Ceres made her way to the meeting hall, joining the other participants who were gathered for the Tower Ascension competition.
As she entered the hall, she could feel the gazes of the other students, and they were surely using their Magic Zone to observe her movement.
She immediately found an empty seat and waited for the organizers just like the others.
They were gathered here to receive important instructions on how they would enter the Tower and compete for the coveted rewards that awaited them on each floor.
Glancing around, Ceres spotted the familiar faces of the other ten students from various academies who would be participating in the event.
She had crossed paths with some of them before, whether it was during the intense Monster Hunt Competition or the thrilling Clash of Champions.
Each student represented a different academy, bringing their unique skills and experiences to the table.
'Mhmm… A new face from the Psychic Arts Academy, huh…' Ceres thought to herself but didn't think it would help the Psychic Arts Academy.
Anyway, Ceres couldn't help but notice that one of the participants was missing. The student from the Vermont Academy had yet to arrive, leaving an empty seat among the group.
Though it was still early, Ceres couldn't help but wonder about Vale's absence.
She hoped that he hadn't decided to back out of the competition, as she had been looking forward to beating him this time.
The Clash of Champions had been postponed, but Ceres still held a desire to prove her skills, even if only in the context of this particular competition.
As she patiently waited for the proceedings to begin, Ceres observed her fellow competitors, carefully analyzing their strengths and weaknesses.
Since they were using their Magic Zone to observe her, she decided to use her Divine Sense as well.
'Let's see…'
It didn't take that long before she identified a select few who had the potential to reach the fourth floor of the Tower, just like herself.
Among them were Serena from the Mystic Arts Academy, Amelia from the Knights Academy, and Claude from the Combat Arts Academy.
She took notice of them not just because they had a decent number of Spell Lights, but she also respected their fighting styles.
Thanks to her older brother, she had detailed information about the Ascension Tower… With this information, she considered the three students best suited for the challenges that awaited them inside the Tower.
Of course, she was included among them.
Despite being primarily trained as a Spellcaster, she had also honed her skills as a Paladin, allowing her to adopt a more aggressive combat approach when necessary. She believed that her versatility would give her an edge in the competition, providing her with the ability to adapt to different situations and opponents.
Clank!
The door opened in the meeting hall, and the organizers of the event arrived, drawing the attention of all the participants.
Ceres couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment, assuming that Vale had chosen not to participate after all.
However, her disappointment quickly turned into surprise and curiosity as she heard footsteps hurrying to enter the room.
'Finally… I thought you escaped from me…'
Vale had indeed arrived, but something seemed different about him. His appearance had somewhat changed, leaving Ceres intrigued and eager to discover what had transpired during his absence.
"He looks different... No, his temperament seemed to have improved. What happened to him?" Ceres pondered silently, her eyes fixed on Vale.
She had previously used her Divine Sense on Vale and even marked him for some time, so she had a deep impression on him.
However, now that he had gotten closer again, she couldn't help but notice a significant transformation in him. The proximity between them allowed her to discern the change with more clarity.
Vale possessed impeccably smooth and unblemished skin, the kind that would make her envious. His charm had a captivating effect, even on her.
Fortunately, Ceres had developed a strong resistance against such allure. Unlike the other female students who were easily affected, she swiftly regained her composure and averted her gaze.
"Aren't you Vale Chambers? You should stop using your Spell. What are you? An Incubus?" The official spoke sternly as he glanced at Vale's entry.
"N-no, Sir." Vale was a bit flustered as he was certainly not using any Spells to attract other people.
'So Maya and the others are telling the truth… What do I do?' Vale's mind raced to find a solution…
'Ahh… Is this some kind of passive effect brought by being a Half-Celestial?'
He suddenly had this idea as he confirmed that none of his Spell Lights were active. After learning the possible cause of the problem, he immediately activated his ESP Spell to weaken his presence.
As soon as he did this, the female students immediately returned to themselves as they shifted their attention to the official in front.
'What now… Do I have to constantly use a Spell to suppress the effect of being a Half-Celestial?' Vale thought with a helpless smile on his face.
That was certainly not a good idea since his Phantasm State doesn't last forever.
As he reached this thought, Vale recalled that the duration of his Phantasm State and the range of his Magic Zone had probably changed after his Ascension.
'I should do some tests later.' Vale silently planned.
Soon, the Event Official announced that the Tower Ascension would start immediately after an hour.
They are only allowed to bring five Mystical Items with them. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough.
This rule was implemented because once they are "killed" inside the Tower and sent back outside, there would be a considerable chance that the item would not return together with them.
They didn't want them to waste precious Mystical Items since retrieving them was impossible.
Vale then continued listening to the officer. They were informed of various things related to the Tower to ensure that they wouldn't die accidentally. After all, in that place, there wouldn't be any officers that would follow them to ensure their safety.
Nevertheless, at this time, Vale also started inspecting the other students who will be competing in the same event…
At this time, he couldn't help but glance at the female student wearing the blue and white uniform of Farrel Academy.
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