Victoria's eyes searched the crowd for someone, namely Gideon. But alas, she had to leave the arena.
In reality the preliminary stages of the tournament would take a few days as even with the 30 arenas, it would still take some time for everyone to finish their 8 matches.
As Victoria headed back to her room, she looked at her watch and saw that she had gotten 3 points and was also at the top of her group. It also said that her next match would begin in a few hours.
Victoria nodded and when she returned to her room, she continued to practice her elemental fusion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Hmm, your daughter really is quite talented. She knew when to switch up her elements and each time she did it was executed with good precision. She's also really good at close quarters combat." A man with a moderate build and average height with dark green hair offered his praise to Victoria's parents. He was the president of the adventurer's guild. His name was Yun.
Sarah glanced at him indifferently and said in her usual icy tone.
"That's how it's supposed to be." This reply caused Yun to grimace.
'At least praise your own daughter.' He thought.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gideon easily snuck through the contestants area and reached the room that Victoria had directed them to ahead of time.
"*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Gideon knocked but still kept stealth active in case it was the wrong room.
The door opened and sure enough, it was Victoria that opened the door, however she wasn't able to see him due to his skill.
"Ah!" She gasped in surprise when Gideon revealed himself and walked into the room.
"Hey how was it? Did you get hurt anywhere?" Even though Gideon knew that it was unlikely, he still wanted to make sure that she was alright.
"I'm fine, actually I feel great! It's not all the time that I get to fight, and even less someone who's strength is close to mine. It's good experience and it'll help me in the future. Victoria said a bit excited.
"That's great." Gideon smiled warmly when he saw his sister's enthusiasm. She really is amazing.
"Hey, if we ever get the chance, let's spar." Victoria suggested.
"Pfft."
"Did you just laugh!?!"
"No."
"You're lying!!"
"You don't have proof."
"Hmph." Victoria pouted and folded her small arms.
"Aww, is the strongest future mage getting mad over something so little?" Gideon teased and Victoria became flustered.
"W- Who's mad? It's beneath me to get mad over these type of thing." Victoria waved her little fist. Gideon couldn't help but laugh at her antics.
She's the only one that can make him act like this, this carefree.
'This is what family should be like.' Gideon couldn't help but think.
'Maybe, if I had good talent from the start, thinks would be different.' Gideon sighed and his gaze turned resolute. He looked at Victoria who was still ranting and put his hand on her head causing her to freeze.
"Victoria, when we get older, promise me that when we start our own families, we won't make the same mistakes that our parents did. We'll raise our children to be good people with good morals and they'll raise their own children the same way and so on." Gideon's words stunned Victoria.
"W- Where did that come from?" Victoria asked in confusion and Gideon just shook his head.
"Don't worry about. Here let me show some things to improve on in your magic. It may be meager but anything helps." Gideon quickly changed the subject.
Victoria looked at her brother weirdly before she smiled, and out of nowhere she hugged him.
"I promise that I'll raise my children well." This time, it was Gideon who was stunned before he also smiled and patted her head.
"I know you will."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow, the first battles ended quite quickly. If we continue at this rate then maybe we'll be able to get a third round of battles today. Anyway we'll be beginning the third round shortly so get ready everyone." The commentator's enthusiasm was contagious as the audience get more hyped for the upcoming battles. Meanwhile Gideon had silently gotten back to his seat.
The next round followed shortly after. Victoria wasn't among the first thirty contestants however but she would be among the second set.
Soon, enough arenas became vacant and Victoria once again stepped in to fight. Her opponent was a chubby boy who looked very timid, and his brown hair signified his use of the earth element.
"3... 2... 1 Go" The robotic voice sounded, but before Victoria could charge forward, the chubby boy shouted.
"I- I yield." Victoria immediately stopped while the boy looked at her fearfully. What a joke, he wasn't even e seeded contestant and his earth control was mediocre at best, he'd rather not be beaten up.
'Can't say I'm not surprised, he's probably still at the bottom of the black iron rank.' Gideon thought and smiled bitterly.
'My talent was probably still worse to be honest.' In reality, Gideon reached the black iron rank when he was 13, so he really had no right to judge.
"Hmm, can't say the result was surprising, Victoria showed quote the terrifying fighting prowess so it's no wonder the boy gave up. But he can't be blamed." The commentator said this in such a way that it didn't really badmouth the boy and just made it seem like what he did was natural.
The tournament continued and unfortunately, this round ended late so a third wasn't possible. However it was still within the organizers original plan.
It was meant to be 2 rounds a day so this portion of the tournament would last for 4 days. Then the fifth day would be the battle royale and the last day would hold the round of 16.
(Author: Saying that I winged this is an understatement (⊙﹏⊙))
So the commentator took the initiative to close the tournament temporarily and Everyone began to leave. Meanwhile, there was a new channel added to television stations where there would be in an depth analysis of a fight, things like who was most likely to win and so on. And so far, Victoria was the favorite.
Gideon silently watched as Victoria entered a black hover car that was surrounded by security before it sped off. He also left.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gideon returned to his villa and decided that he would take the day off, so he decided to not hunt any monsters or train. Instead, he decided that he would just take a hot shower and laze around.
"Hah~ This is nice." Gideon submerged himself into the large tub and temporarily forgot about his worries. His worries of getting stronger, bringing Victoria somewhere else and other things.
Even if he was strong physically, mental fatigue was still a thing and one's efficiency would drop without adequate rest. So Gideon decided to let his worries go. Sadly, what happens next shocked him to his core.
&Hello.& Gideon jolted and jumped out of the tub with his daggers in hand completely ignoring that he was naked. The voice was different from the system.
"Who's there?" Gideon asked vigilantly.
& Don't fret my child, it is me. The planetary consciousness.& When Gideon heard the feminine voice, his pupils constricted.
"No f**cking way."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Don't mind me, just shamelessly asking if someone can gift me power stones because I found a nice book (◕ᴗ◕✿)