Chapter 1316 Vantage Point

Zach Talon

With all the expectations and hopes that were placed on him, Zach vowed he would bring glory to his kin. But in spite of him already trying his best and giving his all, he still found himself failing in the end.

He had managed to overpower his opponent in all aspects: strength, speed, spells and even skills. Yet all of them seemed worthless when competing against his opponent's ridiculous ability.

Zach would have defeated Mahinder three times in that thirty-minute match if it hadn't been for the latter's abnormal power.

Not only could the monk continuously replenish his spirit pool with spirit energy, he could also heal all the wounds he suffered in an instant, while receiving a sudden boost of power whenever he used that skill.

However, what bothered his mind the most since his defeat was actually the fact he felt a strange sensation every time the monk used his signature skill. Witnessing the skill up close and experiencing its power three times in a row further deepened his suspicion.

Zach knew very well he was no light element specialist. However, he had enough experience to notice that the monk's divine spell was slightly different.

He had a feeling that told him that it was most likely not human. In fact, now that he thought about it deeply, he couldn't help but be sure it was elven in origin.

With every second that passed as his body healed, his certainty also rose.

"That bastard! How dare he mess with me?!"

As soon as his body was completely bereft of any injuries, Zach saw that one of the half-blood magus guards that had been assigned for his protection walked up to him. The man had come to report about the escalating situation in Zodiac City.

"This place is no longer safe. You were told to return to Zodiac City as soon as possible."

However, his anger toward the monk and his loss to him only made him more irritated, so he said to himself.

'All these plots against the half-blood, That bastard monk must have some part in this.'

Turning to the guard, he shook his head and said, "No, you can return to Zodiac city yourself, I have something I need to confirm."

At the same time, the Grand Hall became rowdy and loud with the cheers of the crowd, which was followed by the beautiful Magus Serena calling all the top 100 acolytes to the center of the arena.

Wanting an answer to his suspicion, Zach was one of the first who came out and stepped into the arena. Before long, he found his target arriving and standing next to him, in the spot between him and Olivier, the Sword Saint.

Even though his face was facing straight towards the podium, all of his senses, including his spirit reading were fixed on the person beside him, ready to show everyone who or what the monk really was.

On the podium, Grand Magus Yvere had started his speeches, and during that time, Zach was deep in thought, reminded of all the data he had read about Mahinder before his duel.

Nieves' rank in the first and second year of the academy was at the bottom of the top 100. When he returned in the third year, he had gained the divine power that boosted him to the top rank.

Although the monk might come from a humble distant monastery, it was a higher realm world that had full access to the Magus Universe.

All this said, of all the top acolytes, other than the young wolf, the monk had the most mysterious background.

The more Zach thought about this, added with the foreign elf power he sensed from the monk, the more certain he was that the monk winning the tournament was part of the big puzzle behind the said threat going to happen today.

When Grand Magus Yvere finished his speech, He called for Mahinder to step forward before the grand magus walked down from the podium to give the Champion Emblem.

It was at this time, seeing the monk standing so close to the Headmaster, that Zach became fully alarmed.

A sudden commotion came from the sky, and everyone instinctively looked up to see what it was, and so was the Grand Magus.

In an instant, the monk's spirit force surged and threw a powerful fist towards the grand magus.

It was a fast hidden strike, but gave out a powerful shockwave as it landed squarely on its target.

BAMMMM!!

The punch was barely able to hurt the grand magus, but it did what Mahinder intended to happen, to disarm the staff he was holding. Almost instantly the golden staff was in the monk's possession at the next second.

It rested within the grasp of his right hand, ready to be used when suddenly a powerful strike from a broad sword came tearing a deep gash on his arm. Blood splattered into the air, followed by the monk's surprise.

Splllaaatttt!

Zach came charging to stop what the monk was doing, but one strike was not enough. He needed another swing to force the monk to let go of the staff. But just as he was about to do so, he winced in pain as sharp blades pierced his back.

An attack by Eeshoo Nephilim.

Seeing all this, Grand Magus Yvere was confused by the situation unfolding before him right now. The unexpected sneak attack caught him off guard, and the fight between the finalists even more so.

At this moment, the whole world watched as Mahinder raised the Headmaster Staff in his bleeding arm, and to Grand Magus's surprise, the young acolyte was able to wield the staff as brilliant light burst out from its scepter gem. One even himself cannot do.

Before Mahinder's chant could finish however, a sword burst from Mahinder's chest, sending blood splashing all over. The audience gasped as they saw Olivier Arkaland stab the monk in the back in a decisive manner.

There was pain and disbelief in the monk's eyes. He couldn't believe his actions were quickly overcome so quickly.

How could both finalists attack him at the same time like this?

"How?"

—----

Olivier Arkaland

The battle he waged against a user of space and gravity ended in his defeat. However, just as he was about to be impaled by his opponent's sword, Olivier suddenly found himself overwhelmed with a terrible headache.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw that he was awake from the medical tube.

Before he could comprehend what had happened, he heard the words of Magus Serena summoning all 100 acolytes to the arena, and now that he had recovered, he threw the confusion for later and did just that.

But then, to his complete shock, what was supposed to be the closing ceremony turned into a catastrophe instead. It all started with Mahinder the monk and was followed by a full-on battle, a massacre by the human mortal enemies, the elves.

To give him even more shock, just when he thought it was all over, he found himself back to when he was just coming out of the medical tube.

"It's a time dilation," Olivier concluded after pondering the matter.

The anomaly was something he once had read in his clan's scroll on time magic.  He felt it was too real to be a dream and knowing full well no one would believe him, he made his way to the arena determined to stop the one who started it.

With his foresight gifted by the light element, right after the dragon half-blood failed, he was more than ready to run and stab Mahinder decisively. The unexpected blow pierced directly through his heart, sword tip sprouting from Nieves' chest..

Splllaaaatttt!

Everyone watched in disbelief. In such a short few seconds, Zach, Mahinder, Eeshoo, and Olivier went through a series of events where they attacked each other. The scene climaxing with a sword through the champion's chest.

"His heart has stopped beating, he is dead," Olivier said calmly, as if there was not the slightest doubt in him that the killing was a necessary solution.

But in the next second, his face changed drastically when he felt a burst of energy emerge from Mahinder's body which should have died.

This phenomenon was immediately followed by a figure made of light coming out from the monk's chest.

Its presence exerted immense pressure on everyone around, even Grand Magus Yvere himself.

This proved one thing, whatever thing was lurking within Mahinder's body possessed power comparable to that of a Supreme Magus.

"What are you?!"

The figure of light ignored them and went to engulf Mahinder's body, and the next moment the deceased monk started chanting once again.

As the Headmaster Staff in his hand began to glow, so did the symbol on the back of Olivier's hand.

It was followed by a message that appeared in his mind.

p1ease visi(t) n0ve1b(in).ne)t

[Recalled in 5 minutes]

Just like what he had previously experienced in his time dilation, Olivier once again saw the palm of all the acolytes start to glow.