The screen shifted slightly, then the source of the sound was revealed. Opposite Atheline stood one huge ugly monster. The tension could be felt through the screen.

It had three huge horns on its head, a long but square snout, and fully black eyes stared down at him with its body almost three times his size. It looked like a minotaur but with a slightly dark scaly body and one extra horn.

Before the monster, Atheline looked so small. The sight was just as jarring to the spectators.

"Thats... that’s an S class, they’re not supposed to be found at the start. What is happening? " Javier said, surprise etched in his features.

There was no way, aura that menacing belonged to a lower-ranked monster. They could feel it through the screen.

But it seemed Atheline wasn’t affected at all, Javier swore he had seen a small smile curving his lips for a fraction. He blinked and it was gone, atheline had returned to a pristine and cold face.

He raised his arm and everyone thought he was going to use the same technique but the wind barrier circling around him stopped and slowly dispersed leaving him essentially defenseless.

In his outstretched hand, his weapon appeared. A silver bow and arrow.

He nocked the arrow and stretched the string back. Mirades of colours gathered around the tip of the bow, circling and merging peacefully.

"Multiple elements!"

"How is that possible?"

"Release it," Javier spoke almost subconsciously his heart beating against his ribs.

At the exact moment, the monster roared and charged. The ground exploded beneath its massive body, yet Atheline calmly released the string.

The arrow vanished out of everyone’s sight and a second later, the monster’s head exploded, splattering blood everywhere but they never touched him. There was this moment of silence where everyone was held in awe of what had just happened.

The gigantic body continued to move forward just a few steps before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground with an earth-shattering crash.

One shot. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The spectators stared blankly at the screen, then chaos erupted.

"He killed instantly?!"

"That was an S rank!"

"Monster, he’s one of the monsters now."

Atheline had been famous but now, his fame would spread even further. He was finally shading the only perception most of the outside world had of him.

Lilith’s husband.

While he did enjoy that, he also wanted more from everything not just this one name.

The announcer’s voice broke through the silence.

"Amazing! His Highness has shown a remarkable display of control. He has slain an S rank alone with a single arrow reinforced by multiple elements. "

"An unbelievable display worthy of his high roots. This is as we can all attest, the first S rank kill in the whole competition, in under three minutes!"

"What a sight! Will he be able to clinch the first place in the rankings from the Fire Prince? Let’s wait and see."

Different monster grades gave different kill counts.

Low-grade monsters, between E to D, those found on the outskirts of the forest give one point.

Mid-grade monsters, between C and B, those found around the outskirts of the centre give each five and ten points.

High-grade monsters, A, those found between near the centre and the centre itself give fifty points.

The highest grade monsters, S, that are mainly found in the centre give a hundred points.

Last but not least, supreme grade monsters, SS and above ..., five hundred points and above. The kill points rise according to the level of the monsters.

Supreme-grade monsters are rarely graded since no participant has ever dared to fight those higher-ranked monsters.

"It seems my little brother has been hiding such an amazing thing from everything..." Helther said, leaning back on the chair. His lips curved upwards in a sharp smirk.

.

.

.

Atheline rolled his shoulders, releasing the tension he had been feeling since earlier. While fighting was enjoyable, it didn’t mean his muscles wouldn’t strain a little.

A small shoulder roll and he felt new again.

"I wonder how many points I got from this," he mumbled to himself.

His gaze shifted to the small orb floating behind him. An image stone, he knew they were recording every moment of the fight.

He aimlessly walked through the forest, the map he had been given earlier having lost its meaning the moment he was thrown to the centre of the forest.

He even whistled not minding that it would attract countless monsters. It was free points anyway, the more the merrier.

"Good."

He continued deep into the forest until the image stones floating behind him couldn’t follow him anymore. It had become too dark.

While he did give the audience a show, it didn’t mean he had to show each of his kills. The suspense would make the games even better, and he didn’t want everything he did put on display.

He knew it wouldn’t go past Lilith to ask for them to only focus on him. She had suggested that before he left for the competition.

Atheline came to a stop before the highest tree he could find. He touched the trunk feeling the plant breathe and move.

"This will do."

He expertly climbed to the top and perched on the topmost branch. Wind gathered around him, in small bursts of whirlwind.

"Disperse."

And they did. Wind was everywhere, as long as air moves, wind will always be present. He could feel the forest expand slowly in his senses, as his wind merged with the natural wind providing him with a vision of the other competitors and what they were doing.

It was as expected.

Killing, killing, killing, and more killing.

Participants kill monsters.

Monsters kill Participants.

Participants kill Participants.

"Predictable," he mummbled under his breath. A small laugh escaped him at the thought of what was going on.

There was only one rule in the competition. Kill monsters and gain points to rank up, nothing else.

"This is really something, " he muttered to himself," things are getting more and more interesting. "

He sat firmly, as his observations went on.