A moment ago.
The guards and other participants who were undergoing their test couldn't help but stop what they were doing to witness a certain person.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Is he not a Spirit Wielder?"
"If he is not, how could he do all that without breaking a sweat?"
"But isn't a Spirit Wielder allowed to skip all these tests as long as he shows his strength?"
"I don't know."
The people were confused. Noel's strength alone was enough to register and put his name on the priority list. Yet, he actually followed the test as normal people.
The guard who didn't answer Noel's question earlier panicked when he saw Noel's strength. He never thought that a weak-looking foreigner would be this strong.
On the other hand, the guard who answered Noel's question couldn't help but smile, thinking he managed to pique this guy's interest by answering his question. He could brag about it and even had the chance for promotion.
Still, everyone's attention was focused on one thing.
"Isn't he a foreigner?"
"Are we going to accept him?"
"I have never thought that a foreigner who lives in a place that doesn't understand the hardship can become this strong. He is also so young."
"The lord only wants us to accept everyone who is strong. There is no mention of whether the person is a foreigner or not."
"Then, we'll accept him?"
The people silently agreed, considering Noel's strength far surpassed what they had seen.
"Is that all?" Noel asked the guard next to him.
"Yes, Sir." The guard instantly became polite. As Dimitri said, this country respected the strong. As long as you showed your strength, they would definitely become polite. "We'll complete the registration over here. I'll bring your token of participation as well."
"I see." Noel nodded.
"That's…" The guard stopped him for a moment. He looked hesitant, but he was required to ask this question. "May I know your strength? I have to record it for official reasons."
"Me?" Noel wondered if he should lie or not. But considering he was about to become a Spirit Grandmaster soon, the record shouldn't be that useful. So, he answered, "I'm a Spirit Master."
"A Spirit Master." The guards gasped, realizing the severity of this matter.
Although they had been recruiting a lot of experts in the past few weeks, they only got a total of four Spirit Masters. Most participants were at the Spirit Practitioner level. So, having another Spirit Master was good for the success of this expedition.
Of course, a lot of them couldn't believe Noel was a Spirit Master. They knew how hard it was to become a Spirit Master. In addition, Noel looked so young.
Because he didn't bother to hide his face, they could easily see his facial features, which looked like someone who had yet to reach their twenties.
They couldn't believe there was a person who managed to become a Spirit Master below twenty years old.
However, Noel didn't care about all their doubts. As soon as he got the token of participation, he walked away while asking, "All I have to do is gather two days later, right?"
"Yes, Sir. Please gather at the west gate."
"Alright." Noel nodded and walked away.
He could easily escape from this place while they were still shocked, but it seemed that he couldn't achieve it.
When he was about to leave, a middle-aged man suddenly stopped in his way.
"That's…"
"Sir Legolaz!"
"The Great Protector Legolaz?"
Noel raised his head. Although he had seen Legolaz, the latter was inside the building, so he couldn't really look at him closely.
But when he was standing in front of him, he finally realized how big Legolaz was.
His height alone was more than two meters. His clothes couldn't hide his muscular body and his gaze was sharp as if trying to pry open everything he saw.
However, Noel wasn't scared of him. He raised his head, glaring at Legolaz.
The people gulped down. The intense glaring battle between Noel and Legolaz raised the tension, making people think they would be fighting.
Finally, Noel broke the silence by asking, "Is there anything I can help you with? You've been looking at me the whole time."
Noel mentioned Legolaz's action before he went down.
Legolaz surprisingly extended his hand and said, "It's nothing. I simply want to congratulate you. The expedition this time is dangerous. There is a chance that a Superior Demon is lurking inside the ruin. So, I'm giving you a chance to reconsider your decision."
"If it's only a Superior Demon, then you don't have to worry. I'm not planning to back down." Noel extended his hand with a smile, shaking Legolaz's hand.
All of a sudden, Legolaz began pouring his Spiritual Energy into his hand as if he was trying to overwhelm Noel.
His method was questionable, but his intention was clear. Legolaz wanted to warn Noel that his confidence might cause his own doom. He thought Noel didn't know the Superior Demon's true strength, so he wanted Noel to back away so that he didn't have to die. A talented person like Noel should continue to survive so that he can become a big figure in the future.
Unfortunately for him, Noel had become too sensitive to Spiritual Energy thanks to Old Ru's method. Anna had done a lot of things like this in the past, so Noel also poured his Spiritual Energy into his hand, matching his Spiritual Energy.
"!!!" Legolaz was surprised that Noel decided to fight back. So, he poured more Spiritual Energy.
The pressure around them began to intensify as more and more Spiritual Energy was released.
Unlike Anna and Noel, Legolaz couldn't fully control his Spiritual Energy and element. The more he poured his Spiritual Energy, the more elements he poured.
The ground started to shake while the sand started to rise.
Noel didn't back down. Since the other party had used his element, Noel also released his ice element. The ice element coated his entire body so that the sand couldn't approach him.
In fact, the temperature in the area dropped all of a sudden as the sand particles began to be coated by a thin layer of ice.
"!!!" Legolaz became even more surprised because Noel could actually follow him to this level.
He still thought that it would be a shame if someone like Noel had to die. On the other hand, he also considered the possibility of working together with Noel. After all, he was serving the second prince, who acted as the commander of this battle.
If a talented person like Noel could become the second prince's subordinate, the pressure in the palace would disappear.
However, Noel surpassed his imagination once more. Noel actually used his Force Control to insert his Spiritual Energy into Legolaz's body.
'A Spirit Master doesn't have a Spirit Mind. Yet, can he actually do what a Spirit Grandmaster can?' Legolaz was utterly shocked.
Since Legolaz was a Spirit Grandmaster, he could pour more Spiritual Energy to expel Noel's energy.
Their simple battle suddenly turned to a whole different level.
The clash of their Spiritual Energy created even more pressure. The sand and the ice fought each other. The burst of Spiritual Energy formed a shock wave.
"What is this?"
"Are they truly only shaking hands?"
"That kid is actually fighting against the Great Protector?"
"Does he not know that the Great Protector's status is even greater?"
Legolaz heard their words and realized it would become a big deal if he didn't back down. So, he decided to stop pouring his energy.
Noel also matched him by erasing all the Spiritual Energy in the area. The ground stopped shaking, the shock wave stopped blowing, and the intense pressure instantly disappeared.
There was only an eerie silence left. It felt like both of them were about to sheathe their weapons and fight for real.
Luckily, Legolaz actually laughed out loud as if nothing happened.
"Hahaha." Legolaz released Noel's hand and took out a metal token. This time, the token was made with gold. "This is your participation token. You are now considered my distinguished guest."
The people dropped their jaws to the ground. Someone could actually fight Legolaz and escape unscathed. And that person was only a Spirit Master.
Legolaz shouted to the guards, "Guide this guy to the best inn and the best room. I won't accept otherwise. His expenses shall be paid by me."
"Y-yes, Sir!" The guards didn't know what to say. In fact, the one who didn't answer Noel's questions earlier had disappeared, afraid that he would die because of it.
Sadly, Noel rejected his invitation. "There's no need to do that. I've rented a room myself. I'm here because I'm curious about this ruin, not because I want to be special or something."
Legolaz fell silent while the guards didn't know what to say. They truly wanted Noel to know how big the opportunity Noel had just thrown away.
Yet, Legolaz wasn't angry or anything. "Alright. Since you don't want special treatment, that's fine. However, you still have to take this token. If there is someone messing with you, just show this token. The guards will be there to help you."
"Alright then." Noel nodded. "Is that all?"
Legolaz made a big smile. "Of course. I apologize for testing you. Please get some rest and enjoy your stay before the expedition."
"Yeah." Noel only said one word before walking past Legolaz unaffected. Though, there was one more question that appeared in his head.
'Now that I think about it, I think I've heard a few similar terms. Protector, Great Protector, and the Grand Protector… Are they the same? I should ask Tristan later.' Noel couldn't help but remember the flow of Legolaz's Spiritual Energy.
'Still… that guy's Spiritual Energy is like a torrential wave that is trying to devour its target. The intensity is different from anyone I've met in the Muivell Kingdom. The only one close to him is probably… The Demon Hunting Squad Captain Igor. It seems the trip this time is more exciting than I imagined.'
Without him realizing it, a smile appeared on Noel's face.
