"Woooo!"
The crowds cheered as they chanted the name of the Princess.
Before this battle, they had all heard of the infamous Princess Cheyenne, but they didn't take her to be an insanely talented individual.
It could be said that part of it was because the princess loved to play pranks on people, so she wasn't taken seriously.
However, now that they saw her in battle, they could not help but marvel at the spectacular show she put on.
She had taken on someone one realm higher than her, and while she might not have been able to defeat him, she was able to hold her ground.
She had taken on her opponent and despite the gap in cultivation base, she looked the favorable winner, especially with her last attack.
Technically, if not for the intervention of the referee, Dean Forst would have been eliminated.
Princess Cheyenne deserved all the cheers and applauds she received.
She managed to prove once again that Aztec Royal Family are always top!
......….
Back on the stage.
Dean Forst stood on his feet with his stature went frozen and his eyes kept trembling.
Far from what others would think, he was not annoyed about the fight. He lost fair and square and he knew that.
Rather, what he currently felt was fear, pure fear, extreme fear.
He had failed at the mission of his father, and he failed woefully at that. Ironically, he did the opposite of what his father sent him to do.
"Are you okay?" A voice said to him.
Dean looked at the owner of the voice. It was the referee.
He shakily smiled, "Yeah, just not feeling it. I will take my leave now, thank you!"
He walked away, trying to hide his fear. His current situation made it easy for him. Most people that saw him thought he was hungover his loss.
'Ahhhhhh!' he screamed in his head.
Over and over, he replayed a simulation of what his father would do when he finds out.
He used his previous experiences to create this simulation, but he couldn't get satisfactory answers.
Deep down, he knew what his father would do.
He would either lock him up in the dark cave full of all sorts of scary creatures like he normally did.
If not that, he would beat him to paste with his thorn whip.
He could even do a mix of both!
Dean felt suffocated when he thought of that. He left the stadium quickly and looked for a quiet place to settle and clear his mind of all the types of torture
......….
Impressive.
That was the first thought Jake had when he watched the fights that occurred on the stage.
The battles helped Jake see things in new lights.
It informed him how cultivators fight.
For instance, he noticed that they normally don't use their techniques until it was needed.
However, there were also exceptions. Like Cheyenne's [Sky Mortal]. It was a technique that encompassed one fighting style. It was not a one-time technique but was instead what Jake dubbed as an Auxillary Technique.
It made Jake realize how special the [Sword Drawing] technique was.
The technique was similar to Cheyenne's style. It also embodied a style, the style of a deadly sword. It could be called a Sword Art.
Almost all of Jake's sword moves followed the principles of the technique.
The second thing that Jake realized after watching the match was more of an affirmation. If before Jake was sure of its authenticity, now he was super sure.
This was the true explanation of what techniques are. The first time Jake saw a technique, he knew it was basically a manipulation of concepts that exist.
For example, Alexander Grant's [Sensory Overload]. It was the manipulation of one's senses in a way that it won't damage the body.
Anyone could do it, but Jake was sure that possibly no one on Aztec could do it the way the [Grant Manual] described it.
That was what a technique was, sure it would get crazier and more unimaginable as cultivators breakthrough realms, but it was just the mastery of phenomena.
Take Jake's [Sword Drawing Technique], which taught Jake how to amplify his speed to the limit and how to break past that limit. It also taught Jake how to convert speed to power!
In summary, anyone could create a technique, but its effectiveness depends on how knowledgeable the creator is.
The epiphany managed to open Jake's eye and he was sure that he could already take a shot at the second stage of the [Sword Drawing Technique].
The last thing Jake realized after watching the match was that he was not the only one to achieve the hidden stage of [Realm-0].
This was understandable.
However, he guessed that Cheyenne had achieved the hidden stages of [Realm-1].
So, coupled with the [Realm-0 Hidden Stage], it would make sense she was able to fight Dean Forst.
It was also safe to assume that the existence of [Hidden Stages] was not "hidden" just hard to achieve. He reckoned that most people would notice Cheyenne's [Hidden Stage].
As for what it did, it most likely had to do with the awakening of elements.
He said to himself, "All in all, this has proven to not be a bad experience."
When it was time for the announcement of the second match, he focused to hear the referee.
"I now call the next names. Joshua Vargas, Jake, Gavin Elliot, Lucy Allen, Jody Smith, and lastly Billy Miller."
As soon as his name was called, Jake walked to the stage.
...…..
Due to Uncle Todd's briefing, Jake remembered some of his opponents.
'Joshua Vargas, seventeen(17) years old, otherwise known as the miracle child. Of course, there's Gavin, but I rather not eliminate him. It would go against my principles of equivalent exchange.'
He decided, 'Hmmm, there's a rivalry between both Noble houses. I reckon they would pitch themselves against each other. I don't have to worry about them.'
He sighed, 'What a sad life! Petty matters like family rivalry wouldn't matter in the grand scheme of things. It would only drag one down.'
He moved on to the rest, 'Hmmm, I don't know these people. They probably not strong, but it would not harm to be careful.'
He didn't know that the same way he looked at the other three was the same way they looked at him.
Gavin, being charismatic and all, proposed to his opponent, "Let's it three fights. One versus One."
He had factored all their responses, so it was not surprising when they accepted the offer.
"Sure, but how do we choose our opponents?" asked one of them. It was Billy Miller.
"That is easy. We will just pick the person we want to fight, and see if they agree. Let me start, I choose Joshua," smiled Gavin.
It was their destiny to fight and he couldn't back down, because of his opponent's reputation
"Hehehe, I couldn't have it any other way," smirked Joshua.
"I don't fight girls. I pick you," Billy said, pointing his fingers at Jake.
"Hmm, that would leave us, girls, together," smiled one of the female opponents, Lucy, as she didn't want to fight with the boorish boys.
"Are you all set?" shouted the referee.
The group separated to give themselves space before they replied, "Yessir!"
"Alright, Match 2 - Start!"
...........
Gavin looked at his rival, Joshua.
He thought he had widened the gap between them, not knowing that it was instead Joshua that widened the gap.
"Josh, you look different," smiled Gavin.
"Hmph! I have changed. Ever since your father humiliated our family we changed," scoffed Joshua.
Gavin smiled as he knew no amount of familiarity would close the rift between both families.
Ultimately, it was beyond them to do that.
His family was wrong, but they refused to apologize. He was too young to present an apology on behalf of his family.
Plus, he had a responsibility to his family, no matter how bad they become. He was also sure it was the same with Josh.
All he needed to do is put aside his feelings, and fight!
"I believe there are no words needed between us," smiled Gavin.
Joshua asserted, gazing deeply at Gavin, "Yes."
To them, the best environment for their battle was a silent one!
Going in hot, Gavin revealed his true strength.
Surprisingly, it was the same phenomenon as Princess Cheyenne and Alexander Grant, tiny blue wisps spread around him, caressing every part of his skin.
Gavin was at [Realm-1 Stage-9] and it was visible for all to see.
Following the same spirit, Joshua also unleashed his true power.
This time, the tiny wisps were red, bigger, and numerous.
They followed him like soldier ants, increasing the temperature around them, all the while beautifying the surrounding.
Seeing this, Gavin commented, 'So, he is at [Realm-1]. Amazing!. However, I have a duty!'
He stretched his gloves, which were his weapons, and dashed at his former friend!