CHAPTER 85: THE HOPES ARE STILL ALIVE

"But general, I can still..."

"This is a simple competition Adriana, not a life and death match. Using your spirit form is simple desperation from your side." Roger lectured her.

Adriana couldn’t retort. She was ashamed at herself for not realizing this simple fact. She sighed and bowed towards the referee.

"I apologize. We accept our loss." She put her sword back and walked out of the platform.

"The winner is team Raven!" the referee announced.

"I’m sorry captain. Because we’re weak, you’ve lost the opportunity too." Jane said with a depressed look.

"Not at all Jane. They are older than us and have far more and better resources at their disposal. We’ll not always be weak. We’ll grow strong too. It’s just that we’ll have to work a lot harden then them." Adriana said with a smile.

Jane and Jordan nodded, their mood lifting with her encouraging words.

Just then Sylvan stood up. Seeing him stand, the others stood up too and the participating team turned towards him, as they waited in silence for the Marshall to speak.

"Congratulations to team Raven for wining this qualification competition. Also, congratulate the other three teams for showing such spirit. I am impressed and proud at seeing such zealousness of the future of our military." Sylvan said with a smile as he praised them with applause. All the others clapped following him as the room reverberated with the sounds of applause.

"Since team Raven has won the competition, they will be representing our military in the king’s tournament." He said in a solemn voice.

"Also, there is one more good news. This fact was being held from you all so as to increase the competitiveness amongst you, but we were provided with not one, but two spots for the tournament. This means that along with team Raven, team Adriana will also be representing our military." Sylvan looked at Adriana and the other two with a smile.

They were stumped, they couldn’t believe what they just heard. Jane jumped in excitement as she hugged Adriana, Jordan punched the air as he raised his fist high.

Adriana immediately looked at Roger, who was smiling at her. She now understood why he asked her to give up. He already knew that they were qualified, that’s why he stopped her from using her spirit form, that she had not mastered well.

"Tch! Lucky weaklings." Vantar clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"You’re going to suffer in training until we leave for the tournament Vantar." Katsu said.

"Huh? But w-why?"

"Because even with that huge body and axe, you still struggled with that girl. You now have the gall to scoff at them?" Katsu said in a cold voice.

"I’m s-sorry, vice captain." Vanter apologized immediately, fear apparent on his eyes, because he knew what kind of hell Katsu’s training was.

******

In the Ranatosh mansion training field, sounds of swords clashing could be heard as Leo was sparing with a young boy similar to his age.

The young man lifted his sword up when Leo’s red ancestral sword fell hard on his, loosening his grip as it flew back, falling on the hard concrete floor with a clang.

"Useless! You want to represent our dukedom with such pathetic skill? Get lost! Next!" Leo scoffed and yelled as he humiliated the young boy.

The boy was ashamed but he couldn’t retort, as Leo was the son of the Duke. He picked his sword and with his head low in shame, walked out of the field.

Another boy with a spear now approached Leo. They took their stance and then rushed at each other, beginning their sparring.

The two young boys were part of the six man team that had qualified for the king’s tournament from their Ranatosh dukedom. Leo was having a spar and testing them if they were capable enough to participate.

But rather than testing, he was flaunting his skills and humiliating them, yelling and throwing insulting words.

Florina and a few guards were standing at a distance, observing the sparring. Just then Hela entered with two maids behind her. Florina and the guards immediately bowed in respect for their Duchess.

"What’s going on Florina?" Hela asked, confused.

"Young master Leo is testing the participants for the King’s tournament my lady. He wants to form a team and is seeing if they are qualified to join him."

"How would these useless kids have the qualification to become my Leo’s teammates. Tell him I’ll bring some good mages and wizards from my father’s army. Ask him not waste his energy and stop this." Hela scoffed as she commanded Hela.

Just then the spear of the young boy flew away and he fell hard on the floor.

"Useless. All useless bastards! Has our dukedom’s standards stooped so low. Get lost! You don’t deserve to represent us!" the young boy hurriedly ran out of the field seeing Leo’s anger.

"Why are you participating in this team tournament son? You have your academy entrance tests in a month. You should focus on that." Hela caressed Leo’s face lovingly as she said.

"That manaless bastard just killed a disaster class beast mother. All the people are singing his praises, and I’m sitting here uselessly, cultivating and training the sword. I want to show that bastard and the people that I’m far stronger than a bastard banished son." Leo said through gritted teeth, his eyes red with fury and jealousy.

"You really think a manaless can defeat a beast. his sisters are behind this, they are trying to build his reputation with lies, so that your father takes him back. And, you know how rumors spread, they grow as they travel from one mouth to another."

"Hahaha! You’re right mother. Those two bitches...I’ll throw them out when I become the duke. How dare they spread lies."

"Leave them to me. If you want to participate in the tournament, I’ll find you a good team, don’t worry. You focus on your cultivation." Hela said with a warm smile.

"Yes mother."

"I brought this for your academy test, but I guess you’ll need it earlier than that." Hela signaled the maids behind her as they brought two boxes in their hands.

When they opened the boxes, there was a silver ring with a ruby fitted on it on one, and the other box had a glowing plum in it.

"Mother, this..."

"This ring is a blood armament. It has a full body armor that can deflect one attack from even a mana master."

Leo was shocked, he couldn’t believe his mother was giving him such a rare item.

"And this is the sun plum, consuming this will give you enough mana to soar to the third circle without a doubt. Using this along with the armament, will ensure your victory for sure."

Leo was now ecstatic. A wide grin spread on his face as this was what he needed the most right now.

"Just you wait Luke. I’ll rub your face on the ground under my feet!"