Absolute Soul
62. Physical Strength vs Green Fire IV

The chain explosion created by dozens of green fireballs clashing with the floor shrapnel resulting from Heru's punch managed to shake the arena, both physically and verbally.

Although managed to avoid consecutive attacks, Heru also suffered a lot of injuries thanks to the blast wind that was no more than five meters away. He crashed far enough to hit the walls of the arena and was seen with burns in several places.

The injury is not small but not to endanger life, Heru seems to still be able to fight with the injury.

"So he is, so he can dispel that many attacks at once."

"But, its durability is not something to be underestimated for a first-rate Blazer candidate."

"For a Blazer candidate not a genius, perhaps Heru could be categorized as another golden egg on par with Haikal and Jack."

Most of the audience discussed with each other while amazed at Heru. In addition to his considerable physical endurance among Blazer candidates, his way of utilizing the surrounding environment in combat was quickly considered one of the rare added values.

Most Blazers do not really care about the surrounding environment when fighting against Verg or fellow Blazers because they almost always fight outside the inhabited area, so there are not many Blazers who can take advantage of the surrounding environment in the fight as Heru did—or at least that is known to the wider community.

"It's quite painful" said Heru grimacing in pain in response to the burns he suffered. He knew that the fire of the Jade Phoenix should not be underestimated, yet it turned out that he still underestimated the strength of this jade green flame.

Heru got up from his position which was originally sitting leaning against the wall while enduring the pain, then re-installed his fighting horses. This time he looked more concentrated than before.

Cecil who saw that frowned for a moment felt astonished and amazed at the same time. There shouldn't be many Blazer candidates who are able to withstand the explosive power of the Jade Phoenix even though Cecil hasn't trained for long, but the reality is that Heru managed to survive the Jade Phoenix's green fire streak.

Cecil took his horses and focused more on Heru, feeling that the match would become more intense as Heru's concentration level increased.

Sure enough, a tense atmosphere was quickly created between Cecil and Heru who were currently not taking any movement at all. The two looked at each other looking for the best opportunity to attack, but until this moment both Heru and Cecil still did not move a single finger.

"What an incredible concentration" the host commented, "One small gesture can change the flow of a match."

The voice of the host broke the silence that swept through the entire arena, but at the same time Cecil and Heru took a step together.

Cecil raised his left hand forward which then condensed all the green flames on the palm, then released all at once, "Jade Flame Storm!"

The attack in the form of compaction of green flames shot quickly towards Heru who now looks unprepared and just waiting for a heavy attack in the audience's view, but the opposite happened.

Heru could see Cecil's attack clearly, even much slower than a normal person. In an instant Heru was able to react to Cecil's attack, stomping the arena floor with all his might darted towards where Cecil was standing while dodging the Jade Flame Storm at a paper-thin distance.

In just a few moments Heru had arrived just below Cecil's chin thanks to the speed of his feet.

Cecil had no time to react, Heru had already pulled his right arm back and pushed it with all his might, sinking his fist into Cecil's heart without mercy, "Kong Strike!"

"Aragh!" Cecil who is unable to react can only resign and receive a crushing blow from Heru. As a result, he crashed far back to hit the arena wall, even creating a small crack on the wall.

The eyes of the audience, the host, the representatives of Guilds large and small, until the teachers were wide open watched a simple punch capable of banging one of the rarest Soul Arc owners, Jade Phoenix was so far away.

Veindal stood in his room thanks to Heru's crushing attack which he had just witnessed while smiling dryly, "This kid is really a Blazer candidate?"

He remembered correctly a month ago, precisely in the previous match Heru's strength was not as big as it is now. Veindal knew this because he often paid attention to Heru and Haikal's practice when he was training with Salvia at his residence.

"How did the child develop so quickly?" As the question flashed through Veindal's mind, a young man suddenly appeared in his memory. Veindal then turned his gaze to Haikal who was watching the match from the edge of the arena.

Haikal himself also widened his eyes when Heru thrust a crushing blow at Cecil's heart, a moment later his expression turned slightly disturbed.

"This person really doesn't know when to hold back," Haikal muttered as he held onto his stomach spontaneously as if he could feel the pain Cecil was currently suffering from.

If Haikal who is a candidate for Warrior-type Blazer and has trained his body to such an extent can fall in one blow, how the fate of Cecil who is a candidate for Blazer type Wizard? Blazer candidate who incidentally weak against physical attacks?

The entire arena instantly became silent witnessing the deadly blow from Heru. Their views were now fixed on the figure of a bob-boat-style green-haired girl who was currently lying limp on the arena floor.

Perhaps the strength of Kong Strike shown by Heru was not as strong as Haikal's last blow which was able to destroy Edward's Glacial Atlas which had been strengthened using Awakening, but still Heru's physical strength was too terrifying for the first-rate Blazer candidates.

"W-is this the end of Cecil Vermillion?" Asked the host to spontaneously gulp in sympathy with Cecil, as well as the supporters of Cecil who are now silent a thousand words.

There was no response or reaction from Cecil, causing the host to call for the winner of the first match of the final round, "This is the end of Cecil Vermillion! The winner of the first match was the Salvia Group represented by Heru Hartanto!"

The call of the host restored the consciousness of the audience who were still silent thanks to Heru's final attack.

Some of them cheered and congratulated on the first victory of the Group of Salvia, but some felt sad mixed with disappointment because Cecil was defeated with just one punch—, especially Cecil supporters.

"This is indeed not a technique that can be used every day," said Heru smiling wryly trying to control his wild breath and endure the pain in his legs shortly after his name was announced as the winner.

Heru himself could not relax after exerting all his strength in one attack, his breathing now became irregular thanks to Kong Strike and a kick that was able to catapult himself into the opponent's range in an instant.

The soul energy used to exert Kong Strike was not a small amount. Not to mention concentrating the soul energy at one point on the soles of his previous foot which was similar to the use of the Water Stomp, right now his side of his foot was being struck with tremendous pain.

Moments later after Heru's name was announced as the winner, medics immediately went to both and checked their condition— followed by Jack and Verna who seemed to be worried about Cecil's condition.

"Sir, Cecil is okay, right? This wound didn't endanger his life, did it?" Verna asked in a row about to approach Cecil closer but was detained by Jack and another medical officer.

One of the medics who examined Cecil immediately explained Cecil's condition to Verna and Jack that Cecil's circumstances would not endanger his life. Cecil suffered only a few broken ribs, and perhaps some internal organs suffered minor damage.

In the past it was possible that injuries as severe as these could be categorized into life-threatening injuries, but thanks to the development of present-day technology and the existence of medical-specific Soul Arc, Cecil's injuries could heal within a few days.

"Not to mention the amazing natural healing properties of the Jade Phoenix owner, so I don't think there's anything to worry about" the medics concluded. This made Verna and Jack sigh in relief at the same time.

Verna's view then shifted to Heru who is currently being examined by a medical officer. He pointed at Heru and exclaimed, "Hey, shrimp brains! Can't you hold back a little bit on a girl?!"

Heru could only smile wryly in response to Verna's exclamation, not daring to reply to the girl's words even though she had done nothing wrong.

Medics who examined Heru explained that he had a fracture in the calf bone and dry to his left, he said, as well as some of the muscles of his legs and arms were severed from exerting soul energy to exceed the capacity that his body could accommodate.

"You are too rash, you idiot," Haikal commented upon hearing Heru's condition.

"I don't want to hear that from you, reckless fellow," Heru replied, not accepting Haikal's words which in fact had suffered more severe injuries than him.

The two looked at each other for a moment before laughing in relief.

Haikal held out his fist at Heru who was now lying on a medical stretcher, "Next leave it to me."

Heru smiled for a moment before pushing his fist against Haikal's fist, "Of course, the relay is now in your hands."

"Hey, don't just give up so dong," said a silhouette who came from the east arena door.

The figure is a beautiful girl with silvery white hair shiny, bright purple eyes as beautiful as sapphire, equipped with skin as white as milk, walking gracefully approaching Haikal and Heru.

Both of them were surprised to see the girl for a moment, and Haikal and Heru's smiles expanded at the same time, "You really came on time, Salvia."