Shortly after reading the note a lady comes into the room showing him to a larger room. In the larger room on the desk lays a note and a 3 course meal as well as jugs of water.
Ace quickly eats and drinks after, reading the note.
"The next challenge is a free for all with all 16 of the participants. Last eight standing will continue to the next round. The challenge will start at day break, please enjoy this room and the communal spaces like the cafeteria, Training Zones and bathrooms."
Ace heads out exploring the various areas seeing and meet all of the other participants. Some out going to the training zones, some stuffing their faces and others just relaxing. Ace on the other hand gathers info, finding 1 earth element user, 2 fire element users, 1 lightning element user, 2 ice element users, 1 metal element user, 2 wind element users, 1 water element user and 1 holy element user, Ace finds that 3 of the others have no element.
Intrigued Ace goes to the training zone and practices his hand to hand combat, Easily destroying many targets with his bare fist. He gazes out at the viewing area and sees a few people watching. Ace heads out and two guys talk with him asking to team up.
With a glance Ace can tell one is the metal element user and the other is the Holy element user. Ace declines explaining that he fights and works better solo.
Ace heads to his room and compiles a strategy.
Ace wakes in the morning to the same lady that took him to this room, instead she took him to a dimension door. As Ace walks into it he finds himself in a forest area. Quickly looking around finding the area they all are in is about 500 KM wide, close to the size of a bigger dungeon floor. Using his senses Ace feels that only 1 other person is nearby, being around 5 KM away.
Ace using his full speed runs towards the opponent. Arriving in a few seconds the Earth element guy reacts slowly seeing Ace launch at him. The guy pulls out two shields and blocks Ace's attacks.
"How did you get here so fast, Your meant to be an earth element user yourself. Your incredibly fast." The guy says as a surge of earth elements cover him. Ace backs away and looks at him.
"I may be fast but i can bet you ill still beat you!" Ace yells as he charges at the foe. Ace with incredible speed manages to land a few attacks but the guy looks unfazed with each attack. Ace notices his stamina depleting, not going anywhere Ace Activates Stat Boost and condenses his aura around his fist allowing him to move at alarming rates.
As Ace starts moving faster the guy smirks thinking that just his speed increased, he quickly summons earth golems to attack Ace and fires of poison. Ace easily dodges the attacks and summons his own skeleton golems, easily handling the earth golems. Ace lands a punch against the guys shield and Ace's punch easily caused it to shatter as his punch lands the guy dead in the chest against his armour, sending him back a few meters.
"I... I cant believe at your power level you can shatter B-Rank equipment and be this quick." A scared look forms in the guys eyes as he starts producing a poison gas around him. Ace feels the poison enter his body and disappointed to tell its far weaker than the poison from the endless forest dungeon.
"Your equipment is good and you have a range of blessings and defences but you can't think this weak poison will beat me?" Ace says as he charges through the poison at the guy and within a blink of an eye easily knocks him unconscious. As he faints the poison fades from the area and Ace's body. The guy's body starts to sparkle and glow blue and quickly disappear as he disappear the area sounds "1 Player has been eliminated".
Everyone else looks around shocked as the battle only started 5 minutes ago. wondering who is strong enough to defeat someone so easily it takes less than 5 minutes.
Ace senses around him and finds no one nearby so Ace sets up camp and rests recovering the slightly lost stamina as he feels this competition will be a test of strength and endurance. As Ace relaxes he hears "2 Players have been eliminated"
After an hour Ace feels someone get nearby, their movements ragged as another more energetic Fire element aura comes chasing after them.
Ace stands up and chases after the ragged guy, finding it to be a very burned and exhausted non element user, Ace quickly appears in front of him startled he falls onto the ground in tears begging Ace to help him. "Sorry, Ill send you back now though." Ace says look at the guy in pity with a quick punch at full strength to the face. the guy disappears as the area sounds again "3 Players have been eliminated".
Ace looks up ready to face the incoming Fire element user that's racing like a meteor over to him. The Lady shows up in the area with an exploding fire surrounding her. Showing off her control of the fire element. Ace smirks as he readies his fists.
"So your that mysterious fellow, the one that has all that shitty gear but good martial art skills. ill put you out of your misery now and then hunt my prey." She says smirking as she pulls out her hammer.
"Unfortunately I will beat you and sadly your prey is already gone. I can already tell your stamina has been consumed by about half." Ace states with no emotion as he readies himself for a fight.
Quickly they charge at each other meeting head on, Ace faster allowing him to dodge attacks but the lady exerting such powerful fire elements don't allow Ace getting closer. Ace backs away to give space and think of a plan, as he is unable to protect his stamina and fight her not using his gear at this stage.