The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 169: The refinement challenge (2)

Chapter 169: The refinement challenge (2)

The sun was up but the Temple was full.

Initially, many people planned to watch a part of the competition and then return to their homes to rest and go on with their lives. The only people who planned to remain behind and watch the entire thing were either employed to do so or wished to increase their skills by watching the Adepts.

But the events that transpired, one after the other, kept quite a few in the Temple. Once word spread, even more people arrived hoping to catch a glimpse of Master Lucas. Some even wished to see the person, capable of challenging the Master.

Hex stood at his monolith while Lucas took the one beside him. He didn’t come with crystals but it didn’t matter. Within a second, people lined up to offer their crystals. If Hex won their curiosity then Lucas had their trust.

’What the fuck. I fought an entire week and only then claimed a hundred crystals. This guy has more than that at his feet within a second?’

Seeing how people treated Lucas, Hex marveled at the earning potential of a Master refiner. He was incensed by it to win against Lucas. It would spread his name, earn him a Disaster crystal, and increase the number of refinement requests.

"Ready?" Lucas asked with a smile.

"Always," replied Hex.

Everyone stood aside. The refiners sat and were ready to watch the two go at it. They didn’t think the challenge would last two weeks. The way they saw it, by the end of the day, Hex would have messed enough to decide the winner.

They each picked a crystal and started. Hex didn’t increase his speed. He maintained his steady flow and continued.

"Master Lucas is done!"

People in the crowd exclaimed seeing the master finish a crystal within a few minutes. A quick test revealed its A quality. Hex didn’t bother with the dramatic shouts and cries. In fact, he forgot about the people. His focus was on refining. He enjoyed doing it.

At first, people mocked his slower speed but as the day continued, they stopped mocking him. He didn’t rest. Even Master Lucas took pauses but Hex didn’t. By the end of the first day, Hex refined thirty to Lucas’ thirty-two. Although Lucas was ahead, the difference was very little.

When dusk came, Lucas stood up to leave. Others were tired too. Another batch of refiners stood at the door, ready to continue.

But just as everyone thought they had seen everything they had to see, Hex addressed Tarquin.

"Did you arrange my sleeping bag and food?"

Although he didn’t speak loudly, many still heard it, especially since they paid attention to the strange person. As soon as they heard him, they froze. Their action attracted others’ gazes. In a few seconds, everyone knew the refiner named Mike Northson would remain in the Temple.

Lucas, who was caressing Delia’s head and calming her, stopped in his tracks too. He eyed Hex strangely and then looked around. After a second, he returned and sat on the other side of the Temple. He knew the clerks better than Hex did.

The clerks provided him with soft mattresses and food from their kitchen. Hex on the other hand received the basket Tarquin prepared for him. After filling his stomach, Hex lay down and napped. To others, it looked like he was too carefree, not bothering about his safety.

Tarquin hurriedly arranged for a few people to stand guard, ensuring no one would harm his refiner. Even if Hex lost, he had proven to be an excellent refiner. He was someone worth Tarquin’s time and resources.

The spectators were stunned when they saw Lucas lay down too. The clerks arranged comfortable cushions for him but seeing a Master on the floor was a new experience for the people. They realized the challenge would continue as soon as these two would wake up.

...

"How long have they been at it?"

"Already ten days!"

"I can’t believe an unknown person could keep up with a Master."

"Who is this Mike Northson?"

"Having a challenge between refiners benefitted many, I heard."

"True. Never have so many crystals been refined in such a short time."

The challenge between Hex and Master Lucas attracted everyone’s attention. At first, it was seen as a joke but as days passed, people started to whisper. The whispers turned to secluded talks until it was spoken about in every street and house.

Refiners were crucial for Blessed. Without them, they would have to risk more for less. Although everyone could refine chaotic energy, many couldn’t afford the time. Not everyone had the talent.

As the challenge between Hex and Lucas continued, many refiners realized their fame and customers were dwindling. They knew they couldn’t remain idle. They started to refine more hours, irrespective of the toll it took on them. Soon, it became common to see refiners leave the Temple on stretchers or looking haggard and near insanity.

Organizations such as the Merchant Union, and figures in the governor’s office promoted this event to increase the morale of the people storming the ruin and to increase the number of refined crystals. After all, not everyone used the crystals to increase their strength. Some had already given up on reaching the next stage and only wished to earn a fortune from the ruins. The economy of Notrelune improved by many folds since the challenge started.

By the thirteenth day, the last day of the challenge, everyone heard the name of Mike Northson.

...

It was early in the morning. Hex sat in the corner of the Temple, sipping from a warm cup of tea. He didn’t like the taste but it reminded him of the baron and the tower overlooking the beautiful scenery of the mountains.

The Temple was filled with people but no one dared to bother him. Almost two weeks of refining without a single failure earned the respect of the people. Even if he lost, he would retain that respect. But Hex didn’t wish to lose. Although respect and fame were important tools, he desired the Disaster crystal.

’I am at nine hundred fifty drops at the moment. Passing the thousandth drop requires a huge amount of energy. The Disaster crystal will save me a lot of time and resources.’

Hex never stopped reading The Knight’s Path. According to the scroll, every thousandth drop required lot of energy. If he didn’t use an external source, it could go out of control and damage his inner space.

Hex looked at his competitor. Lucas sat in another corner, being taken care of by clerks and his students. He looked haggard. His eyes were bloodied and his skin was torn open. Even his well-maintained hair looked like a bird’s nest.

Hex had a similar appearance but his look was thanks to the morphuse box. If he looked fresh and healthy, it would look strange. After all, Hex was perhaps the only refiner who retained energy as he refined. Everyone else seemed to lose it.

Tarquin appeared with his team as did many other people in high positions. They knew today would be decisive. Tarquin walked up to Hex, causing the people in Lucas’ camp to frown and look displeased.

But Tarquin didn’t care. No matter what happened, Mike held more importance to him. He knew he would receive only a few Disaster crystals. The majority would be Fiend ones. If Mike could keep up his pace, all crystals would be refined and he would have a boost after each round.

Hex knew what Tarquin thought and was pleased with it. Tarquin saw him as a tool and he considered Tarquin a golden-egg-laying goose.

"Are you confident?" Gabriella whispered. She was more polite lately. She didn’t care about refined crystals but admired people with a drive. She considered Hex’s challenge reckless and brave at the same time.

"Like always," Hex replied with a weary grin. He stood up, acting to be trembling and sickly. As soon as he moved, everyone’s gaze landed on him. Hex pushed his chest out and walked swaying towards the monolith. His clenched side profile made some girls swoon over him. From a nobody, he became a star. Even Hex didn’t know the stories people told about him.

Lucas moved too. He swayed and staggered, making his way to the monolith. He wasn’t inferior to Hex. Even Hex had to admit that without his advantages, he would lose to the Master refiner. But the man had never suffered through such an ordeal.

As a child prodigy, he was looked after and trained from a young age. He refined with enough rests in between. He received everyone’s affection without trying. For the first time, he was refining like there was no tomorrow.

On top of that, his pride as a Master didn’t allow him to show weakness. So, instead of taking a break and returning, he continued. Hex admitted he gained respect for the stubborn fellow but it didn’t mean he would take a knee.

Each had twenty crystals in front of them. Before the crowd’s gaze, they began refining. After the first ten, Lucas coughed wildly, spitting out blood. Hex saw it from the corner of his eyes. At the eleventh, he coughed and spat out blood. It was hard to injure himself but he had to do so.

Everyone was on the edge of their seat. The winner seemed near.

At the fifteenth, Hex coughed again, spitting some drops of blood. He didn’t want to spit every time after Lucas. But Lucas remained quiet.

At the eighteenth crystal, Lucas trembled heavily but pulled through.

At the nineteenth crystal, Hex fell to the floor. Lucas’ camp nearly cheered. Some of Hex’s supporters cried out. But in the end, Hex stood up, miraculously finishing the refinement.

At the twentieth, Lucas fell to the floor. People waited for him to stand. But he didn’t. Only when Hex put his twentieth crystal away, did people realize Lucas had fainted. His students hurried toward him.

Everyone else stared at the weak and weary guy at the monolith. He chuckled.

"Hehe, I guess I won."

’