Chapter 373: Defect

With Auric’s problem solved, they had no choice but to continue with the event. The evolution master competition wasn’t that interesting on the first day.

After all, it was just a competition for bronze-grade and silver-grade evolution masters.

However, because they ended up wasting so much time on the accusation, the silver-grade evolution master competition had to be moved to the next day.

Everyone understood. In the end, there weren’t as many challenges on the second day, and the most exciting one was the battle between Auric and Nicholas. So, they could easily move their schedule to the next day.

The bronze-grade evolution master competition was won by a student from Dermania. On the other hand, the silver-grade evolution master competition was won by a student from the UK.

Finally, this was the time they had been waiting for.

"Oh! They’re here!"

"Here it comes!"

"Kyaaa!"

"Auric!"

"My prince!"

"Nicholas, don’t you dare lose!"

"Nicholas, if you lose, all the girls will be swept away by that bastard!"

The crowd cheered, as this was the highlight of the battle. Both students had far surpassed the norm with their talent.

This was something that didn’t happen in the current fighting competition.

After all, they didn’t have a single student who had reached Rank 5.

Auric and Nicholas finally stood in front of each other.

Nicholas looked at Auric before muttering, "Thank you."

Auric was a bit startled, but he understood why Nicholas was thanking him. It seemed Nicholas understood the gesture. Even if he lost, people would still understand him. At least, the headache for him wasn’t as great as it would have been if Auric hadn’t done anything.

"Everything just seems to be in place, so I don’t know what you’re talking about." Auric smiled.

Nicholas nodded. "Let’s leave it at that. We both have pressure from our own countries, so it’s understandable. I have no choice but to fight with everything I got. You should too."

"Very well."

Nicholas didn’t seem to be agitated because of the challenge. Rather, he looked understanding. In the end, their fight happened because Granda was trying to show off.

Auric extended his hand, and Nicholas didn’t hesitate to shake it.

The referee had a small smile on his face, thinking this fight wouldn’t escalate to something bad.

He waved his hand, asking the staff member to bring everything to the arena.

"I shall explain the battle. It will be divided into three rounds. The first round is to identify materials. You need to identify all ten materials, providing their names, the amount of their element, and their element rating.

"The second phase is treating patients’ problems. There will be patients who are injured or have other medical conditions. You need to identify their conditions first and treat them.

"The third phase is helping people evolve."

The staff members brought 16 people. It looked like each of them would have to treat 5 patients and help 3 people evolve. There was also a table where ten materials were lined up.

However, there was one thing that looked concerning to Auric. One of these people was actually poisoned. They were poisoned by the same poison that contained two elements. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone in Dermania who had this poison, but it would be a different matter if Dermania was cooperating with the organization.

Auric realized the organization was trying to confirm his power.

Lastly, they brought two podiums, each with a screen at the top.

"Please answer everything on the screen. We will show the answer on the screen." the referee explained while pointing up with his hand.

"Are both of you ready?" The referee asked.

Both of them nodded firmly.

"All right. Please stand behind your podium. We will begin." The referee paused for a moment until they took their positions. Then, he held up the first material, a pale-gray blade of grass. "This will be the first material. You can only see it from your position. Please observe and give your answer. You have thirty seconds."

Both Auric and Nicholas looked at the material. It wasn’t a hard problem for them. In fact, Auric noticed that the materials were limited to containing only light or dark elements. It made him realize that Nicholas was adept at those elements, but not the other elements.

Even though it wasn’t his field, he should still be knowledgeable about it.

However, his teacher seemed to be focusing only on the light and dark elements.

Auric couldn’t exactly raise a complaint since it was easy to give a reason for this selection.

Both Auric and Nicholas put down their pens as they showed their answers.

[Name: Polar Panda Bear.]

[Element: 12%]

[Rating: 3.3]

They gave the same answers. There didn’t seem to be any problem because both of them continued to give the same answers, showing that there was a reason they could become gold-grade evolution masters that young.

"Amazing. They’re keeping up with each other."

"Nicholas is going to win!"

"No way, Auric is going to win."

Everyone was hyping up the competition, but it all changed the moment the ninth material came.

[Name: Dark Rhino’s Heart]

[Rating: 3.8]

They actually had a different answer for the amount of elements contained in this material.

Nicholas’s answer was 13%, while Auric’s answer was 12%.

"What’s this? What’s this?"

"Finally, they have different answers."

"Who’s right?!"

"Wow. This is the first time I’ve seen different answers. In that case, shall we reveal who’s right?" The referee smiled and raised his hand. "Congratulations... Nicholas!"

"!!!" People widened their eyes in shock.

"Hahahaha! Nicholas is winning!"

"That’s what you get from being too young. You don’t have enough time to learn everything!"

"No way. Auric shouldn’t be wrong."

Katarina, Ellia, and Maya were confused. They knew about Auric’s senses, so it was impossible for Auric to be wrong unless he intended it that way.

The referee noticed Auric scratching his head.

"Student Auric? It looks like you are not satisfied with the result. Would you like to state your opinion?" the referee asked while giving him the microphone.

"Well, yes. The element in that material is definitely 13%, 14% even. However, that 1% is the problem. There is a defect in that material."

"A defect?!" The referee looked confused.

"Yes. If I may..." Auric extended his hand, intending to examine the material.

The referee handed the material to him, so Auric raised his finger and created a blade with his energy, slicing it open.

"This is..." The referee looked shocked. He was also an evolution master, since his expertise was needed to ensure the fight was fair.

But even he didn’t expect there was a defect.

"It looks like you noticed it as well." Auric smiled. "This is a dark rhino’s heart. The Dark Rhino is known as a beast that is constantly active during the night. I can’t exactly know the cause, but if I have to speculate, this Dark Rhino was killed when it was either drinking or submerging a portion of its body underwater.

"From an awakener’s perspective, this is a perfect chance to kill the rhino. However, for an evolution master, it’s quite a nightmare.

"Because the rhino wasn’t killed in a single strike, water would flow into its body and into its heart. However, this is ordinary river or lake water, so the energy in it isn’t that obvious unless you crack it open.

"Unfortunately, because of this defect, the evolution master has to remove the contaminated portion because you will end up absorbing it into your body. To get rid of it, a portion of the rhino’s energy will also be lost.

"As such, it will only give you about 12% under ideal conditions. If not, your element’s movement will become sluggish.

"That’s the reason for my answer." Auric explained respectfully.

Even the referee was dumbfounded. He didn’t even notice this defect.

"This..." The referee wondered what he should do next. In a way, Auric had confirmed that the element was originally 13%, but because of this defect, Auric’s answer was also correct. No, his answer was more accurate.

"Kyaaa! My prince caught a defect that the referee didn’t even notice!"

"No, no. If the referee didn’t even notice, how could Nicholas notice it? The referee was a titanium-grade evolution master, for God’s sake."

"I’ll do you one better. How could Auric notice it?"

"My prince is just built different."

"He’s my prince!"

They started arguing over something else, but Nicholas immediately said, "It’s his point, not mine."

"!!!" The referee was startled. Nicholas should know that this would reflect his country’s performance.

On the other hand, Nicholas didn’t care much about his country’s performance. He preferred to handle it based on good sportsmanship. After all, if this were in reality, this defect would have harmed someone. It was only right for him to give that point to Auric.

"This..." The referee scratched the back of his head. Since Nicholas had given up the point, there was no reason for the referee to ask for a direction from the organizer. "In that case, Auric Elfe is correct. The point is now 9-8."

A lot of them cheered because they never thought Auric would notice a defect like this. It also showed that if they needed an evolution master, they would need someone like Auric.

In fact, it would also make Auric’s Night and Day Store more popular, considering that it also served as a material store.

People would know that no defect would escape Auric’s eyes.

In the end, they both got the last question correct, so the score was 10-9 with Auric winning.

"Well, the first round is over with Auric Elfe winning the first round. Let us see who will win the second round.

"The second round is pretty simple. Both of you will get your turn one after the other. If it is Student Nicholas’s turn, Student Auric will still have the chance to answer, but Student Nicholas will still have the priority to treat the patient. However, if Student Nicholas fails to treat the patient, Student Auric will have the chance to do so. If he succeeds, the point will be awarded to Student Auric. Do you understand?"

They nodded at the same time.

"All right. Let’s begin with the second round! Student Nicholas will go first." The referee raised his hand, gesturing for the first volunteer to come onto the stage.

In that instant, Auric couldn’t help but frown.

’Are they... insane? No. Is this... intentional?’

It couldn’t be helped if Auric thought this way. After all, the first patient who walked onto the stage was none other than the patient who had been poisoned by the two-element poison.

The patient had a light element in his body, but the poison itself contained both the dark and light elements.

If Nicholas treated it with his dark element, the two opposing elements would erupt and cause immense pain for the patient.

’Is the organization trying to confirm my power?’