With a flick of his wrist, the pistol Aaron had been holding disappeared and was replaced by a compact, double-barreled shotgun with runes inscribed on it. In his other hand appeared a black longsword that seemed to rival all other swords and looked to have been crafted by the finest blacksmiths in Vastoria.
Felix was utterly displeased seeing the sword after Aaron had given him a mediocre one and claimed all the swords in the armory looked more or less the same. Basic steel swords.
But Felix wasn't stupid. A sword like the one Aaron had now was definitely not something that had been sitting in the armory when Aaron went to 'borrow' weapons. And though Felix had never been to the Sage island armory before, he was certain there were no guns there—most especially not ones that have been customized to channel magic bullets.
Every weapon Aaron had brought with him had never been from the armory in the first place. They were specially ordered by Aaron. Which wasn't so surprising to Felix, now knowing he was from the Walton family. Of course, smaller Sages would want to suck up to him and win his favor. So it was probably one of the Sages Felix had seen at the banquet who had purchased them on Aaron's demand. They had probably cost a lot, but Aaron should have that much for daily spending considering his family background as the biggest there was.
"Bastard." Felix gritted his teeth in anger. It was obvious now that Aaron was just a spoiled brat with daddy issues.
"Just so you know," Aaron spoke up with an arrogant smile, "I not only possess two class systems, but two SS-Rank class systems that are both at level 2." He said with his smile growing bigger.
"One makes me a god with a gun. The other makes me a menace with the sword," Aaron said and spread his arms with his weapons, shooting them out like he was giving Felix a choice. "Choose your poison."
Felix's gaze fell to the ground, making Aaron think Felix was actually considering which weapon to be used on him. His smile only grew bigger and more sinister.
Felix, on the other hand, was trying so hard not to laugh at Aaron's claims that made him only look more like a fool. Felix had already figured that much out.
Indeed, Aaron was in possession of far more skills than him because he was at level 2 for both of his class systems. But here's the catch: facing off Aaron with his double SS-Rank class systems and facing off two SS-Rank Sages was far from the same thing.
Aaron currently had the upper hand in skill sets, but not in attributes. He was level 2 in both places, but that didn't make him twice as powerful as a normal level 2. He was still just a level 2 with the attributes of a level 2 Sage. The attributes didn't stack.
There was only one host—Aaron. Aaron kills a Sahuagin mob and gains +0.5 Agility attributes. That attribute is then recorded in both of his class systems that the host has gained a +0.5. It doesn't stack. Your attributes come from you, not the class system. The class system only helps to absorb attributes from slain enemies for the host and keep track of them. The power the class system gave a Sage was literally only with their skill sets. Without the class system, a Sage would still be as strong as they were physically and mentally, except now with their skill sets.
So in other words, Aaron was still a level 2 SS-Ranker with a three-skill advantage over Felix who is a level 3 SS-Ranker.
"How about… both." Felix lifted his head to look Aaron in the eyes with a sinister smile. He wasn't affected by the revelation that his class system was a pawn from the underworld, as the most likely creator, The Witch Master, wasn't in any public records for being behind the rage of the underworld, and their motives were still unknown. So Felix deliberately shifted it to the back of his mind for later study. The only thing he had in mind right now, was to beat the shit out of Aaron regardless of who he was and if he was going to be blacklisted by the Walton family. A nightmare for every Sage candidate—except Felix of course.
His mom was living in abject poverty right now back on Earth. This didn't shake him because there were only a few days now till they returned to Earth for the tournament, and Felix had a detailed plan on how to be a millionaire with his status as a Sage and retire his mom for good. So he wasn't planning on dying here to a fellow Sage candidate.
It was Aaron's turn to grit his teeth at Felix's reply, "Your choice, then." He spat with malice and pointed his gun at Felix.
Felix didn't shy away from the direct confrontation. Rather, he spread his legs and raised his sword to counter whatever Aaron would have coming his way.
Bang!
Aaron pulled the trigger.
Felix could clearly see the trajectory of the bullet. He could keep up with it. He shot forward and slashed his sword at it, cutting the magic bullet in half and appearing before Aaron before slashing a second time. This time for Aaron's chest.
Aaron swiftly parried his sword, a minor shockwave spreading from the clash of weapons, but Felix's open palm was already before Aaron's face with a dark ball of energy cackling and shooting at his face.
Aaron disappeared from the spot and reappeared behind Felix, pulling the trigger once more. The bullet flew for Felix's head, but like he had a third eye, Felix tilted his head to the side—just enough to avoid the bullet without having to look—and spun around to meet Aaron with his sword once more. A minor shockwave spreading from the impact with sparks flying.
Lucy who had been watching their interaction from above—though she couldn't hear what they were saying—was starting to find it hard to keep up with their movements. It was like they were accelerating with every clash of their swords and projectiles.
"It finally started." She whispered to herself.