It is clear that he is not fan favorite material. But his competitors still didn't stop frowning at him. It is mainly because, just like the spectors, they hated him to their core.
Unlike the spectators, they had done their research on him. They knew him for the predator that he was long before he was introduced. Many of them have issued challenges to him in real life. Many of them also want to kill him for the atrocities that he has committed.
Be that as it may, they are also afraid of him. It is because he should be in the top three in terms of total destiny alone. He is an undisputed threat to all of them. And by the records of what they know about him, they can be certain that he will come after them.
So they don't like him at all. It is understandable. The threat he posses to them is not something that the booing crowd can change. He will still gain more fans and become stronger if he performs as he usually does.
It is something that people like Dustin who attach their worth to looking foolish and pleasing the crowd will never have. It is because, unlike them, he is not common.
He is a rarity both in ability, skill, performance, and achievements. He is strong, so no matter how many people hate him, he will continue to gain fans. That is as long as he gives them the violence they want and he wins. If he is ever defeated, the consequences will be catastrophic.
But in the meantime, he has nothing to feel ashamed of. So he stood with his head held up high while everyone frowned at him.
His feelings were conveyed by what the moderator said next. "Get this, people. He likes to say, "You are sheep. I am Augustus. We are not the same." What does that even mean?"
"I'll tell you what it means. It means he has accepted his identity as a predator. Let us see how well this predator performs in today's game. I can't wait."
Kelvin smiled at that. He liked that the moderator was not squimish and didn't dislike violence. This meant that he had a good chance of earning the Best Player achievement.
The moderator moved on to other competitors. While that was going on, the competitors began to move and interact with each other. One notable thing they did was to all approach a certain old man and bowed to him in respect.
All of them did so. It was when they were done with that some of them decided to approach him. From their posture and the look on their faces, he doubted that they were coming to give him advice on how to win the game or show any respect to him.
One of them started by pointing a finger at him, "Listen here, you little piece of shit. You are going down in this game. You will pay for what you've done."
He smiled and asked, "Who will force me to pay? You? If I remember clearly, you are barely F-rank."
She didn't get angry that he belittled her in front of so many people.
She smiled and said, "You'll see."
Kelvin frowned when he saw the look of confidence in her eyes. He frowned because he couldn't figure out the source of her confidence. It was just as he had said, she was a F-rank. She is also an amplifier, so she is not someone he should take seriously.
She is certainly not someone who should be able to mouth off in front of him. Not unless she is cooperating with someone else. That will change the whole story.
An amplifier alone is nothing to write about. But one in league with others will be dangerous. He has seen such things in the past. It is something he experienced personally too. An amplifier made him capable of tearing through things he couldn't tear through before.
Sasha smiled broadly when she saw him frowning. Then she waltz away with pride to give room to the many others who wanted to have a word or two with him.
The next person that came up to him was another woman. She smiled gently and said, "You are talented. My Cabal is interested in recruiting you. What do you say?"
He said, "Sorry, but I am already taken."
She narrowed her eyes at him and said, "Oh, is that so? My bad. You don't act like someone with a cabal. You create too much chaos for someone with a group to account to. Tell me, what cabal do you belong to?"
He was still frowning as he replied. "It is none of your business."
She shook her head. "Don't say that it is not none of my business. If you were truly part of a cabal, you would know that it is my business since I am going to be participating in this game with you. It means our two cabals will clash. We either respect each other or go to war."
He said again, "It is none of your business."
"Fine then. If you won't tell me what your cabal is, can you at least tell me if we will respect each other in this game or we will go to war?"
He asked in return, "Are you just here to threaten me with your cabal? If so, I've got your message."
She wasn't smiling anymore. She was frowning too. "Don't be rash. Don't do something that you will regret. Even if we can't get you in real life, we can make things very difficult for you in your future games."
He nodded. "You didn't have to say that. I already told you that I've gotten your message."
She shook her head and walked away. She insulted him as she left. She said, "Stupid ignorant fool."
Another person came up to him. They used various tactics, like trying to get close to him or offer him advice, but everything boiled down to threats or pleas for him not to kill them.