Chapter 35 - Race

After an hour of waiting, the guards together with Elizaveta and the woman from before who wanted to buy Grey from Lander entered Lord Kazo's manor. Lander explained some things to Elizaveta and the other woman about their future that made them conflicted, they was sad at the same time a little bit angry towards Lander. But they couldn't argue because they knew that Lander has a very strong backer.

Then Lander ordered the guards to investigate the hooded man who became his first slave. He told them about his appearance and his first order to him so they would have a starting point in gathering informations about him. After all, Lander can't trust the man's words after their first encounter.

After he was done, Lander together with Yan Yan, Gray and the other two beasts went back to the outcasts area and rested for a night.

The next morning, Lander woke up and started his day running towards the Academy while Gray was beside him and the two beasts following them. Yan Yan stayed at the outcast area to prepare their meal after Lander was done in his first day examination.

Upon arriving at the Academy, Lander was led into the race course. What attracted Lander was the viewing area at the topmost of the mountain while at the lowest point was the race course. While being awed by the scenery as it was his first time seeing this one, not even the Earth where he came from has this kind of arena, a student who was leading him explained the rules of the competition.

The student disdained him as he was an outcast but dared not show it off because of Sung-min who let him participate.

Lander caused a lot of attentions because of Grey, "Look, the outcast who has a Rank C Beast!"

"Was he the man who was allowed by Princess Sung-min to enter?"

"Seriously? How could the princess allow an outcast?"

Lander was also surprised to know that Sung-min was a princess. Still, he just followed the student leading him to the race course.

"You stay here and I will notice you if it's your group's turn to enter," the student who was leading him said.

Lander nodded as he already knew that he was among the participants of Group 4 out of 10 groups. Only 10 participants can enter to the next stage out of 100 participants in each group.

While waiting, the first group finally entered the race course. Lander watched attentively and got some ideas on how to advance to the next stage.

Finally, after an hour and 30 minutes of waiting, it was finally the Lander's grou turn.

"Look! The daughter of the Wyvern's professor was amongst this group." A man exclaimed pointing at Aria.

"Hey! The Prince of Wyrm Academy is also amongst the group." A bearded old man exclaimed.

"The Young Master Brokko of the Sunny Village!"

"The youngest disciple of the Emperor was also here!"

"Anushka! It's Anushka, the soon to be the greatest Potion Master of Wyvern Region."

One by one, people exclaimed those personas who has a status. Till one of the crowds remembered Lander, "Wasn't that guy the outcast who was the disciple of Great Duke Bobby?"

"How dare you disrespect the Great Duke by saying those things!" Someone was angered by those words.

"It's true, Lady Aria was the one who told us that," Another agreed.

"How could that be?" Looks of bewilderment appeared on the faces of some of the crowd.

Back on the race course starting line, Lander noticed his rivals and almost all of them showed disgust on him except four - Brokko who was thinking of revenge, Anushka who just stared at him and unconsciously touched her cheek, the one slapped by Lander, Aria who smirked at him but still nodded and the disciple of the Wyvern Region Emperor smiled at him and nodded.

Lander was shocked to see the reaction of this disciple, it was his second time to be respected despite being an outcast, the first was Great Duke Bobby. He remembered this and smile back at him while he also nodded.

Soon, every participants of the Group 4 were gathered. Everyone prepared when they heard the 'Go' signal as each participants controlled their mounts as they went full speed ahead.

The race went on, Lander has one of the highest ranking mount so he was amongst the top 20 in the lead. Eventually, Grey slowly caught up and ended up being in the 8th place with Aria on the lead followed by the disciple of the Emperor.

On the 7th place was Young Master Brokko, he noticed Lander and smiled evilly as he controlled his mount to go slowly. When he was on the side of Grey and Lander, he controlled his mount and bumped Lander on the side.

Grey was hit hard so he became slower. Lander on top clenched his fists as he adjusted himself and ordered Grey to catch up.

But before he caught up, another participant controlled his beast to bump Lander and Grey. But Lander actually noticed this so he told Grey to suddenly stop. Although Grey was bewildered, he trusted Lander and used all his strengh to stop.

The participant was caught off guard by Grey's sudden stopping and he and his mount went sideways crushing to the wooden railings, he was now thrown off and was disqualified to continue.

The crowd got agitated by this scenery as it was their fist time seeing this and even the other participants following him warned theirselves not to do that kind of action.

The Grey caught up again in no time but Young Master Brokko was still unpleasant because he never expected Lander to not be disqualified. Because Brokko was in front, he never knew how Lander maneuvered his mount to disqualify the other participant so he again tried to disqualify Lander using this move. He even signalled one of his friend in front to accompany him.

Reaching the final course, Lander saw something weird when Brokko and another participant was both on his sides, and their mounts were running at the same speed with Grey.

Brokko nodded at the participant, and as they were about to squeeze him, Lander ordered Grey again to suddenly stop, "Crash!"

The two hit each other and the other participant was thrown off while Brokko managed to hold on his mount. As he was adjusting himself, Grey caught up and Lander jumped off Grey heading towards Brokko. He gave him a flying kick that made Brokko thrown off from his mount while Lander rode Brokko's mount. Lander also strangled the mount of Brokko as he jumped back on top of Grey.

Their was a total silence in the crowd, they never expected such scene to happen.

Brokko on the other hand was shouting on top of his lungs, "That is not allowed in this race! He should be disqualified!"

"I agree!" Some of the crowds voiced out.

When Lander and Grey hit the finish line, he heard Brokko's shouts and he stood up on top of Grey, "Silence! Have you even read and understood the rules of the race? It was stated that people who got thrown off shall be disqualified."

Brokko got pissed as he shouted angrily, "You got off your mount to throw me out! That is against the rule!"

"Against the rule? Was there even such a rule stating that you can't dismount your own mount during the competition? Was there?" Lander mocked laughingly.

"Young man, you are an outcast! You don't deserve to enter our academies anyway," A bearded old man with pimples wearing a witch hat stood up with a hint of disdain in his voice. He was the Head Professor of the Wyvern Academy.

"And who are you?" Lander asked squinting his eyes.

"Audacious!" The Head Professor shouted, "You're in no place to know my name!"

He casted a magic spell on Lander but was actually stopped by the disciple of the Emperor, "Forgive me Head Professor of the Wyvern Academy but I came here to attend this ceremony not just to show how capable I am but to also give fairness by following the rules, or do you want my Master to know of this matter?"