Genius Noble With System
Chapter 194: Marlin Drex

Chapter 194: Marlin Drex

Apollo’s voice echoed throughout the arena, laced with mockery and disdain.

"What happened to the proud Vice Head of the Salvation Society? Do you think your pathetic master controlling a bunch of trashy trialists makes him some kind of big shot? No," Apollo continued, his tone sharp and cutting. "If you think that, then you’re dead wrong. He’s even worse than all of you. Why else would he create a society just to gather all the trash together?"

The crowd stirred, eyes widening at Apollo’s audacity. It wasn’t just Tyros who was being insulted—Apollo was openly challenging the mysterious figure behind the Salvation Society, someone feared but seldom spoken of in such a way.

Tyros’ face twisted with rage, but he couldn’t hide the fear creeping into his eyes. He had no response. His power, artificially enhanced and unstable, was not enough to stop Apollo. And now, with thousands of trialists watching, Apollo was tearing down everything Tyros stood for, dragging his name—and the name of the Salvation Society—through the dirt.

Apollo stood tall, his gaze scanning the crowd, hoping his words would draw out the hidden mastermind. His mind scanned thousands of people and finally found someone well hidden in the crowd who burst out with killing intent for a second, but he immediately controlled it.

But this was enough for him to find him, and it was now time to end this farce.

Slap!

He slapped with his full strength, which was overwhelming for someone like Tyros, who just barely somehow became a saint and was mentally and physically tormented.

Boooom!

Tyros was sent flying, his body crashing outside the arena with a resounding impact. The force of Apollo’s slap was so immense that the very space around them trembled. The crowd gasped in awe, the sheer brutality of the attack leaving everyone momentarily speechless.

Apollo stood in the centre of the arena, unshaken, his aura calm yet exuding terrifying power. Tyros lay crumpled on the ground, his pride shattered along with his body, a mere puppet tossed aside by Apollo’s overwhelming strength.

Ending the battle with a very humiliating defeat for Tyros and the Salvation Society, but the crowd awakening from the initial shock seemed to love it and burst into cheers as many of the trialists within the spectators were suppressed or harassed in one way or another by salvation society, so they were naturally happy to see this.

Apollo stood tall, his expression cold and unreadable, but his eyes glowed with intensity as he directed his attention toward the hidden figure he had sensed earlier.

The brief surge of killing intent had been enough to give him away, and now Apollo had locked onto him.

The man Apollo had identified was hidden well within the crowd of spectators, cloaked in anonymity, but Apollo’s sharp gaze pierced through the sea of faces.

Surprisingly, he actually knew the face, as he was one of the rankers who was quite famous, as he had quite a high rank. His name was Marlin Drex, and he seemed to be a member of the Hunter Guild of the Main Branch at the Scared Light Empire.

But don’t ever think that Marlin was a nobody who climbed the ranks of the Hunter Guild through talent or sheer hard work. In truth, it was quite the opposite. He was a member of the powerful Drex family, and it was their support that propelled him to his current position.

While his talent wasn’t bad, it was nowhere near the level of those protagonists who rise on their own, aided by plot armour and extraordinary luck. Still, Marlin was somebody—a figure of influence—and it was unexpected to discover that he was behind the Salvation Society.

He was well-known for his public persona of helping the less fortunate, often offering talented civilians a chance to prove themselves. Many civilian geniuses outside had joined him in the Hunter Guild, drawn by his reputation as a benefactor. But now, that image seemed like a hollow façade, concealing the darker truths of his ambitions.

Marlin also noticed that Apollo seemed to be looking at him, making him feel even worse.

He was hiding his face, but he had a feeling that Apollo seemed to see through his cloak and had a feeling he had figured it out and wanted to take care of him.

But both of them knew that they couldn’t do much within the Sky City as it protects every trialist, at least for now; otherwise, Tyros wouldn’t be alive or Sol, who was oppressed, just wouldn’t have minor injuries.

His steps were hurried as he moved through the narrow passages away from the arena. The roar of the crowd cheering for Apollo’s brutal victory only fueled his anger. He had invested so much into the Salvation Society, crafting it as a tool to gather Sky Points while staying out of direct confrontation with the more powerful trialists. Now, with one slap—one humiliating slap—Apollo had wrecked everything he’d built.

"Fuck you, Apollo!" Marlin hissed through gritted teeth as he stormed away, the dark aura of his killing intent bleeding through his restrained demeanour. He had lost more than just a subordinate today. He had lost his foundation.

Although Marlin was strong, he was fully aware of his limitations. Maintaining his current position required the backing of the Salvation Society to earn Sky Points continuously.

There were many monstrous trialists, and while Marlin’s strength alone wouldn’t allow him to break into the top fifty, his cunning and strategic thinking had propelled him to where he stood now. Without the Salvation Society’s support, all that could be lost.

"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath. He could already feel the power slipping from his grasp. Trialists would abandon society and, with them, his steady stream of Sky Points. Without them, how could he compete with the likes of Apollo or the other monstrous talents gunning for the top spots?

Marlin’s mind raced with thoughts of revenge, but he knew his own limits. He wasn’t strong enough to confront Apollo head-on. He just saw him effortlessly overpower Tyros, even using the life-devouring seed, and wasn’t sure if he could win easily.

He would have to be patient. If he struck too soon, it would be the end of him. He needed to rebuild, but he wasn’t sure currently as his plan wasn’t completed.

"Maybe it’s time to reach out to... them," Marlin mused darkly, thinking of the hidden forces. Dangerous, yes—but it is worth it as he will be able to complete his plan and become stronger.

As he walked deeper into the shadows of the city’s streets, his frustration simmered into a cold, focused determination. He would find a way to claw back his power—and when the time came, Apollo would regret ever crossing him.

For now, he would bide his time, watch from the shadows, and wait for the perfect moment to strike back.

Apollo didn’t know what Marlin’s thoughts and concerns were. He received his wager of a thousand sky points and accomplished his goal, ensuring that the Salvation Society’s members wouldn’t dare harass anyone for a while. His overwhelming display of power had sent a clear message.

Silently, Apollo left the arena, the crowd parting to make way for him in awe. As he walked some distance away, he encountered Master Aaron and Alyona, who met him with smiles. Together, they walked, talking and laughing as they continued on their way.

"Haha, kid, that fight was really something! Though I wouldn’t even call it a fight." Master Aaron laughed, clapping Apollo on the back. "Those slaps, though? Perfect. You should give a lesson on how to humiliate someone with style! It’s been a while since I’ve seen a crowd enjoy something that much."

"Now, those rats in the Salvation Society won’t dare mess with anyone for a long time."

Alyona, walking beside them, also smiled. It was rare to see a young Saint humiliated so thoroughly, and she couldn’t help but also feel satisfied with how the situation had unfolded.

The three of them continued walking, the mood light and relaxed, contrasting the intense atmosphere of the arena just moments ago. For Apollo, it was another step forward in establishing his dominance within Sky City. As he now wasn’t afraid of any trialist.

As they walked, Master Aaron glanced at Apollo, his expression shifting slightly to something more serious. "But remember kid, there are always bigger fish. You handled Tyros easily, but the person behind it? He won’t forget this. Guys like him don’t confront you head-on. They bide their time and wait for the right moment. Watch your back."

He nodded as he naturally understood, but he wasn’t afraid and had confidence in his strength.

They returned to their place, and the next day, Sol came running to Apollo, tears streaming down his face. He burst into a crying spree of happiness, thanking Apollo countless times for his help. Sol understood why Apollo had suddenly challenged the vice leader of the Salvation Society, and his gratitude was overflowing.

"Thank you, Apollo, thank you!"

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