Chapter 157 - Top 32! 1

With Silver's powerful finish, the subsequent matches only boiled over in excitement. The academy wanted to spice things up a bit more and had decided that if a contestant wanted to fight with their battle pets then they could do so together.

The winning condition was still the same, one could either incapacitate the pet or the owner and they would win.

It turns out that it wasn't only the Alchemy Faction that had powerful battle pets. The matches after Cecil's featured many contestants summoning their battle pets and fighting together on stage. The spectacle was really mind-blowing.

Cecil even thought, 'Live-action Pokem*n?'

Instead this time, even the 'trainer' would fight as well. Not everyone had battle pets, but the ones that did were gaining an advantage in their fights. However, it wasn't enough for them to win if they were facing off against opponents that far outclassed them.

Whenever any of the Faction Leaders came up on stage, it was always up against another faction's members. They would easily overwhelm them using their spells and skills, even if their opponent had summoned a battle pet and made it a 1vs2.

The same went for all the Kings...except the Ghost Queen. Ghost Queen Alice actually had a really powerful battle pet. It was an Illusion Wing Dark Hawk King. This battle pet of hers was a unique monster that she raised from young.

It was originally a normal Dark Hawk King that she had fortunately hatched when she was still a child. This Dark Hawk King grew up with her and after being fed an Illusion Spirit Fruit, it had mutated and evolved to be able to use Darkness Magic spells as well as Illusion Magic Spells on top of its already powerful wind magic.

After the rule changes, Ghost Queen Alice relied on her battle pet to fight all her matches while she comfortably napped inside Sword King Robert's robes. Many times, the Dark Hawk King would use his Illusion magic to quickly end the battle. It was pretty uncanny to see a battle pet and his owner suddenly turn blades and fangs at each other.

The Illusion Magic of the Dark Hawk King wasn't as powerful as Lucia's Illusion Magic that was practically borderline Soul Magic. Lucia's Illusion Magic was really powerful even if it was only an innate ability of her bloodline. Her Illusion Magic had bewitching, mind-tampering, and soul searching abilities. Only Cecil and her parents knew of this. Her mother had banned her from ever using her Illusion spells because some of the spells were considered taboo, especially the mind-tampering and soul related ones.

The only spell she allowed Lucia to use were the basic illusion spells and the Illusion magic that 'changed' Cecil's race from a human to foxkin. In Cecil's opinion, it was no longer just Illusion magic; it was practically transformation magic instead!

Everything felt so real! The sensations coming from his fox ears and tails! It was hard for him to believe that it was only an illusion.

With the addition of the battle pets, the Academy had successfully spiced things up. It wasn't long until the final 32 participants were determined.

All the faction leaders and Kings had made it into the final 32.Yuna was also part of the name count and she was without a doubt the most prominent dark house of the tournament.

It hadn't even been one month since she had enrolled and here she was fighting head to head with the academy's best. Many people cheered her on and she was a crowd favorite.

The random match making for the quarterfinals were finished and the large stadium screen displayed the participants.

1st match, Apocalyptic Queen vs. Warrior Faction Leader

2nd match, Disaster Queen vs. Student Council Vice President

3rd match...

Many of the Kings were even up against each other in the first round. Ghost Queen Alice was even up against Queen of Disaster Velicia. Sword King Robert his first match against Student Council President Zephyr.

"Hmm...Where am I?" Cecil mumbled as he skimmed through the match ups. "Ah, there I am! Last match in the quarter finals huh?"

Cecil was up against the Royal Fox Faction Leader Friedrich. It was unfortunate for the Faction Leader, but he was bound to lose.

In the Royal Fox Faction Waiting room, Aurellia had turned a sympathetic gaze towards her counterpart.

"Well, better luck next year."

"Whose side are you on?!" Friedrich yelled back.

"It's okay Fried~ Big sis is here to console you when you come back~" The big b.r.e.a.s.ted foxkin Delia said in comfort.

"I don't need your consolation! AND! Why do you think I'M going to be the one who loses?!"

"Well~ it's him you know...the Combat King~"

"SO WHAT?!"

"Reporting sir! Based off of all his previous matches, he hasn't once used his famed aura technique, combat skills, strengthening skills or magic, and most importantly, he hasn't once used his specialized wind magic nor has he drawn his weapon! You are bound to lose miserably if he fights you!" Quri'el reported in his usual loud voice.

"SHUT UP!"

Even before the match started, his fellow faction members were already consoling him. Even his childhood friend was offering her big b.r.e.a.s.ted chest in consolation!

"Dammit! I won't lose you hear me!" Friedrich announced before he stormed out of the room.

******

The participants of the first match were called up to the stage after a 30 minute break.

"Apocalyptic Queen vs. Warrior Faction Leader!"

The referee had begun announcing the participants using their titles now. Practically everyone in the remaining 32 spots besides Yuna and one other had a title. The 32 finalists consisted of all 11 Kings plus Yuna, and every faction leader and vice leader except for the Research Faction were present. The remaining spot had actually been given to someone unexpected.

It was the female rabbitkin secretary of the Student Council, Serilla Lunarts. Yes, Lunarts, she was part of the Anglaria Kingdom's Sword Saintess' family clan. In fact, this young girl was actually the daughter of the Sword Saintess.

You never could judge someone by their appearance. She was a genius sword master that had the same sword arts as the current Sword Saintess, she was even more powerful than her mother back when she was still the same age as her. Many expected her to be the next Sword Saintess of the Kingdom.

She was also a close friend of Elizabeth's since the two had trained under the same master, Celia Lunarts, the current Sword Saintess.

As for why she was by Zephyr's side, this was because, just as the King had the Sword Saintess by his side, the future King-candidate had the future Sword Saintess-candidate by his. This alone only further solidified Zephyr's position as the next King of Anglaria.

Eli was working towards this goal of becoming the next Sword Saintess as well, but even her skills weren't up to par against Serilla. Well, at least before it wasn't. Ever since she had awakened her Weapon Intent, it felt like she had stepped into a new realm of understanding.

She had finally surpassed her friend and rival, but Eli herself no longer sought after the throne of Sword Saintess anymore. After sparring with Cecil, who also had Weapon Intent, and losing miserably despite her new found powers, she now only had her eyes set for a higher realm of sword skills.

Just being a Sword Saintess wasn't enough, she had to find the power and realm to be able to match up to Cecil's power. She already saw the level Cecil was at, all she had to do was chase after and set foot onto that level herself.

Cecil brought many changes to his surroundings and most if not all was positive ones. Later in the future, these connections would serve as the turning point in the conflict that the Earthlings would face here on Alterna.