Clarence one by one focused on all the techniques and spells, and he was surprised by one technique.
[Dagger technique]
[Rank - 2 => 3]
[Progress - 100% => 40%]
His dagger technique had risen by a whole rank. If one had sufficient understanding of a technique, the rank of the technique or spell they are executing was raised up by a whole rank.
Even at rank three, his understanding of the dagger technique had already reached forty percent.
Clarence thought,
'I seem to be talented at dagger technique. It actually makes sense now that I think about it. I was able to dissect the dagger technique to better suit me soon after I learned it.
By now, whenever I use daggers in battles, it feels like it is a whole other technique.'
Clarence opened the tab for Ghoul's walk again and saw that he had progressed by only twenty percent whereas the other two techniques he had learnt were around fifty percent. The illusory arts was also at only thirty percent.
He felt relieved knowing the progress of his spells. Otherwise, he might've gone into battle without knowing that his spells wouldn't be able to affect his opponent at a critical level.
He thought,
'Ah, I guess I won't be able to get much sleep now.'
Clarence closed the system and went back to practicing his spells. Throughout the night he kept practicing his two spells alternatively. When his mana ran out, he would sit down to meditate and try moving the golden blue energy to heal the wound he would purposely make.
Alas! Till four in the morning, he wasn't able to use his golden blue energy for healing or in fact even gather the mana without meditation scriptures. But he at least finally practiced spells till forty percent progress.
He then immediately laid down on the mattress for his beauty sleep. The battle tomorrow was in the afternoon, but he would have to wake up early to not break his habits.
*YAWN*
Clarence yawned loudly as soon as he woke up to the sound of alarm. It was one of the miscellaneous things he had exchanged various objects for.
Some of them which he felt were boring, he threw them in the corner of his spatial bracelet. While some of the interesting ones, he often used them.
He got up, and after completing his morning, he started going through the simulations in his head.
Bernard was a tough opponent and also a good friend. He didn't want to lose this battle as he was looking forward to the rewards. If it isn't up to par for him, he was going to gamble and exchange it for some random item from the system as he already had weapons for combat.
When it was almost time for the battle, Clarence exited the simulation and stood up to stretch his body. He then came out of the tent and packed it up since he won't be needing it anymore.
Lose or win he was already a cadet at allied academy, so he would be living in the campus of the academy. Along the way to the stadium, Clarence kept stretching his body and did some minor warm up to get his body ready.
He entered the stadium and stood at one side of it. Today they won't be fighting on the disc but on the huge ground of the stadium. He looked around to see that a lot of people had already filled the seats and a lot more kept pouring in.
A few minutes later Bernard entered from the gate opposite to the one he entered from. From the cheering he got when he entered, it was obvious that there were more supporters of him.
The two of them approached each other and shook hands.
Bernard said,
"I won't go easy on you just because you are a rank lower. I heard later how you defeated Maxillan. I hope you give your best too."
"You think I can win without giving my best? Stop kidding. I'll taste defeat for sure if I lose myself reveling in the fact that I defeated Maxillan."
The stadiums were almost filled by now and the match was being broadcasted on big screens for the normal audience who are spectating as they don't have enhanced eyesight.
Even the participants from the tournament for professions had come to spectate as their final match had completed yesterday.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Can't say anything about it. They are both good. Clarence was always known for his tricks among us while Bernard had always been the battle maniac.
Although it's true that Bernard had always won all the matches among us, Clarence had an epiphany yesterday."
The two people were Everett and Valentina. The latter was shocked when she heard the former say the last line. Everett nodded at her and continued,
"Yes, you heard it right. You might not know since you were busy with your tournament, but a lot of people had the same shocked look yesterday. We still don't know if he just got lucky or actually had the foundation, we will most likely find out about it today."
"Damnnn, I really missed out on good stuff eh."
Everett just nodded to her and left it at that.
High up in the air, Marvin and Sienna appeared without any indication or sound at all. The former stepped forward and coughed slightly to quieten down the crowd. He then spoke,
"Today is the final battle of the tournament. We have Clarence at one end and Bernard at another. I hope we all get to witness a glorious battle.
With that I ask you both to move a bit further away from each other. We'll start the battle shortly after."
Listening to his words, some people who were familiar with Marvin or his personality found that he was unusually polite today. But they didn't pay much mind to it and soon focused back on the stadium.
"Good luck"
"You too"
With that, Bernard and Clarence stepped back a few meters and assumed their stance as a blue wall-like barrier materialized in the center.