Chaos descended onto the spectating crowd as the incident unfurled before their eyes.
Blood messily covered one side of the entire arena painting a disgustingly bloody scene.
At the sight of the unexpected scene, shouts and whispers of condemnation rushed from the crowd and resounded throughout the arena. At the same time, those guarding the area immediately moved to take away the people involved from the onlooker's eyes.
"That half-blood dares to make trouble again!!"
"Why did he decapitate the magus!?"
"What do you mean 'the magus'? He injured the Nephilim acolyte!"
"Are you blind!? That wolf acolyte slashed and killed the magus referee!"
"The referee?! What the hell is going on!?"
"That half-blood is out of his fucking mind…"
*****
While Eeshoo was being taken away to the medical center, Emery was being secured to a specific room near the grand hall.
Eyes filled with rage and hostility glared at him from all around. Still, there was no reason to be anxious. Despite the blood of the magus referee covering his entire body, Emery had been very silent and cooperative since the incident.
After all, his mind was currently filled with his worry for his master's safety.
Did he just condone the death of his master?
Not long after the group of magus isolated him, several figures could be seen coming toward the room. Among them were Headmaster Delbrand and Magister Griffith.
Most of the people in the group had serious expressions that clearly displayed the severity of the incident, but the headmaster was different.
The headmaster calmly approached Emery and asked with his voice carrying a hit of genuine concern.
"Emery, tell me what happened?"
To outsiders, it might seem as if the half-blood did it out of a personal grudge, but Headmaster Delbrand disagreed. Although the headmaster did not know Emery for long, he still knew him quite well.
He did not believe Emery would do such a thing without a reason.
When his eyes met the headmaster's gaze, Emery first took a deep breath before he began explaining.
From the threats, he received from Annara last night to the referee who threatened him, forced him to finish the job, and upon his refusal, the magus referee took out a hidden weapon to hurt the Nephilim acolyte. In such a situation, Emery slashed the magus arm apart and followed up with an extra blow to make sure he would not be able to retaliate."
Emery carefully explained the sequence of events without leaving out a single important detail and as his last sentence marked the end of his explanation, all the magus in the room fell silent in thought.
One of the magus guards soon confirmed the finding of the secret weapon on the arena floor, a silver needle identical to the one Annara used to kill Roran. With such evidence, it was not difficult for Headmaster Delbrand to believe Emery's words.
With confirmation that the magus referee was still alive, the headmaster immediately ordered Magister Griffith to start questioning the man and start the investigation into how their own magus of the academy was involved in such a situation.
Once the headmaster was done arranging the situation, Emery called the headmaster.
"Headmaster, can you please help my master Xion? Please, can you find out what happened to him?"
Headmaster Delbrand sighed. Listening to the young acolyte plead for his master's sake, the headmaster's heart couldn't help but soften.
"I am sorry you had to get mixed up so deep in this matter, the truth is this incident is the first piece of news we got about your master. Rest assured, we will look into this matter to the best of our abilities."
"Thank you, Headmaster…"
After a nod of acknowledgment from the headmaster, the room once again fell silent. Emery looked at the headmaster hesitantly for a moment, but he ultimately steeled his resolve and spoke up.
"Headmaster, may I please participate in the investigation? I would like to help as much as I can."
The two's eyes once again met, and from the deliberating look in his eyes, it was clear the headmaster was weighing the risk.
With how well the young acolyte knew about Annara and Xion, Emery must have some value to give to the investigation.
After a moment of silence, the headmaster finally responded.
"Yes, you certainly can, but… what about the tournament? Are you going to give up on it?"
This time, it was Emery's turn to fall silent in deliberation. As worried for his master as he was, Emery still had his responsibilities. It seemed his concerns would just have to wait.
*****
The incident brought about so much chaos the match was ultimately extended much longer than expected. It took Magus Serena a tiring amount of time before she finally succeeded in convincing the crowd to calm down.
"We received news that the magus referee is alive and well! Let us give acknowledgment how hard the acolytes fight that it could even endanger people around them"
The magus tried to act casually about the situation revealing nothing to ensure order for the masses.
"With this, we hereby announce that Emery Ambrose has become the victor and entered the semi-final! Now, for the next match!"
Magus Serena proceeded to introduce the next participant to the spectators. Holding the title of strongest acolyte with the topmost rank in the physical rankings score, the Inhuman, Anzi Tamasi.
Next, the female Magus introduced another figure from the opposite side. The figure was none other than the dragon protégé, Zach Talon.
However, the fact Zach was part of the royal family of Zodiac City in addition to the half-blood incident, brought more opposition toward the dragon protégé's participation in the tournament.
Despite that, Zach walked toward the center of the stage with his head held high. The confidence in his bearing made it seem as if the displeased and furious crowd was not in his eyes.
…
Meanwhile, on the terrace where his opponent was, Shatter Cross and a few other magus of the Cross faction stood before Anzi.
"Those animals are stepping out of line! Anzi, do the faction a favor and avenge our fallen faction members. I want you to give everything you got and rid of that worm for us! Can you do that?"
The person on the other side did not say a word, but simply took off his mask and nodded. As the man walked into the arena, his gruesome face was fully revealed for all to see. At the same time, Magus Serena's voice resounded throughout the arena to start the match.
Chaos descended onto the spectating crowd as the incident unfurled before their eyes.
Blood messily covered one side of the entire arena painting a disgustingly bloody scene.
At the sight of the unexpected scene, shouts and whispers of condemnation rushed from the crowd and resounded throughout the arena. At the same time, those guarding the area immediately moved to take away the people involved from the onlooker's eyes.
"That half-blood dares to make trouble again!!"
"Why did he decapitate the magus!?"
"What do you mean 'the magus'? He injured the Nephilim acolyte!"
"Are you blind!? That wolf acolyte slashed and killed the magus referee!"
"The referee?! What the hell is going on!?"
"That half-blood is out of his fucking mind…"
*****
While Eeshoo was being taken away to the medical center, Emery was being secured to a specific room near the grand hall.
Eyes filled with rage and hostility glared at him from all around. Still, there was no reason to be anxious. Despite the blood of the magus referee covering his entire body, Emery had been very silent and cooperative since the incident.
After all, his mind was currently filled with his worry for his master's safety.
Did he just condone the death of his master?
Not long after the group of magus isolated him, several figures could be seen coming toward the room. Among them were Headmaster Delbrand and Magister Griffith.
Most of the people in the group had serious expressions that clearly displayed the severity of the incident, but the headmaster was different.
The headmaster calmly approached Emery and asked with his voice carrying a hit of genuine concern.
"Emery, tell me what happened?"
To outsiders, it might seem as if the half-blood did it out of a personal grudge, but Headmaster Delbrand disagreed. Although the headmaster did not know Emery for long, he still knew him quite well.
He did not believe Emery would do such a thing without a reason.
When his eyes met the headmaster's gaze, Emery first took a deep breath before he began explaining.
From the threats, he received from Annara last night to the referee who threatened him, forced him to finish the job, and upon his refusal, the magus referee took out a hidden weapon to hurt the Nephilim acolyte. In such a situation, Emery slashed the magus arm apart and followed up with an extra blow to make sure he would not be able to retaliate."
Emery carefully explained the sequence of events without leaving out a single important detail and as his last sentence marked the end of his explanation, all the magus in the room fell silent in thought.
One of the magus guards soon confirmed the finding of the secret weapon on the arena floor, a silver needle identical to the one Annara used to kill Roran. With such evidence, it was not difficult for Headmaster Delbrand to believe Emery's words.
With confirmation that the magus referee was still alive, the headmaster immediately ordered Magister Griffith to start questioning the man and start the investigation into how their own magus of the academy was involved in such a situation.
Once the headmaster was done arranging the situation, Emery called the headmaster.
"Headmaster, can you please help my master Xion? Please, can you find out what happened to him?"
Headmaster Delbrand sighed. Listening to the young acolyte plead for his master's sake, the headmaster's heart couldn't help but soften.
"I am sorry you had to get mixed up so deep in this matter, the truth is this incident is the first piece of news we got about your master. Rest assured, we will look into this matter to the best of our abilities."
"Thank you, Headmaster…"
After a nod of acknowledgment from the headmaster, the room once again fell silent. Emery looked at the headmaster hesitantly for a moment, but he ultimately steeled his resolve and spoke up.
"Headmaster, may I please participate in the investigation? I would like to help as much as I can."
The two's eyes once again met, and from the deliberating look in his eyes, it was clear the headmaster was weighing the risk.
With how well the young acolyte knew about Annara and Xion, Emery must have some value to give to the investigation.
After a moment of silence, the headmaster finally responded.
"Yes, you certainly can, but… what about the tournament? Are you going to give up on it?"
This time, it was Emery's turn to fall silent in deliberation. As worried for his master as he was, Emery still had his responsibilities. It seemed his concerns would just have to wait.
*****
The incident brought about so much chaos the match was ultimately extended much longer than expected. It took Magus Serena a tiring amount of time before she finally succeeded in convincing the crowd to calm down.
"We received news that the magus referee is alive and well! Let us give acknowledgment how hard the acolytes fight that it could even endanger people around them"
The magus tried to act casually about the situation revealing nothing to ensure order for the masses.
"With this, we hereby announce that Emery Ambrose has become the victor and entered the semi-final! Now, for the next match!"
Magus Serena proceeded to introduce the next participant to the spectators. Holding the title of strongest acolyte with the topmost rank in the physical rankings score, the Inhuman, Anzi Tamasi.
Next, the female Magus introduced another figure from the opposite side. The figure was none other than the dragon protégé, Zach Talon.
However, the fact Zach was part of the royal family of Zodiac City in addition to the half-blood incident, brought more opposition toward the dragon protégé's participation in the tournament.
Despite that, Zach walked toward the center of the stage with his head held high. The confidence in his bearing made it seem as if the displeased and furious crowd was not in his eyes.
…
Meanwhile, on the terrace where his opponent was, Shatter Cross and a few other magus of the Cross faction stood before Anzi.
"Those animals are stepping out of line! Anzi, do the faction a favor and avenge our fallen faction members. I want you to give everything you got and rid of that worm for us! Can you do that?"
The person on the other side did not say a word, but simply took off his mask and nodded. As the man walked into the arena, his gruesome face was fully revealed for all to see. At the same time, Magus Serena's voice resounded throughout the arena to start the match.
