Immediately, Faye stood aside quietly.


    The yers around them looked at Sterl with sympathy. No one dared to speak, only exchanging nces.


    A second ss against a maxed-out third ss? This was a guaranteed death.


    Earlier, Yorkhad mentioned the rules of the Hall of Valor: you can''t refuse a challenge. Poor David...


    It''s a pity. We owe him one, but there''s no way to save him! Maybe we can at least recover his body and give him a proper burial...


    In the tense atmosphere, Yorknext to Sterl frowned slightly.


    He nced at Faye with disgust.


    This woman, so heartless! She was the one who, along with David, told us "don''t join the guild." Now that herpanion is in danger, she doesn''t say a word?


    A femme fatale!


    Cold and ruthless!


    Unable to stand it, Yorkstepped forward.


    "Hey buddy, I used my detection skill and saw your name is ''David,'' right?"


    "Earlier, I owed you a favor. I''ll fight this battle for you."


    He spoke with loyalty.


    But Willis looked irritated. Even an SS-grade talent yer at third ss was just an ant to him. Yorkand David jumping around in front of him was extremely annoying.


    "Do you think I can''t get to you without challenging you?"


    "Once you''re in the Hall of Valor, you''re dead meat."


    Willis said angrily. He didn''t n to have his men challenge Yorkbecause an SS-grade talent at third ss might actually turn the tables!


    Yorkremained calm: "I''ll take whatever you throw at me."


    "If you''re trying to trick me into your guild, you should be worried about yourself."


    "My father won''t let you off."


    "Your father?" Willis''s expression changed.


    Yorktook a step forward: "My father is the [God of Trade, Votist]."


    He brandished a token: "I was rmended by him to join the Hall of Valor. Even if I fail the trials, I''ll be safely teleported out."


    With these words, Willis''s face turned incredibly ugly!


    The dozen or so arrogant figures behind him also looked stunned.


    What a backfire. Who could have thought this SS-grade talent had a god backing him? With a simple trick, they could make Willis''s life in the Hall of Valor a living hell or even kill him.


    But it was toote now. Willis and his group could only re viciously: "So what if a god backs you? The Hall of Valor''s rules mean gods can''t interfere with us!"


    Unfortunately, despite his tough words, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes.


    The God of Trade might only be a minor deity, but even that was too much for an ordinary legendary like Willis to handle.


    He now regretted it! If he''d known, he wouldn''t have taken the neer''s recruitment task! His debt problem wasn''t solved, and now he had a god''s attention!


    But Willis, burdened by debt, spoke harshly: "Stop dreaming. The Hall of Valor''s challenges don''t allow recements!"


    "Otherwise, wouldn''t those who don''t work hard to improve their strength justtch onto someone powerful and survive easily?"


    He sneered.


    Though his demeanor remained intimidating, all the yers present were speechless. Willis was clearly avoiding Yorkand instead targeting "David" again...


    Isn''t this just bullying the weak?


    Upon hearing this, York''s expression changed slightly, and he looked at Sterl with concern.


    Yorkdidn''t have any deep feelings for David, but considering him a benefactor, he couldn''t just watch him die without feeling guilty!


    From his perspective, a maxed-out third ss fighting a second ss was a guaranteed easy kill. David was doomed!


    Willis finally regained someposure. He looked at David with satisfaction, ready to enjoy the panic and desperation in the eyes of this ant, anticipating how he would beg and plead...


    "Watch how I make you suffer."


    Willis wasn''t nning to let David off easily. Killing him in a challenge would be too merciful.


    His eyes gleamed with bloodlust, nning to have his men challenge a few more "lucky" yers and kill them all!


    If Willis was going to die, he might as well take a few more with him!


    He wasn''t worried about his men disobeying because they were all in his guild. If one dies, they all die!


    The surrounding yers remained silent, feeling both grateful and sympathetic toward David but too scared to speak up, fearing they might also be targets of Willis.


    Those who had been in the Hall of Valor for a while and passed its trials were much stronger than them!


    A challenge meant certain death!


    In this oppressive atmosphere, Willis spoke with a sinister look: "How about you kneel and kowtow to me a few times right now, and I might..."


    He dragged it out deliberately, then continued, "Make your death a bit quickerter!"


    With that, Willisughed heartily, and his followers joined in with maliciousughter.


    The psychological pressure on these people was immense, with debts and a god looming over them. They just wanted to vent their rage by torturing David!


    The yers present were terrified by the scene, which delighted Willis and his crew even more!


    Yorkclenched his fists, extremely displeased.


    Faye''s eyes shed with anger, wanting to say something but unsure what. The girl really didn''t know how to curse or use harsh words.


    But just then, Sterl inexplicably smiled.


    "Dude, why are you so worked up??"


    "I''m not a formal member of the Hall of Valor; I can refuse challenges."


    He casually pressed an invisible button in the air.


    [Challenge Declined.]


    The ck-haired youth who had issued the challenge looked stunned: "Really? He actually declined?"


    Willis and his followers were dumbfounded. After all, in the Hall of Valor, it might be decades before a formal member challenged a [Novice].


    They didn''t know that [Novices] who weren''t formal members had the full right to decline challenges from [Trial Seekers].


    Immediately, Willis and his Trial Seeker group found themselves in an extremely awkward situation...


    The harsher the words they had spoken earlier, the more awkward it was now to be humiliated!


    They felt likeplete clowns, talking so tough, but the fact was, David couldpletely ignore their threats!


    Their earlier attacks on David were nothing but a one-man show!


    Willis and the other [Trial Seekers] turned pale and green with embarrassment.


    They were furious and utterly humiliated.


    They also realized that the fear in the eyes of the other yers had instantly turned into a mocking gaze.


    "I..."


    "You!!"


    Willis and his crew''s faces changed several times before he finally barked, "Let''s go!"


    "All of you, let''s go!"


    Staying here any longer would only add to their shame.


    Willis and his followers barely regained someposure and prepared to leave, though their morale was shattered.


    This trip yielded no benefits and left them humiliated in front of a bunch of Novices!


    They trembled with rage, barely containing their anger!


    The surrounding yers couldn''t hold back anymore.


    "Seriously? They put on a show for so long just for this?"


    "They couldn''t do anything to us and yet kept barking? What a bunch of idiots!"


    "They''ve offended a god; they probably won''tst much longer anyway..."


    "How did these morons even survive in the Hall of Valor and reach legendary status? Makes me think I could do it too!"


    ...


    The yers mocked one after another.


    Hearing these words, Willis and his crew couldn''t hold it in any longer. They red back viciously and then—


    They pulled out teleportation scrolls!


    They didn''t want to stay in this miserable ce for even a second longer!


    Yorkfinally breathed a sigh of relief.


    At least his "benefactor" was safe.


    Then his expression turned cold as he pulled out amunication device, ready to report everything to his father...


    But just as things were about to wrap up.


    Sterl suddenly spoke: "Did I say you could leave?"


    "Kid! Don''t get too cocky!"


    "Even within the rules, it''s easy for us to vaporize a second ss. You might not even need us to do it; you could die in the trials."


    Willis''s face was twisted with rage, knowing that continuing to threaten David would only make him look more foolish.


    But leaving in disgrace would be even worse.


    Sterl smiled slightly and said, "I didn''t say I wouldn''t ept your challenges. I just don''t want to fight him."


    "What do you mean?" Willis was stunned.


    He didn''t feel any joy, just a sense of something being very wrong and strange.


    Everyone else was also taken aback, not understanding what David was nning.


    Did he mean he would ept challenges from others?


    Was this a joke?


    As a second ss, epting any challenge was certain death!


    "What exactly do you want?" Willis''s followers grumbled.


    Sterl smiled and said, "I''m not interested in these people. How about you fight me?"


    He looked directly at Willis—the legendary strongman!


    Gloria had instructed Sterl to showcase his abilities, but his nature was to seek benefits in everything he did!


    Showcasing his strength had toe with perks!


    For example, challenging Willis!


    Willis wasn''t a [Trial Seeker]; he was a [Challenger]!


    Having reached legendary status, his title had automatically upgraded.


    ording to the Hall of Valor''s rules, by defeating Willis, Sterl could directly gain the status of a [Challenger]!


    This would allow him to gather more resources in the Hall of Valor and enjoy higher discounts in the contribution shop.


    Additionally, this was a way for Sterl to gradually reveal parts of his strength and trump cards.