Capítulo 10: Duel Battles
The Silver Sword Knight Academy Entrance Examination was about to conclude. Only the ranking through duel was left. It was to determine the newcomer's ranks in terms of overall strength and aptitude.
Gin was already allowed to enter the Academy once he accomplishes the added requirements set to him. But when he discovered that there was 10,000 gold coin prize money to the champion of the duels, he desperately pleaded with the examiners to allow him to join the duels. When he got permission, he almost cried tears of joy. At least he will be able to pay half of his debt.
For the Duel Battles, only the top 10 highest scorers were allowed to join. This included Gin, Rick Isenburg, Uden Stella, Brightmoon City's Bridgette Olsen, the dark-skinned burly boy Kobie Beetrot and 5 other examinees.
The duels were to be held in the Academy's combat stage. This was because the stage contained a powerful formation that only projects the avatar of the duelist, preventing death and actual physical injuries.
Projection Stones were placed on a platform on the sides of the Duel stage. Once the duelist places his hand on the projection stone, his astral projection will be the one fighting for him on the stage.
The viewing platforms were now packed full. This was the entrance examination with the highest quality of entrants.
The Heart Kingdom branch of the Silver Sword Knight Academy had a good harvest of potentials this year. Aside from the 2 young prodigies from the major families of the kingdom, there were several dark horses that turn the tide in the competition.
The darkest horse was the blue-haired boy who broke the power scale. Geared with high strength and vast mana pool, he was the highest contender.
"Big Sis… how did junior brother become this strong?" Rosemary asked as she fixed her gaze on Gin.
Ever since he showed his mana pool and broke the power scale, they were bewildered. Gin never showed this side of him during the many years they spent together as fellow disciples. Growing crops then selling them and doing odd jobs from other nearby villages to earn a few coppers were his daily routine.
Was he training with the Old Master and them not knowing? Or was he pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger?
For sure, his mana vein was really crippled. It was confirmed just now at the Mana Test. But how did he acquire such as large mana pool? It was impossible to believe if they had not seen him showing so.
While the two girls were still pondering how Gin got this newfound strength, the Red Knight and the King of Heart Kingdom sat at their seats quietly. They too were thinking of how this 10-year-old kid able to project strength comparable to Red Knights. Only at the level of Red Knights which broke the borders of the Copper Mortal Level are able to break the Copper stage power scale.
Practitioners on the Copper Stage of the Mortal level were considered Masterless since no Master would teach someone with uncertain potential. Aside from the King of Heart Kingdom who had a good range of connections, sending her daughter to train under an unknown master and the major families and sects who had high leveled Arts Practitioners to guide the young generation, common folk would only depend on themselves to break through the 5 ranks of the copper stage and enter the silver stage. Once they enter the silver stage on a certain age below 30, their potential will be clear.
For sure, they didn't know that this blue-haired kid was the princess' junior disciple. But even if they knew, they wouldn't believe he can do what he just did. A cripple with a mana pool as vast as Red Knight Bodu's? A cripple that had absolute control on mana to be able to exert enough strength to break a power scale of his level? This concept only existed for those who live in Emerald, the country of the Nephilims, where children are born with the strength of Gold Stage Mortal Level.
Back at the stage, the duel battle was about to begin. 10 newcomers were about to face each other in an elimination match. The competitors drew lots and were matched according to the number they've drawn.
Gin drew number 10 and was first matched against a youth from the Millianard Family of the Capital. Whoever won this duel will skip the next round and proceed directly to the 2nd finals.
Rick Isenburg, Uden Stella and Bridgette Olsen were able to defeat their opponents in a hard-fought battle. If not for them having a higher amount of mana drops, no one would have known the outcome of the match. Only Kobie Beetrot got defeated by default when he ran out of Mana amid the fighting, causing his astral projection to disappear.
It was now Gin's turn to battle.
Even knowing how powerful this blue-haired boy was, the young boy from the Millianard family was not fazed. He was a proud member of the Millianard Family from the Capital and he won't bow down of trash commoners.
As both of their astral projections stood on the Duel stage, the Millianard boy didn't forget to act like someone from his family.
"Let me experience the power of a crippled trash. Hehehe." He provoked Gin while grinning arrogantly.
"Hello, there ghost boy." Gin smiled as he greeted in response.
"Ghost boy?" the Millianard boy asked slightly perplexed.
"Well, your skin so white from lack of sunshine that it looks almost transparent. Well, to me… you're even less than a ghost… more like air…" Gin smirked.
On the viewing platforms, Alice and Rosemary were giggling. There he goes again. Saying whatever's on his mind not thinking that it was already an insult. That's our little Gin!
"What did you say? What did you mean by that?!" the Millianard boy who was doing the provocation was provoked instead.
"Uh… Well… It means what it means… No one taught you that? Wow… you must have very low common sense." Gin said in a serious manner.
In his mind, he only said that out of pity for someone who can't understand basic words during a conversation. He didn't know that it was a great insult for someone with a sense of superiority such as a member of a Millianard Family.
"Why YOU!!!" the Millianard boy roared. He was angered beyond his limits. He dashed towards Gin and used a speed Art he mastered when he was back at the capital.
When he was near his target, he sinisterly smiled as he was about to shot a Finger Art called Absolute Point Finger. It was a killing move that concentrates mana on the finger and shoots towards the opponent, piercing even steel plate armors.
His target, Gin's heart. Although this would not kill the real person, it would still cause fear for the one who blasted a hole in the body. It was a brutal and cruel way from someone to die.
Those below rank 4 of the copper mortal level only saw a blur on the stage. But as his astral projection stood in front of Gin, ready to throw his attack, Gin's astral projection swatted this hand towards him.
"Paper! Swatter!"
Gin's hand was so fast that the Millianard boy was only able to react and jump backward when his consciousness was already back on his physical body.
What just happened? I was the one who attacked yet I'm the one who went back to my body… Did my mana get depleted? No… I've only used 1 drop for the speed Art and another 1 drop for the attack I was trying to do…
It was when the examiner announced that the winner was Gin that he regained his senses back.
Rewind of the battle set in slow motion was projected to explain what happened.
As the Millianard boy attacked, Gin's hand instantly struck the head of his astral projection. The head even caved in causing the astral body to die and instantly disappear.
When the arrogant Millianard boy saw this, cold sweat ran through his back. If it was his real body… He'd be dead without him knowing.
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