"Rentaro Mizuno, D-rank."
"Huh!?"
"What? D-rank? Don't make me laugh." The crowd was stunned, not because of he was a D-rank Soul-User, but because there's no way a D-rank Soul-User could move like that.
"Who is he?"
"Rentaro Mizuno? He's a commoner!"
"A commoner? And he can move like that? Absurd!"
Murmurs began arising within the participants, debating on the topic of Rentaro being a commoner or not.
The most disturbed from Rentaro's movements, was no other than Mizuko.
'What was that? When did he get there? I couldn't follow his movements at all...' He thought.
He instantly recalled conversation with Lucy and a realization dawned on him. Could she be right?
Mei and Lucy watched from afar, Lucy was more angrier than shocked. Although she didn't know him that well, she felt betrayed but at the same time intrigued. Her perception was beginning to come to light.
"How dare you interrupt a match of a prince, you filthy peasant." He snarled, expressing his disgust in Rentaro for preventing him from passing judgement.
"Do you gain pleasure in beating someone weaker than yourself? How about taking on someone your own size."
As Rentaro replied, an uproar arose. His statement implied that he was challenging the prince to a fight.
"Rentaro.." Mizuko stuttered, staring down at Rentaro.
"Me? Fight the likes of you?" George chuckled slightly, channeling his Soul-Energy into his Soul-Technique [Shadow Claw].
"Don't mock me!"
"Enough!" Princess Abigail declared, exercising her authority in her own kingdom. She rose from her throne, staring down at the three individuals in the ring.
"Such insolence won't be tolerated in the Soul-Hunter exams, however.." Her sights were immediately fixated on Rentaro, she was very curious on knowing the extent of his Soul-Energy. Hence, she came up with an alternative.
"Principal Helen, set a match between Prince George and Rentaro Mizuno."
"Your majesty!" Helen opposed immediately, regardless of Rentaro's quick movements, they all saw what George did to an A-rank Soul-User. What would happen to a D-rank Soul-User if he fought him?
"I'm sure Prince George wouldn't mind, his match was interrupted by him after all."
The dark aura surrounding his hands disappeared as he bowed to the princess. "Not at all your majesty." He said.
"Very well then, set the match up." The princess ordered as she took her seat.
With a sigh, the principal ordered for help, taking the injured Miyuki into the infirmary.
"The next round of this stage, Prince George vs Rentaro Mizuno!" The crowd roared as the name of the crowned prince of the Silvercrest Kingdom was announced. His victory was expected as he belonged to the S-rank Soul-User by default being of royal blood.
However the princess wanted to see just how strong Rentaro really was.
Both Rentaro and George took their positions in the ring, he stretched his arms a bit and George maintained his stance rest assured that the battle could only end in one way, his victory.
"May the best man win." Rentaro spoke softly, George scoffed as a commoner dared think of himself as a challenge to him.
"How absurd." The prideful prince replied him.
"Begin!" The principal declared the start of the final round.
"Let me make something clear to you." George closed his eyes having no fears. "Do not assume that a common sheep like you will be able to lay a finger on me, I am someone you'll never be able to comprehend." He smiled opening his eyes slowly.
"What!?" He exclaimed in shock as he met Rentaro right in front of him, his speed was outstanding and his footsteps were so silent he couldn't detect him until he saw in right in front of him.
All the participants who had made it this far, the principal and the princess all had their eyes spread wide in amazement. His movements were even faster than they were in the first stage, Rentaro had already grown accustomed to his abilities.
The fists of Rentaro and George collided swiftly, a gentle breeze from the collision blew across the ring as they exchanged a series of kicks and punches. Rentaro crouched evading the round house kick of George. Adjusting to his reaction, George swiftly sent his leg down towards the head of Rentaro using his momentum.
Rentaro rolled forward instantly and sent his two legs straight upwards at the neck of George while supporting himself with his hands. George grunted, as the swift legs of Rentaro connected with his jaws the instant he turned around to face him. With the force of the kick driving him backwards, he backflipped several times before coming to a stop.
The crowd roared unbelievably as Rentaro had managed to successfully land a blow on the prince and drive him backwards. Lucy couldn't comprehend his movements and fighting style.
"He actually drove someone of royal blood backwards?" She mumbled softly.
"He landed a hit on the prince!?" A participant exclaimed from where they were seated.
"That was awesome!" Another participant exclaimed.
"Just who is this guy!?" One of the female participants who was a hardcore lover of the prince exclaimed in annoyance as to how the prince was being bested in battle.
The principal's mouth was left hanging, she taught the princess of this kingdom and her younger brother George everything about Soul-Energy and how to fight. So it came as a shock to her that her student was driven into the defensive.
Blood dripped down from George's mouth, Rentaro knocked out a tooth which infuriated him.
"You lowlife bastard!" He exclaimed finding it impossible that a commoner could inflict damage on him. He utilized one of his Soul-Techniques [True Shadow claw]
A dark aura representing George's affinity for shadow manipulation engulfed his two arms swiftly. He wasn't planning on using his Soul-Energy from the start but given how far Rentaro had driven him he had no choice.
"Oh..shit." Rentaro stuttered in his thoughts, he knew his dominant hand was still injured from his training earlier so he couldn't utilize his Soul-Energy effectively without getting caught using [Dragonic Recovery]. George dashed forward at a great speed which caught Neo off guard. He slashed his right towards Rentaro's chest.
"S-shit!" The shadow essence had sharpened the nails of George making it more sharper than a freshly and neatly sharpened sword, it also added a boost to his movements. Rentaro managed to dodge it just barely, but his shirt was sliced just at bare contact.
"Rentaro!" Lucy exclaimed, the battle had escalated as George wasn't going for the win. He was going for the kill, he wanted to make a statement out of his opponent. Rentaro slid backwards as he tried to maintain his balance after barely dodging George's first attack.
George dashed forward once more, Rentaro's movements had slowed down as he struggled to regain his balance.
SLASH!
The sharp nails of George which was engulfed by his shadow manipulation Rentaro deeply on his exposed chest. Blood gushed out from the cut in his chest and he fell to his knees in pain. George went swiftly for another slash but was stopped by a barrier which materialized out of thin air in front of him.
"That's enough." The principal uttered from outside the ring disappointed at the actions of her student.
The crowd went silent after witnessing the cruel actions of the wicked prince. "Rentaro!" Lucy yelled getting up to her feet and placing her hands over her mouth.
"According to the rules, Prince George has qualified for the final!-"