Chapter 798: Emperor Zolthemir’s turmoil
Within a singular Luxury Viewing Box, the four Principals of the various Academies; Heavenly Academy, Constellation Academy, Star Academy, and Astra Academy were gathered together.
At this moment, the four of them were watching Asher. They had been speechless, just like everyone else.
Raiden, from the Velkarin Empire and Principal of the Constellation Academy, stared at Cindralis, who sat with an expressionless face. He wasn’t the only one staring. Isakrel, Principal of the Heavenly Academy of the Thalvorn Empire, also stared at her, together with Endrik, Principal of the Astra Academy of the Vandross Empire.
"It seems you’ve played us all for fools, Cindralis," Endrik stated, his eyes returning to the rankings as he watched Asher’s points drop in real time after unlocking his Astra energy.
"And here I was thinking you didn’t have any cards up your sleeve," Raiden stated, a small smile appearing on his lips as he sat unbothered. He still believed in his student, Arianna, to win.
Isakrel simply sighed as he added, "Thank the stars we didn’t place the favor as a bet. It would have simply been too risky." He shook his head in relief.
It wasn’t that he looked down on his student, Isaac Wrath Chillstorm; it was simply that nothing had been decided yet. Everyone had to fight to determine who was stronger.
"As I’ve said before, ’A Wargrave is still a Wargrave, whether they awaken on their first or final attempt,’" Cindralis stated as she sat with a calm demeanor.
The other three Principals couldn’t help but sigh at her words. Cindralis had indeed told them such words. They had doubted it at first, but later came to believe her when Asher had put Hilton in his place during the gala two days ago.
Because of that event, yes, they had given him some credibility, but nothing more.
But now, after witnessing such a sight, they understood they were still underestimating him. After all, almost no third-year student could handle a Grave-class Monster on their own without assistance, let alone do it without any Astra energy or abilities of any sort.
Although Cindralis sat with utter calmness, her mind was spinning. She was just as shocked as the others were. As the Principal of Star Academy, she possessed a measure of knowledge regarding Asher’s fighting capabilities. She knew he could take on beings on the 6th rank of any power system, but doing it so easily and effortlessly wasn’t something she had accounted for.
Although she would love to claim that her month of training had paid off, she didn’t dare make such a ridiculous assumption.
Her thoughts couldn’t help but drift toward Malrik. He had been absurdly talented, entering her Academy at the age of fifteen, three years early, yet even he hadn’t been this abnormal.
But another question nagged at Cindralis’ mind; yes, Asher had failed his awakening twice and awakened on the third attempt, but why hadn’t her ability sensed his ridiculous talent upon awakening? If he was this talented, she should have known.
She could only thank the stars that she had extended Asher an invitation to join Star Academy at the time simply because she had been curious about such an untalented Wargrave.
But then she remembered. Just over a month ago, when she had made the Inter-Empire Competition known during the announcement back at Star Academy, she had subtly warned Asher that he should do his best and not slack off because people who were more talented than him existed.
She couldn’t help but sigh mentally. If she could go back and take back what she had said, she absolutely would.
At the time, she had genuinely believed those words. Looking back now, however, they seemed almost laughable. The boy she had warned was currently displaying a level of talent that left even veteran Principals questioning their own judgment.
The next moment, she, Endrik, Raiden, and Isakrel sat stunned as they watched Asher pull out clothes from thin air before changing on the spot. They then watched him sit down and serve himself a variety of food and wine.
Their lips couldn’t help but twitch. This was supposed to be a survival event, yet here he was having a leisurely meal after obliterating a Grave-class Monster with his bare hands.
They dared not claim it was cheating. They had seen him teleport a few times already, proving he possessed some sort of space affinity or ability. They could only shake their heads and hope the boy wasn’t carrying anything within that mysterious space that could grant him even greater advantages.
’Has his Space Manipulation evolved to such a level?’ Cindralis asked herself. To her, it seemed impossible.
She was referred to as the Space Goddess, so she knew exactly how difficult it was to create an independent space that functioned perfectly. Such a feat required unimaginable control, precision, and understanding.
After a moment, she shook her head before smiling faintly as she took subtle joy in the stunned expressions of her fellow Principals.
The four Principals weren’t the only shocked ones; everyone across the world was. After all, they didn’t see a space ring on his finger, so they all naturally arrived at the same conclusion.
The notion that a first-year student possessed a personal storage space of such magnitude was enough to leave countless spectators questioning reality itself.
Within another Viewing Box, Overlord Cynthia, Empress Nymeria Sol Virelle of the Velkarin Empire, Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor, and Emperor Aetherion Khaelor Vantheos of the Vandross Empire sat together as they shared their own comments.
"It seems the Zarethorne Empire has produced a fine Wargrave yet again," Overlord Cynthia stated with a calm expression.
But although her face was peaceful, her heart was shaken. She had believed that her son possessed a high chance of winning this tournament, but now it seemed that victory would not come so easily.
"Of course. The Zarethorne Empire is a land of talent, and we possess it in abundance," Emperor Zolthemir Lux Vanthelmor stated with a polite smile on his face, but deep down he was troubled.
He had heard of Asher’s talent from his children, but they hadn’t told him the boy was this ridiculous. Then again, how could they provide information they themselves didn’t possess?
The remaining Empress and Emperor didn’t speak, they simply stared at Asher as he ate calmly.
At this moment, the four rulers shared a single thought; someone who was now factually above Malrik Wargrave in terms of talent had finally appeared.
And this troubled them deeply. Their minds couldn’t help but race with calculations and possibilities. A monster greater than the previous monster had emerged, and unlike Malrik, this one was only beginning his journey.
Nip the problem in the bud?
They could try, but they knew that after this display, the Wargrave family would be prepared for any assassin or move made against the Tenth Sun. And if there was one thing the Wargraves were known for, it was retaliation whenever one of their own was targeted.
A plan and thought bloomed within their minds. Why should they make a move? They were certain someone else would eventually act.
And just like that, Overlord Cynthia took a step back, thinking Emperor Zolthemir would make a move due to his own insecurities. Empress Nymeria took a step back, thinking Emperor Aetherion would make a move due to the Vandross Empire’s recent grudge against the Zarethorne Empire.
As for Zolthemir, while he acted smug on the surface, he was experiencing tremendous inner turmoil. He had just battled the Wargrave family and lost, only for the cause of that conflict to end up becoming an even greater monster than the one who had started it.
He couldn’t help but wonder what the future would look like once Asher reached adulthood. If the boy was already capable of this much at such an age, then what would he become in ten years?
The mere thought was enough to send unease through even an Emperor’s heart.
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Far away, Asher ate with a calm expression. After about twenty minutes, he was done. With a wave of his hand, everything vanished as he finally rose to his feet, preparing to move. He glanced at the battlefield one final time before levitating with a thought. After all, why run through such a swamp when he could simply fly?
His gaze swept across the devastated landscape beneath him. Ruined trees, shattered earth, and the corpse of the Grave-class Monster stood as silent evidence of what had transpired there.
With that, he shot forward with a sonic boom, leaving behind death, carnage, and shock that continued to ripple throughout the world of Crymora.
