Speed Is King

"I am no Hegemon though, and I already have that power boost." Elliot said.

"I know. It's a lot of politics, but we have another Pre-Tournament series of matches that we need to win. The different factions will send Kings in this Pre-Tournament which is to make the eventual chosen Hegemon sign contracts of loyalty with the top five factions of this Pre-Tournament. Are you following me?" Primal Alexander asked to check.

"I am. So you want to get me to participate in this Battle of Kings so your faction will get to sign this contract with the Hegemon." Elliot summarised.

"Yes. I am planning for my Hegemon to win the Tournament, of course. But too much is at stake, and I cannot risk my man not winning, and putting the eventual Hegemon winner completely out of my reach. So this competition at least gives me a chance to secure a contract with the new powerhouse." Primal Alexander said.

"It seems like you're cheating though. I can kill Ancients easily. You guys probably know that already. Putting me in a fight against Kings…" Elliot laughed and shook his head helplessly at Primal Alexander's utter shamelessness.

If there was a Dao of things, this Primal Alexander would definitely be at the very top of the Dao of Shamelessness!

"HAHAHA! Yes. That's exactly why I proposed that Pre-Tournament fight. I want confirmation." Primal Alexander laughed loudly.

"If I am qualified to fight, sure. But… What's in it for me? You can't possibly be asking me to help you for free, can you?" Elliot's eyes glinted mischievously as his lips curled up into a smile.

Primal Alexander, after all, was a Primal. He must be rich, right? Stinking rich, in fact!

But alas, Elliot misjudged Primal Alexander's shamelessness.

"Huh? You're asking for payment from a fellow human being?" Primal Alexander asked with wide eyed surprise.

"Huh? You're asking a victim of an apocalypse for help without offering anything to help him in return?" Elliot asked with even wider eyed surprise.

"Huh? You're a Being capable of even helping Primals, and you still label yourself as a victim?" Primal Alexander asked with bulging eyes.

"Huh? You're a Primal asking for help from a lesser Being, and you want to withhold compensation?" Elliot's eyes were bulging out now.

"Okay fine! Fine! I'll pay.. Stop that creepy bulging eye look. I don't want your eyeballs to pop out." Primal Alexander finally said.

He couldn't stand Elliot's insanely bulging out eyes!

"Hehehe. Up front payment please." Elliot grinned and stretched out his hand.

"What are you, a market stall owner? Why are you so damned good at haggling." Primal Alexander grumbled like a disgruntled housewife not getting that ten cent discount she wanted on a kilogram of beansprouts.

He dipped his hand into his dimensional storage and took out a small vial of multi colored fluid.

Elliot blinked, and he could feel his whole body start to yearn for that strange fluid.

"What is that??" Elliot gasped as he fought down his body's rapidly rising urge to consume that fluid!

"This… is called God's Blood. It is one of the rarest treasures in the entire universe where I come from." Primal Alexander said softly.

"What does it do?" Elliot asked and swallowed his saliva.

"It grants you perfect affinity with all elements." Primal Alexander said softly.

"Perfect affinity?" Elliot asked as his tongue tasted the strange word for the first time.

"Innate Mastery." Primal Alexander explained very simply.

Elliot's jaw dropped.

Hegemon level could only be reached when one mastered two elements.

But this God's Blood… Gives innate mastery over all elements??

What the freaking hell??

"Drink this after you've formed your River of Runes to maximise its effect." Primal Alexander said with a smile as he gave the vial to Elliot.

Elliot's jaw dropped. Again.

At the rate that his jaw had been dropping in the last one month, he wouldn't be surprised if his jaw drop became so powerful that it would be useful in battle.

Enemy strike towards Elliot's neck!

Dodge!

Jaw drop!

Enemy weapon broken!

In any case, Elliot was surprised that Primal Alexander would give him such a powerful gift like that, in exchange for a mere… performance later?

"Consider this a goodwill first meeting gift." Primal Alexander chuckled at Elliot's incredulous look. "Plus, we humans need to stick together. There are far too many powers that could and would definitely try to annihilate us the moment we show a big enough weakness. I will be depending on you once you become strong enough to leave this universe."

"You're very generous." Elliot said as he stored the vial safely. "I will remember this, and repay you when I have the chance."

"Good! Very good! That's exactly what I want to hear! Hahaha!" Primal Alexander laughed. "And now, it's time to follow me. Do you want to bring your girlfriend along? Huh? Lady Balastiera?"

Primal Alexander pointed at Lady Balastiera, and a thin white stream of soul energy entered her body.

Instantly, her eyes snapped open and she took a deep breath.

She turned her head and looked at Primal Alexander in shock.

"Pri-Primal Alexander!" She stammered and blushed deeply.

"Lady Balastiera. What are you doing here? And with a little boy, no less!" Primal Alexander asked curiously.

"Ah! Chairman El'Taras tasked me with protecting him! I just overdrew my soul power creating that armor set for him." Lady Balastiera quickly explained and pointed to Elliot.

"Armor set? Oh, that Teardrop of the Gods armor. I see. It is very well made, especially that Heart Guard. Well done." Primal Alexander said with an impressed voice.

"I… Thank you, Primal Alexander." Lady Balastiera said in a shy voice.

"You need to give your armor a real name." Primal Alexander told Elliot seriously. "It is a Sentient Armor, and without a real name, it would not truly come alive."

"Ah! Is that so? I had no idea." Elliot said with a start.

"Ah yes. I should have told you that, but I passed out before I could. You need to give it a name that you feel strongly about. There is no hurry. Better to give it a good name later than give it a bad name now." Lady Balastiera said quickly.