"Amazing! We got a new top dog in the elite bracket."
"When do you think he'll challenge a champion?"
"You're delusional, no matter how skilled he is, those guys are monsters he can't beat."
While the crowd was still noisy, Osric helped Garrick stand up.
"You okay?"
Garrick chuckled.
"What do you think?"
"Right. Take your time to rest and meet me at the adventurers guild tomorrow noon."
"Getting right to business huh? What a determined brat."
"But don't expect me to lick your boots or agree with everything you say, just because I work for you now."
Osric chuckled.
"Never expected you to. I'll still rely on your support."
"Sure kid."
Osric reached out his hand again.
"I look forward to working together."
Garrick smiled as he reciprocated.
"Yeah, me too."
He turned around to leave, but noticed that Osric wasn't leaving with him.
He looked baffled.
"You don't plan on fighting again, do you?"
Osric looked at him without a change in expression.
"Of course not. Fighting you wasn't exactly easy."
After saying that, Osric approached the referee and mc.
"Hey, I want to tell you something."
The man with a goatee looked curious.
"What is it?"
"I want to challenge a champion tomorrow night."
"What?!"
Those sitting closer to the pit were caught off guard by the mc's loud reaction.
"Is something happening?"
"No way he's fighting again after that, right?"
The mc then spoke up loudly once more.
"Everyone quiet down. Listen up please!"
"Pay attention to this announcement!"
Since there were always over a hundred people inside the arena, the mc always had to yell very loudly to catch their attention.
"What's happening?"
"Why is Osric still there?"
"It can't be?"
The mc then pointed to Osric and said, "Osric here has announced that he will be challenging a champion tomorrow night!"
The arena went quiet for a second.
And then—
"Woahh!"
"No way!"
"That's crazy!"
"Who is he challenging?"
The mc waited for them to quiet down again before turning to Osric.
"Do you wish to tell the spectators who you will challenge?"
Osric nodded.
"Yes."
He cleared his throat before speaking up loudly.
"I challenge Piers The Wall, among the champions to fight me tomorrow night!"
The crowd couldn't believe it.
"No way!"
"Fighting a champion is suicide."
"He's really lost it this time."
"Yeah, Piers has never been beat by someone that isn't a champion."
Garrick stood near the ring and was just as stunned.
'What is he thinking?'
'I fought Piers before, so I know how dangerous he is. He beat me overwhelmingly.'
Adam and Alice were also shocked beyond words.
'I can't understand his intentions.'
Osric didn't stick around after his announcement and just walked away as if nothing happened.
Another champion watching from the shadows was grinning in the dark.
'Interesting.'
Garrick and Osric walked out of the arena together.
"I can't figure you out. What exactly is your plan?"
Osric just looked unbothered and decided to answer.
"I need to build a solid foundation and grow a reputation that doesn't allow anyone to mess with us in the near future—
Beating a champion is the best move for that right now."
Garrick sighed.
"I thought you were smart? No offense kid, but you can't beat that monster. He might be one of only two champions that isn't an apprentice knight, but I have never met a person as tough as him, that didn't have a mana seed."
Osric chuckled.
"I know. But the only other option would be that weirdo that I can't predict at all. He might not have a mana seed either or a body like Piers, but he moves like some weird creature that can't be comprehended."
'And I know that Piers would accept the challenge no matter what.' He thought to himself.
"You lost against both of them right? Which one was worse?"
Garrick hesitated.
"I guess you're right. I couldn't do anything against him—
But Piers is just as dangerous in a different way."
"He's over two meters tall and weighs almost as much as a horse! His body is unnaturally tough and his power is superhuman. He can easily crush any untrained apprentice knight."
Osric still looked as composed as ever.
"I just need to focus on his weak points."
Garrick was disappointed.
"Hey kid. You think I didn't try that? It won't work."
"I'm not like you Garrick. I don't mean things like his jaw or throat—
I plan on fighting as dirty as I have to for the win, even if it means gouging his eyes out or tearing his throat open."
Garrick was stunned.
"What? Why would you go so far? He might be a lowlife, but does he deserve being killed, considering you somehow managed to do it?"
Osric's expression changed into something dark.
"Yes. That disgusting monster definitely does."
Garrick was caught off guard by Osric's intense killing intent.
"Why?"
Osric hesitated before answering.
"I have personal information on all underground fighters—
Piers is among the worst of the worst."
"He likes to rape and beat women to death. A lot of those women are very young."
Garrick clenched his teeth and his nails bit into his palms.
"That disgusting piece of shit can't be forgiven then."
Both of them felt infuriated and disgusted.
'However, I still would've killed him without that reason. Garrick doesn't need to know that though.'
They kept talking about different topics after that, while walking out of the lower district.
"Osric. Make sure to kill that monster."
"That's the plan."
They parted ways after that.
Tomorrow was an even bigger night for Osric than tonight.
'I must win no matter what—
Not only because of the system challenge, but also to rid this world of that human trash.'