Newbie's Quest: Awaiting Challenge
Chapter 47: Raise the Banner

"Really? Is he the one who recently started acing SS-level dungeons?"

"I think he's completed about two or three? Nearly matching Ethan Walker's record."

"Apparently, top-ranked guilds are vying to recruit him. He's quite proud, barely considering offers outside the top 20."

Ethan Walker, with his keen ears, gathered every word about this mini-Ethan Walker.

He turned to Emily Johnson, who was blissfully engrossed in the match, unaware of the conversation.

Ethan prodded Emily's ribs, eliciting an exaggerated dodge and a loud yelp.

Fortunately, Emily quickly clamped his mouth, remembering not to reveal his identity.

"What now?!" he asked the suddenly irritable Ethan.

Ethan had more questions for him.

"What's this about 'mini-Ethan Walker'?"

"Ah? Uh..." Emily stammered, uncharacteristically hesitant, a stark contrast to his usually direct manner.

Ethan transformed his finger into a mock blade, gesturing threateningly at Emily's ribs.

"I confess! I'll tell everything!"

Emily quickly surrendered, explaining to the perturbed Ethan.

Mini-Ethan Walker, real name Felix Rayburn, had recently gained fame among players. Like Ethan, Felix rose to fame through high-difficulty dungeons, with his crowning achievement being a flawless completion of an SS-level dungeon. Although 'similar' to Ethan, observers noted Felix's mimicry, not only in rejecting guild invitations and setting rental agreements but also in exploiting bugs for repeated dungeon runs.

The controversy around Felix was significant. Some accused him of seeking publicity, noting that the dungeons he completed were not the original versions, which were first opened by players. These high-difficulty dungeons, with low success rates, had left behind extensive footage and information after multiple player attempts. Felix, with access to this data, could prepare thoroughly.

Yet others argued that if the information was available, why was Felix the only one to successfully complete these dungeons? This suggested his undeniable talent and skill.

The emergence of a sensational newcomer like Felix was not unusual; every year, servers witnessed the rise of several talents. However, what irked Ethan's fans, including neutral observers, was Felix's hypocrisy. He publicly disdained comparisons with Ethan, yet continually measured himself against Ethan.

This duplicity repulsed Ethan's fans. Online confrontations ensued, with Felix's paid supporters accusing Ethan's fans of bullying a newcomer and leveraging Ethan's reputation against the Emerald Tempest Guild, uniting their fans against Ethan. Over time, this misinformation confused many uninformed bystanders into believing that Ethan was suppressing a rising star.

But Ethan himself had only been on the scene for less than two months. The accusation was a gross injustice.

"The Avalon Guild has discreetly intervened several times, not wanting to bother you with such trifles while you were completing dungeons," Emily hurriedly explained.

Ethan, however, looked away, silent and unresponsive.

"Listen, don't take this to heart," Emily urged. "We're all in the public eye, constantly splashed with mud. The guilds have experience handling such public opinion. You don't need to worry. Honestly, there are too many newcomers riding on your coattails, 'Ethan Walker I', 'Ethan Walker II'... they're like mushrooms after the rain, never-ending."

Emily was a straightforward yet mischievous person, evident from how he had once encouraged Ethan to challenge the status quo. He wasn't one to mince words.

But Ethan's earnest advice to endure quietly had its reasons. As the ace players and stars of their respective guilds, they couldn't afford to be swayed by negative public opinion, as it could severely impact their personal lives and even their performance in the dungeons.

Emily himself had learned this the hard way, having suffered significant setbacks before adopting a more cautious approach.

He would at most vent anonymously on forums or create alternate accounts for this purpose.

Ethan seemed to finally take in some of Emily's words, no longer deliberately averting his gaze.

He looked up, scrutinizing Emily intently, making Emily's skin crawl with his gaze.

"What now?"

"You're right," Ethan suddenly nodded, though it was unclear which part he agreed with.

"Which part?"

"We can't deal with this openly."

Before Emily could react, he felt a tug at his neck and nearly choked.

Looking down, he noticed his scarf was gone.

In front of him, Ethan had flipped over the railing with a single hand, leapt down the stairs, and was now sprinting towards the center of the arena, wrapping his hair in the stolen scarf. "Damn it!"

Emily cursed, torn between stopping Ethan and avoiding drawing attention. He contemplated calling for help but was unsure who to contact.

In an instant, he made eight hundred feigned movements at the edge of the stands.

In just that brief moment, Ethan had already positioned himself upright in the arena.

The referee and audience were dumbfounded, as were Noah Williams and Felix Rayburn, surprised by this unexpected character's appearance.

Ethan was dressed in black casual pants and a long-sleeve T-shirt, seemingly picked up from a fast-food restaurant, emblazoned with "Second Serving of Fries Half Price."

His hair was covered with a soft scarf, sporting a pricey logo. The ill-fitting sunglasses, likely borrowed and matching the scarf's brand, sat awkwardly on his face. He struggled to fit a black cap over the piled-up scarf. More notably, he wore a black mask. From head to toe, except for his hands, no skin was exposed.

"Uh... Sir?" the referee hesitated.

Ethan nodded.

After a pause, he pulled out a small cutter from his pocket and slit the mask open in the middle for easier breathing during vigorous movements.

"I want to challenge."

His voice sounded muffled, perhaps due to the layers, and no one recognized him as Ethan.

So thoroughly disguised, he was mistaken for a team player sneaking out for a bit of fun.

Emily was now sitting on the ground, clutching his hair in regret.

Suddenly, he changed his posture, clasping his hands in prayer, hoping Ethan wouldn't make too much of a scene.

The experienced referee quickly adapted.

"But Mr. Rayburn was first on the stage."

"Is there a rule against three people on the stage?"

"Technically it's one-on-one. If it's two against one, it's unfair to the defender. However, if the defender agrees to it, it's possible." Ethan nodded, understanding, and then turned to Noah Williams.

"Do you agree?"

"I..."

Noah, not known for decisiveness, was utterly bewildered by the situation.

Felix, on the other hand, spoke first, feigning generosity.

"Since this friend also chose to step up, I'll give him the chance to challenge first, I'll..."

"No need for your charity. I don't fancy owing you."

Ethan cut him off.

"I'll take you down first," he pointed at Felix, then turned to the perplexed Noah, "and then I challenge you."

Finally, he looked at the dumbstruck referee.

"Is that okay?"

"This..."

"Can or can't, just say it."

"Well, it's not against the rules."

"Then it's settled."

Ethan, fully wrapped up, nodded, pivoted on his toes, and faced the disgruntled Felix.

"Raise the banner."

He told the referee.