Absolute Soul
31. Semi Final Round

"Hey Haikal, is your practice really like this?" asked Heru gasping for breath trying to catch his breath.

"Of course, why would I lie to you?" While responding to Heru's complaint, Haikal wiped the sweat on his forehead using a towel that had been prepared beforehand.

After hearing Haikal's secret practice, Heru and Salvia don't actually believe it right away, but they try it first to prove whether it's true or not. Of course they were desperately trying to meet the minimum target of the exercise because it did not use soul energy, while Haikal looked fine.

Currently the three are in the backyard of the Alendra family residence, completing their latest type of training. It could be seen Heru was lying on the ground without any energy and Salvia was sitting on the stairs trying to catch her breath, both of them looking so exhausted.

Salvia was actually very tired and wanted to lie on the ground like Heru, but her pride as a woman did not allow it, especially in front of Haikal.

While both of them were drooping down, Haikal sat cross-legged in front of the fish pond and began to sink his own consciousness intending to search for the Soul Arc.

"Hey Heru, did Haikal really not get the Soul Arc?" Salvia did not ask for no reason. So far Haikal has trained so hard that it has a quantity and capacity of soul energy that is far compared to the average Blazer candidate their age, but with such great soul energy until now Haikal had never managed to awaken his Soul Arc.

Hearing the question Heru got up from his supine position, then looked at Haikal curiously. He has been friends with Haikal for years so he can find out how Haikal reacts if he manages to get the Soul Arc.

Given that the training Haikal had been doing was not easy, Heru knew full well Haikal's disappointment when he found out that he was the only one who had not yet managed to awaken the Soul Arc. Heru even knew Haikal who was very fond of training had been desperate all day from Seran.

"Seeing his attitude, I'm not sure, he might have succeeded in getting it but it was hidden." Heru sighed then turned his gaze to Salvia, "But given her nature, I don't think she'll hide such a big thing from us."

Salvia herself knew Haikal's nature, it was impossible for the young man to hide such a thing, "So how do you think he could be this strong? Did he hide the other secret exercises?"

Heru shook his head in response to Salvia's question, although he admitted this Haikal practice was far beyond the standard of normal people, if Haikal is able to do it every day without stopping even a day it is not impossible that Haikal's power is created because of this incredible physical forging.

"But, I still don't understand why Haikal hasn't been able to resurrect the Soul Arc." Heru massaged his slightly throbbing forehead. He could not estimate how powerful the Haikal Soul Arc was if the amount of soul energy Haikal possessed could not awaken his Soul Arc.

After the training that day Heru and Salvia's body was in complete pain and difficult to move, considering Haikal did not tell the use of mental energy in the exercise. In the end they decided to rest for one day.

Different from them, Haikal's own body has been destroyed and shaped repeatedly through the strenuous exercise, without the slightest soul energy Haikal can go through the portion of his training without significant difficulties.

"Hmm.. This portion of my training is too ordinary, I might increase it to the limit" Haikal murmured as he chewed the food in his mouth.

The family of Alendra, Haikal, Seran, and his mother are gathering in the dining room to eat dinner together. They used to do this when the entire nuclear family was at home, but for years the family's 'backbone' had never been seen.

"Mom, is it okay? Mom's face is pale." Seran broke the silence amidst the clinking sounds of cutlery, staring at their mother's face. Thanks to that Haikal also realized the expression of his mother who was more lethargic than usual.

Although it looks pale and lethargic, the beauty of both mothers can still radiate clearly. Shiny black hair with dark black irises and white skin that is rarely found in Wulodhasia, Leila Aldra still looks beautiful and youthful despite the age of four fists.

"Ah, mom is okay. Just a little dizzy about work," Leila said with a warm smile, not wanting to make her two sons worry.

Even if saying that Haikal didn't believe it, he clasped Leila's hand and drained her soul energy making Leila a little surprised, "Let's just relax ma'am, I'm just giving you a little bit of my soul energy."

Leila wanted to protest not feeling the need for it, but when she realized the soul energy of Haikal's giving made her feel better Leila abandoned her intentions. Thanks to the pale soul energy on Leila's face also starting to fade, she also became more powerful.

After a while Haikal stopped that, "Thank you, Haikal." Leila ruffled Haikal's hair causing Haikal to protest a bit, while Seran gave a small smile as she ate the dish.

In the book that Haikal had read it was written that soul energy actually had natural healing abilities, just not as fast or as great as the Blazer with a special Soul Arc of healing.

By gathering a large amount of soul energy in one place and focusing it all on healing abilities, the soul energy can heal physical wounds or internal wounds. This ability is also useful to increase energy and increase natural endurance, can be used to relieve nausea or the like.

Although it could be said that Haikal possessed an incredible amount and capacity of soul energy among the SMA level Blazer candidates, this number still could not awaken his Soul Arc. Moreover with this amount he could not fight for a long time.

"I have to practice with new portions later." In his heart Haikal set his resolve, trying to train as hard and as much as possible to fill the time before the semi-finals began.

***

Without feeling five days have passed since the end of the quarter-final round of the Welcome Tournament, thanks to the days of waiting more and more spectators who came intending to watch the match for the final round of seats.

In these five days also news about Cecil who is the owner of Jade Phoenix and Haikal the 'black horse' of the year who can use Void Palm spread throughout Wulodhasia. Of course, this two-group match is very much awaited by every spectator, even in the semi-final stage this is highlighted by several television stations.

"Whose group do you think will advance to the final round?"

"Obviously the Verna group, they are indeed one of the winning candidates that many people seed."

"Right, but this round of four famous geniuses in their generation formed their respective groups, it was hard to guess the plot."

Currently Verna and Jack are the most famous and championed by many people, because their strength is second to none until now. No one had been able to injure both of them in the slightest since the tournament began, even being able to barrage even so far no one had succeeded.

Yet the four geniuses of their generation, Verna, Edward, Salvia, and Anna form their respective groups. With four groups led by their respective geniuses, the flow of the match became increasingly invisible.

Among the crowd, the lawyer came and gave a greeting to all the spectators present at this place as well as those watching from home, "Alright, let's just open this semi-final tournament!"

The invocation of lawyers was greeted with great fanfare by the spectators, even the large Guilds in their respective rooms felt impatient to witness what a match between the four famous geniuses in this generation would look like.

"The first match will be enlivened by Edward's group and Salvia's group! Take it easy, we have a Support-type Blazer that can heal, so I hope both groups are ready to fight it out in this round!" Finished saying as soon as the lawyer put his hand in the lottery box to attract the participants.

Outside the arena limits are seen both groups standing opposite directions, waiting for the draw that determines the participants' matches.

"Are you ready?" Salvia turned towards Haikal and heru who were currently stretching their respective bodies.

"I'm ready anytime." Heru first replied to Salvia after finishing his stretch, while Haikal only nodded slowly trying to calm his nervousness.

Salvia smiled slightly in response to Heru and Haikal's response, then turned her attention back to the lawyer's place.

"Oh, the first match was a direct fight between the group leaders! Edward Ghaetas and Salvia Volksky, please enter the arena!" Excited lawyer excited. The call was greeted by a surge of anticiasm from all the spectators present, even the ground until it could shake their made.

Salvia froze a little to hear her name being called the first time, but she quickly regained her senses and stepped inside the arena. Heru and Haikal were encouraging him, but Salvia did not seem to listen to him much.

On the opposite side was a white-haired man with bright blue eyes and an expression full of confidence and arrogance that did not enter the arena. That was Edward Ghaetas, the most anticipated Blazer candidate by Salvia, Haikal, and Heru.

"Well, I never thought I could face you, Snow Princess, Salvia Volksky. Today is my luck." Edward smiled a cynical smile while raising his chin slightly, but his eyes could not be separated from Salvia's face.

"Edward, I won't stand facing you. Go forward with all your strength." Without waiting for more time Salvia immediately picked up the fighting horses.

Edward snorted softly before taking part in forming the horses he used to wear, "Sure, I won't miss this opportunity to finish you off."

Seeing that the two participants were ready to fight, without wanting to waste more time the lawyer immediately gave a starting cue that was followed by a clash of both Edward and Salvia's forces, which was not the case, solid pure ice and spotless white snow.