Grey turned his attention away from the Old man and looked at Flint, his gaze lingering on his body before shaking his head, "You're not my match. Don't embarrass yourself."
Grey's reply was even more insulting than if he accepted and beat Flint up. Flint would have no problem with that, but Grey outrightly saying he was not his match was the most humiliating he had ever gone through.
"You…"
"To be sincere, you're no match for me as well. Why don't you fight with Rey? He's the weakest. If not for the fact that Alice's cultivation stage is two stages lower than yours, she would've beaten you up too." Klaus stepped in front of Grey and pointed at Reynolds.
Of all of them, Alice was the only one who couldn't use strength belonging to a Peak Venerable. Well, their term of Peak Venerable was someone that had the same strength as them. Anyone below grade five couldn't defeat Alice even though she wasn't at the Peak of the Venerable Plane.
Grey saying it was already humiliating, Klaus not just saying it, but also adding to it made it more embarrassing for Flint. The veins on his head bulged out as he was on the verge of losing his temper.
"Because he attacked me when I wasn't prepared, he thinks he's better than me?" Flint was furious, "I want to challenge him, if he has the guts he should accept it. After I'm done with him, I'll beat you up as well."
"You do have a point, why don't we do this. You start with Reynolds, if you're successful in your attempt, I'll give you all the time you need to rest before you fight with me, alright?" Klaus asked with a smile.
Klaus' expression showed that he didn't take Flint's words seriously.
Grey chuckled when he saw Klaus' antics. He knew Klaus was only doing all this as a means to relieve his boredom.
"I'm stronger than you, why does he have to fight me first when you're clearly the weakest?" Reynolds asked, annoyed at the fact that Klaus was demeaning him in front of others.
"What do you mean? You've always been the weakest, now shut up and beat him up. Don't embarrass us." Klaus waved Reynolds off.
Lightning danced on Reynolds' body as he replied, "I'm more interested in beating you up."
Klaus' expression changed and he moved closer to Grey, "Stop acting like you're not raring to go. Well, here's a free meal."
Klaus' attitude startled those watching.
Due to Flint challenging Grey the moment he appeared, everyone present watched them, without even bothering about anything else. The fact that Grey replied in such a manner, and that Klaus said Flint was not also his match was exciting. All these geniuses knew of Flint's fame, so seeing these guys speaking to him in such a manner, they were excited at the battle that was about to ensue.
The middle-aged man stepped in to act as the peacemaker.
"There will be no fighting in our Hall…" He looked at the duo, the eyes of everyone dulled, but they brightened with his next statement, "We have an arena for disputes like this."
The Old man at the side didn't have a good impression on, the reason for this was because he knew, if what the middle-aged man and the other Elders said was true, then his student truly was no match for the group of four. However, telling his student this will damage his confidence and pride.
'Who says a grade seven can't beat a grade nine?'
This was the question in his head as he scoffed. He believed in his student, as long as he was intentional, he had a great chance of winning.
Battling a Magical Beast that doesn't have a consciousness is different from battling an Elementalist. One couldn't come up with plans when fighting against a stronger opponent, the other could.
Everyone in the Hall moved to the arena area. The youths were excited at the battle that was going to take place, while the Elders all looked on with interest.
Grey didn't head to the platform, he didn't see any reason in doing that.
Flint stood on the platform and pointed at Grey, "I'm challenging you to a duel. Not anyone else, just you."
"You attacked me while we were in the volcano, I want to have my revenge."
Grey looked at Flint, a little amused as he replied, "I only retaliated to your attack. If you want to blame me for your incompetence, then you have no hope."
Flint felt even more irritated by Grey's words. He was about to speak when a deep voice was heard across the arena.
"Boy, you're challenged by someone, as an Elementalist, you should honor this challenge."
Grey looked straight at the Old man. This caught not only the Old man off guard, but all the Elders as well. Grey was able to pinpoint where the voice came from accurately.
"I forfeit. Can I leave now?" Grey spoke up coolly.
The Old man was stumped when he heard this, he couldn't believe his ears. Grey just said he forfeit the battle.
'What sort of genius is this? Being able to fight a grade eight Phoenix but is afraid of entangling with him?'
The Old man wasn't the only one with this thought in his head, the middle-aged man, the Elders, and even the young lady from the group of seven was shocked at the fact that Grey refused.
The young lady saw the exchange between the two while they were in the volcano and knew Flint would definitely try to seek revenge. He never expected Grey was so nonchalant towards things like these.
Flint and even worse reaction to this. The more Grey refused to fight with him, the more he wanted the fight so bad.
"Are you afraid you'll lose?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"No, I just don't want to hurt your soft ego." Grey's answer was one that infuriated Flint when more.
