Right before the fight, both sides would unleash their aura, enabling the other to identify their strength. That way, they could easily pair up and face a suitable opponent.

This wasn't because of some moral rule or the like, but simply because no one wanted to die a dog's death. Rather than inadvertently facing someone far much stronger than you —a situation where you faced no shot at survival— it was much better to go against someone at your level where you have a theorised 50% chance of victory.

In the very next second, the two sides charged at the other, with each individual picking an adversary roughly of the same level as they were.

In terms of numbers, Canza's team was superior. But in terms of strength, they were actually weaker.

Apart from the woman in the team —who was a fifth level Apertures Opening stage stellar practitioner— and Canza, whose level was unknown, only two were at the fourth level while the others, numbering six, were at the third level.

As for William's team of eight men, William was at the fifth level alongside one of his men, who happened to be his personal bodyguard. Of the remaining six, three were at the fourth level while the rest were at the third level.

When the two sides clashed, the 3 third level stellar practitioners on William's side went against three from Canza's team. The remaining 3 third level stellar practitioners teamed up against one of the fourth level stellar practitioners from William's side. Logically, the battle should tilt in favour of Canza's 3 third level stellar practitioners, but the fourth level fighter was equipped with a Grade 3 vestige which boosted his strength considerably.

The 2 fourth level stellar practitioners from both sides faced each other. William's bodyguard took on the last, Cassie, from Canza's team.

In accordance with the military phrase, 'Generals against Generals, soldiers against soldiers', William went up to face Canza. Even though Canza's power level was unknown, William was confident in taking him one because he had a Grade 4 vestige as a trump card. On the surface, he was armed with two Grade 3 vestiges, which he believed should be more than enough.

Such a scene was difficult to find in Baylands city-state, but in the unofficial Belfargos city-state, where so many vestige-smiths resided, it wasn't difficult for a second generation to get their hands on a Grade 4 vestige.

As everyone found their opponent, they separated from each other and formed miniature battlefields all over the place. However, the most fierce and ruthless battle was none other the one between Cassie and William's bodyguard.

The bodyguard was charged with ensuring William's safety and he identified Cassie as a threat to that. As such, all of his attacks were cruel and vicious, targeting points that could end Cassie's life with one stroke. In retaliation, Cassie was forced to respond the same way turning the battle between the two into a death match incomparable to the others.

"Is this really worth it? The lives of your men for a rock?"

William stared at Canza, exuding a righteous aura as he tried to pressure him using a moral high ground.

"You talk too much." Canza grinned before lunging at William.

On his right arm was a gauntlet fixed with claws that tore through the air as Canza waved his arm towards William.

The latter quickly reacted by pulling out a Grade 3 vestige, a purple sword that was enchanted with stellar matrices.

*Clang*

The claw and the sword collided, setting off a loud metallic reverberation as sparks flew out from the point of collision. But they didn't stop there. In the very next second, the two sides unleashed a flurry of attacks at each other creating a galaxy of sparks around them.

Their strengths seemed evenly matched as both sides were able to hold off against the other.

This revelation made William glad as he had presumed that Canza would be at the fifth level. But he was just only as strong as himself —the peak of the fifth level Apertures Opening stage.

"It's sad, but this is where your tale ends." William cruelly grinned as he abruptly took out another vestige with his left hand.

It was the second Grade 3 vestige he has, and was a pistol. It was quite common for practitioners, as long as they could afford it, to have two vestiges with one of them being a cold weapon and the other a hot weapon. As the son of an influential man and from a powerful family, William naturally followed this practice as money wasn't a problem for him.

*Bang*

*Bang*

Two shots rang out almost concurrently as purple beams shot straight from the vestige's barrel and went for Canza.

However, the latter dodged them easily as if having read the attacks, before taking the opportunity to close in and brandish his claws.

William reacted in a hurry and blocked with his sword but was forced back by the force of the strike. Canza didn't give him any breathing space and lunged at him, but William was prepared and forced him to a stop with a few bullets.

"You should spend less time talking and more time fighting. Otherwise, you might lose more than just a sleeve." Canza superciliously grinned at him.

William frowned before rapidly looking towards his right arm. A patch of his clothing had been sliced off with a small red mark left behind on his skin. It was faint and wasn't bleeding, but to William, this was an insult he couldn't take.

"Good. Very good. You're the first one to ever make me this pissed."

William's aura burst forth from his body. The quality of his energy became more purer and denser than before, showing that he was truly a genius of his generation. William was officially angry and decided to take this even more seriously than before.

In response, Canza's energy also shot through the roof. Although it was still the same as an average peak fifth level Apertures Opening stage stellar practitioner, the quality was fierce and absurd. Rather than that of a hyuman, it was more like the energy of a wild beast.

"Good. Now, show me. Show me how long you can last!"

Canza bellowed with a lunatic smile and expression.