Originally, the young Demon Hunter wanted to choose Stone Skin among the offered level 4 spell.
Stone Skin: Summon a layer of stone skin to protect against punches, kicks, stabs and pierces. Effect: Can absorb 10 damage per level (Maximum 150); lowers the damage caused by weapons under the level of Star Hallowed Artefact by 50 percent. Effect lasts for 2 hours.
It was undeniably a powerful defensive spell but Ye Qi with 16 in Physique could only use it once! In that case, the young Demon Hunter rather it be an offensive spell! In this case where resource was limited, offense was oftentimes the best form of defence, it was why he ended up choosing Wall of Fire.
The choice of Rage was self-explanatory. The effect of increasing his Strength and Physique as well as the +1 Psychic Immunity couldn't be missed! It was the perfect choice to enhance his close quarter combat prowess! If used alongside Specialization like Vampire's Touch, the effect would wonderful.
"Ye, congratulations!" After sending Paki away for recovery, the giant returned with a box in his hands. He placed it before the young Demon Hunter and said, "Inside are the equipment meant for an Apostle…"
The box was big but there was only a black windbreaker and an identity card specifying his Apostle status inside—Apostles were given discount on food and information at all Demon Hunter branches so the identity card was something valuable.
The change of clothes prepared by the giant earlier didn't include a jacket so Ye Qi slid the card into his wallet and naturally put the windbreaker on.
Apostle's Coat (Star): Woven using mysterious material. It has great defence, it can even block bullets fired from minor-barrel guns at close distance.
Even though it had no special effect, hearing the system description of the windbreaker still managed to put a smile on Ye Qi's face.
This windbreaker can fetch a price up to the ten thousands in the black market right? The Apostles truly are different from normal Demon Hunters! With great power, not only comes great responsibilities but also great benefits as well!
"Apostle Ye Qi, from today onwards, the headquarters' central castle, Tower of Knowledge and Tower of Arena will be open to you for a whole year…" Noah announced flatly, "Other than that, Apostle Ye Qi you have to uphold the honour of the headquarters in your mission…"
"Gladly!" Ye Qi bowed slightly. As mentioned before, with great power comes great responsibility.
The young Demon Hunter had no issue regarding this, he understood there is no free lunch in the world, if he wanted to enjoy the privilege of an Apostle, he had to give something back in return. Furthermore, if the Demon Hunter headquarters expand in power, he could only stand to gain more perks as an Apostle so it was a healthy cycle. Of course, he wouldn't sacrificed his own well-being to promote the headquarters like a zealot, the young Demon Hunter was at his heart a person who looked after his own skin first.
After the cold-faced guy rattled off the list of responsibility and perks, he nodded at the giant beside Ye Qi and walked away, ignoring the young Demon Hunter completely. Ye Qi was glad about this development—from the way he swindled Paki, Ye Qi knew this was a person who looked cool on the surface but one who held onto offenses and revenges. Life with such a person had to be spent in extreme caution or else one might be stabbed in bed one night with a knife through the heart…
Therefore, the less interaction between them the better!
"Ye, there is still a combat lesson later in the day!" The giant explained excitedly, "You are now officially an Apostle, but you still have a year of systemic lessons to get through and the 3 days per week of combat classes are the most important for students like you! Instructors like us will be your teachers and we occasionally will have famous Apostles come as tutors as well…"
Probably only someone as innocent as Titan could be friends with a black-belly ice block like that Noah… was the thought that cropped up in the young Demon Hunter's mind as he listened to the friendly giant.
The giant then walked out of the room and waved for Ye Qi to follow. The young Demon Hunter shrugged and did as he was told.
The Tower of Arena was as big as the other towers but different from them, the Tower of Arena only had three floors—the hall on the first floor, the arena on the second floor and the colosseum on the third floor.
Other than the third floor colosseum which was open only during the headquarters' annual contest, the rest of the tower was open to the Apostles and even the normal Demon Hunters. After all, fighting was technically all Demon Hunter ever do.
Amidst the cacophony of cheering and roaring, Ye Qi followed behind the giant and entered the second floor arena.
"Good hit!"
"Stand up! Don't give up!"
When Ye Qi made his entry, a match had just concluded. The match should have nothing to do with Ye Qi but when he saw the fallen figure on stage, he stopped moving—one of the Apostles who greeted him earlier was lying in a pool of blood.
"The new batch of Apostles sure are a bunch of wusses! Such a rookie also dares to come to the arena?!" The opponent who bared his torso, laughed with condescension as he swung a cooper pole around, "Hey kid, this place is too dangerous for rookies like you. Better go back to your mummy and suck on her tit!"
"Glados, well done!"
"You definitely showed them!"
"That's right, bunch of rookies better go back to your mummy and suck on her tits!"
A group of Apostles who Ye Qi assumed was from the same batch as this Glados was cackling arrogantly.
This place also has hazing?
The young Demon Hunter who stood underneath the stage narrowed his eyes with interest.
The sound of laughter behind him egged Glados on. Staring at his downed opponent, he cleared his throat audibly and spat on his opponent's face…
"You bastard!"
"I'll kill you!"
This action incensed the group of Apostles from the same batch as Ye Qi—the battle against Paki and Ye Qi's words had united them. After that day at the Grand Hall, the group spent the rest of the day getting blind drunk at the bar recommended by Darien. Since then, the whole group had spent the rest of week working, studying and practicing together, they had formed a close bond.
The nomadic nature of their job meant that Demon Hunter rarely had friends but they would do anything for the friends that they had!
All of the new Apostles jumped onto the stage. While Tatum pulled the fainted Apostle away, the rest of Apostles followed behind Darien and they handily surrounded Glados.
Glados took an involuntarily step back facing the twenty Apostles who were glaring at him with dark eyes. However, he was after all an Apostle himself. After taking a step back, he immediately warned, "What's wrong? You rookies want to gang up on me?"
"Gang up on you? Aren't you overestimating yourself for a bit there, Senior Trash?!"
The young Demon Hunter suddenly jumped on stage and chuckled coldly at Glados.