Rei and Sylvie arrived back at the seats although their clothes looked to be dishevelled as the trio of their friends didn't even dare to question it as they assumed that the two might've just done a special 'benefit' in private. The third round had begun after lunch break while giving the contestants a brief 30 minute break before the match, letting those who were exhausted rest and out of spiritual energy channel what's left in their tank before proceeding.
When the break was over, the matchmaking had already finished as the board had shown them the results, which surprised Rei. A couple of students had withdrawn from the match probably from the obvious skill gap between certain god-tier or high-tier students, which he had probably assumed the reason.
Rei smiled as he saw Haru's name and his on the board, ready to beat the guy for the second time but this time without holding back. "Looks like I get to discipline an annoying fxcker." He muttered to himself before hearing the ancient being's voice within him.
"You better win without any troubles. I don't accept my vessel as a weakling who wins by pure luck."
"What an asshxle…" Rei thought to himself, ignoring the latter's statement as he went to focus on the current match. Haruki and a male who seemed to have a prowess of manifesting tree branches or trunks.
Haruki's flames proved to be powerful although the latter lacked spiritual energy manipulation to execute the technique since half of his reserves were already drained from one wave of the blast. Rei knew that Haruki would win since the other opponent was already draining with their own reserves since every branch and trunks that they've manifested used lots of their spiritual energy for both size and durability.
It wasn't flashy or long but it was rather a match of who defeats the other party immediately compared to Rei and Sylvie's match of either matching the pace or immediately one-shotting the opponent when given the opportunity.
"Match 01 of round 3 is finished! Both contestants are suspended!" Eto announced as both Haruki and the other party shook hands at each other before laying on the floor with a total exhaustion in their face.
"Yeah no. That guy definitely needs to improve his self worth rather than giving up…" Rei uttered to himself before looking over to Erika who looked to be disappointed, especially when her eyes were clear of a sign that she was looking forward to Haruki's victory. "Definitely a smitten in love or just someone who admires him…" he thought to himself before Sylvie leaned her head on his shoulders, bored as they continued watching the match.
When Haruki returned back to the seat, the poor guy was immediately scolded and beaten up by Erika who was telling him that he should've pushed himself but the latter's explanation for going further made sense since he would've gotten a stray from either Sylvie or Rei in later matches although the blonde didn't approve of it but let him off the hook.
...…
Hinata's match started with her using the refined wind bullets and still in process wind slashes against her opponent who had a prowess to manifest a crystal shaped barrier although its durability was very weak since the bullets and slashes had immediately shattered it upon impact.
Rei compared the barrier user to one that he had known from Hong Kong, his former school before dropping the act as a 'blank' when the former top dog tried to ambush him but failed at such an extreme level.
It was something that the copycat didn't want to remember but the difference between the two barrier users was the one that he knows of was a god-tier with great barrier durability that came with a reflective damage upon impact or contact of a powerful attack although they put too much spiritual energy to maintain such a barrier.
On the other hand, the one he was seeing was more creative since they don't put too much spiritual energy into it to conserve their own reserves and make small ones to use as a projectile in contrast to the one that he knew.
It was an impressive fight that went for 30 minutes since Hinata didn't push herself but had calculated the right amount of spiritual energy needed for each attack of her prowess output and used the right moves when it comes to close combat quarters.
Overall, the pink haired girl won in a pinch since the latter started to form more barriers that had a stronger durability except they ran out of gas which they immediately surrendered due to spiritual energy exhaustion.
"Hinata Hayasaka proceeds to the next round!" Eto announced as the crowd started cheering again after forgetting such an intense atmosphere prior to Rei and Keitaro's match.
...…
Erika's match started with a disadvantage since the latter had an earth element that was able to block her water bullets although the latter immediately took advantage since the enemy couldn't see the opposite side as the blonde immediately executed a pressurised water stream by clapping her hands together while compressing and condensing it which injured the latter when it penetrated the wall.
The match immediately took a drastic turn since she was able to execute a risky move by summoning a large wave similar to a tsunami from what Rei had observed from the spectator's view.
"That's a lot of reserves used… But she's good at recovering with her spiritual energy…" Rei uttered which Sylvie took note of since the only person that the magenta haired girl knew who could do that was a certain high-tier healer from Sir Ellis Kadoorie but left when a certain student had pissed her best friend off and the best friend who excelled in it due to spiritual energy manipulation itself.
The opponent was rather cocky at the beginning before having the face of someone caught off guard as they tried to stand up but Erika had beaten them to it since she did not give them a chance as she slammed her heel on the back of their head.
It reminded Sylvie of Rei's axe kick when the latter was training with the dummy from the training room one time. A scary thought on her head since she was used to kicking people with her prowess active but Rei's raw strength had sent shivers down her spines upon seeing the head of the dummy immediately pulverised.
Erika didn't stop since the latter was rather persistent as she immediately went in to deliver the final blow by a powerful roundhouse kick to the head which Rei and Sylvie whistled in amazement while Hinata just admitted her then Haruki shivering in fear.
After all, you don't just force yourself to get up from getting an axe kick at the back of your head but to have another kick especially at your skull again would already give you a concussion.
The opponent stopped moving as they went limp on the ground after being kicked, indicating Erika's victory as the crowd cheered for her victory. "Erika Delilah proceeds to the next round!" The green haired woman exclaimed while showing off her figure, making some of the perverted students or crowds have heart shaped pupils at such sight.
Although, Rei wasn't affected by it since he was rather focused on himself or rather already have Sylvie to do that for him despite of the size difference as he preferred cute girls like her over something big and humongous in which he had to block the ancient being's teasing and remarks upon the thoughts of Sylvie and the green haired woman.
...…
The next match had put almost everyone intense since it was the last one before the final preliminary match would begin after some of the rest were finished including Sylvie who basically just won by default due to her opponent surrendering before the match even started.
A different proctor was in the stage prior to a late notice apparently from the staff which the green haired woman stared at the person with suspicion before leaving the stage as the man took the microphone.
"Final match of round three!"
Everyone who were present started cheering, already anticipating for both Rei and Haru since they've seen the white haired male's performance for over the years and is expecting for the newcomer to fold the latter with the way he appeared to be powerful.
"Haru Sasaki from the fifth year and the child of prophecy from the Sasaki Clan!"
Cheers continued to erupt as Haru stepped into the ring then came Rei's turn although the next thing was something that the copycat nor the headmaster had not expected.
"Rei Nishimura. The newcomer of the fifth year and lastly, the vessel of the ancient being!"
Most of the people were confused and baffled as they anticipated what the proctor was trying to say.
"Vessel of the Fallen!"
Almost everyone gasped as the silence was loud, the trio were more shocked since they've been hanging out with Rei which made the copycat tense up. "W-What? I thought it was kept a secret?" He thought to himself as he wondered what would happen to him now.
"Damnit…" Rei uttered to himself while the male in front him smirked, "What's wrong? Did your strength come from that? No wonder why you won against that failure of our clan and luckily defeated me twice!" Haru exclaimed, the crowds immediately gossiping which was bringing Rei back to his former days.
Making him uneasy and unstable as he tried his best not to snap as the proctor was about to announce their match.
"Begin!"
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