Fairfax Stafford couldn't be recognized anymore. His attire was completely burnt and stick close to his skin. His handsome appearance was no more as the only thing people could see on him was his scorched skin.
He was still faintly whimpering and breathing, however he couldn't move even an inch from his place. Surely, only some people knew that Fairfax was still alive. Most of the people thought Fairfax had died, due to his lack of motion.
Being the perpetrator, Xiu Li was aware of Fairfax being alive. He had aimed for this instead of killing him. Although it pained his heart to a certain extent, he had done the best he could do.
Although the current condition of Fairfax was gruesome to say the least, his chance of surviving was high. On top of being a Mage, he was also a Noble. Therefore, he would keep his life for sure.
Surely, in exchange, he would lose some of his attractive features. However, it was way better than losing his life.
"Victor, Wei Xiu Li!"
The audiences were startled by the referee's voice as they were too engrossed in observing the charred Fairfax. Even so, the audiences were quick to response. Just like the referee, they had also learned from the previous match.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Xiu Li clasped his hands and bowed to thank the referee for his work. Then, he walked toward his new seat. The seventh seat. Like Basil earlier, all eyes were on him. All of them were baffled. None of them had thought someone with that face was able to pull that fearsome stunt.
Sending his gaze at Basil, Xiu Li was expectant toward his reaction. He had been indebted to Basil as he had helped him pass the Selection Stage. This was his way to pay him debt, to perform better in the tournament.
He needed to know whether his performance was up to Basil's expectation or not. His butt was already touching the armchair, however his gaze was still planted at Basil who hadn't given him any reaction.
He was slightly disappointed by Basil's lack of reaction. It seemed Basil didn't think his performance was good enough. As he was sighing to himself, something caught his attention. His heart started to beat faster as he was filled with excitement.
Although Basil wasn't facing his way, he could see it! He could see Basil's faint smirk that looked like a knowing smile of a big brother at his little brother's mischief.
"He knew I have intentionally spared Fairfax's life. Amazing..."
Xiu Li silently admired Basil's attentiveness. No one without enough experience should be able to tell the motionless Fairfax was still alive. However, Basil could notice that from afar.
Fairfax was brought out of the arena to be treated immediately. Everyone's eyes followed his body until he completely disappeared from the arena.
[The next challenge is ready to be proceeded.]
"Kuhum... This time, the tournament is filled with a fearsome bunch indeed."
Someone coughed awkwardly after the announcement. He looked down at the arena and could see another two youngsters entered. The earlier gruesome scene was quickly forgotten like it was something didn't worth remembering.
Startled, Chester looked to his side and found the person who had coughed earlier. "Master Blake, you're here?" He asked in confusion. "What about our students competing in Team Category?"
At this, Blake merely smiled wryly before replying, "It is finished. Our team forfeit in the third match. They said they would like to preserve their lives more than winning the tournament." Chester chuckled in amusement as a response.
"Well, that is just like them. However, it's a new record, isn't it?" Chester looked curiously at Blake. Without turning his head, Blake nodded his head faintly, "Indeed. The last time, our team could only manage to win one match. It can be considered an achievement."
Blake and Chester heaved a sigh of relief. Compared to the last year's tournament, their academy had achieved something big. Not only their students managed to survive the hell like Selection Stage, but also won two match before forfeiting.
Seeing their students were safe was already enough for them. The four students of the Team Category must be burdened mentally —
"Woohoo! We are finally here! When is Basil's match?!"
— or not.
Chester looked at the four students of the Team Category neutrally. He regretted his choice to sympathize over people who didn't need it. All of them were as healthy as a cow! Not even a hint of distress could be seen on their faces!
"Kuhum.. good afternoon, Mr. Chester." The representative of the four students cleared his throat to erase the awkwardness between them and Chester. "Well, hello, Elton. I hope you are as fine as you look."
Scratching his cheek embarrassingly, Elton answered Chester, "Yes, sir. We are as fine as we look." Luckily, Chester could finally smile and nodded his head, "That is a relief then." Elton sighed in relief, however he didn't let his guard down.
"If you are curious, Sir, I can tell you the detail of what has happened." Elton added quickly. Just as he had expected, Chester smiled even brighter, "That is preferable." This time, Elton could finally heave a sincere sigh of relief.
"Psst. We managed to dodge a bullet there." Calhoun whispered at Elton in a not so discreet manner. At this, Elton could only facepalm, "Shut it, dork." Unsurprisingly, Calhoun had the audacity to answer him with an okay.
At that moment, a commotion ensued in the arena.
"I for— Kuhuk!!!"
"Well, try to say it faster next time."
The people's attention was brought to the commotion. One of the fighting participants had his chest pierced by another participant's hand. The perpetrator merely grinned disdainfully while looking down at the person whose chest he had pierced.
Whistle.
"It's more intense than our category, isn't it?"
"Yes, I agree. Look at their Magic Circles. Most of them are Major Circles."
"Well, they are not Grand Circles like Basil's, so I'm not impressed."
"I think we have agreed Basil is an exception?"
Chester looked at the exchange with a faint smile. He was amazed with Basil's unique method to impress people. Basil was a pretty much feared existence in the academy. However, all of them still admired and respected him.
Him beating a student or a couple of student's arse at once hadn't been a one time thing. In the span of five months, there were hundreds of students whose arse he had beaten. Surely, they didn't end up as bad as what he had done at his advancement day to the fourth year.
Most of those students had been curious about the truth behind his might, therefore they had challenged him. The results had always been predictable. Basil had planted their heads to the ground, quite literally.
At one point, Chester had believed Basil would be tired of them and decided to make an example out of one of them. However, it had never happened. Instead, Basil had been strangely quite expectant toward it.
When Chester had asked his reason, he had simply replied, "I got to experiment." To complement the nonchalance, Chester had been sure Basil had shrugged his shoulder a little.
When Basil said he had never done anything without a reason, he really meant it.
Returning back to the present, Chester could hear the announcement of the winner. Then, right after the arena was cleansed, another announcement resounded through the whole arena.
[The next challenge is ready to be proceeded.]
"I am challenging Rank 1, Basil Pacifer!"
[Rank 13 challenges Rank 1. Basil Pacifer, will you accept the challenge?]
"I will."
[May you enter the Arena.]
Just like his first match, Basil didn't need the instruction as he was already inside the arena when the announcer finished speaking. He gazed at his opponent. A pale slender young man with long grey hair stared back at him. He was the same young man from the previous match.
The young man grinned and it didn't fit his sickly pale face. Basil quirked an eyebrow. The young man reminded him of Jackson. They really resembled each other, except their body size.
"It seems you have realized something, huh? That is right! He and I are related!"
"No wonder."
Basil faintly curved his mouth upward. It seemed the young man was just as observant as his sibling. Basil was slightly impressed. These kids were showing so many potentials in the early age. He was sure they would grow into a powerhouse if nurtured well.
"Unfortunate. A faulty product can never be usable." Basil shook his head, puzzling Jackson's sibling. "What are you talking about?" Basil didn't give him any answer. Using [Reinforcement] on himself, Basil dashed forward.
Bam!
"Darn, for someone of your size, you pack quite a punch!"
Basil had instantly reappeared in front of Jackson's sibling with his fist aiming for the chest of Jackson's sibling. With a superb reflex, Jackson's sibling managed to block the punch.
"For a skeleton, you have quite a defense."
"Ku-ku-ku, good comeback!"
Blood is thicker than noodle. Just like Jackson, his sibling was also as loud. Basil almost couldn't hold the urge to block his ears with the earmuffs he had gotten from Clarissa. However, he managed to hold his urge back.
It was disrespectful to completely tune out your opponent in the middle of a Battle, no matter how loud your opponent was. Furthermore, once Basil used the earmuffs, he would be reluctant to let it off. Therefore, he couldn't do that.
It wasn't because he liked the earmuffs so much that he didn't want to part with it. He liked serenity better. Don't get him wrong, he wasn't a loner!
Bam!
"You are fast!"
Bam!
"Can you block this?!"
Whoosh!
"Darn, are you even a Mage?!"
Boom!
"Holy cow, your punch hurts!"
Maybe, Basil had been wrong in his decision. It was better to wear earmuffs while facing Jackson's sibling. He was too loud that Basil couldn't help but to massage his ears briefly.
"You talk too much."
"Ahaha! Don't worry, you won't be able to hear me right after this!"
Boom!
Three Magic Circles appeared and floated behind the back of Jackson's sibling. All of them were Major Circles in quality. Basil was a little bit expectant at the stunt Jackson's sibling would pull. Therefore, Basil gave him the opportunity to prepare his Spell.
Woong!
"Hm? Interesting."
Looking at his hands, Basil could see some runes were shining. All of the parts where the runes were etched had been the parts where Jackson's sibling had touched in their earlier clash.
Jackson's sibling who misunderstood Basil's slight fascination with confusion grinned savagely. Flipping open his Grimoire, he muttered a chant that caused his hands to be wrapped in a dreadful black aura.
Flash!
Jackson's sibling dashed through the ground like a black lighting. He instantly reappeared in front of Basil just as fast. Curling his fist, he punched forward.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One punch was launched, however the impact was equal to an explosion. The ground below Basil cracked and dust flew to the air. However, the one who was left baffled was Jackson's sibling.
"What the hell, dude? What is your body made of?!"
Basil kept his ground firmly like nothing had happened. His feet didn't even move an inch. The only indication he had withstood an absurdly powerful punch was the cracked ground below him.
Basil shook his head in disappointment, "A Spellcaster can never imitate a Battle Mage, who is no more than an incomplete Knight." Curling his left fist, Basil thrust it at Jackson's sibling, "In other words, fight in accordance with your identity."
Boom!
"Kuhuk!"
This time, an even bigger explosion occured due to Basil's punch. With his Mana Heart, Ultimate Circles, and Qi, that punch would be an instant kill if he were to let loose. However, he was still curious about something. Therefore, he couldn't afford to kill Jackson's sibling.
"You... Bastard!"
Jackson's sibling coughed a mouthful of blood as some part of his sternum had been turned to dust by Basil's illogically absurd punch. He was seriously curious about what was Basil's body made from.
Clenching his blackened solar plexus, he gazed at Basil deadly in the eyes.
"You will... regret this!"
Flash!
Jackson disappeared once again and reappeared in front of Basil. However, it didn't end there as he swung his black blade like hands at Basil. Surprisingly, even the experienced Basil could only dodge his attack by a close margin.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Each swing tore the ground and the air. The sound produced by it was enough to make the hair on everyone's hair stood. They were sure if they were to be hit, they would be instantly bisected.
Still, the one who was facing it was as calm as a deep sea. Basil was observing the pattern of the attack with his considerably faster perception. He was silently amazed at the work of the intricate Spell.
Jackson's sibling was always aiming precisely at his hands where the runes were attached. Not only that, the speed of the attack was also dramatically accelerated as if each each attack didn't face any friction with the air.
"An ingenious Spell indeed. As expected of Charles Blois."
"Do you even have the leisure to— Kuhak!!!"
In a split second, Basil's foot had sneaked itself toward the unexpecting Jackson's sibling. He was quickly thrown backward while clutching his upper abdomen where Basil had just kicked him.
Surely, Basil didn't let him go. With [Feather Step], Basil moved to the spot where Jackson's sibling had landed.
"Kuuhhh.. this bastard. He really didn't know any mercy... Huh?"
Jackson's sibling was puzzled as he was lifted from the ground. Looking at Basil who had lifted him in confusion, he was about to speak when realization dawned upon him.
"Wait! I forfe— Kuhuk!!!"
"You should have said it faster."
Just like how he had finished his previous opponent, Jackson's sibling was ended in the same way.