Absolute Soul
21. Two Blows Is Enough!

"He survived that many attacks alone...."

"Even retaliate with tremendous force...."

"Mo-monsters.... Skymaze Academy got another monster."

The spectators immediately discussed watching a match that could not be trusted if not seen just now. Not a few Guilds discussed the way they recruited Jack, even some large Guild representatives themselves exchanged thoughts regarding Jack's strength in their respective rooms.

On the other hand in the arena match itself, Verna sighed while shaking her head while Cecil smiled wryly looking at Jack who was calmly ignoring all the audience comments.

"You're this. shouldn't you be able to hold back more than this?" Verna raised her eyebrows first commenting on Jack before Cecil, making Jack smile thinly with no intention of answering him.

The three were about to walk back into their waiting room, but Jack stopped his steps and turned his body pointing to one of the cameras above the arena, "Haikal from class 1-A, with this me, with this, Jack Calvin, challenge you to this tournament."

Jack's statement made the entire arena chaotic instead of playing, while Haikal who witnessed it smiled wryly did not know what to respond to. He never remembers any grudges or events from him that made Jack angry or offended.

Ignoring the crowd noise caused by him, Jack continued his steps after Verna and Cecil had already preceded him out of the arena.

"Haikal, what did you do to make this monster challenge you? I don't even dare to do that blatantly." Heru widened his eyes not believing Jack's statement of challenge to Haikal, Salvia was seen wanting to comment but it was preceded by Heru.

"I really don't know, as I remember I never looked into trouble with him." However she tries to remember him, Haikal can't find his memory looking for trouble with Jack.

The three sighed simultaneously not understanding what made Jack challenge Haikal, then tried to distract him on the next match.

Thanks to the Verna group matches that are so striking and attention-grabbing, the subsequent matches become not so interesting to watch even though the fight is quite fierce.

Without feeling it had been seven matches and all the spectators were quite impressed to watch them even though it was not up to a scene. Some of the competing groups showed their abilities should have exceeded their levels, but thanks to Jack's performance so imprinted in the audience's memory no one thought too much of them.

"It looks like Jack is deliberately making a furore so that the whole match is centered on the 'golden egg' only, especially the 'golden egg' that is hidden," said Haikal thought Jack's previous actions.

"There's no time to think about that, Haikal. Look at the screen." Heru's fingers pointed at the screen in their room, making Haikal slightly widen his eyes.

The next game was their match against a group they did not recognize, which was definitely not from the 1-A class. The three of them took some time to prepare themselves, but it didn't take long for them to leisurely walk towards the arena.

"Is that Salvia Volksky? Who tipped off the strongest Blazer candidates in their force?"

"In addition to being strong she also has incredible beauty."

"The daughter of the principal, Veindal Volksky, huh? I wonder about his power."

Just like the Verna group before the audience instantly made a stir. That's a reasonable reaction considering both are quite famous in the world per-Blazeran, not even a few Wulodhasia residents discuss both as the best Blazer candidates in their generation.

"Hmm, as usual Salvia is always noticed by many people." Heru's knees shook violently unable to deal with the nervousness that came suddenly, but strangely he could still make cynical comments regarding Salvia.

"Be quiet Heru, you have no right to say that in your present condition" Haikal responded in a slight defence of Salvia.

"You shut up, people have stage fright!" Heru could see Haikal was even more trembling than him, of course he did not want to be commented by Haikal.

Salvia was astonished to see the behavior of the two, she did not understand why Heru and Haikal were nervous. Salvia did not feel nervous because she ignored most of the audience, which is why she could only tilt her head not understanding what the two group mates were feeling.

"Hey see, other than Salvia the other two people look harmless, don't they? Maybe we can win if we can buy time," said one opponent who had entered the arena of the match which was then followed by a cynical laugh by his group of colleagues.

The other members nodded in agreement to his comrade's words, then showed a contemptuous smile at Haikal, prompting the audience to return to the discussion to hear the opposing group's statement.

"It seems like their confidence comes from Salvia, which is why they dare to take part in this tournament."

"A disciple who has not been able to summon his Soul Arc? Ah, I just remembered there was such a person in their generation."

"Why is Salvia even in groups with disciples without a Soul Arc? How did they threaten the principal's daughter?"

The audience floated various unpleasant comments in the ears of Salvia, Heru, and Haikal, especially Haikal who was most scorned because he could not call his Soul Arc. Not a few large Guilds present also ridiculed the actions of Heru and Haikal utilizing the power and ability of Salvia so famous.

On the other hand Veindal the headmaster could only sigh at the comments of the spectators, he was extremely disappointed towards them, especially the large Guilds who should not judge so quickly. There were even some teachers who looked down on Haikal just because the young man had not been able to summon his Soul Arc.

"The boy is not a genius like Salvia, Verna, Edward and others, but that doesn't mean he's a weak Blazer candidate" Veindal looked at Haikal. He still clearly remembered his match practice with the young man about a month ago, he understood something.

Haikal is one of the most hard-working students to get to this point. Veindal was able to figure this out when he hit Haikal several times during his match practice, and he even noticed his practice several times when Heru and Haikal visited his residence for joint training.

Veindal could tell since the match practice, Haikal trained as hard as he could, even Veindal thought Haikal was destroying his own body. Haikal was running around the city of Adele more than five times when he met her accidentally on the street.

After all, Adele was one of the great cities of Wulodhasia, Veindal himself was not sure he could run around this city like Haikal.

"Show me your whereabouts, son of Raditya Aldra," Veindal murmured softly as he grinned wide at Haikal from where he was sitting.

In the arena Heru and Haikal were silent to the unpleasant chatter of the spectators, even Salvia who was insensitive to the surrounding situation even understood that the mentality of Heru and Haikal could fall and lead to defeat. He clenched his teeth to raise his voice in defense of the two, but was stopped by Haikal.

"Let's just relax, Salvia, I've been used to hearing such useless rants even if it's not this much." Haikal felt he was not strong enough to say it out loud, so he could only tell Salvia not to reply.

"You know it's all untrue, so we'd better show it through action instead of words." Heru also commented, but just as Haikal himself was not a genius known to everyone like Salvia. He can only show it through his actions, not just talk.

Salvia who previously thought mentally both collapsed thanks to the ridicule of the spectators and the opposing group raised their eyebrows hearing Haikal and Heru's words. He could see that the two were no longer nervous, even more excited than before.

As Salvia dissolved in her mind, suddenly her eyes were startled by the sight of Haikal and Heru slapping each other's cheeks. Everyone who watched them was surprised instead of playing, even Veindal glared a little in his room.

"Come anytime!" Haikal and Heru yelled out their spirits making the opposing group startled and a little daunted, but the shout was not intended to intimidate. They shouted to motivate themselves, not wanting their efforts to be in vain.

After the shouts of the two echoed throughout the arena, the opposing group immediately let out a Soul Arc intending not to waste time. The bell signalling the start of the match sounded a moment later.

"For people who can't yet summon the Soul Arc and people who aren't geniuses, you guys are too big a head!" Two opponents immediately advanced with his Soul Arc intending to finish off Haikal and Heru first, while the remaining one guarded the crystal ball.

Haikal and Heru then flowed a certain amount of soul energy throughout the body and kicked the darting ground towards their respective opponents in a speed that was difficult for ordinary eyes to follow, "You guys are too big of a head!"

Without using a Soul Arc or Soul Device, Haikal and Heru threw a powerful punch at their respective opponents, making them thrown far out of the arena, even the arena barrier wall with the spectator stands was cracked thanks to the impact of their two opponents.

The blow was enough to silence the spectators who had previously jeered the two, but the two were not satisfied. They instantly darted towards the one remaining opponent.

Haikal and Heru pushed both his left and right hands together, blasting two great blows on their opponents' stomachs. Unlike the previous one that was instantly thrown away, his opponent this time hit and smashed the crystal ball behind him before it crashed into the barrier wall.

"Feel that, you hippo mouth!" Haikal and Heru then shouted out loud letting go of his frustration, leaving the entire arena speechless by a thousand languages, while Veindal in his room could not help himself until he stood up with a wide smile adorning his face.