Once the group had greeted each other, they sat down in the front row of the VIP seat except Noah and Jennifer since they were both participants and they only came to the VIP seating due to their connections. Whether it was intentional or otherwise, Princess Eve ended up sitting beside an empty chair between Hendrix and her. Standing closer to Eve, the faint female body fragrance drifted from the side, causing him to become a little distracted.
As the sun in the sky moved, the number of people in the VIP seats also increased. These people were mostly people of higher officials in the guild or people with connections. The audience seats opposite them had long been overly packed. The shouting aggregated into a torrent that shot to the horizon.
A long while later, Noah suddenly sensed some movement in the seats around him. Only then, did he frown and turn his head around to see the source of the commotion. Two lines of silver armored soldiers escorted three people to the VIP seatings.
”Gabriel,” Noah muttered as he looked at the tall, dashing man with striking golden hair walking towards them. The emerald green robes couldn’t hide the man’s perfect body structure, which would raise any woman’s heartbeat. With perfect jaw structure, small lips, and blue eyes, the man looked like a model out of a magazine. Edith walked behind Gabriel with Lelian Icarus whom Ghost met during his test to become the judge.
”Lord Gabriel”
Many of the nobles stood up from their seats to show their respect. The man sat on the throne of the number one alchemist of Elon and Ozer for decades. Although Ghost proved he was better than Gabriel, the Alchemy king still had the respect and admiration of many nobles. Hence, even Atian and Alred stood up from their seats to welcome him.
”Grandmaster Hendrix,” Gabriel arrived before Hendrix and greeted him with a stoic face. Since Hendrix became who he is by learning from the old revenant, Hendrix never hesitated to share his knowledge with others. But despite learning so many things from Hendrix, Gabriel felt no gratitude towards him.
”Gabriel” Hendrix returned Gabriel’s greet with a nod.
”Hi,” Edith quietly gave a quick wave at Noah,
If only Gabriel could assassinate Hendrix, he would be able to use his contacts to join the heavenly alchemists’ ranks. With their resources and knowledge, it would be only a matter of time before he reaches the 6-star alchemist level. However, to reach his goals, Hendrix must die.
”That’s Alchemy king Gabriel,”
”LORD GABRIEL!’
”HAIL THE KING!”
”HAIL THE ALCHEMY KING!”
Noah saw the alchemists and the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. Compared to the grandmasters and Hendrix, Gabriel’s fame was on the next level thanks to his marketing strategies and promotions. Not a single one didn’t know Gabriel and admired in the world of alchemy. The cheers he received were evident of his fame.
Gabriel turned to look at the cheering crowd and gracefully waved his hand while Leilan Icarus seemed extremely haughty seeing his teacher enjoying such fathomless fame and cheers from the crowd. He felt as though the crowd is cheering for him.
Jennifer and Eve quietly waited patiently for Gabriel to take his seat. While the crowd was raving for Gabriel, a golden trail appeared in the sky above. They all looked up to see a figure completely dressed in black slowly descending towards the VIP seatings.
”Ghost,” Edith’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Michael. His long black coat fluttered in the wind as he kept his hands casually inside the pant pockets.
After Michael appeared, everyone in the VIP seatings turned their gazes from Gabriel to Michael. Meanwhile, the cheering didn’t die down but gradually sounded less loud than a few moments ago. Of course, unlike Gabriel, Michael didn’t pay a bunch of people to kick start the cheering. If Michael wished to get thunderous cheers, he could have simply brought the entire river town along with the Sunrise disciples.
Still, little by little, some of the people who were present during the tournament recognized Michael and spread his name among the crowd.
Under the thunderous cheers for Gabriel, Michael calmly landed on the VIP stage beside Noah.
”Ghost,” Noah greeted Ghost with a nod.
Despite their differences in morals, Noah respected Ghost. As an Alchemist training under Andreas, Noah knew how difficult it is to become a higher star alchemist. Moreover, Ghost was an orphan. So unlike him, he didn’t have the resources Noah had. Still, Ghost managed to become a 5-star Alchemist, and not only that, he even managed to surpass him in cultivation. However, If Noah wanted to earn money and focused on solely getting stronger, he would have equalized Ghost. Noah had responsibilities to bring balance to the world as well as prepare for the greater war with the Dark Lord.
”Noah,” Michael also did the same and saw the familiar and unfamiliar faces staring at him. Gabriel stopped waving as he turned his gaze to the young man who dethroned him. To be honest, Gabriel couldn’t believe his eyes.
”How the hell did he reach the five-star level at such a young age?” that was the question that immediately emerged in his mind,
”You…you’re Ghost?” Hendrix’s tired eye became lively as he stood up from his seat, which surprised everyone on the stage. Before Ghost could greet anyone on the stage, Hendrix himself extended his hand,
”Lord Hendrix. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Michael firmly shook his hand,
”The pleasure is all mine to see such a talented young man,” Hendrix squeezed his arm before letting it go,
”Grandmaster Atian, Grandmaster Alred,” After greeting Hendrix, Michael greeted Alred and Atian with a smile, completely ignoring the crowd cheering for Gabriel.
”Lord Gabriel, I’m honored to meet you. You’re an inspiration” For a moment, Gabriel was stunned. He thought Ghost would act arrogant or haughty. But, on the contrary, Ghost greeted him with full of respect and admiration.
One couldn’t blame Gabriel for thinking like that. He didn’t surpass Hendrix, yet when he achieved fame and stardom, he never respected Hendrix. The longest conversation Gabriel had with Hendrix after Hendrix left Elon was ‘how is everything in Awor?’
So Gabriel naturally thought Ghost would be arrogant. He even formed a few quotes to mock Ghost in case he acted arrogantly. Yet Ghost completely surprised him by greeting him with respect.
His gesture not only surprised Gabriel but everyone on the stage except Edith. To her, it looked like the wolf greeting a sheep.
”I am to many,” Gabriel said proudly, revealing a slight grin that oozed arrogance. Since everyone arrived at the stage, the judges and Eve took the front row while the nobles and the elders took the seats in the back.
On the front row, Grandmaster Atian, Grandmaster Alred, Gabriel, Hendrix, Ghost, and Eve sat respectively from left to right.
…….
As time gradually flowed, the time for the start of The Alchemy Competition slowly arrived under tens of thousands of gazes.
Ding!
When a clear bell rang out on the plaza, the buzzing sound of the crowd murmuring and cheering that had shot to the sky suddenly became quiet.
Hearing the bell ringing in his ears, Hendrix Gardner quivered slightly and stood up. Then, he slowly walked to the very front of the VIP stage. His gaze watched the thousands of alchemists seated behind the jade tables below. At this moment, over two thousand alchemists lifted their heads and threw respectful gazes toward Hendrix who stood atop the world of alchemy with his talents.
”As the leader of the Alchemist Guild, I pronounce that the sixteenth Alchemy Competition has begun!”
”YEEYYYYYY!”
The entire ground boiled as the crowd let out a thunderous roar in excitement.
Hendrix waited until the crowd became silent again. Only then did he softly say, “Now, I would like competitors to settle before a jade table,”
Although the arena was currently bustling about to the point that the ring of the bell could hardly be heard, Hendrix’s voice managed to still sound in everyone’s ears, thanks to Hendrix’s Fusion stage cultivation level.
Hearing Hendrix’s words, those alchemists who haven’t settled before a table quickly found one.
Some alchemists in the VIP seats immediately stood up. There, the alchemists mainly were groomed by or roped into some of the more powerful groups. Due to having a powerhouse to support them, the tier of these alchemists was slightly higher as a whole compared to those “free” alchemists.
”Leilan, Jennifer, Noah, you three should also get down and join them. Since we’re very much excited to see you three compete against each other, the tables over there belong to the three of you” Atian pointed at the three jade tables in the very center of the arena.
”Those three seats will make you the focus of the crowd’s attention” Following Atian, Alred spoke, snapping his fingers. As soon as he snapped, the three tables assigned to Noah, Jennifer, and Leilan got elevated a foot higher from the ground, making the three tables the focus of everyone.
”Good luck,” Edith gave a thumbs up before Noah followed behind Leilan and Jennifer. While the three were preparing to leave the VIP stage, Michael leaned back on his chair, focusing on Aria, who was on her way to post a quest on the adventure guild.
Among the three, Leilan looked a little excited, on top of being proud. Jennifer was curious and eager, while Noah had a calm look on his face as usual.
”You youngsters won’t have any fun memories to recall in the future unless you do some rash and arrogant things,” Hendrix said with a smile to the youngsters on the stage.
”That’s one of the worst pieces of advice I’ve heard,” Michael laughed inside but put on a calm face showing no emotions.
”Guild Leader is right. hahahaha,” Leilan laughed as he had heard something so funny. He laughed proudly for no reason,
” The few of you, please proceed down…” Alred gestured at them to get down,
”The two of you, I will go first” Leilan, who was laughing like a maniac, pressed the ground lightly, and his body charged to the edge of the high platform. He glanced at the huge open ground below. Then he leaped, diving forward, and creating countless gasps among the spectators as well as the alchemists down.
”Arch steps,”
His body swiftly descended, and just as he was about to reach the ground,
He cast a spell. As soon as he cast the spell, giant purplish steps made of sparkling arch energy materialized in mid-air, connecting the ground.
Using the steps, he landed on the ground without any injury. After which, he swiftly walked up to the arena’s middle spot under the spectators’ stunned gazes with a smug smile.
”He really likes to show off huh? But does he think only he knows how to jump?”
Eyeing Leilan, who had received attention from everyone by directly leaping down, Jennifer rolled her eyes, smacking her lips together. Her lovely body leaped forward and also shot off of the high platform. Like a falling leaf, her body gently and elegantly descended. Her beautiful posture was like that of a goddess.
”Whoa,” This beautiful action of Jennifer had undoubtedly stirred more hearts than Leilan’s earlier performance. But, her beauty and grace caused shocking gasps from the VIP seats and loud roars from the audience seats.
”Look at that. You taught her something other than Alchemy. Good for you Grandmaster Alred” Atian playfully punched Alred on the shoulder and joked,
”Beauty comes with great opportunities and dangers. Therefore, one should always be prepared to fend off the predators,” Hendrix calmly spoke. His words contained wisdom which Michael agreed with completely.
”Youngman. Why don’t you leap down as well?” After seeing Jennifer and Leilan making such a grand entrance, Atian probed Noah to do the same as the previous two.
”I think I will walk down,” Noah smiled, shaking his head. But, instead of jumping down, Noah chose to walk down the stairs.