"Well, now that you have told the truth, you have also lost the only chance you had to save your reputation because I no longer have any reason I had to go easy on you. You better gear up Mr. Ace as I won't hold back" Elder Aurora cautioned with a smile.
"That's right, I don't want you to hold back either, give me you best, Aurora" Ace declared as the aura surrounded him turned fiercer and more impactful but the smile didn't leave his face.
"Alright!" Elder Aurora exclaimed and shot a sharp Ice spike towards Ace.
"That is the silent casting! So cool!!" The disciples watching the match exclaimed.
"Elder Aurora specializes in Ice magic, she was hailed as a special genius and now that she has learned silent casting, there is no way this young-looking elder stands a chance against her" Another disciple spoke.
Sophia who was sitting at the corner had a worried look on her face while Elijah had a huge smile on his face.
"Hmph! Let's see if he has his arrogant smile on his face when he loses!" Elijah snorted and before Sophia could refute, another disciple spoke.
"Hmph! How narrow-minded! Being happy when the elder of your Sect is in a critical position, remember that he is still better than all of us present here and is not like certain someone who himself is a sore loser and just knows how to say things behind the scenes"
"WHO DA-" Elijah wanted to refute but as he turned around and saw the girl who spoke, his eyes opened wide in terror and he quickly swallowed his own words.
It was Maya, the winner of the tournament, there is no way Elijah could refute her words.
"Hmph! Like I said, All bark no bites!" Maya snorted in disdain and Elijah bit his lips in rage but didn't say anything but he still glanced at the stage, hoping to see the person he hates shame himself in front of a huge crowd.
But on the contrary to what everyone expected, the spike that was about to hit Ace disappeared without a trace, shocking everyone.
"You have to do better than that, Aurora," Ace smiled and started walking towards Elder Aurora leisurely.
"How…?" Elder Aurora mumbled with a shocked expression but she didn't lose her spirit and fired 5 Ice Spike at the same time.
But just like last time, they all disappeared just as they were about to hit Ace, while Ace continued walking towards Elder Aurora.
Elder Aurora took a step back unconsciously before summoning 10 Ice Spikes at the same time, but before she could fire, they all disappeared, just like others.
"It won't work, no matter how many you summon, try something else" Ace smiled and didn't stop his walk.
"You… you are a fire mage and is somehow evaporating my Ice due to heat!" Elder Aurora guessed but Ace just smiled in response.
"Let's see how you deal with this!" Elder Aurora roared and shot 5 wind blades, each blade shot from a different direction moved towards Ace but how could wind, hurt someone who is master of the Typhoon?
Just as wind blades were about to hit Ace, they turned all into a small breeze that just managed to flicker Ace's hair, boosting his charm.
"How…" Elder Aurora mumbled in disbelief but soon, determination returned in her eyes and she started forming Ice spike and fired it towards Ace but just like before, all disappeared without a trace.
Elder Aurora continued firing the wind blades and Ice Spikes but nothing managed to hurt Ace. Of course, she wasn't stupid to waste her Mana like this, this was just a diversion, she was planning something else.
"Alright! This will end it!
"Freezing Deathbed!" Elder Aurora roared and ground under Ace trembled.
Soon, multiple Giant Ice spikes came out of the ground and rushed towards Ace, trying to pierce him in one hit.
"Well, if that was your last card, then I think we should end it here" Ace smiled as the Ice spike rushing towards him started melting at an astonishing rate.
Elder Aurora's eyes widened in disbelief, her strongest attack which she prepared for so long didn't even manage to scratch her opponent.
Suddenly, Ace disappeared from her sight and before she could react, he was standing right next to her. Elder Aurora felt like a scythe was hovering near her neck. It was her first time she ever sensed death itself. Her eyes opened wide and her heart skipped a few beats. Beads of sweat started rolling all over her body.
"Oh wait" suddenly, she heard an enchanting voice and her heart skipped another beat, but this time, it was not due to fear. Just as the sound was heard, everything she was feeling disappeared and she sighed in relief.
"She likes it colorful" Ace muttered as he spread his hands.
*Whoosh*
Scorching flames surrounded Elder Aurora and Ace while Elder Aurora's just glanced at Ace in trance. She couldn't believe that this young-looking man was the cause of the wildfire surrounding her. She tried summoning her Ice spikes but even before they could appear, they evaporated due to scorching flames surrounding them.
"It's the end, give up" Ace smiled.
"I… I give up" Elder Aurora glanced at the flames surrounding her and gave up. She knows that she doesn't stand any chance against a monster like Ace plus, she still feels like he was holding back.
While for Elder Aurora, it looked like Flames completely surrounded her, for the viewers, or more precisely Gracie, it looked like a big moon of fire, surrounded by small fireballs, acting like stars.
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
"Pwapwa! Pwapa!!"
Little Gracie exclaimed as she jumped on her mother's lap with an excited look.
At the same time, the elders inside the cabinet had stunned looks on their faces.
At the participant's hall, the participants watched the stage dazed look, Sophia, Elijah, Maya alike, no one spoke.
No one could see Ace or Aurora but everyone knew the results of the battle.
Moments later, the flames calmed down and Ace and Elder Aurora could be seen.
"I give up…" Elder Aurora repeated with a dazed look while her eyes never left Ace.
"Yo!? Mr. Judge?" Ace exclaimed joyfully, already expecting hugs and claps from Gracie.
"Ah! Uh… The winner is… Elder Ace" The judge announced after coming out of her reverie and Ace left the stage.
"We… won?" Elder Ryan muttered.
"Wait… my money!?" Elder Stolz exclaimed.
*Bam*
"I am back~" The door burst opened and Ace came in.
"Pwapa! Pwapwa!!" Gracie's eyes shined brighter than ever as she exclaimed and extended her hands towards Ace.
Ace rushed towards her and picked her up.
"Pwapa! Pwapwa!!"
"Hahaha! You like it? Was Papa good?" He questioned playfully.
"Pwapa! Pwapwa!!"
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
Gracie exclaimed as she clapped with her small hands while her eyes had stars shinning brightly inside them.
"Ahh~ I am so happy~" Ace muttered as he pulled Gracie into his embrace.
"So, how much have we won?" Ace questioned after calming down.
"Well, surprisingly, the odds were against us so we won 4 times we bet" Maeve answered with a smile but she wasn't able to hide the jealous look.
"4 times!?" Elder Ryan exclaimed in shock.
"Wait, you put your money on Elder Ace's victory?" Elder Stolz questioned.
"Obviously" Maeve answered.
"Oh… good for you…" Elder Stolz answered with an awkward smile.
"Wait, you didn't bet on me?" Ace questioned.
"Hmm? Of course, we did… and we won quite a lot… Haha… ha… ha" Elder Stolz answered with an awkward laugh, while others had the same look.
Even though Ace and Maeve understood what happened, they decided to stay silent while Ace enjoyed the look of sheer admiration, love, and excitement his nightingale was giving him.
After the rest of the fights, the tournament ended and the group walked towards the betting office to collect and give money.
"How much you lost?" Elder Ryan whispered in Elder Stolz's ears.
"3 Years' worth of earnings…" Elder Stolz answered with a grim look.
"And you?" Elder Stolz questioned back.
"2 years' worth…" Elder Ryan answered and they both turned towards Elder Ario.
"How much did you lose?" They both questioned simultaneously.
"…" Elder Ario didn't answer but the 2 elders kept glaring at him for an answer. He shouldn't have listened to their losses if he doesn't want to reveal his own.
"…10 years…" Elder Ario answered with an unsightly look.
It looked like he was about to cry and the 2 elders didn't say anything. The 3 then turned towards Sect Leader Kalm but decided to not say anything when they saw the look on his face.
The one with the most blissful look in their group was Ace, who enjoyed his nightingale trying to imitate his actions with words like "Aaaaa!" "Pwapwa!" "boommm".
They soon entered the betting office. Ace collected his win with a smile while the others paid.
Soon the elders met with the disciples but most of the disciples looked at Ace with worshiping expressions.
"Elder Ace, are you taking any personnel disciples?"
"Yeah! You should take one!"
"Yeah, take me! I'll even do all the household works!"
"Hmph! Why would he take you? I am ranked higher than you he will select me!"
"Sect Leader! Why don't we arrange a Tournament in the sect and the winner gets to become Elder Ace's personal disciple!?"
As he heard the suggestion, Sect Leader Kalm's eyes brightened. He glanced towards Ace who quickly understood what he wanted to ask.
"Nope! Not happening. Taking personnel disciple is a pain in the a- I mean, I don't want personal disciple at the moment" Ace rejected firmly.
"Umm… okay…" Sect Leader Kalm responded while the other disciple made dejected expressions but none of them blamed Ace.
For them, Ace was like a god, they respected him more than Sect Leader Kalm.
The Elders and the disciples returned to the sect, it was already evening so Ace, Maeve, and Gracie returned to their courtyard.
"Pwapwa! Woooo~" Gracie continued with her praises and imitating, she spread both her arms wide as if telling a very interesting story while Ace and Maeve continued listening to her even though they didn't understand a thing.
"You are pretty lucky… I wish I could fight… then she would be praising me…" Maeve muttered.
"Well, she likes colorful fights, you just need one look to defeat your opponent, let alone her, even those so called elders won't understand what happened" Ace replied with a chuckle as he placed Gracie in her crib.
"You are right…" Maeve muttered as she kneeled near the crib.
A few minutes later, Gracie finally calmed down and entered the dreamland. Maeve turned around and noticed Ace already lying on the bed and watching her with a perverted smile.
"What…?" Maeve questioned with a blush.
"You are looking especially tasty today, my Empress" Ace answered as he licked his lips.
Maeve's blush deepened and at the same time, a fierce wind blew, pushing her towards the bed.
"Anh!"
Ace reacted quickly and grabbed her hands. Ace pulled Maeve into his embrace and sealed her lips.
~
"Thank you for the meal~" Ace sang as he rolled on top of Maeve after ending the kiss.
"Anh~"
~~~