Chapter 100: Third Partying [Bonus]

Dean Pritchett paced around the control room for the tournament. There were hundreds of people working several functions, some at keyboards and computers, others on digital displays and some watching monitors. He stared at the largest main screen while biting his nails.

"Sir, we cannot get a view of several areas of the forest. The Eidolons in that area simply destroy the cameras too quickly," one of the workers explained.

The dean sighed and asked them to stop sending any cameras into those areas. It was his responsibility to run this entire tournament and he wanted a promotion to the board of directors. Hosting and winning a successful tournament between the eight most prestigious Universities of ability users was a step in the right direction.

Each school was assigned a color to make it easier for the billions of viewers. There was an additional set of workers who were assigned for engaging the social media chats, live stream broadcasts and several celebrity influencers were commentating the event. There were special guest interviews from movie celebrities to some of the most powerful ability users on Vexerra. Both ability and non ability users across the planet tuned in every year, but this year’s first event saw record numbers.

All eyes were on Ability Academy and this new, unknown prince who seemingly came out of nowhere.

The dean scanned the monitors and watched another set of fireworks go off.

"Get the medical team out there, now!" He commanded as someone teleported away quickly.

"30 left and we’re down one team already. Tyler, I’m counting on you..." He whispered to himself as he checked the digital scoreboard one more time.

’Why is his team only in 6th?! They should be out there hunting teams and beasts not setting up a damn base!’ He thought anxiously.

********

Nyx teleported their team to the area where the other two groups were locked in an intense duel.

"Orange and green. They’re both enemy schools. This is potentially 1000 points. Sophie, Kass and Amanda take the orange. Nyx and I will take the green." Tyler ordered while linking with Ash.

The two groups saw another team came to attack them. They realized it was an Ability Academy squad and decided to team up on them rather than fighting each other.

"I’m surprised they are both attacking us. I thought we had a good strategy. Sorry Tyler."

"We do have a good strategy and you have nothing to apologize for. Now we get two teams instead of one. Be ready for when I summon you," Tyler said eagerly with a giant grin.

Tyler’s shirt ripped off as his giant red wings expanded from his back. His eyes changed into a dark green with a hint of gold when he linked with Ash, a sign of new power from SS rank. His white ethereal glow burned like fire, swirling like it was alive.

’Form 17,’ Nyx thought while changing into a set that had a black helmet, gauntlets and boots all with red wings to match. Her chest plate was black and red and her red armored skirt only went halfway down her thighs. She held two rapiers and smirked as one of her charms landed on one of the green arm-banned students.

Tyler noticed the dazed student, so he quickly shot several pressurized fire blasts from his staff at the student. Another student from the team blocked it with a Qi infused water wall, but Nyx quickly came through and slashed through both his legs, causing him to collapse howling in pain. Someone from the medical staff appeared within seconds and teleported the injured student away to heal him.

’Damn, she’s not holding back at all. The only rule is we can’t kill them...I can’t go overboard, but it’s good to know they have people immediately.’ Tyler thought as he lunged down and kicked a large, bulkier student in the face. The student spit up blood and tried to counter, but Tyler was too fast. Two other students shot magic at him, but his staff simply absorbed it.

[Ping! Error: Staff unable to level up due to recent corruption of dark magic. Your staff is still level 7.]

’Does that mean it won’t level up or did this fix it?’

[Error: User not Level SSS and on Path of Righteous Quest.]

’Well, I guess I have to rank up to fix this thing.’

He was angry already, so this extra irritation was exactly what he needed. He unleashed the stored charge in the staff, knocking down two members of the green team. Nyx teleported to the last member who simply dropped her staff and yelled, "We surrender."

Fireworks shot into the sky. Silverwing Academy Team 2 Eliminated. 500 points for Ability Academy Team 1.

Tyler and his team didn’t know it, but the internet was going wild. Commentators were hyping up this new unknown team with the Crimson Valkyrie who was widely known from last year’s tournament. Chat rooms, watch parties and social media were going viral posting clips of their reactions to the seamless takedown of the first team while the other part of his harem was dealing with the Rizkan group with ease. Even non-ability-using families had their favorite University they cheered for. Not everyone was a fan of Ability Academy, but Tyler was a huge draw. A human vampiric prince with immortality? People wanted to know who he was and if the rumors of him being kind were true.

Amanda stayed in the back and protected herself with Qi based blocking spells while buffing her peers. Kass used her metallic claws to shred through one of the members of the orange team. Sophie’s precise magical katana strikes kept the other 4 students on the defensive, continuously using any spell or QI they could to negate the onslaught.

Sophie used her duel katanas to send a shockwave of lightning at the group, landing on one of the students, who collapsed to the ground. Amanda protected her blind side with a Qi barrier, but it shattered. Nyx teleported to Sophie while switching to her defensive form ’47,’ with her heavy armor and magically absorbent shield and blocked the blow.

"Thanks!" Sophie grinned while she saw Tyler flying quickly toward the group with that ferocious look in his eyes, the one that made them appear to be alive.

’Ash, when we get to the ground, I’m going to stop linking with you to save some of my mana. Rex still isn’t back, so Ritsu use your Odin form and shock these mother fuckers.’ Tyler commanded calmly.

"Sounds good. I’ll go search for other teams or more resources. I suggest getting back to the base and drinking a potion or two. Even though this fight has been quick, all of you have used a lot of magic. Keep a good balance and remember not to overextend yourselves, this is a marathon, not a sprint." Ash said cheerfully.

Tyler landed on the ground and removed the link. Ritsu appeared as Odin and Nyx teleported the girls away, back to the base.

Fireworks shot into the sky.

Rizkan University Team 4 Eliminated. 500 points for Ability Academy Team 1. We have a new leader!