"Yes I'm interested him more than any other candidate in this recruitment. However, the same rule applies to him too. If he wants to join our Cloud academy, he can. However I won't please him to join." The envoy of the Cloud academy said indifferently.
All other envoys shook their heads. This woman was too stubborn for her own good. Cilera's face became red. She wanted to shout at her for her indifference and tell her that she had to compete with other envoys if she wants any talented candidate to join her academy. However she knew that she would only be wasting her breath.
....
Max sat down on the ground trying to meditate as he waited for this group's fights to finish. However, he couldn't meditate because the image of Leo Riggalton's last moments kept surfacing in his mind.
Although he knew that no one would blame him for this and neither did the man blame him. He still felt a bit uncomfortable.
Shua!
After a while the formation walls opened as fights were finished. He took one last glance at the brunt corpse before walking down the arena.
He saw that Flavia was looking at him as he walked towards her but he wasn't in the mood to talk to her so he walked by her without saying anything. However, just as he crossed her, her soft voice sounded by his ears "You don't need to feel guilty. It would be best if you can stop thinking about this as it might affect your performance in next fights."
Max turned to look at her in surprise. He didn't think that she will notice his situation and would try to console him. He nodded at her gratefully before walking to his seat.
The driver and Neer also advised him to not overthink it and that it was very normal to die while fighting in these types of compitions.
Some families even forced their younger generations to kill before they even start cultivating. Their reason was simple 'You can't freak out when it comes to killing your enemies or you'll die an early death.'
Max nodded to them, saying he understood. He then ate one mana recovery pill and sat in meditation to recover. He still had to fight in other rounds and had to be in his peak form.
After a while, first round of Elimination round finished and second round started. All those who had won in first round fought against each other and once again half of them were eliminated.
Then it was Two-star mages' turn to fight. Everyone was gradually called. Samuel won again with ease as his opponent had forfeited after finding out that he was to go against him. Vincent also won very easily because like previous round he didn't fool around and used his element from the start.
When it was Dalton's turn, he directly charged at him and with a punch to the chest, he killed him not giving the chance to forfeit. Many gasped at his cruelty but many also nodded appreciatively as one had to be cruel enough to assert their dominance and Dalton was trying to do the very same. His thunder had been stolen when Vincent, Samuel, Neer and Max appeared. Therefore he he wanted to make his presence known to everyone.
Max didn't watch any fight, he simply focused on recovering his mana and fortifying his mental realm. After all this time, he had recovered completely and that hint of guilt also subsided.
Just as he opened his eyes, Flavia was called onto the arena. Max watched her as she gracefully stepped onto the arena making many cheer for her and went to her designated arena.
After a few more seconds, a man clad in black from head to toe and a red scarf covering his face only revealing his slightly red eyes appeared in the arena opposite to her. Seeing him many gasped.
It is this detestable thing against such a gentle woman. Sigh!"
"She is unfortunate to be matched against this shadow killer. Although she is strong, her chances to survive are very low against this bastard."
Many others also felt pity for her. No one knew this black clad guy's name. However, he preferred to call himself shadow killer.
'Shadow killers' was a very formidable and mysterious organization that assasinates people. This guy also wanted to join this organisation but no one knew how to join them so he took its name as his own.
He was notorious in surrounding cities because he had assasinated many people with high statuses. He would take any assassination mission as long as the target was in the same realm.
There were many who looked at him murderously. They were the ones whose family members were killed by him. They wanted to charge down and kill him right now but they only cast their murderous gazes at him while gritting their teeth in frustration.
The academies prohibited any violence inside the Colosseum apart from that happened during fight of course. If anyone, especially who wasn't a candidate participating dared to disregard this rule, they will be killed and your family background wouldn't be enough to save your life.
Entering the arena, shadow killer licked his lips, his eyes looking at her like she was a harmless prey waiting to be killed laughed "Kekeke, it seems you are quite unlucky to have me as your opponent. I was wondering how should I kill you until now as someone has requested your beautiful head. However, Don't worry I'll give a painless death."
After hearing his creepy laughter, Flavia looked at him and shook her head "I don't know whether it is I, who is unlucky or not but I can say with certainty that you sure are." She didn't seem surprised to hear that someone wanted her dead. She was calm as always however the instant she heard that he wanted to kill her, her eyes were flashing with intense murderous light.
"Keke, you aren't only pretty but also have some guts it seems. Slash!" The shadow killer laughed while walking slowly towards her. Suddenly a black dagger appeared in his hand and he slashed at her with lightening fast speed. A mana blade shot out from his dagger, slashing toward her chest.
Flavia easily dodged his attack by stepping a few step to the side. When she looked in front of her, however, the figure of shadow killer was nowhere to be seen.
Clatter–
In an instant, Flavia took out two small metal balls, one of which took shape of small shield and came behind her neck in time to block the black dagger that was only two inches away from taking her head off.
The shadow killer looked at her in astonishment, he didn't expect his attack to be blocked so easily.
When he slashed with the mana blade previously, it was only to distract her. When her eyes moved away from him as she dodged, he quickly turned into a shadow and had appeared behind her. He had slashed with his dagger as fast and silently as he could. However, he was blocked as if she had already predicted him to use this strategy.
After his initial shock, he hurriedly tried to move away from her. He knew that Flavia was stronger than him and his strength lied on his sneak attacks. Now that he was discovered, he needed to back away or he will be the one to get killed.
*Shlick*
However, despite his fast reaction, he was still too late. The second metal ball that Flavia had taken out, had took the form of a sharp blade and arrived beside his neck. Without any hesitation Flavia controlled the metal blade and cleanly slashed through his neck.
Step... Step...
Flavia took a few steps and looked at him coldly. Shadow killer has disbelief written all over his face. He clutched his neck by both of his hands.
Blood still sprayed around like a fountain from his neck. And as the light in his eyes disappeared, his severed neck and body fell on the ground. In a few seconds the area around his body was glittering red. However, there wasn't even a single drop of blood on Flavia.
Max and almost everyone watched the fight that only lasted less than a few minutes and couldn't help but be astonished.
"My god. This goddess is so strong and fierce."
"Yeah, I thought she was kind after she didn't even injure her opponent in last round, however this completely toppled my view of her."
"Nicely done. Finally this pest is dead. If I was my family's head, I would reward her to this service" A women exclaimed.
"Yeah you are right. However, do you think with her background she will be interested in your reward." Someone scoffed.
....
"Oh, this girl is very perceptive and has excellent control over her metal element. This recruitment is indeed a gathering of talents surpassing past recruitments." Fourth envoy, the old woman praised.
Other envoys also nodded. They could clearly see that she was exceptionally skilled and her fortitude was top notch. Even when she could be killed if she made a slightest mistake, she was still calm and collected.
One could only have this type of fortitude after facing many hardships and fighting many near death battles.
"It seems despite being from a good family, her life hadn't been a good one." The second envoy commented. Her gaze was one of approval.
Max smiled wryly "It seems I've underestimated everyone here." He then sighed and thought 'It's hilarious that I was being complacent over my current level of power.'
He could tell that even if he has higher destructive power than her, if she were to fight her in a life and death battle, there was a high chance that he will die.
