Celestial Era: The Rise of the Full-Time Enhancer

Vincent can issue three challenges and he has to carefully select them.

Luckily, he already gathered information about the participants of this event.

It was also a good thing that the rule allows them to select any participant. Without thinking too much of it, he issued challenges against the three strongest students. They were Alexander, Elena, and Magnus respectively.

The organizers of the event would then schedule these challenges accordingly so there wouldn't be a conflict with the others. Fortunately, they were allowed to challenge these three a total of ten times.

In the first few rounds of battles, Magnus hasn't participated in the duel yet as most of the participants were aware of their limits. Even if they're thinking of challenging him, they are planning of doing it with their last challenge attempt if there is still a chance.

They do not want to appear so weak in their first battle after all. If they were defeated by Magnus in a few seconds or without them being able to release their real combat strength, it would be humiliating and waste their three challenges.

As for Elena, Vincent was unsure of her strength since she was only using Mana Bullets just as the rumors say. However, he knows that it was impossible that she only knows a single technique so he decided to challenge her once she revealed a few more of her tricks.

On the other hand, Alexander continuously accepted challenges just like his personality, and defeated all his opponents with great fanfare.

'It feels like he hasn't battled anyone yet… Perhaps he wasn't even finished warming up yet.' Vincent thought as he felt disappointed with the first challengers of this young man.

Although Alexander already showed many of his Mana Arts, the others weren't able to do much against him. He wouldn't doubt if the others already canceled their challenge on him and issued it to someone else.

Vincent can feel the vigorous Mana Fluctuations of his opponent.

It was probably similar to Evrim or the 5th Guardian of the Zemin Clan. That's right, Alexander is emitting a presence similar to an Archmage although he is only an Adept Mage.

It was either because he was on the verge of advancing or he just have an artifact that allows him to appear this strong.

"Ho~ So it's the other blind guy similar to Magnus… I wonder if you have the strength as well." Alexander said as he crossed his arms while waiting for Vincent at the center of the stage.

His long hair was tied like a ponytail and Vincent would've probably mistaken him as a woman if seen from afar with his blurry vision.

Furthermore, he could tell that Alexander is smaller than him.

The only thing that is not surprising about Alexander was that he has eleven Magic Tools on his body that has strong fluctuations of energy.

"You'll see…" Vincent replied as he stood in front of him.

"You have to entertain me since you dared to challenge me. If you don't, you'll end up humiliated like the others." Alexander said with a threatening tone.

All of his previous opponents were indeed defeated in a humiliating manner as they got their equipment, clothes, and dignity destroyed.

Alexander likes to throw his defeated opponents and land them in an awkward position. It was as if he learned the Wind Element Mana Arts to do this to all of his opponents.

As the referee confirmed that they were both ready, he immediately announced the start of the duel.

Alexander stood on his ground as he previously did to others.

He would allow them to make their move and would act depending on the type of attack he receives. It was as if he likes to show the gap in their strength.

Vincent welcomed this opportunity as he pulled out his cane.

It didn't recover its full durability yet even after learning the Soul Forging Method. He would probably need a few more weeks since he lost over 90% of the durability points.

Nevertheless, Vincent was only planning on using three or four strikes from it which probably wouldn't take a lot of durability points.

"Hmm? It's not the dagger you used a while ago…" Alexander muttered after seeing the staff or cane he was holding.

He thought that Vincent's skills relies on his tricky dagger and impressive Aura.

However, it seems that he's about to see some staff techniques from him.

Vincent didn't speak as he used his Tier 1 Movement Technique.

He took a step forward as his Pseudo-Celestial Energy circulated throughout his body.

p He performed the Shrouded Steps or previously known as the eight-step movement technique. Right now, however, his shrouded steps are no longer limited to eight steps!

He moved like a ghost as Alexander only see his body flash and reappeared on his side…

"Hmm?!"

He saw Vincent about to strike his side and at the same time, thorny iron vines started sprouting below his feet!

Nevertheless, he didn't feel fear from this as excitement can be seen on his face.

He likes this kind of challenge!

"Bring it on!" Alexander shouted as he triggered his magic tool's effect.

His middle fingers' rings suddenly expanded as they transformed into a pair of gauntlet.

Alexander's weapons were actually the eight rings on his fingers.

They four pairs of rings and considered as Magic Artifacts that could transform into small equipment. They could be gauntlets that he was using now, a pair of daggers, a pair of claws, or a pair of thin gloves.

During his previous battles, Alexander had already shown this so Vincent wasn't too surprised.

Bang!

The gauntlet and the cane met as they created an explosive sound. A shockwave occurred and it was felt by everyone.

The protective mana barrier was even activated to ensure the safety of the audience!

"Hmmm? It endured my strike?" Vincent was surprised as he was pushed back several meters away.

"Tsk… I'm more surprised that you damaged my gauntlet this much… Aside from that, are you really blind?" Alexander said as he backed away after crushing the iron vines using his 'claws'.

Apparently, he can easily switch the activation of his artifacts which is the one causing problems for the first challengers. The claws seem to have an effect of dismantling any elemental mana arts so it was very troublesome.

He truly is quite weird as he's a Mana Practitioner that relies on melee weapons that made everyone confused.

Vincent only smiled at this as he decided to continue.

He used his shrouded steps followed by a strike of his cane… He didn't care whether it was blocked at all. In truth, he was even hoping that the young man would parry his strike instead of dodging.

He did this for the third time as Alexander started frowning and no longer used his gauntlet again. It seems that he realized the cane's terrifying ability.