Absolute Soul
30. The Quarter Final

Thanks to Salvia showing the same ability as the Advance-level Blazers in the previous match, Bernard's group chose to give up after one more match, Bernard against Heru.

Unfortunately not only Haikal and Salvia who have unusual strength, Heru can easily defeat Bernard using his powerful martial skills.

Salvia's group managed to advance to the semifinals with an absolute victory, making almost all the audience difficult to believe this even in front of their own eyes.

Previously most of the audience believed the winner of this year's Welcome Tournament was Verna's group because the ability of the three members of his group so large was not stopped once, but all that turned out not necessarily.

Salvia's group had continued to shock the entire audience since the start of the tournament, not to mention the remaining four groups had a high possibility of surpassing their expectations, not to mention the four groups still remaining had a high chance of surpassing their expectations, especially Edward's group whose abilities are still focused on the leader of one, Edward Ghaetas.

The rest of the welcoming Tournament quarter-final matches went on quite quickly. Whether by luck or by arrangement, Edward always advances from his side and defeats his three opponents in a single strike, drawing strong protests from the crowd.

One of the next groups also more or less experienced the same thing, their chairman, Anna Kindheart faced two matches and subverted all his opponents, making the remaining members of the opposing group give up before giving a meaningful resistance.

It was not until an hour after Bernard's group match against Salvia's group the quarter-finals of this year's Welcome Tournament were completed.

Some spectators had felt disappointed because the quarter-final round took place so quickly, but the rest felt this quarter-final round could not be missed, he said, moreover, the semi-finals and finals that will be filled by the various geniuses of this generation.

Before disbanding today's tournament Veindal gave a few words as the headmaster of the tournament's governing party, one of them is the announcement that the semi-finals will be held five days after the injured participants recover.

Of course, no audience would refuse to remember that this year's tournament was filled with many geniuses, all of whom were curious about which genius was the strongest among those geniuses.

This quarter-final stage was discussed by many people in the city of Adele and the world per-Blazeran Wulodhasia thanks to geniuses such as Salvia and Verna, but they did not forget the news of the 'black horse' best of the year, Haikal Alendra.

Haikal's name spread quickly and discussed many Blazers, because he was able to win against the candidate Blazer even though he had not awakened the Soul Arc. Of course not everyone responds positively to this news, not even a few people consider the news about Haikal is too exaggerated or Haikal is fraudulent.

"They're the only ones who don't know Haikal's hard work and ability" said Salvia, frowning in the media's response to Haikal.

"It's Salvia, I'm used to this kind of thing. It's not as bad as it's underrated anyway." Haikal tried to calm the sullen Salvia, it took some time until Salvia regained her composure.

Haikal, Salvia and Heru are gathering at the Volksky family residence to discuss strategies and preparations for their semi-final opponents, Edward's group.

Edward's group consists of Edward and two students who are followers, in addition to Edward the other two members almost never show their abilities in any game.

"Did they really compete in the previous preliminary round? Isn't it impossible for Edward to destroy his opponents alone?" Heru's comments see the results of recordings of Edward's group matches in the preliminary round or quarter-finals, he is difficult to believe this video recording even though his eyes see it.

"With her strength at or above that of Salvia and her opponent not at her level, I think it could have happened." Haikal immediately dismissed Heru's opinion, he still remembered how high the quality of Edward's ice creation. Judging from that side alone it can be known that Edward has the ability far in the level of candidate Blazer High School.

Salvia was obviously unhappy with Haikal's remarks that Edward's strength exceeded her, but she could not argue because there was a possibility that Edward was stronger than Salvia.

In addition to his unusual strength in the eyes of prospective Blazers, Edward also has a solid element that is difficult to match even by the snow Salvia though. If it had to sort out the strength of the four geniuses in their force, then perhaps the top one was Verna, then followed by Edward, then Anna, and Salvia in the last place.

The only one who can be certain to survive or win the fight against Edward may be only Verna, but no one knows for sure if it has not been tried.

The three sighed simultaneously realizing how difficult it was to surpass Edward who was so powerful with just his ice alone, not to mention there is a possibility that he can manipulate and shape the ice into various forms such as Salvia who created a giant snowman from the snow.

Given Edward's strength it is not impossible that he can do that easily, perhaps even surpassing the one Salvia showed in the quarter-finals.

The strength of Salvia was not suitable against Edward because in addition to being equally cooling, snow was not as dense and as solid as ice in general, especially ice as pure and blue as Edward's, haikal and Heru could only fight at close range with their destructive power.

Even if Haikal fought using Salvia's borrowed Soul Device, with a large amount of soul energy being poured into it he could only cut through the ice and could not stop Edward's attack.

"The sword that continues to be used will dull, so will the mind," said a middle-aged man who stepped closer to the three, leaving Haikal and Heru a little surprised. Yes, he is Veindal Volksky, the father of Salvia, "Once you rest it doesn't matter, instead you should rest yourself for these five days."

"School head...." Haikal and Heru were about to stand up wanting to salute the middle-aged man, but Veindal stopped them.

Veindal sat on the empty seat and walked around the table with the three of them, making Heru and Haikal a little uncomfortable. It is natural that both of them feel so, because the principal is not the type of person who likes to gather with people.

Veindal could tell Haikal and Heru were uncomfortable when he sat down, so he explained why he had come here.

"Eh? Hand Edward over to Salvia?" Haikal raised his eyebrows first in reaction to Veindal's explanation before Salvia and Heru.

"Right, I can guarantee Salvia can beat Edward or at least hurt him pretty badly." Veindal then explained that Salvia had never released her full strength during training or matches, it was because Veindal forbade her.

Haikal and Heru were both confused and surprised to hear this before looking at Salvia for confirmation, who was answered by a slow nod by the girl. Of course, both of them slightly distrust this statement, but Veindal clearly knows better the ability of Salvia both revealed and unfolded.

"And by the way about full capability.... Haikal, you're still hiding all your abilities to this day, aren't you?" Veindal threw a sharp look at Haikal followed by the surprised looks of Salvia and Heru.

Haikal paused for a while before sighing and replying, "Yes, the principal is right."

Veindal smiled faintly at the young man's confession, though he did not know the extent of Haikal's apparent full strength he had expected this. Instead, Salvia and Heru were stunned for quite a long time thanks to Haikal's confirmation, especially Heru.

During this time Heru felt quite often train and compete small with Haikal, he could feel Haikal had not yet put out his full strength because it was just a match training course, considering the tournament matches had been quite fierce Heru thought Haikal had exerted all his strength.

"Well, I'm not going to tell you to put all your strength out now with match practice, but I hope you won't hold back when you fight Edward's group later." Veindal reminded Haikal before standing up and leaving the place.

Haikal was silent for a long time thinking about the reason Veindal asked that all of a sudden, as he dissolved into his mind Heru nudged him quite hard, "You're really training hard in secret, huh?"

"That's how it is, but I don't intend to tell you how to practice." Haikal was able to catch Heru's expression and Salvia felt dissatisfied without further explanation making her sigh softly, "I'm sure even though you know it's useless."

Although Haikal has been commemorated both of them still insist on insisting he wanted to know, in the end Haikal can only tell the exercises he had been doing so far, but certainly not told in its entirety.