Distrust

It was their only enemy there, but for Arnold, it was something he lived along with. People always doubted him when it came to decision making. His plans, decisions, advice, were accurate most of the time yet people who didn't know him well always distrusted him. Right now, in front of him was a man just like that. A man who wanted to challenge Arnold to show him 'his place'.

A man who believed Arnold was just lucky bastard to be able to defeat Tiamut and wasn't stronger than any S ranked warrior. Not many believed Arnold to be the SS ranked warrior as the Blacks claimed that he was. Why? Because his true strength had never been tested before. 

A man Arnold had never seen before walked out of the crowd and stood right in front of him. On his face were sunglasses, not the cool kind like something Tom Cruise would wear, but like what Granddads used to wear when they want to look cool in his old fly-boy jacket. And the man was wearing a leather jacket... In Los Angeles... Right after the rain had stopped... Yup Arnold got a rough idea of who the man really was... An idiot. Or he was trying to look like one.

The sunglasses simply wrapped around the man's face from one side to another, perfect for someone to conceal their identity and like all sunglasses, they hid the part Arnold always found easiest to read. Well, even if the face was covered Arnold could get to know what he wanted, thanks to the system. 

He quickly used probe on the man and the result was nothing like he was expecting. 

___

NAME: Luke (Human)

LEVEL: 81

RANK: A

ROLE: Brawler/Illusionist

AFFINITY/ABILITIES :

• Incite

• Trash Talk

• Thunder Punch

• Transformation

HP: 5000/5000

Mana/Energy: 5000/5000

STRENGTH (STR) : 90

DEFENSE (DEF) : 75

STAMINA (STA) : 82

INTELLIGENCE (INT) : 67

AGILITY (AGI) : 68

ACCURACY (ACC) : 50

EVADE (EVD) : 50

CHARISMA (CHA): 78

THREAT LEVEL: Nonexistent

REMARK: I see, your reputation has taken a hit. Now even an A-ranked human shit dare to talk thrash about you and that too in front of you. A twig-like him is challenging you. You have the permission to snap the twig in half. Show no mercy. 

___

'I thought you'd never ask.' Arnold smiled as he schemed through the stats of the man, 'Nothing special... Just why is he so hellbent on getting his ass kicked by me then?'

Everyone was looking at Arnold. He had been challenged to a duel right before he was about the address the warriors. But... Would he accept the challenge? He doesn't have to, but would he? 

These were the thoughts racing through everyone's minds. Nina sensed something was off and decided to take matters into her own hands. 

"What do you think you're doing? He's the elected leader so you should give him the respect he deserves." Nina calmly told the man. 

"Respect? As far as I know, this man had done nothing to earn my respect." Luke replied with a smug smile on his face, "And the way a woman has to defend him doesn't seem very... Macho, in my opinion."

"You..." Nina unsheathed her sword and was ready to charge at the man when Arnold put his arm in front of her. 

He needed to take care of his matter himself. He turned towards Luke and smiled. 

"I see... You're correct." Arnold replied as he slowly stepped down the stairs, "Also, I should thank you for providing me with an excuse to kick your butt and not be sorry about it. So? How do you want to do it?"

Luke gulped his saliva down, Arnold released a bit of his concealed aura and he was already about to pass out. Even so, he got what he wanted now he only needed to get closer to his target. He couldn't back down now. He looked towards Andrex through the sunglasses, who gave him the signal. If things were to go South, Andrex would intervene but not before Luke could get what he wanted from Arnold. 

Luke was confident in his abilities... But when Arnold stared at him, it felt like he was being dragged into the pits of hell... Like he was already dead. He could barely keep his emotions in check while the stare down continued for a few more seconds. 

"Yo, we going to do this or not?" Arnold snapped his fingers, "You know what? To make it fair, I won't use my hands to fight. That's should be okay I think, after all, you're an A ranker right, Mr Luke?"

Luke was shocked! How could Arnold possibly know about his true identity? He had disguised himself as someone else and still, Arnold knew about his rank? Just what kind of monster had he angered to face him? The fight hadn't even begun and he was already panicking.

Was it too late to back down now? What was he even thinking!? Of course, he can't back down now, he was doing all this to avenge EL. His brother! He might not be as strong as his opponent, but he was a master of disguise, an illusionist! He could do it. 

Without any warning, Luke jumped over Arnold drawing a small hidden blade. Luke immediately went for Arnold's nape. But before he could even swing the blade, Arnold turned around, lifted his leg high in the air and executed an improvised version of a downwards roundhouse kick. The kick connected to Luke's jaw, slamming him against the ground. Cracks appeared on the concrete floor where Luke collapsed...

Even though Arnold didn't put much strength in the kick, he ended up dislocating his opponent's lower jaw. At least, he wouldn't be trash-talking to anyone for a long time. 

"Tsk. I went overboard. My apologies." Arnold gave a quick pat to the fallen man on the shoulder before walking away to the podium as if nothing happened, "So, I think that was enough to wipe out any doubt that you may or may not have?"

Everyone remained silent. No one wanted to get their ass kicked in front of thousands of people. They knew Arnold was strong and didn't want to be the one on whom the strength was tested on... In short, no one wanted to become Arnold's punching bag. 

"Good then! Let's proceed with the plan. We are already behind schedule. And please, someone get a healer for the man. On second thought, he won't be able to participate in the attack anymore. So send him to the hospital instead."

Two men hurriedly took Luke away. 

Arnold smiled as people scrambled to enter into vehicles as Arnold opened a gigantic portal for them to travel directly into the swamps. 

Even though Luke was in pain, he couldn't stop smiling. Arnold didn't know but Luke got what he came for. A strand of his hair. Or his DNA to be precise. Arnold thought the issue with Luke was over when in reality it was just the start of another crisis.