"Who's next?" Vaan nonchalantly asked.

The closest warriors to Vaan immediately took a step back with awkward expressions. Their faces became hot from embarrassment and shame, but they also felt as if they had been slapped as well.

It didn't take a genius to realize how much strength was put into that single slap – it contained the force of a Rank 3 Body Refiner, at the very least!

Meanwhile, everyone else was only Rank 2 Body Refiners or Aura Masters!

What kind of spar could they possibly hope for by challenging the Pendragon? They were simply asking for a beating!

But who could have known such a small body would possess so much strength?

Suddenly, all the warriors who thought they could gain fame by defeating Vaan felt ashamed. There was no quick road to success. Their glorious future could only be forged by the blood and sweat of their hard work.

"No one? Then, I'm leaving—"

"I'd like to have a spar with you, Sir."

Seeing that the warriors cleared a path for him with their heads hung down, Vaan was prepared to leave when another person expressed their intent to fight him.

Vaan glanced and noticed a Solaran Warrior who had just arrived.

This newcomer had, more or less, heard and seen why the crowd of warriors was gathering around him. Despite that, he did not cower from his desire to spar, as seen from the eager gleam in his eyes.

"Mid-stage Aura Grandmaster!" a Rank 2 Body Refiner Dunean Warrior uttered after the Solaran Warrior revealed his aura and fighting spirit.

Everyone immediately retreated some extra distance to make room for them with tacit understanding.

There wasn't anyone among the Rank 2 Body Refiners and Aura Masters that could be the Pendragon's opponent. However, a Mid-stage Aura Grandmaster was a different story. Perhaps the newcomer could give them a good fight to watch.

Although everyone had given up their challenges, watching those stronger than themselves fight was also beneficial for them.

"Come at me then."

"Then, please pardon my offense."

The exchange was brief before the Solaran Warrior coated his entire body in a red aura and lunged straight at Vaan with a strong fist.

The force and momentum carried behind this fist were enough to shy away the Rank 2 Body Refiners and Aura Masters, discouraging them from challenging the person. They all knew it wasn't a force they could endure without serious injuries.

Nevertheless, Vaan casually caught the fist with his palm.

Boom!

The impact generated a strong shock, causing the sands and stones beneath Vaan's feet to blow away. However, Vaan himself remained firm in his place like an immovable mountain.

Such a situation was beyond the Solaran Warrior's imagination. He had gravely miscalculated his opponent's strength, having assumed them to be roughly equal. Unfortunately, his opponent had not shown all his strength.

No one expected this.

After all, every day and every year, the strength of warriors journeying to the Great Ratholos Empire for more extensive training was no more than Low-level Rank 3 and no less than Low-level Rank 2.

As such, the Solaran Warrior's strength was already above the norm.

Who would have known he would run into another person whose strength was even more perverted than his at this time?

He could only count himself unlucky.

That said, the Solaran Warrior was only surprised, not discouraged. Even if his opponent's strength was High-level Rank 3, he still wished to spar with such a person.

A man afraid of defeat would never be able to taste the sweetness of victory.

Everything had happened in an instant. After the contact of the first blow, the Solaran Warrior wanted to retract his fist for a follow-up attack. However, his wrist was by Vaan's vise-like grip, and his vision blurred following a powerful pulling force.

Swoosh!

Vaan hurled the huge body of the Solaran Warrior through the air like he was throwing away the trash.

Although the move seemed very casual, the latter could not resist the force behind it and regain his sense of direction and balance in midair. He smashed into multiple rock pillars like a ragdoll, chipping away small chunks of rocks with each impact before face-planting into the ground over a hundred yards away.

Hiss!

The spectators sucked in another mouthful of cool air as they witnessed the scene. Everyone realized they had severely underestimated Vaan's strength, even though he did not look that strong.

Even a High-level Rank 3 Body Refiner would not have been able to throw the Solaran Warrior so far so effortlessly.

After these two fights, no one else present made trouble for Vaan.

As such, Vaan resumed his journey, following the rock path leading him to the next human settlement. However, he only traveled five kilometers before another newcomer caught up to challenge him and confirm the spreading rumors.

Such a situation repeated a dozen times by the time Vaan reached the first human settlement located sixty kilometers from the border checkpoint. Each fight had been brief and instant, but that did not shy away subsequent challengers, who did not know any better.

In the Great Ratholos Empire, many warriors were not afraid of challenging stronger opponents to gain insights. Such spars were considered asking for pointers—but only the stronger opponents showed patience and leniency.

Alas, Vaan did no such thing.

Every challenger was ruthlessly sent flying into the distance in a single exchange without an exception. As such, none of his challengers managed to gain any valuable fighting experience or insights.

"Sunrock Bazaar… Sir Pendragon, we're finally here," a Dunean Warrior hastily said after rushing to catch up to Vaan.

The Sunrock Bazaar was a huge marketplace-turned-city comprising more than three hundred interconnecting rock pillars via wooden and rope bridges. Open stalls could be found on all levels, hustling and bustling with activities and people. No matter where Vaan looked, fabrics of various colors could be seen hanging everywhere, providing both shade and cover.

However, Vaan could not enjoy this rare sight as he felt a growing headache from hearing the Dunean Warrior's voice.

Of the dozen or so challenges he received along the way, half belonged to this Dunean Warrior. Furthermore, he was responsible for the other half.

Vaan couldn't help but wonder if this annoying person enjoyed being hurled by him.

Otherwise, why would he keep coming back for more?