From the moment Lucas enrolled in the academy, he had already been preparing for the tournament.
If you want to survive in this world, strength isn't the only priority. From ages, there have been many strong people but all of them have fallen into dust.
On top of strength, you need connections and support. And this tournament would be a stepping stone to gain support.
There was no restriction on the artifact and potions in the Tower. You are allowed to take what you want however whether you can use it or not is another matter.
Potions can be carried but the moment you take it, you will be disqualified. Similarly, you can bring what you want but the Tower will restrict its usage if it is deemed dangerous, however, you can stretch and use the loopholes.
In the book, fights had occasionally broken out here and the small passage along walls being cracked and broken was written in the background.
With a bit of research, Lucas found out that the durability of walls was set according to the participating ground which means the walls should be as strong as D-rank materials that can be broken by 4-Star warriors.
If it didn't work, he could just blow up the whole thing with his bomb.
After all, there was nothing in the world that a pair of explosives couldn't solve.
If your explosives didn't work that doesn't mean they are useless, rather they just lack firepower and Lucas' Current bombs were capable enough to hurt a 4-Star.
BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!
[Please refrain from inappropriate behavior]
The sound of spirit was suppressed by the banging of sound exploding one after another.
Mazes were troublesome to get though. It didn't require strength but intelligence along with a little amount of luck.
"Not bad!"
Lucas muttered, noticing the passage of destruction left behind.
"Even though the ordeal is shouting inside my head, there is no rule that says you can't break the wall."
"I don't know if it's enough to get the first place in this round but it's enough for me to pass with flying colours."
"Let's go!"
Cheering himself, Lucas swung his sword belatedly ignoring the ordeal that was screaming for him to stop.
However, it didn't refrain him that it means his stance was approachable.
Others were hitting their head on the wall trying to find a way and were suddenly startled by a loud booming voice.
It was then they saw the maze wall that was smashed in a straight line with a large thick smoke hovering around.
........
"Damn! Where am I?"
Sheldon murmured while looking around.
Everything around him looked the same, the walls, the path and the ceiling covered in the darkness gave him a sense of misdirection.
"Did I walk from here to there? From which side did I come from?'' Sheldon suddenly felt the world spinning around him and was startled by a loud blast.
BOOM!
A small portion of the wall was blown away forming a small gap and through the smoke, a pair of beastly golden eyes shone.
"Who are you?!" Sheldon's voice echoed seeing a man walking out.
"Lucassss!"Sheldon's eyes widened with disbelief and he raised his shield to defend.
"Oh Hello!" Lucas greeted him and walked towards the wall indifferently.
"What? How?" Sheldon's jaw dropped wide, seeing many holes in a straight line.
"Is this even legal?"Sheldon blinked his eyes.
'He is ignoring me. I think I should follow him.'
Sheldon's eyes lit up and just as he was about to speak, Lucas suddenly turned towards him.
"You are Ezekiel's servant, aren't you?" Lucas, who was about to strike the wall again, turned his body abruptly and slashed in his direction.
"Huh! What did you say, filthy bastard?"
BOOM!
Sheldon raised his shield but the force of the attack blasted him away.
Sheldon spun his body and landed on its feet.
A look of horror flashed in his eyes as he looked at his trembling hand.
Similar to Lucas, he was at the peak of 3-Star but the gap between them was wide apart.
TAP! TAP!TAP!TAP!TAP!
An ominous sound rang in his ears frightening him as he looked ahead, his body froze.
With a maniac smile, Lucas walked slowly raising his sword that was glowing with a blood-red colour carrying a tremendous energy.
A gust blew and the air-carrying mana swirled around Lucas making his momentum grow wildly.
The ground beneath him cracked and a mass of magical energy expanded over his sword.
"How did you become so strong? I can't believe this! It hadn't been two months since the Class fight."
Run...
That was the first thought that came into Sheldon's mind.
That attack...He can't defend against the attack even if he puts everything on the line.
Just as he turned back and was about to run his body froze seeing many small orbs floating in the air.
"How are the orbs flying?"I think you should take a look at
Sheldon felt his worldview shattered seeing the dense network of orbs.
Sheldon could already guess what that was.
The moment he touches them, they are gonna explode.
"Sheldon, there is no escape for you."
A chill spread across his body and all of his hair stood up in fear as he turned back to look at Lucas, who gave a weird smile, he knew he was done for.
"Before you die, let me ask you one thing. Did Ezekiel have any hand in those weird rumours?"
"I.. don't...have a hand.."
"You don't need to answer."Lucas cut Sheldon's words and his lips curled upwards.
"Cause it doesn't matter."
With that, Lucas's body flickered and appeared before Sheldon, he swung his sword carrying a great amount of power that lit the whole area in blood red light.
"See how good a friend I am. I kicked you out so that you can meet your parents early."
"Noooooooo!"
Swish!
Sheldon screamed and used his bloodline power to harden his body, seeing which Lucas used telekinesis to launch the orbs floating around towards Sheldon.
The orbs glowed opon touching the encased layer covering Ezekiel and blowing his defence into tatters, destroying his upper skin after which Lucas gave the final blow.
BOOOOM!
Dust and debris swept everything while darkness blinded Ezekiel's vision.
....
Kirruukkk!
Eeeekkkk!
Khukkk!!!
A shrill screeching sound of pain reverberated.
Golden rake trolls are said to be strongest among the trolls who form a systematic formation and rush towards the rose-haired woman.
CRANG!CRANG!
A man ran towards the trolls, holding the spear in his hand.
The moment, trolls rushed right in front of him in an instant, wielding their weapons, the spear in the man's hand was drawn horizontally.
But the scene that followed was quite shocking.
A white-silver flash was drawn in the air that formed a trajectory in front of the man and ripped apart all the golden claws that were rushing in at once.
Perhaps, that wasn't enough because the flash that ripped apart the trolls went towards the wall and shred it apart.
The front formation of the trolls was in disarray and the right flank that tried to get back at him met with a shower of arrows exploding over them throwing them away after which a blonde-haired woman cut through the remaining ones.
Meanwhile, the left flank was searching around frantically for the preparator that was assassinating them as swiftly as lightning striking them in horror.
The squad that broke through the monster formation, reached the end of the maze in an instant.
"It seems, we are the first one to reach the end." Parth's image flickered and as he appeared, he screamed in joy.
"Yes, we are the fastest. It's all because of you, Fredeeick." Helena praised Frederick.
Rose also nodded at words and walked towards the end swiftly while pondering about the second trail that they were going to face.
Frederick, who was satisfied with the progress, hurried his way.
'It seems, we are the only ones who found the hidden passage. The hidden passage may be a shortcut but it was riddled with strong strange monsters. Fortunately, we managed to overcome this.'
Of course, there was no need to think so much as this option is the best.
The points that are given here hold great significance as in future, the points can be exchanged for rewards. Generally, the Tower will give a reward after clearing the stage but its function has been altered for the tournament.
"You are late."
Frederick, who was lost in his thoughts about the function of the tower, suddenly snapped out of his thoughts and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets, seeing a man sitting on the raised platform with a devilish grin.
"Lu...Lucas...." Frederick's voice quivered in disbelief.
"Yo, see you on the other floor." Lucas gently waved his hand as he heard a series of chimes and his image flickered.
Parth, Helena and Rose who caught up to him, seeing the translucent figure, their eyes were dyed with shock.
"Was that Lucas?" Rose voiced in astonishment. She never thought Lucas to be someone to use force to solve things as from her point of view, he is like a strategist so it was really unbelievable.
Parth stared around and then saw a straight line of destruction with broken walls over the surface.noVεlusb.com
Helena's jaw dropped wide seeing the destroyed walls.
"See, I have told you. That guy is a menace. There is no one better than him when it comes to destruction." Parth grumbled.
Frederick's words struck his throat but he had no way to refute it.
"Yeah!"
He just gave a simple nod.
[You have passed the first ordeal.]
[Please move onto the platform to start the second ordeal.]
"Let's not waste time." Frederick walked up to the stage.