Veronica was unwilling to accept her loss in this match. In terms of raw strength, she was unquestionably stronger than Azalea, with at least an 80% chance of winning in a direct confrontation. But Azalea’s arsenal of divine artifacts, pills, and unpredictable techniques made her nearly impossible to defend against..
In the end, Veronica was worn down and had no choice but to concede. The frustration gnawed at her.
“Mr. Marshall, it seems your Celestial Alliance disciples aren’t as formidable as they’re made out to be,” Cyrus said with a smirk.
He had been at odds with Alloy for years. They were constantly competing in the open and behind the scenes.
Hence, Cyrus was happy to watch Alloy stumble.
“One unexpected loss doesn’t mean much. Besides, your Sword Union may not fare any better,” Alloy responded calmly.
Veronica was his favorite disciple, so her early defeat blew his pride.
“Really? Then, let’s see who wins in the end.” Cyrus smiled. He couldn’t wait to see Alloy’s reaction when Fenley lost to Glenn.
Aurora sighed and looked disappointed. “I didn’t expect this outcome. It’s such a shame.”
She believed that victory was almost inevitable with Veronica’s advanced cultivation and exceptional spear skills. But losing just like that was hard to accept.
“Veronica did her best. It’s just that the Mystic Arts Order disciple had too many tricks up her sleeve. She played to her strengths and happened to counter Veronica perfectly, which led to this result,” Alicia said, shaking her head.
That was the nature of competition. The tide could turn instantly, and even superior strength couldn’t guarantee victory.
“Fenley, Dr. Rhys, I’m counting on. both of you,” Aurora said, scanning the surroundings.
The remaining Celestial Alliance disciples had already been eliminated from the top eight. Now, only Fenley and Dustin were left in the tournament.
Aurora was confident that Fenley would secure a spot in the top eight, but having just one member advancing wouldn’t be enough to showcase the guild’s strength. She hoped Dustin would break into the top eight and claim a spot.
“I’ll do my best,” Dustin nodded slightly.
“Dr. Rhys, I remember you drew number 8, right?” Alicia suddenly asked.
“Yes. What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been watching closely. Your opponent is a vampire. As you might know, vampires are incredibly tough. Vampires are dark creatures, and ordinary methods can’t harm them. Without a special weapon, you could be at a disadvantage.”
Then, Alicia pulled out a dagger and quietly handed it to him. “I’ve heard vampires are vulnerable to silver. I had this silver weapon brought over for you. Keep it and use it when the time comes.
“A silver weapon?” Dustin raised an eyebrow and looked at her.
He hadn’t expected her to be so meticulous. Not only had she noticed his opponent, but she also prepared a countermeasure.
“Alicia, when did you get this silver weapon? Why didn’t I know about this? “Aurora asked, astonished.
“Such things need to be kept quiet. If the vampire knew, it would be on guard. Then, the element of surprise would be lost,” Alicia explained quietly.
“True.” Aurora nodded.
“Thanks,” Dustin said, accepting the silver dagger and stowing it away.
He had heard similar rumors that vampires were vulnerable to silver, but this weakness diminished as their strength increased.
High-ranking vampires like earls and dukes were not afraid of silver weapons. Even if decapitated or with their heart destroyed, as long as they have access to blood, they could still survive. Such beings could be considered immortals.
Of course, Bill was not an earl. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been beaten by Fenley the other night.
“Contestant number 2 has voluntarily conceded. I hereby announce that Contestant number 31 is the winner.” Oron leaped onto the battle ring and spoke loudly.
The venue erupted in thunderous applause.
While Veronica had many supporters, Azalea’s striking appearance and impressive performance won her many fans. Her victory was met with widespread celebration from the crowd.
Amid the cheers and applause, Azalea smiled as she descended from the battle ring and returned to her seat among the Mystic Arts Order disciples.
If the Mystic Arts Order weren’t so feared, many young elites would have rushed forward to express their admiration at Azalea.
“Well done, Azalea. Our guild can finally hold our heads high today,” Abigail praised with a smile as Azalea took her seat.
“Grand Sorceress, thank you. My abilities are humble, and victory seemed unlikely. Thanks to your generous gift of the Elysian amulet and the Gerandium, I was able to turn the tide and bring honor to the Mystic Arts Order,” Azalea responded with a respectful nod.
Although Abigail treated her well and even regarded her as a sister, Azalea was aware of her role and knew she mustn’t overstep her bounds. If she took advantage of Abigail’s support and became arrogant, it would only lead to trouble eventually.
Abigail said, “Azalea, your next opponent will be even stronger. Everyone knows about the Elysian amulet and Gerandium, so these items will no longer have the element of surprise.
“But don’t worry, I have some other treasures that might be useful. Take a look and choose whatever you need.” Then, she promptly displayed a collection of top-tier treasures in front of her.
The Mystic Arts Order elders nearby were stunned. Each of these items could stir up a storm in the martial world. But these treasures were like vegetables to Abigail, and she handed them out in piles.
Her generosity was simply astounding.
