Hence after just half a dozen fights, it had already reached the fight between those in the 30th ranks, and after only a short while of battles, Emery’s name was finally called.
[Rank 20 – Emery Ambrose (9)]
Emery was slightly taken aback that someone would aim for his position of rank 20 and it would be his turn so soon.
He turned to look at the name of the challenger displayed on top of the arena.
[Rank 29 – Vida Themary (18)]
The name was familiar to him. This female acolyte was the second most famous half-blood of the year. Her name always shows just behind Zack, the dragon half-blood.
Emery calmly walked into the arena, and in the center of it, the girl with short dark hair was already waiting for him.
”Are you really as strong as people say?” the girl asked while scrutinizing him with fierce-looking eyes.
As soon as she finished speaking, the girl instantly used her bloodline transformation. Powerful energy emerged from within her, and almost immediately after, dark blue feather-like scales came out of her body, forming a pair of wings and sharp, long claws.
”I, Vida, the bird of prey, have just recently reached the peak of my bloodline. You are the perfect person to test my strength!”
Having reached the peak of a legendary bloodline meant that she was now a rank 6, just like Emery who was a fey warlock. While he had two more ranks on top of him, the girl had reached her peak.
Still, this did not mean that the bird half-blood could be underestimated. On the contrary, doing so would be extremely unwise as the bird of prey was a top-tier bloodline on the same level as the tiger, the turtle, and the dragon bloodline.
Without waiting another moment, Emery quickly used his fey transformation stage 1 to match hers.
[Battle Power: 244 (274)]
He was about to complete his battle preparation, but just before he pulled out his sword, Emery’s hand stopped mid-movement.
He decided to use his claws to match hers.
[Blade Claws]
This brought him a little concern with his innate ability [Spirit Devour], but it was also precisely because of this that he decided to use his claws in this fight; to be in control of the skill, to fight without activating its devour skill.
Howlー
[Battle Howl]
[Battle power increases by 15.]
[Battle Power: 244 (289)]
”I am ready! Let’s start!”
Following Emery’s declaration, the two figures of a silver wolf and a dark blue bird directly clashed.
Clankk!! Clankk!!
Vida did not hold back at all. It had only been a few moments since they started, but the bird of prey half-blood had already used various combinations of dark-element spells with her physical attacks.
As she moved to attack, parry, and dodge, a dark aura followed her together with a thick cloud of smoke and several mirages of herself. The usage of those spells to confuse her opponents added with her obviously extreme speed, the girl was indeed worthy to be in the top 30!
Clankk!! Clankk!!
The first stage of fey transformation had its advantage in speed, just not the strength of the night form or the magical capabilities of the day form. Yet despite that advantage of speed Emery held, the girl in front of him was still able to match his speed without much difficulty.
But that was not all. To his surprise, Vida’s speed gradually began to increase, and with her wings allowing her to attack in different patterns of various angles, Emery was forced to start using [Blink] to dodge.
Furthermore, his very low proficiency in fighting with his claws put Emery at a further disadvantage, thus allowing the girl to land a hit on him.
Splllaaatttt!
With just one swing of the bird of prey half-blood’s claws, Emery’s [Jade Skin] was torn apart like paper.
The girl was indeed fierce.
”If you don’t show me your second transformation, I will crush you with mine!”
Right after she said those words of challenge, Emery felt a surge of power from the opponent in front of him. Vida’s blue feather-like scales grew longer, and in turn, her dark blue wings grew wider. With the blue scales now covering even her face, the girl had turned into a dark blue figure completely covered in dark blades.
Clankk!! Splatt!!
There was not much of an increase in strength, but her speed was much improved.
Emery quickly used his [Immortal Gate].
[Battle power increased by 32.]
[Battle Power: 244 (321)]
With the battle power boost from [Immortal Gate], Emery also received a considerable increase in speed.
But he was still barely able to match her speed.
Added with the darkness spells, Vida’s attacks became even more difficult to dodge. This bird of prey, she was definitely the fastest acolyte he had ever fought.
A legendary top-tier bloodline was definitely great, but it was not enough to defeat him.
At this chance, Emery decided to use one of his newly purchased spells, one of the easier rank C spells. Following his concentration, Emery’s feet began to glow a light blue shade, and with this tier 4 water spell [Slipstream], he finally managed to outspeed the legendary bird.
Clank!! Clank!!! Splatt!!
One by one, Emery’s claws started to lay scratches and wounds on the bird half-blood’s body. The girl understood that her best advantage was being outmatched, but it was only after a few minutes that she finally admitted defeat.
She did not have any more ways of catching up while Emery was still on his first transformation.
”Emery Ambrose wins!” the magus referee loudly announced.
After the girl undid her transformation, she walked toward Emery.
”Congratulations on your victory” Vida said as she put out her hand on her chest and gave a little nod as a sign of respect.
Emery accepted the gesture and followed.
”You are definitely stronger than me,” the girl briefly admitted before turning away. However, before she headed out of the arena, Vida turned back to look him eye to eye.
”I hope unlike me, you will be able to step out of the dragon’s shadow.”
Who Vida was referring to was none other than Zack, the privileged acolyte with dragon bloodline who she never succeeded to pass.
Certainly Emery had no plans of being number 2. He had been waiting for the time when he could finally have a rematch with the dragon.
By the time his fight was finished, he realized that a crowd had already filled the stands of the arena as if they all came to watch him fight.
However, that was not all. In the front row standing among the crowd, a figure he immediately recognized was silently watching him.
Zack Talon.
At the same time next match was called upon, this one will not be an easy one either
[Rank 19 – Jinkan Nephilim (15)]