Ricktor himself had managed to reach the fourth stage. Something had changed in him after the fight with Raze, allowing him to open his eyes more. When he cultivated, more energy was drawn in when using the Dark Essence absorption technique.
And with that, his body had clicked, making him a fourth-stage Pagna warrior. When he entered the new assessment hall, it was the same; the feeling of his body having evolved into something else continued.
Using his martial arts down below, he was feeling it; he was getting stronger by the moment. In his mind, it was clear that there were only two who could best him in this assessment, including those humans that had turned into wild animals, and those were Raze and Dame. So why, even though he had carefully observed everyone's strength, and watched the others grow, was there someone who was able to best him other than those two, or at least match his strength?
These were the thoughts that swirled in his head until he saw that it wasn't someone, but instead, it was something. A stone statue that was wielding a stone spear in its hand. It had a menacing face and was looking right at him.
Ricktor could also sense the Qi that was coming off from its body.
'That thing, it's alive!' Ricktor thought.
In the middle of his thoughts, the statue's spear started to break down, crumbling and rebuilding into something else; it now had a sword in its hand. Then it placed the sword down by its side and shifted its foot forward.
These motions, Ricktor recognized them well.
'This technique, it's from my clan. Don't tell me he's going to do that!' Ricktor thought.
But knowing his own techniques well, he knew the perfect way to counter it and readied his sword, holding it straight in front of him.
"Stoney stop!" A female voice shouted out, and Safa along with the other two had come running out.
Immediately after those words were shouted, the statue appeared frozen, before it stood straight up, no longer did it have Qi that was empowering its body.
"Stoney, really?" Liam commented.
"What, I think the name is kinda cute," Simyon replied.
"Yeah, the thing that was just trying to kill us moments ago, why not give it a cute name. Then I can say, hey, do you remember when Stoney was busting our balls earlier," Liam complained.
The situation was certainly strange, and Ricktor didn't know what to make of it. He looked at the statue and originally assumed that it might have been some type of beast.
But then, why did it know his Clan's techniques, and how did it have such powerful Qi? Lastly, the others were pretty relaxed with it being around them.
"What are you doing here?" Dame replied. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Dame had exited out of the small space as well. In the first place, it was quite amazing how all of them could fit in the seclusion rooms, since they weren't large in the first place.
They were just big enough for one to practice their martial arts without much movement.
"I'm more wondering how this thing knew our clan's techniques. It appears if I was to get out of here and inform my father, that he might be inclined to get rid of all of you who are keeping this thing," Ricktor replied.
"Ah, so you think threatening us is a good idea, in a place like this, where we are encouraged to kill each other?" Dame replied.
Seeing the situation quite tense, Safa was wondering what to do. Just before, Dame was the one telling them that if they wanted to get out of here, not only would they need to get stronger, but all of them should work together. And for some reason, unlike before, Safa didn't feel like Ricktor had visited them with bad intentions.
"It's a monster," Safa answered. "We found it down here, maybe an escaped beast from a portal or something, but it listens to what I say since I found it. I think it likes me."
Ricktor pulled a face; he knew it was a blatant lie, it made no sense, and it didn't explain how it knew their techniques either.
"I suppose I would be inclined to ignore the statue's origins, as long as you do me a favor," Ricktor suggested.
After those words, Liam proceeded to hit Simyon on the back. "I'm sorry man, but it looks like your arse is going to have to be a sacrifice."
"I swear, you better shut up before I electrify your balls," Simyon said, his fingers sparking slightly from the power of the Enchanted glove.
"I was actually looking for you," Ricktor said, staring at Dame. "I can feel that I am close to a breakthrough, and in order to get out of this, I need to reach the next stage, and if possible even the stage above that."
Dame thought about Ricktor's suggestion rather than straight out saying no because he too wanted to rise out of the initial stage and move to the middle stage, and when watching the warrior, he noticed something.
The statue, it was stronger than the last time Raze had used it. The statue was handed over to Safa, and with a bit of magic, she was able to activate it. In doing so, the statue listened to her commands.
The command she had given was to attack everyone apart from Dame. Which was why when Ricktor had attempted to enter the room, he had been quickly met with a kick.
They were to fight in the small seclusion room, so there was no place for them to run, and in turn, would have to force their strength to defeat the statue.
However, why was the statue stronger than before, and he thought back to what skills it could use. Dame had seen it; he had seen it use all of the techniques belonging to the five main Dark Faction Clans.
Not just the skills or techniques but the way they fought. With Ricktor having taken two of them on, he could tell that it was almost a mash of their powers firing the statue's strength.
Now, the statue was stronger, was it directly linked to the statue? What had clicked for him was that the statue no longer used the Moon Shield Clan's skills. The disciple was now dead.
It had clicked in Dame's head then. The statue's strength was related to the strength of the main disciples.
'If Ricktor reaches the next stage, does that mean the statue will get stronger? It already has the added strength of the other disciples, so right now the statue is like that of a fifth-stage warrior.
'It's still not strong enough to go up against me, but if Ricktor reaches the 5th or 6th stage himself, then the statue will be at the peak of the initial stage, or maybe a low Middle-stage warrior like that of Beatrix.
'With that, I can use the statue to try and grow into the Middle stages myself.'
Dame was also not ready to accept the deal on this thought because he knew he would need to be at least at the Middle stage to help Raze with his goal, but he didn't need to rush.
"And what's in it for us if we accept your deal?" Dame asked.
"Well, you will have an ally on your side, who will be the next head of their clan, and I have a feeling that will be very soon," Ricktor smiled, licking his lips.
