Absolute Soul
28. Empty Tread

The fight between Bernard and Haikal was enough to tense most of the audience, the article so far both Bernard and Haikal have not fought until so far. All the matches in the previous preliminary round they were able to overcome quickly.

The clash between Bernard's staff and Haikal's fist let out loud noises, even as some places in the arena were already damaged thanks to his second attack.

Bernard's skill in playing the stick is undeniable equivalent to the game of martial arts cane in general, he has been practicing since an early age because of his love of martial arts and sticks.

Bernard did come from a family that was mediocre compared to the participants of the previous match, even arguably quite bad because they had problems with their economic affairs. This is the main motivation Bernard trains to become a Blazer.

The job as a Blazer is one of the highest earning jobs in this era considering that life is at stake, not a few Blazer and his candidates work just to target the big income. It's just that usually Blazers like that don't last long.

At first both Bernard's parents disagreed with his idea of becoming a Blazer to help the family financially because the job was dangerous, but Bernard's persistence did not stop there. In order not to disappoint or worry his parents, Bernard trained hard and took a talent test as a Blazer.

It was unexpected that Bernard was said to be quite talented and his body was suited to be a Blazer, when his parents learned of this they could only surrender to it. Bernard successfully passed the entrance examination of Skymaze academy and became one of his students this year.

A Blazer must work for a Guild or the Blazer Association, otherwise no one is willing to pay for every Verg he defeats at the cost of his life.

With this Welcoming Tournament in mind Bernard was intending to expend all his manpower and ability to attract the attention of multiple Guilds, there was no need for a large Guild even a small Guild willing to pay him as a Blazer was enough for him.

"My reasoning does sound trivial compared to the other disciples, but it is for that reason that I can stand here," the inner Bernard swung his staff relentlessly trying to square every attack on Haikal.

But unfortunately there was no Bernard attack that hit Haikal in a landslide, everything could be brushed aside by the black-haired young man, making Bernard a little annoyed.

"You don't intend to budge, Haikal Aldra?" Bernard did feel annoyed, but not to attack blindly considering this was due to his own incompetence.

"Of course, I intend to win this tournament, why should I give up?" Contrary to Bernard who seemed upset, Haikal's face attached a meaningful smile.

Haikal did not mean to underestimate Bernard but it is true that the pattern of Bernard's attacks he can read easily, considering he had often trained against Heru and Salvia who had a more complicated and faster attack than Bernard.

Bernard clucked softly before flowing more soul energy throughout his body and giving three quick stabs, "Mist Lion Staff – Haze Lion Claw!"

Braak!

Haikal retreated a few steps once hit by Bernard's three batting sticks which suddenly became fast, he was a little surprised but remained calm and smiled, "True, this is not the preliminary round, you don't have to hold back, Haikal." In Haikal's heart encouraged himself.

"There's no point keeping quiet, Haikal Alendra!" Bernard took out the twisting horses and pushed his staff with all his might aiming at his opponent's face, "Mist Lion Staff – Spiral Lion Fang!"

In response to Bernard's attack that contained Haikal's mindless soul energy focused his soul energy on the right hand, then pushed the hand to hit the end of the stick with all his might.

Baa!!

The exchange of attacks just created small cracks on the arena floor as well as repelling the two, neither Haikal nor Bernard could cover their respective shock.

"One of my strongest techniques can be condensed with just bare hands? What's this guy's power?" Bernard could only comment inwardly trying not to show his surprise, there was no way a Blazer candidate of his level could withstand his attack just now with his bare hands.

"Even if I've exerted enough soul energy on the attack just now, I'm still retreated." Haikal smiled faintly in response to the previous exchange of attacks, not expecting Bernard to have this much power.

Bernard frowned seeing a faint smile on Haikal's lips displeased, "Are you laughing at me?"

"No, I just feel a little disappointed in myself, I'm not able to judge people accurately." Haikal then released a massive amount of soul energy pressure that sent the entire audience swerving, especially the representatives of the large Guilds he stood up to.

Veindal's shock was no nonsense, ever since his match-training against the Skymaze academy's principal Haikal became more and more active in training, even as his training portion was duplicated inhumanely. Ordinary people may be weak if they know the portion of exercise that Haikal undergoes every day.

The amount of soul energy that Haikal was releasing right now was not much different from the Intermidate level Blazers, an amount that would be impossible for an SMA-level Blazer candidate to obtain.

Haikal practice is actually very simple, that is, just running around the city of Adele at least ten times a day and training her physique using soul energy, finally deepening the control of soul energy efficiently.

The amount of soul energy that Haikal got was also derived from his training which continuously drained his soul energy which before long Haikal realized it made the capacity and speed of soul energy production in his body growing distant.

Many Blazers were unaware of this because their soul energy production capacity and speed mostly developed in training and combat against Verg, then knew they had become stronger without knowing the reason.

After learning this fact every night Haikal practiced controlling his soul energy, making his training results faster than ever.

Bernard's forehead shriveled violently watching the amount of soul energy Haikal released, but he preferred not to think too much about it and increased the pressure of his soul energy to the limit, "I accept your challenge, Haikal Aldra."

Bernard then advanced quickly with his staff and launched several quick stab attacks, but for no apparent reason Bernard could feel his wand hit by something before reaching Haikal's body, leaving his eyes wide open.

"Well, I'll pay it back." Haikal did not let this opportunity slip, he drained some soul energy into his right palm and struck the air but his punch was aimed at Bernard.

In an instant and unexpected to everyone, Bernard crashed several meters back for no apparent reason shocking the entire audience.

"What was that? Bernard retreated suddenly?"

"What did he use?"

"Bernard looked like he was hit, but what hit him?"

Haikal's attack just now again invited a heated discussion and a high sense of curiosity from the audience, he said, several Guilds also discussed what Haikal was doing while the large Guilds were shocked and could not believe what they were witnessing.

"This kid mastered the Void Palm that even most of the Blazers find hard to learn?" A dry smile was seen on Veindal's lips in disbelief with Haikal's attack just now, should Haikal not be able to master this.

The Void Palm was one of the high techniques that relied on pure soul energy, one technique that was notoriously difficult because it was impossible for one to master it if it could not control soul energy completely.

If looking at the core of the Void Palm that used pure soul energy should the entire Blazer be able to master this easily, but most Blazers are so dependent on their Soul Arc that they almost never hone their soul energy control.

That is why Void Palm is a rare technique mastered by Blazers, especially now that one of its users is a first-rate High School student.

"This technique...." Bernard kneeled one leg holding his stomach grimacing in pain, "Where did you learn the Void Palm?"

Haikal did not answer Bernard's question but merely smiled, "What if you look for his own year?"

Finished saying that Haikal was expending an amount of soul energy that was hard to find on a High School level disciple to intimidate Bernard, making the tanned black-haired youth bite his lips and bow his head.

"I'm giving up." Bernard's voice sounded weak but could be heard by everyone in the arena, none of the spectators dared to make a sound to hear Bernard's unbelievable words.

One strike can make an opponent give up easily? Other than Verna and the other geniuses, it seemed that there was indeed no one who could defeat Haikal in terms of surpassing the expectations of the audience as far as the Welcoming Tournament this year began.