Chapter 312: Natural Spring [2] "Did that bastard try to poison me?!" For Noah’s body to show such reactions meant that whatever substance had been introduced into the water was extremely potent. Had it affected a normal person with average vitality and no magical enhancements, it might have knocked them out completely unconscious or even killed them outright. The sophistication required to create a poison capable of affecting someone with his attributes suggested either someone who had expert knowledge of toxicology or access to substances far more dangerous than anything commercially available. Either possibility made Kenzo significantly more dangerous than he had initially appeared. Noah immediately stepped out of the mineral pool, water streaming from his perfect physique as he moved with urgent purpose. Every second that the toxin remained in his system could potentially cause more damage, and he needed to counteract its effects before the situation worsened. He quickly retrieved a beef jerky from his storage, consuming the Tier 1 enhancement item that would provide his body with additional resources for fighting off the poisoning. The item’s regenerative properties might help his natural healing processes overcome whatever substance was attacking his system. Following that, Noah also consumed bread to strengthen his natural recovery capabilities further. The combination of enhancement items should provide his body with everything needed to purge the toxin and repair any damage it had already caused. ’That bastard...’ Anger burned through Noah as he realised the full implications of what had just occurred. This wasn’t just a tournament rivalry or competitive antagonism—Kenzo had attempted to seriously harm using a method that would have been virtually undetectable under normal circumstances. The only reason Noah had survived was his vitality and quick recognition of the symptoms. A normal person would likely be experiencing the real effects by now, and the evidence would have suggested a tragic accident at the natural spring rather than deliberate poisoning. The calculated nature of the attack made it even more disturbing. Kenzo had waited for the perfect opportunity when they were alone, introduced the poison into the shared water, and then left immediately to establish an alibi. The beef jerky and bread were already beginning to take effect, his healing processes working to neutralise the toxin and repair the damage. Noah returned to the natural spring with a grim expression, his mind already formulating a plan for dealing with the situation. He carefully collected a sample of the contaminated water in a small vial, ensuring he had physical evidence of Kenzo’s attempted poisoning should it become necessary later. The sample would serve multiple purposes—proof of the crime, potential analysis to understand exactly what toxin had been used, and insurance against any future attempts to cover up what had occurred. Noah’s approach reflected his understanding that evidence was crucial for any serious response. Although he had collected the poison, based on the way that Kenzo operated and the way he placed it and simply left meant that the poison would most likely not leave any evidence after a certain period of time. He didn’t bother informing the people in charge of the tournament about this event. The thought had crossed his mind briefly, but he quickly dismissed it as inadequate for the severity of what had transpired. The tournament officials operated within normal human frameworks and limitations that simply couldn’t address the true scope of Kenzo’s actions. The best they would do was simply remove Kenzo from the competition if things went well, and possibly call the police to investigate the poisoning attempt. While that might satisfy legal requirements and tournament regulations, Noah wasn’t satisfied with such a limited response. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦 Kenzo hadn’t just tried to end Ichigo’s career through brutal tournament violence—that could have been dismissed as competitive excess within the bounds of sanctioned fighting. But he had also tried to seriously harm Noah outside the tournament setting, using methods that could have killed an ordinary person without leaving obvious evidence of foul play. The poisoning attempt represented an escalation beyond any reasonable competition boundaries. It was the action of someone who viewed human life as disposable whenever it interfered with his objectives, and who possessed both the knowledge and willingness to commit such a heinous act for personal gain. A dangerous glint formed in Noah’s eyes as he contemplated the implications of tomorrow’s final match. Only God can save you from me tomorrow... Kenzo. The finals were scheduled for tomorrow, and Noah no longer felt bound by his master Tanaka’s previous words about showing restraint and mercy in competition. Tanaka was a good man who believed in the noble aspects of martial arts, but he didn’t know the true evil that Kenzo represented beneath his exterior. Tanaka’s advice had been based on the assumption that they were dealing with normal competitive rivalry between fighters, even if one of the fighters wasn’t an honourable one. He couldn’t have anticipated that one of the competitors was actually a sociopath who viewed the tournament as an opportunity to eliminate threats through any means necessary. Noah wasn’t going to show mercy to someone who had attempted to hurt him with poison. The tournament ring would provide the perfect legal framework for delivering justice that the normal system couldn’t adequately address. Within the bounds of sanctioned combat, Noah could ensure that Kenzo faced consequences. Noah’s recent advancement to adept rank had transformed him into something far beyond what any normal martial artist could handle. Not like he needed to use his adept rank strength anyway. A portion of his apprentice rank strength would have been more than sufficient to deal with Kenzo. Kenzo had made the fatal mistake of attempting to poison someone who possessed power beyond his comprehension, and tomorrow he would discover exactly how dangerous that error had been. After leaving the natural spring, Noah didn’t return to his room. Rather, he went to the peak of the mountain. His previous competitors were still training, among them Kenji and Hiroshi who watched him. Hiroshi wasn’t in the condition to train having been defeated by me, stripped of his strength from the physical strain his body had undergone in the span of our short match.