"No." Just one word, yet it astounds everyone.
"What is she saying?"
"What does she mean by she doesn't like the crown prince."
"Pretense. It's all pretense."
Colton had been focusing on Xue Yiran's expression all along. There hadn't been any deliberation the moment she answered. He finally said, "I believe you."
"What, he believes her. Then why ask in the first place."
"How can you not like the crown prince. Is she doing this to get his attention."
"I bet she's playing hard to get. You know, those kind of thing in drama."
"Then she had better stop watching them. Gosh, I feel so embarrassed for the crown prince already. Getting rejected in front of the whole audience."
When he heard Xue Yiran answer, Ian showed no hint of fluctuation in his expression. But there was a feeling of disappointment in his heart.
'Wait, why am I feeling sad.' It wasn't like he had a feeling for her. Then why was he hoping for her to say yes. He instantly brushes off the uneasy feeling in his heart away and focus on the match.
"I think everyone might be feeling irritated with our short conversation. Why don't we begin." Colton said.
"Sure, let's start."
A white glow covered up Colton body. The moment the light vanish, Colton appearance was put to view. He was don in a shiny black armor, simplifying that he had fuse with his contract pet. A long sword appeared on his right hand. His whole bearing looks just like a formidable warrior ready to go on a dangerous battle.
[Giant Horned Rhinoceros Beetle]
Class: C
Characteristics: Sharp, Tough, Ideal for Penetrating Armor
Weakness: Corrosive Fluid
This was the basic info on Colton contractual beast. The Giant Horned Rhinoceros Beetle is known to be a weapon type beast. Fusing with it provide a strong protection for the wearer.
As a wind ability user, Xue Yiran knew this would be a tough battle. Despite so, she summoned a wind tornado and charged it at Colton.
Thrusting the sword in his hand into the hard rock, Colton was able to resist the huge torrent wind. Once the wind dies down, he slashed his sword at Xue Yiran.
Leaping into the air, Xue Yiran avoided the first strike. She could sense the sharpness of the blade the moment it passes by her.
Unlike her previous match, this match seems to have capture her interest. Colton was strong but his battle experience was still too low to defeat her
The two clash several multiple times, but none of them seems to be winning. There were several times where Colton almost fell off the cliff. Luckily, his sword was sharp enough to pierce into the rock, which prevent him from falling.
Everyone began to feel the intense of the match. The teachers from Hermes academy already had perspiration over their face, as they watch the match with tense expression.
On the other side, the teachers from Roland academy only had a bit of worry in their expression. This shows the level of confidence they all had in Colton.
Soon, the situation started to overturn. Colton was on the losing side. After several times of withstanding a wind tornado, his armor was starting to wear off.
Colton concludes that it must be due to the difference between the class of their beast. Soon enough, Xue Yiran wind arrow punctured his armor.
The wind arrow skill was something Xue Yiran had decided to implement after seeing Mateo's flame arrow skill. Fortunately, it worked perfectly with the wind ability. After numerous attempts, the arrows punctured straight into his chest.
The golden seal was instantly activated, bringing him out of the simulation world.
"I lost." Colton murmured the moment he appeared on the stage. Seconds later, Xue Yiran also appeared beside him.
It took the audience a long moment to process what had just happened. But after the emcee announced the victor's name, loud cheer emanated from everyone's mouth.
They had just witnessed a big change in the history of the inter-school competition. Roland academy was finally beat down off the first rank. The only people not cheering were the students from Roland academy.
The judges above gave satisfactory nod at the outcome of the match. President Lewis had also been watching the match all along. After witnessing Xue Yiran victory, he turned to look at Vice president Edward and said, "Find a way to bring that girl to the academy. Such a talent shouldn't be wasted in a low tier academy. With her, our standing will surely improve in the national tournament."
"I... Yes." Vice president Edward could only agree. He had already made an investigation on Xue Yiran, and found out that she was previously a student of Roland academy before she was expelled from the academy.
The reasons stated for her expulsion was because of her poor academy ability. But while investigating, he had discovered some shady things. But that was not his concern, he was worried that Xue Yiran wouldn't want to join their academy again after such incident.
Although it looks impossible to persuade her, but if he entices her with huge benefits, she might likely agree to come back.
With Xue Yiran being pronounced as the victor, Vice president Edward had to come down and offered the award championship.
At the stage both Colton and Xue Yiran stood together. Vice president Edward came with the gold chain medal and placed it on Xue Yiran neck. He then proceeds to award Colton the Silver medal.
Afterwards he turned to the crowd and spoke into the mic, "We've witnessed a huge change that have never occurred since decades. The Hermes academy truly prove to be a dark horse that will soar into glory. To reward the two contestants for their effort, I will call on the president of Roland academy to distribute the rewards."
At the mention of his name, President Lewis stood from his seat and walked down to the stage. Behind him were two individuals, each carrying a small box in their hands.
The first person he approached was Xue Yiran. President Lewis had a smile on his face as he praises, "You're truly one in a million to have reach such stage at this age, young lady. During this match, I could see the progress you display. You are truly a talent indeed. Contracting with a B rank beast king at such a young age, our planet would soon begin to see a rising genius." He then reached behind him and took the box in the hand of the individual on his right-hand side. Afterwards, he opened it. What was inlaid Inside the box was presented to the audience view. Inside the box laid was an A rank beast core.
The energy from the core drew out gasps from everyone's mouth. However, Xue Yiran expression remains the same.
President Lewis took noticed of this and nodded in approval. 'Such a young girl and not blinded by greed. She's indeed a great talent.'
"This is the core of an adult rank Umbra Wind Leopard. A dual attribute beast with both wind and darkness ability. It can help in improving your wind ability." While saying that, he handed the box to Xue Yiran.
He then shifted his attention to Colton. "Good job. I saw your dedication out there, young man. Here's a beast core from a B rank Steel-Armored Tyrannosaurus. Your contract beast seems to be a weapon type beast that focus on attack and defense. Absorbing this core would surely improve your ability."
"Thanks so much, President."
"You don't have to thank me. This is your achievement." After distributing the reward, Vice president Edward announced the end of the tournament.
Of course, everyone wasn't going home straight. Instead, they all head towards a large hall, where a celebration of victory will be going on.
As the victor, Xue Yiran was present and kept receiving praises from all people that came to meet her. Celia was the happiest of them all.
While giving pleasantries, Colton approached her.
"Hello. I'm sorry for asking you such an unexpected question during the match." Colton apologizes.
"It's nothing." Xue Yiran shook her head, letting the other party know that she wasn't dissatisfied at all.
"Then I should say this to you. There's someone you need to be wary about. Although I have no idea about the vendetta that's between the two of you, but I do think that you should be wary of her." Colton told Xue Yiran about how Aviva had approached him yesterday night.
"Thanks. I'll take to notice." Xue Yiran hadn't expected Colton to approach her and tell her this. Susu had already told her about the conversation between him and Aviva. But who would have expected that he would come to tell her himself. She lifted her head and glance towards the direction a certain gaze has been staring at her. And sure enough, she was met with Aviva's gaze.
Frightened, Aviva immediately evade her gaze.
'Damm, what's happening? Does she already know about what I did. What am I going to do if she went ahead to report. Well, it's just a conversation between the two of us. Besides, there's no evidence to back her claim. No one would believe her if she went ahead to report.' With that, Aviva became confident that she would never be caught.
While dinning, everyone unexpectedly received a message on their communication device.
"Huh. An anonymous message."
"I got an anonymous message too."
"Me too." Everyone began to talk about the message they received.
"Wait a minute, could this be an attack from a virus." Just as the students said those words, one of the impatient ones had already clicked open the message.
"Damm, I clicked on it." Soon a holographic video appeared in everyone's view.
The adults in the room had also noticed the situation.
One of the people came to vice president Edward and whispered something into his ear. Since the president had gone, he was in charge of the ceremony. He had also received a message on his communication device. But since he hadn't opened it, he had no idea that it was from an anonymous sender. But after the man words, a frown appeared on his face.
"An anonymous message. It must be the work of a criminal mentalist. Notified the students that none of them should click on it. As for those who have --." He was about completing his sentence when a loud gasp echoed into the hall.
"What the hell."
"This is so evil."
"She's a student from Hermes academy. Can't believe she planned such a huge conspiracy."
Their hateful eyes darted towards where Aviva was. Since she hadn't received the message, Aviva had no idea of what was happening.
It wasn't until a student from other academy showed her the video did her expression underwent a huge change.
"Why is she pretending to be shock? Dare to perform such evil plan against her mate."
"How... how did you capture the video." Aviva voice trembled as she asked. The video feed was showing the conversation she had with Zach and Matteo.
How did it get into their hands.
A teacher from Hermes academy immediately approached her.
"Follow me outside, Aviva." Knowing that there was no chance of her getting out of this, she accedes to her fate and followed the teacher out.
Vice president Edward was also watching the video feed. He had no care about the deal between Aviva and Zach. However, when he heard of the deal between her and Mateo, he became furious.
Most especially that Mateo was from Roland academy. No wonder he was targeting Xue Yiran face. The whole hall was filled with this gossip. Everyone kept casting a pitiful gaze at Xue Yiran, since she was the victim of the whole situation.
'You did it right.'
[Yes host. It won't be good to let her go scot-free after all the things she did to you, host.]
'Thank you.' Without Susu, perhaps she would never know what would have happened to her.