Second in Class C

A single horizontal slash severed Longhorn Beetle Man's legs.

Bai Ye had identified Longhorn Beetle Man's legs as his weak point at a glance. After all, they were the only parts that had yet to turn beetle-like. Compared with the rest of his transformed body, human legs were undoubtedly fragile.

"...?"

Only after he inexplicably became much shorter and felt searing pain at the tops of his thighs did [Longhorn Beetle Man] realize his legs had been cut off.

"What?! My legs!"

Longhorn Beetle Man wailed.

[Ding! The host has defeated the Tiger-Level Monster "Longhorn Beetle Man." Reward: 10 points!]

[Ding! The host has defeated a "Tiger-Level Monster" for the first time. Reward: 10 points!]

With just that one slash, the system judged that Bai Ye had defeated Longhorn Beetle Man.

After all, Longhorn Beetle Man could no longer move normally, which was little different from losing the ability to fight.

With the points secured and the monster incapacitated, Bai Ye had achieved his goal.

He flicked the blood off his katana with a backhand motion.

The blond young man sitting on the ground nearby stared, dumbfounded.

After a moment, he snapped out of his daze and immediately asked, "...You must be a professional hero, right?"

"Yeah, just an unremarkable rookie."

Bai Ye said kindly, "You were a little reckless just now, but your courage was commendable. Be more careful next time."

"Yes, I will."

The blond young man nodded repeatedly.

Then Bai Ye called the Hero Association and asked them to send someone to take [Longhorn Beetle Man] into custody.

The blond young man looked hesitant, as though he were wrestling with something.

As soon as Bai Ye finished the call, he spoke up again. "I! I want to become a hero too, but someone like me probably isn't qualified after all..."

"Not at all. You bravely held the monster back and protected everyone. That already makes you a hero."

Bai Ye smiled. "Even if other people see you as a delinquent, that doesn't stop you from becoming a hero."

He had seen at once why the young man lacked confidence. One look at that blond hair was enough.

At those words, the blond young man's eyes widened, their light returning.

"I understand. I'll do my best!"

The blond young man had regained his spirits.

Before long, the people sent by the Hero Association arrived.

They took [Longhorn Beetle Man] away.

Afterward, a Review Committee Member at the Hero Association's Z City branch entered Bai Ye's contribution in defeating Longhorn Beetle Man into his file and converted it into points.

Bai Ye's ranking on the Hero Roster rose again.

Since he had resolved a Tiger-Level disaster this time, it carried far more weight than the previous Wolf-Level disaster.

Under the Hero Association's assessment standards, a Wolf-Level Monster was roughly equivalent to three C-Class Heroes or one B-Class Hero, while a Tiger-Level Monster was equivalent to five B-Class Heroes or one A-Class Hero.

Bai Ye could defeat a Tiger-Level Monster single-handedly. Judging solely by the strength he had demonstrated, he was fully qualified for a place among the A-Class Heroes.

But again, hero rankings were primarily based on their various contributions.

So...

This time, Bai Ye's ranking settled at second in C-Class.

"So, as long as I successfully challenge the top-ranked C-Class Hero, I can advance to Class B..."

Looking at the Hero Roster published on the Hero Association's official website on his phone, Bai Ye was fairly satisfied with his rise in rank.

The Hero Association's promotion system was somewhat rigid. For example, a C-Class Hero first had to reach the top of that class before advancing to Class B.

But there was a choice involved. In other words, the top-ranked C-Class Hero could choose to advance to Class B or remain first in Class C.

This could result in the top-ranked B-Class Hero being stronger than many A-Class Heroes. Fubuki and Sweet Mask were clear examples: Fubuki, ranked first in B-Class, was stronger than most A-Class Heroes, while Sweet Mask, ranked first in A-Class, was stronger than some S-Class Heroes.

That raised a question: how were the other B-Class Heroes and A-Class Heroes supposed to advance?

They could only challenge Fubuki and Sweet Mask. If they failed, they couldn't advance, which was frustrating...

Now that Bai Ye ranked second in C-Class, he was fully eligible to challenge the hero in first place.

Advancing as quickly as possible was certainly best, because promotion to a higher hero class would also trigger the system's point rewards.

Putting his plan into action, Bai Ye immediately headed to the Hero Association to challenge the top-ranked C-Class Hero.

"Bai Ye, you're still a rookie without a hero alias. Are you sure you want to challenge [Mumen Rider], the top-ranked C-Class Hero?"

The Review Committee Member, a young woman with dark skin, was confirming his decision.

"I'm sure."

Bai Ye nodded.

Although his opponent was Mumen Rider, he had no choice if he wanted to advance to Class B.

"All right. We'll contact [Mumen Rider] now. Please wait a moment."

Afterward, Bai Ye waited in the lounge for Mumen Rider to arrive.

As it turned out, the moment Mumen Rider learned what was happening, he hopped onto his bicycle and rushed over at top speed.

Although Mumen Rider wasn't particularly strong, his stamina was genuinely impressive. Even after cycling so far at full speed, he wasn't out of breath.

"Bai Ye! I heard you've risen to second in C-Class, so you want to challenge me to advance to B-Class."

As soon as Mumen Rider entered, he sought out Bai Ye.

"That's right..."

Bai Ye gave a slight nod.

"Then let's do it. I'm ready. Just knock me down when we get started."

Mumen Rider looked almost eager to take a beating.

Ever since he had risen to first in Class C, everyone who had challenged him to advance to Class B had succeeded.

For one thing, he really was relatively weak. For another, he was happy to let them through.

Mumen Rider was completely different from Hellish Blizzard, ranked first in B-Class, or Sweet Mask, ranked first in A-Class. Fubuki and Sweet Mask both had their own personal agendas, while Mumen Rider had chosen to remain first in C-Class simply because he felt he wasn't capable enough to become a B-Class Hero.

Unlike Fubuki and Sweet Mask, he wasn't deliberately blocking other heroes from advancing for his own purposes...

The distinction, however, was that Sweet Mask served as a gatekeeper for Class S. Since the hero activities undertaken by Class S were extremely dangerous, he didn't want S-Class Heroes with inadequate strength to throw their lives away. He also assessed the character of heroes seeking to advance to Class S. In his eyes, anyone with poor character was unworthy of becoming an S-Class Hero.

"All right." Bai Ye said nothing more, thinking, I'll go easy on him.

Under the Review Committee Member's arrangements, Bai Ye and Mumen Rider entered a spacious area specially designated for heroes to spar.

The Review Committee Member also served as referee.

"You're both ready, right? Then let the match begin."

As soon as the Review Committee Member finished speaking, Mumen Rider charged toward Bai Ye on his bicycle.

He knew Bai Ye was powerful and that his own defeat was inevitable, so he took the match very seriously. It was a matter of attitude.

But with Bai Ye's Sharingan, Mumen Rider's full-speed charge looked as slow as a turtle. He easily dodged it and sent him tumbling.

Mumen Rider flipped through the air before hitting the ground, then lay there and raised a white flag in surrender.

[Ding! The host has defeated the C-Class Hero [Mumen Rider]. Reward: 3 points!]