X-Rank Hunter

Chapter 92: Pride

As for now, Jasper was gasping for air. After making multiple moves without holding back, his World Energy had reduced to some extent once again. Though his Spirits had their own World Energy to use, maintaining them to stay in this world was truly taxing for his World Energy as well. Especially, when the Spirits were going all out as well.

Salamander who was flying above saw Jim's incredible recovery rate as he could only gasp in astonishment. No wonder his master wanted all of them to attack altogether at once, it appeared that their opponent was really capable!

On the other hand, Jim was still stuck in the mud. The rain was still pouring on him, making his body felt heavy as he could only do limited movements.

Jim then shifted his gaze to his younger brother as he remarked, "You really are strong."

Jasper frowned.

Was that a compliment? He didn't feel it that way though. He even felt that it was a mockery. If it wasn't for his big brother's tone of voice was sincere, he might believe that the other party was mocking him.

Surely, he was strong. But his strength didn't even make any significant damage to his big brother. So why would he become happy from what the other party had said?

So instead of replying to Jim, Jasper called all of his Spirits to come closer to him. Right after it was done, Jasper asked, "Nymph, can you handle it with all four of you?"

"All four of us?" Nymph frowned. She understood what her master meant by those words. Their master just wanted to use the skill Possession with all of his Spirits!

But what made her frown was that she played a huge role in using that skill. Possession was taxing to the body of the one using it, giving serious damage to their body.

That being said, Nymph was continuously healing their master's body to maintain their Possession state for a longer time. But the problem was, the three of them, Salamander, Sylph, and her could already make serious damage to their master, making it already difficult for her to maintain their master's condition on check.

But now, their master wanted to use Possession with all four of them? Was he trying to kill himself? Why was he so eager to put everything in this fight?

Nymph couldn't understand it at all. She could tell that their current opponent bore no ill intention, and this fight was just a friendly duel. Only their master was taking this very seriously.

Or maybe Salamander as well...

"What are you waiting for! Master wants to use Possession with all four of us! Why are you hesitating!?" Salamander was impatient. He was unhappy as well seeing that his all-out attack didn't even make any serious damage towards the other party. That being said, he immediately supported his master's decision.

On the other hand, Sylph and Gnome were frowning as well. They weren't so stupid to remain oblivious about its price. Nonetheless, they didn't say anything and waited for Nymph's response instead.

Whatever their master chose, they could just follow him. But Nymph played a different and important role compared to them. If she couldn't handle it, there was no need to take the risk of using the skill with all four of them.

Nymph then gritted her teeth before she gathered all her might only to reluctantly affirmed, "Fine! Let's do it!"

Jasper smiled. Though it was risky, it was definitely worth it if he could at least injure his big brother.

However, he was just about to make a move when he heard the other party saying, "Is there even a need to do that?"

Jim's voice was serious. He was unhappy as well seeing that his younger brother was taking a huge risk just to fight him. If he knew that this would happen, he wouldn't have to fight the other party.

"What do you mean?!" Jasper frowned.

"This is only a friendly duel, why are you doing that?" Jim responded seriously. Jim could still hear the conversations of his younger brother and his Spirits. And they were up to something risky. Jim could also tell that the other party hadn't done anything like that before.

And of course, Jasper wasn't confident that he could do something like that. But what else could he do? He could tell that with his current strength, he had no way of giving any damage to his big brother. He could only try to break his limits and hope that he could at least do some damage.

Yes, he could wound his big brother, but it was healing incredibly fast. How could Jasper consider it as damage?

"Little Jasper..." On the other hand, Chad was frowning as well. He really was worried for Jasper. Among all of them who were on the scene, he was the only one who had seen and watched Jasper for a long time ever since the other party had awakened his ability. And Chad understood the best, the extent of his nephew's capability.

It was only a few days ago after Jasper managed to summon Nymph, that he could use the skill: Possession with three Spirits. But now, he was trying to use Possession with four Spirits? He really was too rash! Chad wasn't happy at all!

There was really an urge in him to stop the other party. But what else could he do? His nephew's mother and grandfather were only watching as well. Though this time, there was no expression coming out from their faces.

He wanted to ask his elder sister Charley to stop Jasper but seeing that she had no plan on doing so, he could only give up that thought. For he knew as well, that the other person before him, Laude Jabat, who was famed for being tyrannical, wouldn't bother to stop his grandson as well. For his motto in life was just simple: 'Danger is the best way to get stronger!'

He was even applying this motto to Jim, making Jim fear his grandfather the best. Jim was already accustomed to being beaten up by a beast or by his mother, but he just couldn't be as well with his grandfather.

And instead of being accustomed, he was even having a phobia. No matter what, Jim just didn't want to see his grandfather anymore.

Not only Jim, but even Jasper was also having a hard time being accustomed to their grandfather's tyrannical training. He was even doubting if their grandfather really was training them or just harming them. If not for Jasper seeing his improvements, he would definitely have doubted his grandfather long ago.

But no matter what, their grandfather Laude really was frightening, making any of them, except Jade, fear their grandfather.

Was Laude an evil person? Was he too much? No, Laude wasn't thinking of harming his grandsons. He was doing it all for their own good. In this world fraught with dangers, and a threat of demons was everywhere, there was no such thing as leisure growing up.

And also, Laude knew the limits of his grandsons. He knew when to stop and when to continue. It was just that, his way was really 'unique'.

As for now, Jasper was silent as he stared at his big brother for a good while. He was pondering about what the other party had just said. Yes, this was just a friendly duel, why was he getting so emotional that he wanted to use such means. Was he still that kid from before who was easily swayed by emotions?

If so, what was the point of his training all this year?!

Jasper took a deep breath. It was laughable that just because his big brother had grown so much in a very short time to the point that he couldn't catch up anymore, he became agitated and his mental state was immediately affected. He finally realized how rash his action was.

"Thank you, Kuya..." Jasper said. No matter what, if not for the other party warning him, he wouldn't have realized how foolish his action was.

But it was still the fact that his big brother was too much for him to take. And he could only sigh deeply upon knowing that he was helpless against it. He could tell as well that even if he worked to his hardest, he wouldn't be able to catch up to him anymore. And would even find their strength gap getting wider.

On the other hand, Jim smiled. Not only him, but even Charley and Laude also smiled as well in satisfaction. It was a known fact that lowering one's pride was the hardest to do. Especially for a kid like Jasper.

One must know that those people who were controlled by their pride would only found themselves falling someday. Just like how Lucifer, who took pride in his beauty, had fallen.

It wasn't bad to have some pride since if you didn't have any pride in what you had or what you were doing, you would only found yourselves giving it up without breaking a sweat.

But never let your pride drives you. If you don't want to fall, that is...