340 End Year Tournament - V
The second day progressed with Asher observing all the matches, looking for any signs of something unusual.
Given the many changes, Asher aimed to detect any new variables that might arise.
It was clear that this life was vastly different from the one he'd known before. Even if things were unfolding as Asher hoped, he couldn't forget the warning the System had given him.
Upon reaching Level 35, Asher found that the System regained some of its functionalities.
The first thing the System clarified to Asher was the current influence of his fate on others, and theirs on him.
[ Host can go against a person with higher fate, but due to their high 'fate' a high change in variability might occur ]
[ This variability will happen as Fate will always try to follow the predestined path ]
Asher had somewhat guessed that it will happen knowing how things went during the Heist.
He knew that the two artifacts that he stole from the Vault were extremely important, and due to the fact he was changing something that was close to someone else's fate, he faced against a great threat like Louis Rothschild.
He had navigated similar challenges in his past life. Even when everything seemed to be under his control, unpredictable factors could emerge, complicating his plans.
Back then, Asher hadn't paid it much heed since he felt powerful enough to disregard such disturbances and face any adversary.
'Not much has changed,' Asher reflected, rising from his seat.
Reflecting on the day's events, other than Alyssa's victory and a few other nuances, the duels remained largely unchanged.
However, one notable difference was the tournament's pacing.
"Tomorrow the Duels between the Rankers will start," Damian said looking at Asher.
"I wonder if we will go against each other," Damian wondered.
The match ups of the Top 50 were all done secretly and the Students will only get to know that it's their turn 2 minute before the match starts.
Lucas and Livia were excited to see all three of them.
"And Nate will be coming tomorrow so you guys can join him," Damian said looking at Lucas and Livia.
Most of the Elite Families, and their representative would be present tomorrow, and that meant that Arthur and Sylvie would be coming as well.
"Okay," Lucas replied.
He already knew that Nate would be coming as a few weeks ago he told Lucas with a grumpy voice how he was being forced to leave his room to watch a tournament.
Lucas followed Asher as he was going to sleep at Asher's floor and Livia followed Amelia and Damian to go to the Outer Sector.
At one of the Hargrave Mansions,
"We can't use anymore of our people," The man with a mask told as he stood before a woman wearing a red dress.
"Are you saying you will be abandoning the request of the very person that helped your organization," Casie said as her killing intent started filling the room.
She swirled her wine as her eyes stared at the masked man."Two SS Rank Hunters were killed without a chance," The man spoke.
"You must know who can kill SS Rank without even giving them a chance to escape," The masked man told Casie.
The edge of the glass started breaking as small broken shards fell in the wine.
Ofcourse, Casie knew who could do such a thing, and it could only be a SSS Rank Hunter, but she didn't expect the rumours to be false.
It was said that Nathaniel Greville was in secluded training when Casie used her connections to strike the twins.
"And there is a new rumour," The masked man said looking fearlessly at Casie.
"The Greville Twins will be joining the Grandus Twins to study in World Academy," As soon as the man uttered those words the glass in Casie's hand exploded.
Her killing intent started rising making the man standing in the room a bit nervous.
They were a big criminal organization, and Casie was one of their VIP Clients, that were given the utmost priority because she was the Daughter of Xarax Hargrave.
Normally they would never take a mission to assassinate someone from the Greville Family, but Casie was not the only one that gave them huge amount of money for this task.
There were multiple people that wanted the same thing, and Greed made them choose to go against the Greville Family.
But what happened was their strongest hunters being killed without even given the chance to run.
Once again the underworld was reminded of the True Face of the Greville Family.
"Discard the mission," Casie said and the man bowed and disappeared.
"End Year Tournament was it?" Casie muttered.
It was the Next Day Morning, and the Start of the Third Day of End Year Tournament.
And also the day where most people were excited to see the matches, and even those that have come to watch them.
And also the mana barriers were placed as the today many powerful hunters would gather to watch the tournament, and many Important figures would be coming here.
The sound of people chatting with each other stopped as at the Center Area where Farnus and others were sitting many Portals opened up and two new guests arrived.
"Is that the Chairman of World Association?" One of students said out loud.
"And it's the Seat Holder of Hargrave Family," All of them got excited.
Xarax looked around, and he looked very imposing because of his big stature but Osbert calmly walked to seat maintaining his elegance.
"Is Nathaniel Greville not attending?" Xarax asked as he looked at Alfred.
"Who knows," Alfred replied with a smile.
His question made everyone think about the possibility that Nathan was in secluded training, with the very Mana Gem that he had received if front of them.
Osbert was the most affected by this question but he didn't show it at all.
The commentator started explaining things about the Tournament but these people were busy conversing with each other.
And in the VIP Section, Arthur and Sylvie entered with Helena sitting with them.
She wanted spend this time quietly.
The twins were already at the room, and Nate was in this VIP Room as well following behind David Seymour and his mother.While all the participants were given a seperate room to wait until they were called.
The previous duels were made after considering the choice that were given to the students.
They were given the range or a place that they wanted or they think they deserved, and all the duels were matched considering that, and their own performance.
That's why some of the Rankers fought students Ranked in 30's and even 20's because that's how the match ups were made.
But the match ups today was done solely by the World Academy.
"It seems quite a lot of people are here," Helena said as she sat on her seat.
She could sense the presence of many SS Rank Hunters, and strong ones at that and it meant a lot of people from other Elite Families had come to watch this Tournament.
This was the first time when so many people gathered to watch the End Year Tournament, and part of the reason was because of how many talented kids were in this generation.
The first match began and the start happened with students coming one by one as each duel was announced.
The start was slow, but slowly the ranks were decreasing and soon the First Year were around the 30th Mark, and it meant the Rankers of the First Year would soon fight.
Lucas was just waiting for Asher, while the others were enjoying the match.
"And the Next Duel if from the Rank 2 Leonard Tarvian vs Rank 11 Harris Kenley," The Commentator announced.
"It seems your Son is next," Xarax looked at Osbert.
Leonard walked on the stage and he attracted a lot of people to him, as the crowd started cheering for him.
Leonard lowered his sword as he looked at Harris who was ready to fight as well.
The duel started as both of their swords clashed with each other, and both of them were Rank B Hunters but Harris had just hit Rank B-.
The difference between them was obvious, as Leonard kept deflecting all of Harris attacks.
"You are too slow," Leonard muttered with a smile.
Harris got agitated by Leonard's taunt, and he tried to push him back, but Leonard slided Harris's sword downwards by rotating his hand a bit.
"It seems he learned a lot from you, especially your Sword Art," Xarax said.
Leonard's sword style consisted a lot of defensive techniques, and it was perfect to tire out any opponent.
It was the same Sword Art that Osbert used, but there was a different between Osbert and Leonard.
While Osbert had an affinity with Fire, but Leonard didn't and he changed this Sword Art to suit him.
Something, that made Osbert realize how talented his son was.
A smile appeared on Osbert's face as he looked at Leonard.
'It seem he had hidden it well,' Osbert thought.
Seeing how he was fighting, Osbert knew that his son has improved enough to hide his bloodline ability.
A lot of people didn't knew what exactly was Osbert's Bloodline ability, but Osbert was careful enough to make sure to teach Leonard how to hide it as well.
*Clang*
Leonard deflected Harris's sword and aimed his sword at his neck with a smile on his face.
"I lost," Harris surrendered as the Referee announced the end of the Duel.
"It was a good match," Leonard said as he left the stage.
"He is so good!!" People in the Crowd started cheering for Leonard.
"And he was so respectful as well," Another one said.