Chapter 36: Majestic Presence

Black glow, darker than the abyss' pits, pulled people into a different trance compared to Aniela's white light. Darcel stood like a grand majestic emperor with his bloodline arm.

His mere leakage aura was of this commanding presence merely impossible to ignore.

Aniela's aura made you want to serve and worship her. Darcel's aura made you want to willingly bend to his will and leave their minds to him.

A majestic fairy...and a glorious emperor! Their combination fit each other perfectly to a tee! And somehow, despite being in the lowest rank province, Zakira Academy people were the first to witness their full glory.

The raging black fire on stage calmed down, becoming entirely steady, swaying with an elegant rhythm. Giel's Nascent aura was utterly negligent to the grand prowess of Darcel's bloodline state.

His breath caught in his throat as feelings of regret boiled into his mind. In just a matter of a few seconds, his whole world was utterly trampled upon by Darcel. He regrets ever crossing gazes with this freak!

Alas, there was simply no pill for regret.

But, could he simply give up right now? Logically it makes the most sense, but...he was a Zakira Middle-level student! It was just unbefitting to roll over like a dog and pathetically leave without even throwing an attack.

Darcel's cold, uncaring eyes mockingly stared at him, further destroying his confidence. Yet, even under this pressure, Giel forcefully swirled up Nascent Qi in his mouth.

Uncaring about anything else, Giel forcefully erupted his blood essence! Attention momentarily snapped towards Giel as he was making the same move as Luka.

And just like Luka, Giel's tremendous waves of newfound frantic Nascent Qi was still nothing compared to Darcel. Even as he shakily stood up while erupting his blood essence, everybody already knows this outcome.

"Doesn't he just realize it's already over? Now he just uselessly wasting his life span…"

"Wait...wait a minute. Giel is actually forming a Martial Skill?!"

Gushes storm of winds swirled around Giel as his aura dramatically increased! He tightly clutched his sword with his mangled arm, spurting blood into the wind, yet he didn't care about that or the pain.

In a similar manner, like Darcel, Giel's prowess significantly multiply all at once!

Meaning he is also about to unleash a Perfection Mastery Martial Skill! The area around Giel turned into a sharp piercing blue aura as phantom images of swords started to form.

Darcel only held his vicious smile while watching Giel. No matter how much Giel tried to amplify his prowess, it was still nothing under his bloodline aura.

He could just finish with Giel with one move. But, Darcel wanted to set in stone the example Aniela provided in her last match.

This example will forever be engraved in their minds, no matter if they're a student or a teacher!

"My, my~. Giel is going to use the penultimate of Sword Skills here. I wonder just how this special guy will deal with it~?" Hao Cao's sweet, playful voice cooed out in the genius area, bringing the other ranked students' attention to her.

These three students were at first shocked at Giel's sudden burst of power. Clearly, in a regular battle, this would be an unstoppable trump card!

It was only a shame they and all other students could still sense Darcel's mighty aura, majorly outclassing Giel's Martial Skill.

However, their interest was now stolen as this was the second time Hao Cao decided to open up her mouth.

Looking at her, the ranked initiate level students could see she held far more interest in Darcel than Aniela. Hell, the fact she was interested in the two of them was surprising considering her weird track record.

Yet before anyone of them could comment on it, they all heard a roaring shout filled with great power.

"Hundred Layer Swords!!"

'Whir!!'

Gushes of massive Nascent Qi spewed out in the whole arena! All around, Giel has numerous blue Qi swords, totaling to an actual number of one hundred.

And around Giel's body was a complete sharp blue sword Qi aura. It was like he was at one with the sword, having his presence become dangerously piercing, akin to a real sword.

It only took a couple of seconds to form this Skill, and Darcel didn't lift a finger to interrupt. Him doing this was even greater disrespect to Giel! Darcel didn't even consider his frantic surge of power a little threat.

Moreover, the cheeky smile he offered Giel sent him into a blazing rage! Gnashing his teeth to the point where blood flowed out, Giel tightly gripped his sword and blitzed towards Darcel.

However, before Giel could even move that far, all of the black flame on the stage suddenly was sucked into Darcel's rapier. Causally holding his rapier out to the charging Giel, Darcel was ready to end it once and for all.

Immediately, Giel froze up once, seeing a glowing black fire shine form at the tip of Darcel's rapier. That shine exuded incredible power that Giel didn't know could actually come from a human.

The temperature dramatically shot up to burning degrees, already sizzling Giel's body without even coming close. Beads of sweats endlessly poured down Giel's face, and then...he witnessed it.

Unlike Giel, Darcel didn't need to take even two seconds to form his attacks. Instantaneously when his black flaming glow appeared, Darcel's black fire aura ferociously sizzled.

'Chi!'

Shooting out from Darcel's rapier in a black fiery glory was a massive black flaming claw! The claw grew to exponential size to the point where Giel's hundred sword attack looked like an ant.

Jaws dropped, eyes popped open, and minds were shattered. The power behind this claw, the scale of this claw, was all imagery that would forever be imprinted on students' and teachers' brains.

Smacked right in the middle of the black flaming claw grand aura was a terrorizing sensation.

Giel couldn't move a single muscle as he helplessly watched his hundred blue Qi swords disintegrate under the black flaming claw.

And in horrific realization, the enormous black flaming claw came crashing down at him! Giel's world was engulfed in complete darkness; he couldn't even utter out a cry for help.

'BANG!'

Darcel's black flaming claw ruthlessly crushed Giel and his ultimate Martial Skill. The resounding impact blared into everyone's ear, jolting them up to this mass rush of power.

In total control, Darcel made his black flaming claw disappear along with turning off his bloodline state. Back to his usual calm self, Darcel contently smiled at his work.

The dark blue stone stage had several weblike cracks running under a sizzling, bloody Giel. Giel was, of course, still alive, but had immediately passed out from the overwhelming blow.

Silence, utter silence permeated the whole Middle-level combat arena.

That level of attack Darcel had achieved, it was...it was mind-boggling! A scale of that attack size, only those legendary Core level geniuses could achieve something like that!

The size of Giel's Martial Skill was already a slightly special case that would be difficult to replicate. Yet it just utterly paled in comparison to Darcel's flaming claw.

Before Darcel got his rewards from Teacher Ren, like with Aniela, he also saw a doctor professional whisk Giel away. And Darcel took little notice of how the doctor wasn't even the slightest bit fazed by his fire.

Continuing on, Darcel walked up Teacher Ren, boldly speaking out loud and causing everyone to awake from their stupor. "My red crystals are ready, right?"

Mastery over a Martial Skill...and overwhelming Profound Qi...Darcel was a true genius! He was even more dominating than Aniela, considering Giel couldn't even last for two of his moves.

Upproaring chatter broke out about Darcel and Aniela. And among all the noise, Teacher Ren cleared his head and ignited his spatial ring. Taking out a dark blue sack, he said,

"Right-right. Here, thirty red crystals."

Taking the sack, Darcel transferred it to his spatial ring and promptly walked back to Aniela. No wonder Aniela seemed in a great mood when coming back, basking in awe; glory was a refreshing experience for Darcel.

The three top-ranked students were silent as they watched Darcel proudly walk back.

Two massive chasms had appeared out of nowhere, and these chasms were one Numi, Opin, and Cusi knew they could never cross…

For the first time in a long while, Hao Cao felt excited about wanting to meet new people. Her playful grin turned into a genuine eager smile as she slowly muttered out,

"At that meeting, they will definitely be there!"

Teacher Zala and Instructor Lei simply couldn't expect they would accidentally pick up such level talent. And to think they both initially thought the duo were just shabby kids!

Although before they could continue this thought, they both sensed her hidden presence moving out. Her presence caused them to tighten up since it was finally time to appear.

"Muuu...fine! I'll give it up to you, Darcy, that show was way flashier than mines. But! Next time, I'll show you what it really means to be flashy!" Darcel didn't even say anything, yet Aniela immediately croaked once he came close with his slightly smug smile.

"I'm sure you'll try ditzy girl. But don't be-"

"AH?!?"

Whatever snide comment Darcel was going to say got caught off when fervent uproars of surprised shocks rocked the arena.

The duo found the students and teachers to be even more astonished than when they fought.

As the two turned to see who caused all of this commotion, both Darcel and Aniela suddenly felt that same profound sensation of being watched. Only this time, the person had come out in full.

"WE GREET VICE-PRINCIPAL!!"

Every student's respectful shout boomed into Darcel and Aniela's eardrums as they finally saw who commanded such respect. And frankly, the duo was also shocked by who it was.

Generally, as one steadily advanced in cultivation, their appearances will also either quickly or slowly grow. Even Darcel and Aniela, their once decent appearance was slowly morphing into something charming.

But once people get to legendary high realms, at the very least, their appearances would be charmingly attractive. However, for the woman that just showed up, she went against that norm.

This woman was, simply put, grand in stature. She was six feet tall, just barely taller than Darcel, but still towers over most men and women.

Her outfit was this dazzling black purple mixed majestic robes that exuded a leader like presence.

But her face. It was just...plain, average with no real defining features. A woman's face that could simply be assorted into crowds of people and blend into the background.

Moreover, a long scar ran down her cheek, giving her a slight violent look.

Her body was no different in being plain. Just ordinary proportions, leaning a bit on the flat side. Compared to Teacher Zala, she obviously outstrips this Vice Principal in terms of beauty.

Yet, in terms of aura? Teacher Zala couldn't hold a candle to the natural aura this Vice Principal exudes. It was an aura that made the blood run cold, intimidated minds, and commanded a high degree of respect.

This was a woman you wouldn't ever dream of going against in primal fear for your life.

So grand and majestic, she would undoubtedly frighten any, if not all, youths during the first meeting. But today, the Vice Principal came across two kids who were actually expecting her.

Darcel and Aniela didn't back down at all from this majestic woman. Their eyes evenly matched with her cold blue ones, taking her aura in full stride.

A small, barely noticeable smirk twitched the Vice Principal lips as gazed upon this bold duo. Ignoring all others who respectfully greeted her, her attention was only on Darcel and Aniela.

"You kids' talent and potential are deserving to come with me. Unless...you have any other thoughts?" The Vice Principal's voice was like steel.

Indifferent, blunt, and straight to the point.

She carried an undeniable momentum when talking as students and teachers were all engrossed in this exchange. Yet, neither Darcel nor Aniela had reactions they would typically expect.

"Finally, it's here! Our golden ticket! Let's get on with it!" Aniela bubbly said out loud, spouting a massive grin on her face. She vividly walked up along with Darcel as he also said,

"And like usual, everything just falls into place thanks to our joint prowess. Ready whenever you are." Both of their tones were brazen and uncaring about giving high amounts of respect.

Honestly, breaths hitched into throats as no one ever dared to speak to the Vice Principal this way! Surely they thought these two freakishly strong duos would get into trouble, but they only heard,

"Two rare mouthy ones, eh? This truly will be interesting." The Vice Principal only indifferently remarked without a hint of anger. Waving her hand, an mysterious energy enveloped Darcel and Aniela.

And under all eyes, the two were swiftly whisked away by the majestic Vice Principal of the Zakira Academy!

Though left behind, no one will ever forget the legendary fights two previous new initiate level students had for times to come...