"For the third round, this arena is divided into 100 smaller arenas where hundred battles will take place at one time." Elder Zhan said, making people glance at him with weird gazes.
"Hoho, are you wondering why I said 100 smaller arenas when there is only one?" Elder Zhan laughed.
Some people nodded while some already knew what was going to happen as they had already witnessed a few recruitments here.
With a signal from elder Zhan, the eight supervisors went and stood on the edges with Elder Zhan in the middle of the five hundred meter square arena.
Elder Zhan nodded and all of them started chanting some spell. After one minute, simultaneously, all of them put their hand on the ground. The point where their hands touched, started glowing in golden colour. The glow spread around the arena at a rapid speed.
Soon the arena was divided in hundred smaller parts by the walls of golden light . The supervisors stood up, seemingly exhausted. Elder Zhan also seemed to have expended a good amount of mana. However, he stood up with no sign of fatigue unlike the supervisors.
"Here are your hundred arenas." Elder Zhan smiled. "The rules for this test are simple like previous ones. The first phase of third test is elimination round. As the name suggests, this is only to eliminate the weakest of your bunch. You'll need to win two times in order be qualified to proceed in selection rounds. Don't worry because you are required to fight in the same realm.
To win, you have to fight until either your opponent is incapable of fighting further or he/she willingly forfeits. One can also be eliminated if one touches these formation walls more than three times. I hope rules are clear to everyone." Elder Zhan stopped speaking and waved his hand. A hundred people in white robes appeared. "These are the disciples of our academy who will be referees for this test while supervisors will supervise everyone."
Finishing his speech, he glanced toward the supervisors "You can start this round."
"Yes elder." One of the supervisor bowed and started calling the qualified One-star candidates to come down and fight. First, it was One-star candidates who were going to fight after that two-star candidates would compete.
Two hundred candidates went on the different arena according to supervisor's instructions. Fights started, candidates fought without holding back. Everyone wanted to join the academy so they had to survive this round.
Many were injured and a few who didn't want to give up, were killed by their opponents in order to win. However, there were some who after exchanging one or two moves gave up.
Out of seventy thousand qualified candidates, almost two thirds were one-star mages. Their fight went on for a few hours. Most of the fights were boring, however some were also very interesting too.
For example, Max noticed a fire elemental mage who used her element very deftly and in just two moves, she knocked out her opponent with Ice element.
Then it was turn for Two-star mages to fight. Supervisor called out the names and candidates went and fought. The fights between Two-star mages were comparatively fierce and much more bloodied, that made them interesting to watch.
Max noticed that even ten year old kids didn't seem afraid after seeing people being killed brutally. Instead, they seemed to enjoy it. He couldn't help but laugh at himself for still gauging by Earth's standards.
....
Group after group went and fought. Once again this was time for another group to fight. The supervisor called out the candidates' names again. This time Max paid more attention because the bald man also went on the arena this time.
The bald man entered a arena where he would have to fight. His opponent was a girl with curly green hair. Seeing her opponent was the bald man, her expression stiffened. She glared at the supervisor who decided the matchings and cursed in her mind 'You bastard! Couldn't you have matched me with someone else?'
"Start!" The supervisor didn't noticed her expression and called out. Other Candidates started fighting as soon as the go ahead singal was given. However, bald man didn't move he calmly looked at the girl and asked "Are you not going to forfeit?"
"No, not without trying." She clenched her jaws.
She stimulated her mana and chanted some spell. Then suddenly pointed at him and shouted.
"Poison snake!"
Whizz!!
A greenish mana snake that was half a feet thick and one meter long, shot toward the bald man at an astounding speed.
Seeing he didn't have his guard up, she smiled and thought 'Maybe I can win.'
However in the next second, the bald man pointed his index finger at the incoming snake figure and softly said.
"Lightning arrow!"
A four inch long arrow made of silver lightening shot out even faster than the green snake.
Without a sound both clashed and lightning arrow pierced her green snake and continued toward the green haired girl.
The girl had her eyes opened wide, she couldn't believe such a small arrow that he didn't even put any effort to conjure, could so effortlessly destroy her one of the best spells.
Pisshh!
In her astonishment she couldn't react and the lightning arrow pierced her left should leaving a see through wound behind.
Ahh–
She cried out in pain and held her shoulder with her right hand. In a second, her hands were stained in blood.
Crackle~
She raised her head after hearing lightening crackle, she froze in fright and even forget the pain in her shoulder for a moment.
The bald man had two more small lightening arrows dancing above his index and middle fingers. He didn't even glanced her said "If you don't forfeit in three seconds, you are dead."
Everyone sucked in a cold breath seeing him giving her a death sentence with such a calm expression. However, the girl didn't hesitate after hearing his verdict. She quickly raised her uninjured hand and shouted "I give up." She didn't dare to try her luck in front of this bald demon.
Two small lightening arrows vanished from his fingertips. He looked toward the refree calmly waiting for him to declare the winner.
The refree gulped his saliva nervously seeing him looking in his direction. He was only Two-star mage and an outer disciple, he was only as strong as the girl. So he felt instinctive fear toward him and hurriedly announced "The winner is Mr. Samuel."
Samuel, the bald man, nodded toward him and sat down with his eyes closed. They could only go out when all hundred battles has been concluded and formation walls opens.
The green haired girl quickly took out a grade two healing pill and ate it before taking out a potion and sprinkling it over her injured shoulder. Then she also sat down and meditated to hasten the healing process.
....
"Who is this Samuel guy? He is too strong." Dalton asked his servant, with raised eyebrows.
His servant shook his head "This is the first time he is seen around here and no one knows anything about him. Young master I think you should..."
Before he could speak, Dalton cut him off "Did I ask for your advice?"
"No Young master. I apologise for stepping out of my boundaries." He bowed and apologised.
"Tch, it's okay." Dalton clicked his tongue in annoyance. He wasn't annoyed by his servant but rather because of Max. His smirking face had irked him to the limits.
....
'This guy is surprisingly very adept at using his element. I must have him join our academy.' Every envoy had this thought as they looked at him like he was some rare treasure, of course, second envoy was the only exception to this.
Noticing that she wasn't moved even after seeing him in action, the fourth envoy curiously asked "Respectable Second envoy, aren't you interested in that young lad?"
Second envoy shook her head "Elder, please don't use honorifics with me. I'm just a junior. As for your question whether I'm interested in him or not. Of course I'm. It's just that I've no intention to beg anyone to join our Cloud academy. If someone want and is qualified, they are welcome."
Hearing this, the first envoy, Cilera and other envoys sneered inwardly. However unlike other envoys, Cilera sneered because of her foolishness. Even though Cloud academy was very strong in the past, most would see their present position. And who would join their academy if second envoy didn't invite anyone.
However, fourth envoy nodded appreciatively "It seems that retard has taught some good disciples."
Everyone including second envoy almost choked at her words. She dared to call headmaster of cloud academy a retard. Maybe, only she has guts to do so in the whole Green leaf kingdom without fear of being killed.
Seeing their expressions she coughed and said "I apologise, it seems I misspoke."
'No you didn't. It was intentional.' Everyone yelled in their hearts. Some envoys seeing that fourth envoy called second envoy's master a retard glanced at second envoy to see what was she going to do but were surprised to find that second envoy only smiled wryly and shook her head.
The respect for the old woman in their eyes increased even more. Although they didn't know who her master was, but they knew he was someone at the top of cloud academy that even king himself has to show his due respect.
This woman from green pagoda was too mysterious.
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I hope chapter is long enough for you guys, lol. Tell me if you liked it. =^_^=
