The excitement peaked when Kairos chose to take up his next challenge immediately. In his first fight of the day, he had easily defeated the tenth ranked duellist with a single blow, thus asking for the next battle wasn’t too unexpected. Of course, the showmanship still created an uproar.

However, issuing the next challenge has a completely different meaning. He had just been bombarded by six clones going into self-destruction. The force behind their explosions was enough to take down even the academy’s staffs in that situation, much less the average student.

Perhaps, only those of the professor-level could fend it off, but even they will find it difficult to come out unscathed.

“Just how did he survive those blasts? My legs are still trembling even though I’m all the way up here…”

“Must be some defensive technique.”

“You’re stating the obvious!”

“Ha ha. However, it doesn’t look like a Ki Barrier martial art.”

“I reckon it must have something to do with those strange shiny golden runes on him.”

As the crowd discuss this miracle before their eyes, Kairos has already taken his place, and his next opponent just entered the arena. He had no more time to care about what’s happening on Edward’s side. Moreover, his friend needs to learn how to handle his own relationships although it’s not like he could claim himself any more experienced than his friends.

Taking a side-glance and seeing that Edward is now in an argument with Toprak, Kairos shook his head and returned his concentration on the fight at hand.

“Kairos Astroire, I am that ranked 8th Gigas Sermont, the Clan Head of the Pink Chicken that Luci mentioned. Shall we see if I am really as easy a target as she said?”

“Sure.”

This time, unlike before, Kairos charged forward at a full sprint the moment the announcer declared the start of combat.

Gigas turned to panic when he saw how quickly his opponent closed the distance.

Kairos flew forward like a swooping eagle, and in a moment he had already crossed the half-way point of the amphitheatre. As his feet stepped across a certain invisible boundary, he accelerated even further.

If he was swift previously, now he has become the wind itself.

In a second, Kairos is already down upon Gigas with a downward slash from his Swallow. Sword in hand, his opponent, threw up his weapon in alarm, but the difference in their strength became quickly evident.

With a loud clank, the slender blade cracked from the devastating strike. Both weapons had enhanced impact-absorption being coated with gel, yet it was rendered useless from a single blow.

“Wha-? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Surprise turned into instant regret as the ice-clad edge of the Swallow cut through the Pink Chicken Clan Head’s treasured sword and struck him on his shoulder. The impact sent him flying back out of the arena with his scream trailing behind.

The gel coating that suppresses all elemental Ki had already turned stiff and rubbery. Though it still reduces the impact greatly, it was enough to invite Gigas to exit politely.

Accompanied by his departure was a number of axes, maces, and other ridiculous weaponry fell out from his Time-space ring, cluttering onto the ground.

“Shameful,” the 7th ranked Lucas Flare duly noted.

“He tried to overwhelm that boy with a weapon formation … but couldn’t even find the time to activate it and was defeated,” the 6th Ranked Lee Hei sighed.

At the same time, the crowd hushed at his dramatic exit, then they burst into cheers.

While most were swept away by Kairos’ show of complete dominance, the top duellists, along with the professors and those above S rank, all turned wide-eyed with surprise.

They could hardly believe their eyes when there wasn’t a hint of Ki on the earl’s body when he defeated his opponent.

“His physical rank… Is he an external martial arts practitioner?”

“By the vibrations of his movement and the impact… He is at Titan ranked, Earth Grade physical strength? Amazing. Utterly amazing.”

“The body of High Orcs. Flesh that is closest in strength to the legendary immortals…!”

Physical strength is ranked according to the power one is born with.

The lowest rank: Man refers to the strength an adult will assume. The second rank: Beast, likewise, is the power that a normal spirit beast will have when it matures.

While the third rank: Titan, is the strength of an average High Orc. They are unlike their kindred, some even consider them as a different race from the same species. Like wolves among dogs. Born as conquerors, even without training they will have a physical strength stronger than most cultivators. And if they forged their strength through battles, High Orcs can easily become Orc Lords – an existence only slightly beneath the Orc King.

However, the term ‘High Orcs’ were coined by humanity – made popular as an easy way to differentiate those monstrous foes from the regular Orcs.

While Orcs are the correct way to call them, in their language, the High Orcs are called: Titans.

A few minutes after, when Gigas woke up, he had already lost the match.

Lucas and Lee who are his friends went down to the edge of the arena and offered him drinks and recovery pills.

Although they are all rivals in the competition, the three of them are all seniors from the same year. They had gone through multiple examinations and missions together and had forged a bond together.

“Ow… oww… owww… Big brother Lee, big brother Lucas. My head’s still ringing.”

“Then don’t talk and drink up. The warm spirit fruit drink will help.”

“Big brother Lucas, you gotta be careful. He’ll definitely ask for you next.”

“I know. Don’t worry.”

“I didn’t even see what he did, and I lost. Do you have a way to beat him?”

“Lucas,” said Lee, “Later on, be careful not to let him have the first move, got it?”

“Heh, don’t worry, I got this handled.”

At the same time, Kairos softly said from within the arena, though his voice resonated throughout the amphitheatre, “Rank seven, Lucas Flare. I challenge you.”

“Whoops, looks like I don’t have time to chat anymore, he’s calling for me now,” Lucas laughed with confidence.

“Alright, see you in a sec.”

“Good luck big brother Lucas.”

All of the previous duellists were defeated right at the outset because of one simple reason; they were caught off guard by how fast Kairos was.

He wouldn’t make a mistake of underestimating the boy like them.

Just as he left, the other top duellists in the competition also joined in. All of them, without exception, are final year cadets. To enter S rank at their age is something unusual, only the most exceptional would stand a chance.

In the entire academy, only sixteen students were S ranked, and already nine of them were defeated. The rest could no longer treat today’s fight as a spectacle, and they came over to the edge to observe.

Even Sihala, the Blessed Son, had a serious look on his face, an expression that the others in his year had never seen before.

They greeted each other, giving Lee a nod, then stared at the competition.

When Lucas entered the arena, he immediately pulled out his most powerful artefact and cast it into the air, “Frost formation plate, Ice World!”

A sphere of translucent white surrounded him, and Kairos who was blazing over, suddenly halted.

“Hmm?! Did he stop? ALRIGHT!”

Kairos had seen a similar move before.

Edward’s contract spirit – Boreas’ ultimate frost technique was called the ‘Broken World’, and it caused him to hesitate. If this formation is anything like what the Greater Frost Spirit can do, it would be a tricky thing to face, and he wouldn’t want to run into the sphere unprepared.

Gaining precious seconds, Lucas took out five pieces of talismans and cast them in a circle around him.

“Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire. Elements of creation, the circle of protection!”

At his beckon, the talismans activated and crumbled into dust and in their places, five shields shimmered into existence.

Next, from his Time-space rings, he summons a set of swords. A hundred shiny blades stabbed into the ground around him.

They were placed neatly in sequence, forming an array with an air of antiquity. Even those unversed in stratagems could tell that it is an ancient and powerful formation.

Just like the Frost formation plate, the swords are the medium to gather and hold ambient energies. In certain conditions, the accumulated power will be released for specialised effects.

The Ice World array enables Lucas to slow the movement of any living beings that enters its spherical protection zone by freezing their muscles.

If someone stays long enough in the area, even for cultivators, they will be frostbitten. Of course, as long as Lucas remains in the formation heart next to the plate, he will be safe.

And, if by some chance he is separated from the artefact, the formation will power down, rendering him unharmed. It was because of such functions that Formation Plates are highly sought after treasures.

At the same time, the swords responded to a single jewelled sword that Lucas held. It is a family heirloom, an illustrious weapon that is used to safeguard their clan. Not only is its edge keen enough to shave Pseudo-Immortal ranked ores like butter, but it could also freely direct other swords in its vicinity.

As the parent sword, there is a connection with the hundred child swords stabbed in the ground, and together they are called the Hundred Swords Array. Unlike traditional stratagems, the Hundred Swords Array do not require specific placements. The only requirement is for the user to be strong enough to control the sword formation.

For Lucas, planting a hundred swords into the ground around him is already his limit. Though it is possible to turn them into flying swords, it will drain him instantly even to try to do so – and without a chance to succeed.

However, to look down on the plant, unmoving, swords would be a deadly mistake. Even if the weapons themselves cannot attack, Lucas could cause ripples of resonance among the blades, causing razor sharp Sword-Ki to bombard his foe.

A single air blade may only injure an A ranker, but having a hundred attacking at any time will cause even Double S rankers to be wary.

Now with his defences properly setup, Lucas gleefully prepared to attack.

Kairos took a look at the three layers of protections covering his foe with a glance. His eyes glowed dimly golden, allowing him to observe the movement of energies and interpret its function.

The ocular technique he had mastered allowed him to unravel the mysteries of most formations, talismans, and all sorts of runic techniques.

Even Calculus’ sealing techniques could be disarmed if Kairos wanted.

Blinking, his eyes returned to his normal colour – the purest black of the darkest night.

Then with a smile on his face, he took a step forward and walked into the Ice World boundary.