Arianna’s understanding of the situation was spot on, and Ace had long since reached the same conclusion. In fact, so had Olivier, which was why when Olivier suddenly came to a stop, it took everyone by surprise.

“Why did you stop?” Ace asked, not understanding what Olivier was doing.

If things carried on the way they had been, unless Ace managed to make a last-minute breakthrough, it would inevitably be Olivier’s win.

“I’m already taking advantage of you with my age and higher realm,” Olivier explained indifferently. “I refuse to wait until you tire out to defeat you on top of all that.

This next move will be my last; if you’re able to remain on your feet, then I’ll admit my defeat, but I should warn you, this following technique is one I’ve only recently created; as such, I don’t have full control of it. If you fail to block it, you will die – this is your last chance to give up!”

Hearing that, the majority of the audience wanted to curse Olivier for his arrogance. It was as though he didn’t understand what was on the line if he lost this – the pride of their empire!

Ace on the other hand didn’t believe Olivier was being overly arrogant. He understood the pride of a genius better than anyone. Whether it was himself or any of his classmates, whether they displayed it outwardly or not, they were all very proud characters.

As such, whenever their pride was put on the line, each and every one of them became the definition of unyielding.

In Olivier’s eyes, winning the right way was far more important for his state of mind than simply winning on behalf of his homeland. He’d rather lose and be able to die with his head held high than win and forsake his pride.

Still, Ace understood that although Olivier was giving him an opportunity, it was an incredibly small one. From Olivier’s warning, this technique was likely far stronger than anything he had shown thus far, but at the same time, Ace had never been one to shy away from a challenge.

“Come,” Ace grinned as the crimson flames coating his glaive strengthened in preparation for what appeared to be the grand finale in today’s festivities.

Everyone was watching with rapt attention, not daring to blink for fear of missing what was to come. Still, the two that were most nervous were Milianna and Blumer. Blumer for fear of his brother’s near-perfect record being tarnished, and Milianna because it was her son’s life on the line.

“Trust in him,” Arianna whispered gently. “Like he does in you.”

Milianna didn’t respond, but her eyes burned with resolve as she knew her master was right.

At the same time, the shadowy outer layer of Olivier’s battle-qi dissipated as the golden inner layer shone with far greater intensity until it took a golden-white hue.

“[Radiant Sword]!” Olivier said with a soft indifference as he calmly waved his sword from top to bottom.

Before the sword light left his blade, Ace’s eyes had already shrunk to pinholes as he urged his mageforce to its limits as he thrust his glaive forth with unbridled ferocity. “[Blazing Penetration]!”

With his [Observation: Foresight], Ace was able to barely pre-empt his opponent’s technique and attack first. An extremely fine but burning beam exited from the tip of the blade of his glaive, tearing through the air at breakneck speed, threatening to pierce and then burn anything that dared get in its way.

Still, despite attacking first, Ace’s attack had barely left his glaive when Olivier’s sword light seemed to teleport, appearing before his attack at a speed that left many of the saints in attendance in awe.

It wasn’t just them; even Olivier seemed to be taken aback by the might of his own attack. His eyes suddenly glazed over as the rest of the world faded out of sight, the scene of his last attack replaying in his mind over and over again as his aura seemed to grow with wild abandonment.

The moment anyone sensed Olivier’s rising aura, be it mortal or saint, everyone understood what it meant.

“Saint,” Vena exclaimed with a hint of envy. “Olivier just became the first of our generation to break through to the saint realm!”

Olivier’s sword light seemed to respond to his breakthrough as it too grew in power and speed, instantly tearing through Ace’s fiery forcefield as though it were paper.

“AACCEEEE!” Milianna screamed frantically.

She was too weak to follow an attack of that level with any kind of clarity, but at that moment, out of pure desperation, she too unlocked [Observation – Foresight], but unfortunately, what she foresaw was enough to almost shatter her heart.

She watched her son being cut in two before falling to his death.

Her screams returned everyone’s attention to Ace, but instead of the death of a genius which they expected, they saw Ace standing on his feet, a large laceration across his chest, but otherwise totally fine.

They would’ve been shocked by the outcome had it not been for the enchanting beauty casually stood in front of him with her open palm outstretched in front of her.

“No saints allowed,” Arianna commanded softly, leaving no room for negotiations.

The meaning behind her words was crystal clear – since Olivier had broken through to the saint realm, he was disqualified. Still, with things having come this far, how could those from the O’Brien Empire be okay with that?

“What are you talking about?!” Byrius blurted out, unwilling to allow Ace to get a free pass after coming so close to finally killing him. “Olivier was clearly still a mortal when the attack was initiated.”

Arianna merely glanced at the crimson-haired man but said nothing, too lazy to reply to such a man.

“Are all the saints of the O’Brien Empire really this stupid?” Carter snorted disdainfully. “He may have been a saint when the attack was made, but as he broke through before the attack landed, his attack also became that of a saint-level strike!”

Byrius and the others all felt indignant, but there was nothing they could say to that – they knew Carter was right. It was bad enough that they had to resort to sending an alumni to represent them against a teen so young in the first place. They couldn’t then squabble about the result when the truth was obvious for everyone to see.

Still, it didn’t stop them from glaring daggers at Carter for ruining their plans – not that he seemed to care in the slightest.

Olivier, who had only just completed his breakthrough, had to forcibly suppress his sudden urge to roar in excitement, having finally completed his lifelong dream of becoming a saint. Still, he knew now was neither the time nor the place for that.

After taking a deep breath to regain his composure, Olivier’s eyes went back to their usual indifferent state as he looked towards Ace. “As a thank you for pushing me till I broke through to the saint realm, I’m willing to take a step back and concede to a draw,”

His words came as a shock to most listening, but they knew no one else was entitled to interfere in his decision, as much as they were against it. Still, what no one could’ve predicted was Ace’s response.

“Draw?” Ace asked, a confident grin adorning his handsome face. “Our fight’s just gotten started!”

Ace’s response received nothing but derisive looks and scorn from the audience. Even Arianna couldn’t help but turn around with a raised brow, only to find a look she was all too familiar with. A look filled with confidence, excitement, and pride. A look that seemed to say, “I won’t lose!”

Still, it was only when she sensed his aura that she seemed to somewhat understand his confidence.

That’s right, after that last attack, Olivier wasn’t the only one who had broken through. Ace, who had been at the peak of the fifth stage as a warrior and mage, had just stepped into the early stages of the sixth rank.

Still, she didn’t completely understand where Ace’s confidence stemmed from. Aside from Ace, Aiden, and potentially Amira, she was probably the one who understood Ace’s strength best. As such, she understood that between the innate improvement after his mage and warrior cultivation increased, his insane level of comprehension, and his haki, which gets stronger with every breakthrough, Ace could likely fight on par with some weaker early-stage saints.

But she also knew Olivier wasn’t your average early-stage saint. Even though he had only just broken through after barely beginning to comprehend the law of light’s profound mystery of lightspeed, he would struggle to find an opponent at the same level.

All things considered, if their fight was to continue, Ace was asking to be abused and punished. Still, the more she looked into Ace’s eyes, the more she couldn’t help but believe in him.

“HAHAHAHA! Your bravery is truly commendable!” Byrius roared with laughter as his eyes fell back on Arianna. “You heard him; he wants to continue the fight of his own free will. Now you have no reason to get involved.”

Arianna didn’t respond to Byrius she just glanced at him, but that fleeting look was all it took to put the fear of god in the peak stage saint. In less than a second, Byrius’ back was drenched in sweat as he subconsciously jolted back.

By the time he regained his senses, Arianna had already begun floating back up towards Carter and the others.

“Master, we can’t let Ace continue,” Milianna exclaimed urgently. “He’s not read…”

“You have my word,” Arianna said seriously. “Nothing bad will happen to Ace!”

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Currently 126 chapters ahead

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Book 10: Part 13 – Ace Defeats A Paragon