Somehow, the three teams got to work and cleared off many peak level 6s before finally entering the core area.
Thankfully, even though they still hid their strength and pretended to be weaker, the teams worked together and in turn, exerted way more strength.
Boom!
Boom!
As they entered the core area, the first thing that greeted them was explosions.
The core area, which was deep underground looked like an endless desolate plain.
Once the explosions began, it started to tremble.
The shockwaves shot out in all directions, carrying incredible impact force enough to kill level 4s in an instant.
Gravity collapse. Or Gravity bomb.
Something similar to space bomb.
After reaching level 5, a space awakener could tighten and loosen the space almost simultaneously, breaking the space apart, causing a small explosion as space pulls back to its original position.
The twenty peak level 6 Khanaks were doing something similar as they used gravity and repulsion together creating explosions.
“Kill!” Ashtarh kicked the ground and appeared in front of a Khanak.
The creature raised its paw covered in crystal-white alloy and was about to slap him away.
The space around its paw froze for a split second before it was abruptly broken. Right then, Tiama’s lightning bolt struck its body, numbing its nerves for another short moment.
These two interruptions were very small, but for Ashtarh, they were just right.
He thrust his spear, and with all his strength concentrated on the tip, it quickly broke the protective layer and slayed the Khanak.
Thud!
“Ha! Ha!” Standing in front of the huge corpse, Ashtarh caught his knees and panted.
This time, he wasn’t acting. He was really tired.
Looking around, everyone was the same.
Despite their genius, their enemies were also at the same level. If they slipped up, they could be eliminated.
Given the fact that they were already more or less injured, these battles only exacerbated those injuries.
Their strength was now barely in the peak level 6 and just above high level 6. Thankfully, the team co-operation they developed while they got the flags allowed them to exert higher strength.
“Muuu!”
The gravity suddenly multiplied, almost pushing them down.
A Khanak exerted its gravity on them again.
Of course, they weren’t fragile to its attacks. Their active resistance meant Khanaks found it much more difficult to maintain the high gravity on them.
Xavier stood in the distance, far away from the Khanaks as he avoided the dangerous gravity to his fragile body.
Of course, if he was individually targeted, he’d bring the Khanak into an illusion and stop it from attacking him.
But he preferred saving his strength and took action from a safe distance.
Just like now. His eyes landed on the Khanak that just exerted the heavy gravity. ‘You!’
The next moment, the Khanak writhed on the ground as it moaned in pain. Rodey appeared above the beast and slashed off its head.
Saving up his mental power really paid off. Now, Xavier was helping his own team members and also other teams to stun the beasts shortly.
They’d make a quick work of it and end the poor thing’s life.
Marcus stood beside Xavier, covering him with a fire shield. He also created fire projectiles from time to time and targeted the Khanaks.
Willam used his telekinetic powers and restricted the Khanak’s movements while Philia used her ice powers to slow it down.
Sarah took the opportunity created by them and killed the creature.
It was the same for Ashtarh. Ashtarh acted as the main offense, Maissa restricted the creature and Tiama slowed it down.
From time to time, a Khanak would fall.
But their exhaustion started to build up. Some of their old wounds opened up and increased their difficulty yet again.
All said and done, they were the best geniuses of the federation after all. They ended the last Khanak.
“…”
There was an utter silence as they all glanced at the small platform in the distance. The final flag was placed on it.
“Huh~” Xavier quietly sighed.
Everyone stiffened.
Marcus and Rodey appeared beside him and glanced at the other two teams with hostility.
The three teams stared at each other in silence as they waited for the first mover.
No one tried to pick the flag.
No one made the first move.
“Are we going to wait all day?” William and Maissa said again, almost causing everyone to instinctively attack them.
‘William, are you going to die if you don’t speak?’ Sarah’s icy gaze fell on her senior as she considered strangling him.
For the sake of his survival, William didn’t do anything.
Xavier looked at Maissa and chuckled. He slowly turned to Ashtarh and said. “How about we get rid of Sarah’s team first? Honestly, they’re from the same planet as Charles. Plus, their strength doesn’t deserve winning.”
Ashtarh clenched his fists and looked at Sarah’s trio.
Xavier persuaded him further, contempt clear in his tone. “I have no objection if the winner is one from either of our teams, but Sarah’s team. Honestly, if we fight together, and injure ourselves, she will benefit the most and can even win.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed as she looked at Xavier. His utter contempt for her enraged her.
“Xavier, I might be weaker than you now, but dare you say you can can fight me in a year…no six months?”
Everyone, including her own teammates shuddered at Sarah’s words. There was something scary about her words.
They all regarded Charles as the monster.
But they forgot the real monster who can stand on their level being a full year younger than them.
Sarah.
In six months, Xavier surely won’t reach level 7 or anything.
But Sarah?
As a dual awakener with insane progress rate, her strength would increase qualitatively.
Considering her explosive growth last year, and her Dual Divine Paths, she could likely reach the strength Charles exhibited at present…or even surpass him.
“…” Xavier’s heart race for a moment before he forcibly suppressed it.
He laughed it off. “If there’s a trial after six months, I might think about it. But Sarah, I’m a man who lives in the present.”
“Ashtarh, I’m waiting for your reply.”
Sarah took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. Xavier was the guy who even used beast tides against them. So this much was expected.
She turned to Ashtarh and said. “Our team strengths are roughly equal, but individually, Xavier is the least injured and exhausted. He’s also the strongest person here. I promise to go all out and fight him. Once we get rid of him, we can have a fight.”
In the end, she added. “You’re stronger than me, but if you two teams go against me…”
Her voice turned cold. “I’ll make sure my last hit will be enough to erase any chances of your victory. If you’re at your peak, it’s hard. But look at your injuries, I’m not lying.”
Ashtarh looked at his own injuries and the injuries of Tiama and Maissa. They didn’t speak and waited for his decision.
Ashtarh recalled the beast tide and took a deep breath.
“Alright.”
Xavier was dumbfounded as Sarah’s and Ashtarh’s team turned against him.