Chapter 1989 Young Talents
The day concluded after the third match, leaving only 64 participants—32 in the strongest category and 32 in the under-20 category. The dominance of the Romans persisted, with 30 of them still in the tournament, while only 10 monks remained.
Eager to highlight the prowess of Earth warriors, Klea emphasized the significant increase in average battle power: 74 in the strongest category and 58 in the under-20 category. This showcased that most of the under-20 participants were already at the Skyrealm stage, a remarkable achievement.
However, Magus Nathan, once again, remained disinterested, his stern demeanor unchanged.
Undeterred, Klea hatched another plan to impress the magus. Leading the group to the vibrant city of Alexandria in Egypt, she spared no effort in offering a different kind of hospitality. Exotic foods tantalized their taste buds, melodic music filled the air, and enchanting women provided entertainment. The atmosphere was imbued with the essence of Egyptian culture and luxury, a feast for the senses.
Klea's hope was high that this extravagant display would finally captivate the magus and earn his favorable view of Earth's potential. However, despite the lavish surroundings, the magus maintained his stoic expression, unmoved by the efforts to sway his opinion. The disappointment on Klea's face was palpable as her attempts to win the magus alliance's favor remained unsuccessful.
Her persistent efforts elicited sympathy even from Morgana, who offered to showcase her talents to the two emissaries. However, having witnessed Morgana's terrifying dance of fire before, both Emery and Klea quickly rejected her offer.
"Just give it up, Klea. Don't worry; you have done enough," Emery advised.
Almost ready to concede, Klea's determination reignited when she noticed an unexpected shift in Magus Nathan's emotion. A crack appeared in his otherwise calm demeanor, and though he attempted to conceal it, Klea discerned the source—Tivali, her Bestet Tiger pet, had passed through the hall in her pitch-black cat form.
<He has a weakness for cats!> Morgana conveyed telepathically.
With a decisive yet subtle move, Klea deliberately called out Tivali to come and play with her. Sensing the growing tension from the magus emissary, she casually asked, "Do you like cats?"
Magus Nathan remained silent, but his visible gulp betrayed his anxiety. Seizing the moment, Klea allowed Tivali to play with him, effectively breaking the ice. "What a beautiful creature," Magus Nathan finally remarked.
He continued to hold and stroke the black cat, captivated by the golden lines on Tivali's back. Recognizing her as a rare species, he began an endless discourse about various other cats in the magus universe.
Klea felt a sense of accomplishment, to the point where she considered giving her cat to him. However, she quickly changed her mind, realizing that such a gesture might offend the Magus. Despite his cold exterior, she found out that the magus valued friendship and loyalty.
The following day brought a much warmer atmosphere within the magus stalls. Surprisingly, Magus Nathan became more talkative than ever, starting to point out a few positive aspects of the Earth warriors.
He observed that the so-called Roman centurions displayed refined and highly trained skills. However, what he always sought in lower realm planets was raw, untouched talent. Magus Nathan held high regard for the Mayan warriors who fought like beasts and still emerged victorious.
The third day of the tournament began fiercely, as those who won in this fourth match would secure a spot in the top 16 in any category, guaranteeing them the first-tier reward. As the matches concluded, the strongest warriors began to reveal themselves.
The grand spectacle unfolded as the top 16 warriors under 20 and the strongest category stood together, their diverse backgrounds creating a mosaic of martial prowess. The anticipation reached a fever pitch as the next phase of the tournament was announced, with a focus on determining the victors in the under 20 category.
Among the 16 young warriors, there were 8 Roman centurions standing tall with disciplined poise, a testament to their rigorous training. The monks exuded an aura of tranquility, standing as representatives of spiritual strength. Two Han swordsmen displayed nimble grace, while two northerners; a Vanir warrior and a Viking, emanated rugged power. The lone Mayan warrior, with an air of primal ferocity, completed the diverse ensemble.
The upcoming matches promised intensity, with eight simultaneous arena fights set to unfold. Each young warrior faced a Roman adversary. These Romans had undergone a decade of specialized training under the Roman special academy, emerging as formidable opponents in the skyrealm with an impressive average battle power of 70.
As the matches commenced, the audience was treated to a symphony of martial arts, Witnessing the clash of skills and styles painted a vivid picture of the warriors' diverse backgrounds and training.
The fights captured the attention and cheers of the spectators who fervently encouraged the warriors to break through the centurions' skillful defense.
"Defeat that Roman!!"
"Fight!! fight!!"
The audience held high hopes for the three monks, each a disciple under the tutelage of the Abbot himself. One monk demonstrated the rigid defense of the golden bell technique, another demonstrated fierce palm strikes imbued with the power of nine flaming suns, and the third showcased mastery over ice spells. Despite their impressive skills, the monks lacked the extensive fighting experience possessed by the Romans. The young Romans, despite their age, had accumulated some battle experience, evident in their confident and skillful maneuvers.
Disappointment loomed as all three were defeated one by one. Among the eight arenas, only two warriors succeeded to overcome their Roman opponents.
The first to achieve this feat was Kingrig, the Mayan warrior whose savage appearance belied his impressive skills. The second unexpected victor was a seemingly thin and almost fragile Han swordsman. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire:
"Who is that swordsman?" "
"How did he manage to win against the Romans?"
"Did he cheat?"
"As long as the Romans lose, who cares!"
As whispers circulated among the audience, some speculated that the young swordsman might have just been fortunate in his initial victory. However, to everyone's surprise, the swordsman, whose face was covered in a bamboo hat, proceeded to showcase spectacular fights, winning yet another match and securing a spot in the semifinals.
The intriguing performance of this mysterious swordsman grabbed the attention of both the spectators and the magus area. Curious, Klea started investigating the identity of this skilled swordsman. To their collective surprise, it was revealed that the 17-year-old swordsman was still in the Earth realm, showing a battle power score of 56.
"His name is Ha Ron,"
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Thank you, Haron for the generous castle gift, extra chapter will be given soon.
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m