"Can you tell me how much of an advantage we are talking about when we collect monster drops compared to staying here in the city and taking a safe approach?"

Tuan asked with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Katalina had come to realize that her raid partner had entered the tournament without knowing anything about it. In his defence, he was too busy clearing his hit-list and practising the fire-element spells to his utmost to care about the tournament's history.

Katalina wasn't aware of Tuan's struggles. In addition, she did not care or want to know. Still, for her benefit, she decided to be patient with Tuan and replied to him while remaining calm.

"Collecting monster drops has several advantages. For example, they might contain something like a one-time-use potion that significantly increases your strength, let's say twofold.

Obviously, there would be temporary repercussions for rankers using them. He won't be able to stack it or use it the second time without making those repercussions permanent.

But one-time use items like these are always handy to collect and keep handy in your storage. You never know when you will need them.

These items would act as competitors' trump cards when they are in a pinch. And we are all going to be in a pinch soon or later in these seven days. It's only a matter of when."

Katalina said and sighed.

Eren raised his eyebrows when understanding dawned on him. He realized how naive he was thinking he could use Alephee's help.

His initial goal was to collect multiple resources scattered as loots throughout the city to bolster his offensive and defensive capabilities, with Alephee's soul sense. The strategy made sense to him because he wasn't aware of the tournament's facets.

The competitors were forced to fight with the targets and each other from day one. After all, with an event like this, the organizers didn't want to have dull days that could affect their viewership and affect their daily gains.

Tuan didn't want to take the risks if he could avoid them. But he couldn't just sit around and let other competitors collect all the trump cards either.

"Hmm. I guess you are right. We do need to start earning Titus points and monster drops then. But first, let me get the feel of the hunting area and do some recon on my own.

These first two days, we would prioritize hunting and earning whatever we could find separately. This place looks like it could be our base. Let's meet here for two days and discuss our findings. How does that sound?"

Tuan asked Katalina and handed her Frotfoam finally. There was only a mouthful left in it. But she practically snatched it from him as soon as he raised his hand and responded.

"All right. And Tuan, let me tell you. Don't try to double-cross me or else"

Katalina asked while trying to sound menacing right after taking the last sip of Frostfoam. But the chill induced by the booze was so strong that her voice was shaky as if she was shivering to her teeth. So her warning sounded funny to Tuan. He chuckled before responding to her threats that weren't threats to him.

"Hehehe. Relax, Katalina. I would only double-cross someone who is set to win the tournament. As I said at the start of this tournament, I'll do anything to win this farce I've put myself into to make it worth my time and effort.

Frankly speaking, you can't win this tournament."

Katalina was frozen in her tracks when she heard how blatant Tuan was in his speech. The latter spoke some more before she could react and argue with him.

"I'm not trying to question your abilities as a ranker but your mindset, Katalina. Take what happened between us for example. I guess you cared more about how your stance was going to look to the audience watching us from outside when I told you to back off.

After seeing how continued engagement with me was likely to harm you more, you came to a logical conclusion and made the right choice. Maybe it was a smart move. Maybe what you did was right for you.

Sort of like cutting your losses early and turning your misfortunes into fortunes right? But have you considered that maybe that's what I wanted you to believe with my aggression?"

The butcher asked and retrieved a potion he had in his storage. It was the same multi-purpose potion that Layla had given him, which he would drink when he was in a pinch. After drinking the concoction, Tuan was revitalized and he didn't need to put up a front anymore.

****************

Tuan didn't show it but he was tired from showing such explosiveness in such a short time in his duel against Katalina. There was one more factor to his fatigue that Katalina had overlooked.

Total Control!

Tuan had been using this support-type time-element spell from the very beginning of his battle. What it did was simple. It would allow the time-element mana to be mixed with all his other elemental spells and delay or expedite their effects and casting times.

This was how he was able to overwhelm Katalina in such a short time. The spells he had performed against her and her contract beast were all strengthened by his time-element spells.

Total Control reduced his other elemental spells' casting times and limited their effects to be delivered within a short span, increasing their explosiveness and effectiveness.

Tuan's attainment in the fire element wasn't as profound as Katalina thought it was. His time-element magic gave her that impression. In that regard, Total Control was the butcher's most effective support type spell in his arsenal yet. It allowed him to gain full control of his spells and tap into all their potential.

But the spell also increased Tuan's mana expenditure. If it wasn't for the support potion he had drunk earlier before using Total Control, he would have shown signs of fatigue much earlier.

******************

"You you were faking it. You made it look like it was so simple to you. You.. you rascal"

Katalina raised her finger and pointed at Tuan in an accusing manner. The latter chuckled and threw the empty vial of potion in the air. Before commenting, he blasted the bottle and dispersed it with a small fireball.

"You are missing my point, Kat. I was faking the lack of fatigue that made you think engaging in battle with me was useful.

But my aggression wasn't all fake."

The butcher stood up and summoned his new weapons in his hands. He smiled crookedly at the female close combat expert before commenting.

"Try me if you want to."