After leaving Nemesis’s mansion, Orpheus, the Ouroboros’s headquarter where the girls had been waiting for him.
”Welcome, Master.” Katherina greeted him the moment he appeared.
After taking a seat, he asked if they had been any movement from the other two gangs, but surprisingly there was none. They seemed unbothered that two gangs fought with one of them swallowing the other, but it was not the case; they were likely collecting more information before making a move. Because there was no way they would leave the Ouroboros threatening their position alone, it was just a matter of time before they attacked.
”You will have to continue to monitor the other two gangs; they will not immediately act, but soon they will. You can start recruiting new members after screening them. I’ll be busy the incoming day, but I will still come to take to try from time to time.” Orpheus said before vanishing.
Katherina sighed before slapping her cheeks; there was one thing she noticed, their leader was too lazy; he always left annoying matters to her to deal with.
”Stella, call Aileen over. I have a mission for her.”
”Noted!” Stella said before vanishing.
Looking at her little sister who had left, Katherina felt a headache; her personality that made her unable to talk to others freely was acting again, Stella wished to speak with their master, but she didn’t know what to say.
”Should I help her? Nah! Better leave her be. It would be best if she overcomes this by herself.” Katherina closed her eyes while waiting for Aileen.
•••••
The night passed, welcoming another day.
Today was the day the mock battle would start for the new students who got enrolled, especially in the S class. This was a major event before their advent to Ruins and forbidden zones, before the annual competition between schools at the end of the year.
Located in the northeast part of the academy were the battle arenas.
Two arenas, one big (could contain more than twelve thousand spectators, and possessing twelve big battle rings that could hold a hundred contestants fighting at the same time on it). This big arena was used for big tournaments.
The second was a small arena used for daily mock battles or for resolving a conflict between students.
Students of the first-year S class were directed toward the small battle arena. On their way, they encountered many seniors from the upper class, which they greeted, shortly after they reached the arena.
It was a large open space surrounded by tiered seating for spectators(up to two thousand seats); sitting in the middle is a big circular ring that can contain twenty persons fighting at the same time on it. You could see another four other rings with the same features.
Waiting for their teacher to announce the start of the mock battle, the S class students were chatting amongst themselves; they didn’t have to wait too long because Miss Quinn Asmodeus arrived, and even some curious upper-class students took a seat to watch.
”Wonderful, I sense great fighting spirit from you; you’re more eager than I think. Well, you just here for the rewards.”
Their teacher teased them when she arrived, and none of them said anything as if she was the absolute truth. It was because of the rewards they seemed so eager to fight.
Miss Quinn continued; she started to explain how the mock battles would take place.
”We will be doing round elimination. First, you’ll be choosing paper with numbers from that box over there; they are twenty-five papers, twenty-four papers with numbers, and one blank for the lucky one (they will skip a round). I’ll call the number, and the interested party will come to the stage to fight, and the loser will be eliminated. We will repeat the same thing each round till the final. Now choose. I forget to say that the winner will personally receive 100 credits and 3 hours in a gravity room for two days.”
A huge uproar began when they finally heard what the rewards would be. One hundred credits were huge, and what shocked them the most were the 3 hours of training inside the gravity room. Previously their teacher had emphasized strengthening the body to make it robust not only for a defensive purpose but also to help their core grow, thus making them store more origin. The gravity rooms are perfect for body strengthening. More than ever, they were eager to become the final winner; only Orpheus, Nui, and Nemesis had calm expressions on their faces as they weren’t interested.
Miss Quinn frowned; seeing their reactions, especially Orpheus’s reaction; she wondered what he might be thinking but decided not to do anything and watch; she would eventually find what this young man that popped out from nowhere was hiding.
Finally, it was time for them to select a paper. Ella was the first to choose, followed by Lily; the first got the number 3 while the latter got the number 5. Nui got the number 4, Kaguya number 7, and so on.
For some unknown reason, Orpheus selected the blank paper, meaning he would not be fighting in this round.
”You all know your numbers, don’t think that number 1 will necessarily fight number 2; I will randomly choose and announce it. It is strictly forbidden to cripple your opponent, and when you sense you can continue any longer, say ‘I surrender, you will be automatically ejected from the stage. I can stop the fight if I deem it too brutal. Now, I will announce the numbers of the first participants. After hearing your number go on the ring while waiting for my signal to start fighting. Number 4 and Number 6, please go on the stage.” Miss Quinn Asmodeus, before taping on the bracelet on her wrist to activate stage 1(ring selected for the mock battle) protection shield, which covered the entire platform, it was to protect the spectators from harm.
Alvinia, who selected the number 4, was already on the stage dressed in a battle suit. It was Daniel Luxor Luxiria who had the number 6. He went on the stage, standing opposite Alvinia.
”Alvinia Nui Yyddrasil, please advise.”
”Daniel Luxor Luxiria, likewise.”
”Start!” Their teacher announced the start of the first match.
Immediately Nui snapped her finger, drawing origin from her core to create two Thorny Spitting Flowers using her Nature origin attribute. The flowers had two leaves looking like a beast’s mouth filled with sharp teeth, ready to devour its prey. It possesses poison and thorns all over its body.
Alvinia commanded them to attack Daniel.
Immediately the thorny spitting flowers both attacked Daniel from different sides with many thorny vines making it difficult for him to evade, choosing the slight time gap in their attack, Daniel avoided the thorny vines coming from his left before he created three fireballs the size of basketball he sent them to his left, hastily retracting her vine before spitting poison from her mouth to extinguish the incoming flame the thorny spitting flower attacked again. Still, when she was busy extinguishing the fireballs, Daniel threw them toward her summon.
He swung his sword covered in red flame, cutting one of the thorny flowers into two; he moved toward the next one dodging its vines and burning its poison with his flame.
Alvinia chuckled seeing this; with the snap of her fingers, she summoned two royal treants; they were different from normal treants; they were bigger with skin like jade which was more resisting facing flame, who was their nemesis, and they were also taller ( 5 meters tall) and more powerful physically.
Having finished slaying the last thorny spitting flower, Daniel sighed. Even without turning around, he had already sensed powerful enemies waiting for him; he knew he must become at least a bit serious. There was one thing that kept bothering him, why was the princess not using her second attribute and just standing behind her summons?
However, he didn’t have the time to ponder why Alvinia was not seriously fighting as he had enemies to eliminate.
Each step taken by the two royal treants made the stage shake slightly by sending shockwaves forward; they attacked Daniel with their long thorny hands, which sent shockwaves on the ground, but Daniel had already left the attacked spot.
Daniel appeared above the treants and sent two gigantic fireballs in the middle of the two.
BOOM!
The ground shook, and flame different from normal flame engulfed the treants as they started thrashing their huge vines. Using this opportunity, Daniel appeared in the middle of them and easily destroyed their cores, turning them into dust.
Just as Daniel was about to go toward Alvinia, he felt chill, and he immediately jumped, dodging a vine aiming for his back. He became annoyed when he saw four monsters: Two thorny spitting flowers and Royal treants. He felt like he was being played with; furious, he decided to attack with his most destructive attack.
Blue flame gathered under his sword, turning the surroundings to an incredible level. Many were surprised that Daniel could already create the blue flame.
Alvinia monsters froze even before the attack reached them.
Then something shocking happened, Alvinia canceled her summon and raised her hands.
“I surrender.” She was immediately ejected from the ring.