The crowd went silent. Most of them, including the Sovereign experts, had all expected that Ryker would have died from the attack. Yet, the truth is much stranger.
Not only he did not die, he was also able to launch a counterattack, defeating a 2nd Stage Noble expert with only a move. Even if the attack used all of his Genesis Sea, it should not be enough to defeat a Noble expert, at least that is what everyone knew of.
But it seem Ryker is intent on showing them they are wrong.
-x-
"This boy, he is too terrifying," the Principal exclaimed, his eyes glued on the arena. Even after nearly 5 minutes after the 2nd Prince's man was defeated, there are still no one that announce his victory, too shock to say anything.
"Do you think he still not worthy of being sent to the Boluron Central University?" the Principal rolled his eyes. After all, he knew the Branch Leader is poking fun on him. Considering their rivalries, it is understandable, though the last person did not seem to think so.
"Bah! Don't goat him you old fool!" the President exclaimed, hitting the Branch Leader. The man winced but did not do anything, knowing she had been holding back.
The Principal pretend his rival did not just get smack at the back of his head, knowing that if he mentioned it, his head would suffer as a result. Instead, he opt to reply to the Branch Leader's question.
"Yes, he is more than worthy. In fact, if we can send an image crystal, then his admission would be guaranteed," he said, earning a nod out of the other two.
"Are you going to do it right away?" the President asked. The Principal shook his head. There should still be some time before the next admission. After all, it should be 5 weeks ago that this year session started," he answered.
"Hhmm, let him stay here then. At the very least, his safety is guaranteed and he could spend his time here cultivating," the Branch Leader said. The others nodded in agreement, after all, while the center of the continent has better cultivation spot, as well as more resources, the safety is not assure, unless one is part of the major faction in the center area, only then, would one safety is assured, and even then there is a chance for them be killed as well despite having a prestigious identity.
-x-
"That monster, he did it," Lariz exclaimed, watching the end of the fight with wide eyes. Oh, he had no doubt he would deliver, but when he watched the attack landed on him, he had thought Ryker would have been a goner.
"H-how can someone at the Genesis Sea realm be so powerful?" one of his subordinates said in disbelief, clearly shocked by what they had just witnessed.
"M-maybe his Cultivation Art is special?" one of them said, voicing out one of the possibilities. This cause the others to look at the wounded man with greed.
"Aheem!" the fake coughing as well as the appearance of two Noble Tower caused the others to prostate, kneeling with their foreheads on the ground, terrified out of their mind.
"I don't mind if it is an enemy, but that person you spoke in ill-matter is one of us. If any of you have any such thought," a large metal ball floated before it was crushed like it was made out of paper, the Crown Prince showing them the consequences of such action.
The subordinates nodded, too fearful of the Crown Prince to think of such thought ever again.
-x-
"He is truly a monster," the King said, eying the man at the center, who remained standing despite the severe injuries he suffered. From the look of things, the only reason he remained standing is from sheer will, as there is other way to explain how he could remain standing.
"Yes. Too bad he already has a lot of lovers. If not, I would not mind betrothing my daughter to him," the Grand Duke said, the King nodding as well.
"Of course, it depends on the girls as well, am I right, my dear brothers," the two man felt great shiver as their younger sister opened her mouth, terrifying aura exude out of her figure.
"Of course, if she did not agree, I will not force her,"
"Me too,"
While it may seem like they only said it because they are too afraid of their sister, it is the truth they will not force such thing to their daughter. They have already seen how some of their older sisters being used as bargaining tools by their older brothers during the civil war, and there is no way they would let such thing happen to their little girls.
"Good, but you should try to keep them away from the boy. After all, they seem to have great interest on him, and this performance might as well cause them to harbour a crush on him,"
The two men stiffened, before glaring at Ryker, who began to shiver in fright for some odd reason.
-x-
"D-do you know master is this powerful?" Natali asked, her tone subdued as she was still in clear disbelief of what just occurred.
"We knew he is strong, but not that strong," Ilun replied to her fellow servant, also shocked by it.
On the stands, the other also voiced their thought, all of them wrought with disbelief. Especially among the new female friends they made in the capital.
"This, he getting more and more interesting," Dory said to herself, eying Ryker who looked like he was doing his best to not fall.
"He is stronger than I thought," Brya exclaimed, his eyes falling on him as well.
The third person, Catherine has her eyes on him as well, but for a very different reason.
'I knew he is strong, but it is surprising to see how strong, not to mention his body. It just too perfect,' if not for her immense self control, she may have start drooling at the moment.
"He's alive," unlike others, who was dumbstruck by his victory, Ina focused more on the fact he survived an attack he should not have in any way, survive, if one is to use the common sense of the world, something that clearly did not apply to him.
-x-
As the crowds whispered, too shock to even speak up, the one who remain standing glared at the announcer. The announcer, despite being a Noble expert, is too scared to say anything. After all, he is only as strong as the slender man, so no doubt he can beat him up if he wanted too.
As Ryker glared at him, he said, "Well, aren't you going to announce the winner?" his question made the announcer realize what he had forgotten to do.
And so, he spoke loudly.
"The winner of the tournament, Ryker from the Crown Prince's faction!"
The crowd cheered, as the winner is finally announced.