Based on my observation, they both have great skill and control, but Ace is more natural-born warrior. His raw strength, enhanced with C-rank power-up magic already give him a strength on par with Gray, who uses an A-rank buff spell. As the crowds continuously cheering, Carl and Hana also when on fire with their commentating.
"THAT IS INTENSE!! LOOK AT THEM TRADED BLOWS WITH EACH OTHER!! THAT FRIGHTENING SPEED!!" Carl said.
"LOOK! GRAY TAKE A STEP BACKWARD AND TRYING TO ACTIVATE HIS SKILL!" Hana mentioned.
"ACE ALSO TAKE HIS STANCE!!" Carl continued.
"Sword skill: Boulder-weight Slash!"
Gray's sword discharges brown energy all over the blade.
"Sword skill: Wind-force Swing."
Ace's sword radiates a green light from the guard until the point of the blade.
They swing their sword at the same time, unleashing their magical slashes against each other. The impact produced a great destructive force to the point the spot where the slashes collided was cracked rapidly before totally blow up with a deafening noise. The thick dusts from the destruction spread on the air, making crowds view a little bit blocked with it.
Ace dashed towards Gray with incredible speed, performing a horizontal slash but is successfully dodged. Gray lift his sword before swinging it vertically but is successfully resisted by Ace. The continue exchanging blade blows to each other until Gray took a little jump to the back to keep some distance.
"With this, I shall finish you!"
Looks like Gray want to unleash his ultimate again. By the way, his sword charges the magical energy quicker than most swords do. I wonder what core is used for his sword.
"Aria Ultimate: Mountain Breaker!!"
Ace steps backward and activates his skill.
"Sword skill: Whirlwind!"
The light-green raging cyclone move toward massive wide crescent-like brownish slash, collides again at the middles of the stage, producing a vociferous sound, greatly ravages the stages with unbelievable force until it reaches the crowds. After several seconds of the collision, the slashes successfully plough through the whirlwind and move towards Ace.
"WHATT! THE MOUNTAIN BREAKER SLASH SUCCESSFULLY WENT THROUGH THE MASSIVE CYCLONE FROM ACE!! WHAT WILL ACE DO NOW?" Carl was surprised with the sheer force of the slashing power from Gray.
Ace expressing a calm look, as if he has some plan in mind. Maybe he is because he still doesn't show his…
"Dainslef Ultimate: Sacred Gale Gear."
"FINALLY, AN ULTIMATE FROM ACE!!!!!" Hana shouted with full of excitement.
Instantly, Ace's physique was covered with condensed green magical energy all over his body, later transform into a full body armour with astounding design with strong wind force produces around his body. He takes a stance and lift his sword upwards before slashing it down vertically producing an immense green magical slash of wind force clashing with Gray's slash. But…
"GRAY'S SLASH HAS BEEN OVERWHELMED WITH ACE SIMPLE SLASH!!"
Gray's expression shows how surprised he is from the attacked. Later, the slashed went straight to him and Marcy, send them flying all the way to the magical barrier of the arena while destroying the trajectory of the slash goes. Marcy and Gray both lose their consciousness.
"IT'S A VICTORY FOR TEAM ACE, ANGELA AND FROSTBITE!!!" Carl and Hana announced.
The cheering which is already loud and echoing in the arena become louder and resounding than ever after the winner is announced.
"Ace's ultimate… that is the first time I have ever seeing it. He hasn't use it last year," Elea said.
To Elea surprise, she never thought Ace would ever possesses such skill. I understand it, because she has fought against her brother, Prince Richard and lose the battle even after using her ultimate. Knowing the final fight last year was Ace and Prince Richard, maybe she can't help but wonder that Ace maybe lost because he didn't use his ultimate. This can cause her to lose motivation…Alright! I should cheer her up.
"Hey Elea, it's—"
"Finally, an opponent worthy of sparring with me."
Elea eyes is brimming with excitement.
Ah… okay… that's good, princess. Did my worries just go poof?
"You have something to say just now Evans?"
"Ah no, it's fine now…"
So, I guess the MCs can continue for their commentating now.
"Look at the stage carl, how disastrous!" Hana mentioned.
"Yes, how can I describe this, the damage is massive as the battle get intense? Is this battle got to be intensified further? I wonder what will be to the stage!" Carl said with an uneasy reaction.
"True, but don't worry because the tournament management has the method to repair the stage, Carl!" Hana eased Carl. But of course, those are all acts, they are the commentator after all, so they need to liven things up.
"Really? What is that method Hana?" Carl asked.
"You are curious aren't ya? So, the method is called Rapid Element Restoration Magic, this is a new magic that is most probably a S-rank magic!! It is newly developed by the leading company for spell development, the Axel Spell Corporation!"
"Woah, that's cool Hana! So, they will do it now!?"
"Yes, look at that!"
There was a group of people on the stage and one of them was wearing a high-grade SACRED device. A high-grade SACRED device possessed a core with vast capacity of magical energy, far to be compared to the students' SACRED device, the high grade is ten-fold more efficient than the one we have but there are not many of them. They can activate any magic from E-rank to SS-rank spell while we just can use from E-rank to A-rank spell only. For a moment, one of them start activating a spell but we can't hear his voice. The effect is magnificent. The cracks and destroyed surfaces are repaired just within seconds, making it as good as new.
"That's a great spell. I wonder if I can find it…" Quinn said.
"That's why they don't say the spell name out loud…" I responded.
"Huh… stingy… It's not like we can use it though…it's a S-rank spell after all and our SACRED device won't be able to use it," Quinn replied.
"Ring!!!"
"Ah my smartphone is ringing," I took my phone from my pocket.
I pick up my smartphone, it is an unknown number. Who could it be?
"Hello, who is this?" I asked after picking up the call.
"Hello Evans, this is Sir Atlas, I want you to come to my office now, we have something to talk about," he requested in a serious tone.
"Sir Atlas!? Where did you get my number?" I asked again.
"That's not important now. Just come, I will wait for you," He replied.
"Beep!"
He hangs up.
"Quinn, Elea, sorry I have to go out a little bit, I have some… umm… some matter to attend to, you two enjoy the match alright!" I informed them with apologetic gesture.
"The match will start in another 20 minutes you know!? Do you need that long time?"
"Ah, well…yes. Maybe longer, don't worry Quinn, I will come back before our match! Bye now!!"
I stand up and quickly walk away from my seat, go to the exit of the Arena because the lecturer's room is quite far from here. While I was walking through the arena exit, I see Lilith who is preparing for her match. Maybe I should say hye to her.
"Hye Lilith!"
She startled a little.
"E-eh… Evans! How are you doing?" She turned and replied.
"I'm fine, how about you?"
"Yeah, me too!"
"I heard you won the first stage, and I still didn't congratulate you. I'm sorry and congratulations!"
"A-ah…uhm… thank you…" she smiled.
"I'm sorry for now, I've got an something to attend to, I guess I will not be watching your match, but good luck! See you in the final stage, I won't forget our deal!" I said as moving away from her.
"Yes!! Absolutely!" She replied.
-------------------- [Sir Atlas Cubicle] --------------------
"Sir! I am here!" I reported to him.
"Ah Evans, it's good that you are here now. So, about the thing you asked—"
"Yes, what happened? Do you find it? How do you find it? Where!?" I asked eagerly.
"Yes, I found it in the Student Registration List that I look in the academy database."
"Eh?"
"Eh? What?"
"What are you talking about Sir? Student Registration List?"
"Yes?"
"What do you find? The shadow is among the students?!"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"Eh no! I mean your smartphone number Evans! You ask me where I found it right?"
I slapped my forehead. Why do you have to be like this Sir?
"So, Evans let's get to the main topic. Here."
I go to his desk and look at a picture of an old inscription on a boulder about 3 meters height.
"Sir…this is?"
"A picture of an ancient scripture on a rock found outside of Azaria. But only you, me and my friend that found the stone know about this. He found this while doing a mission outside of Azaria."
On the inscription, it's written…
-------------------------------------------
[Forsaken Union 10: Evans Reinhard]
[This is the last part out of all my inscription. If you were to read this, I may has not existed in this world. I don't have a lot of time so I must tell you this. I have peek to a certain extend into the future. It's dire. The peace is no more, the humanity is almost perished from the face of the world. Nothing can protect the human from the vicious attack of the monsters. There is none but one way to save humanity from now. The royal family must be stopped, and the human shall gather again as one, fight against the misleading emperor rule. And then, one person shall rise, wield one of the sacred blades, the sword of annihilation. That one person shall be named, Evans Reinhard.]
-------------------------------------------
What the hell… why is there my name…
"Ah! I get it! This, this is that joke right, the chosen hero or something right hahaha!" I was unconvinced so I try to make a joke out of it.
"Evans, it's not."
"You must be joking, where did you find this scripture? Did your friend write it for you and then he took the picture for you?"
"…"
"I won't be buying this. Is that all? Then I guess I will just walk away like nothing happened alright!"
I walked away from his desk. This got to be a joke. It's not even funny.
"Evans!" Sir Atlas called my name. Loud and clear.
I halted my movement.
"You once say this to me before, your family and beloved friend life is at stake. You even told me to update to you if anything comes in. So here I am, helping you. Do you want to run away now?" He asked after reminded me of what I've said to him during our first meeting.
"…"
"I know you must be confused, but as how you read it, it makes sense on what the 'shadow' told you. The forsaken union is an organisation have been in war with royal family since hundreds of years."
"But… this is nonsense… maybe there is someone out there…"
"No, there is none. Even among your relatives, there is none with first name Evans in entire Azaria. I have tried to find it but…only you, possessed the name, same as in the inscription…"
I was speechless. Fear suddenly struck me. The sound at my surrounding slowly become quiet until I hear nothing. My mind getting blank. I suddenly felt like an extremely boulder is being put onto my shoulder, as hearing a hell of a story with unbearable responsibilities sealed into it. What… what should I… Ah…It's blacked…
"Evans!"
"EVANS!"
PANG!!
A palm of someone hand suddenly slammed on my face. The flashing sound was echoing in my ear. The impact from the slap prevented me from losing myself deep in thought. The pain was very much real.
"Evans, come back to me," Sir Atlas tried to make me grasp the reality. The facts.
"…"
"Evans, I know, it's hard on you… I'm sorry, I have my part in this. Let's take it slow, I will help you," he tried to offer his aid.
"…"
I was quiet. He gently brought me to the chair, and I took a seat. He went to his mini fridge and take out a can of juice. He come back to me and offered it. Slowly, I took it and drank it. Until several minutes later, I calmed down.
"Evans let's start this from the top. Weeks ago, you've encountered a man called himself as shadow, this 'shadow' said to you that he is from the Forsaken Union, and you are the hero. He even said the history everyone learned so far is made up by the royal family. Now we have found new lead, which tell us about you, how you are related to the objective of the forsaken union. So currently their objective is you and perhaps to some extent, they are revealing the truth. Now what should we do?"
I keep being silence. I still couldn't process it well. Why? First, my family and friends are being targeted, then this? So now I'm supposed to be a saviour, that a hell load of responsibilities!! I'm not a hero, I just want to live my life as a normal person.
"By the way, it said here that this is the last of them, that means there are nine more inscription we need to find. This is our mission," he decided.
"Wait, our mission?" I responded with a question.
"Yes, why?"
"Since when did I have to take part in this mission of yours?" I tried to push away the responsibilities.
"Since the first time you encountered 'shadow'," he replied instantly.
"Eh… but that is…" I faltered.
"Evans, we have no choice, either you like it or not, we are both already involved. Now that you have known that you are their target, we need to move."
I took a couple of deep breath and release the carbon dioxides slowly through my mouth.
"Okay, I got it," I replied with small confidence that I finally grasped.
"Relax, it's not like will send you to the battlefield, search some ruins or fight some dragons in the meantime for now."
"Oh really, ah… thank God… wait… for now?"
"Yeah."
"So, you will send me later on?"
"Oh Evans…"
He rubbed my hair with a smile.
"Absolutely."
"Eh!!!!"
"Well now Evans, I have new information for you, since you have been neglecting my class so I thought I could find something about The Endless Rapier, Ristorea and give it to you. So, here. I have got the story of the first wielder on my hand. Here is the scroll. Read it if you want."
"Sheesh…. Yeah, I get it, I will read it."
I grabbed the scroll on his desk before getting out from his cubicle.
"Ah, before I forgot, I don't think it's need for you to know now for details but just in case, I will just say the forsaken union have started their move."
"The Forsaken Union is? Then I must know about it!"
"Yes. So, my friend said there may be some attack currently in motion, waiting the right time to attack. I'm not sure where but just be careful, I afraid they will be targeting you. You must have heard about the Supreme Blade of Azaria is away from the academy, they have a mission outside of the northern city, Nyssa. My friend is there too. The attacks were not yet confirmed but it maybe just he will come back there with his gang, but I also have prepared for that. Just stay safe alright Evans!?"
"I see. Okay then, don't worry, I will beat the hell out of him if he starts attacking me! Well then bye Sir!"
I guess I started to brim with confidence.