Hercules' booming voice resounded throughout the coliseum.
"And the winner is, Peerless Dao Master!"
This time there was no mockery in the crowd. There was no jeering or laughing. Just silence. No one watching the battle was a fool. The tall and relaxed Will walked to the now visible exit. It had disappeared the moment the fight had begun.
"Oy, he didn't even use any Truth did he?"
"You think that's scary? He didn't even use Intent."
"Not to mention he didn't use any spell casting or anything"
There was a large buzz that generated from the crowd as Will left without saying a thing. Things had gone according to plan, so there was no need to linger.
"What was that spell matrix we saw him use, that light blue one with snowflake designs around the periphery and a palace in the inner circle?"
Many in the crowd were quite knowledgeable but no one recognized it, until someone shouted, "I remember the spell, that was Ymir's Fist!"
This shout resulted in the crowd going crazy with noise.
"How is this possible? Hasn't it been dozens of years since a mortal in this part of the system could use it?"
"If that was Ymir's Fist then the spell matrix under it was..." The speaker didn't finish his sentence, because he was afraid he was right.
...
Hope had stood up in a panic, "Your highness, that was a Frozen Asgard Matrix!"
Michael could not help but frown when he heard that name. Frozen Asgard. This was an infamous Cultivation Manual made many eons ago. Odin, Freya and and Loki had come together to form a cultivation manual after finding a piece of the first giant, Ymir's remains, and researching them. To see if their secrets could be applied to magic that mortals could also use.
According to Norse Mythology, the world was made from Ymir's flesh and bones, so one can imagine how powerful the manual was. It was on the same tier as the Solitary Sword Sovereign Manual, but also had extremely strict requirements. Physically and mentally.
"Indeed, I noticed. I once saw it in one of mother's books. It seems we have met quite the extraordinary mage."
The Frozen Asgard Cultivation Manual came with spells, cultivation techniques and a lot of knowledge in regards to runic magic. But one had to have a strong mind as well as an aptitude for negative energy.
"If I'm not mistaken, to use this one must have a Water Gate and Space Gate right?" asked Isabel after a while.
Hope sighed and sat down, "Yes your highness, not only that, one must also have a negative energy physique as well as two more elemental gates. It does not matter what attribute they are. Frozen Asgard can be used in tandem with other elemental attributes besides water and space."
Unlike the SSS manual which was easy to find, Frozen Asgard was not easy to find, and even then it was impossible to learn without a master of it giving guidance.
After some thinking Melissa said, "So it's safe to assume that a powerful Frozen Asgard user is behind him. The question is who?"
"It's hard to tell." replied Sonny.
"The Frozen Asgard Sect usually takes in only women as they are more suited towards cultivating it. From my knowledge, all males who have practised the manual all came from outside the school. In this sector there are only a few dozen male powerhouses that practise it, but none of them should be anywhere near such a back water place like this."
Frozen Asgard practitioners were usually beings from Higher Worlds. Hence one appearing here seemed off.
"Brother, if it is as you say, we need to seriously consider this man a contender. He has a top quality cultivation manual along with top quality spells. He is cool, calm and calculating. He also did not even need to chant or use Truth to defeat his opponent. I have a feeling he is going to be a serious opponent for us in Fafnir's grave."
Michael breathed out and closed one eye. Everyone present knew that he was now accessing his system interface. So they kept quiet and waited for him to respond. Michael went from having a grim frown to sporting a handsome grin much more fitting for his face.
"I am afraid our mage won't have such an easy time."
"Your highness?" asked Melissa with a tilted head.
"I just got information on the tournament favourite. Well at least he is the tournament favourite for my source. I sent his information to all of you so check your inboxes."
One by one everyone opened up their interfaces to see just who could grab Michael's attention like this. Gasps and shouts of surprise came out one by one as the party could not believe what they were reading from their own interfaces..
"Rijkaard is here? But he is that woman's bodyguard. If he is here it means she is here too!" said a stunned Sonny
"How is this possible, what is a weirdo like her doing all the way down here? Shouldn't she be readying herself for the Silverton entrance examinations?" questioned a grim Isabe as she confirmed the presence of another individual.
Michael put a hand on his chin, "To be honest I'm surprised as well. To think the crown princess of our planet's greatest rival would be taking part here. This might just be my conjecture but I think it's a coincidence. She has a habit of entering Branded Dungeons for weaklings in hopes of finding people to recruit as her vassals. We might be equal in terms of strength as groups, but I am not her match in terms of the ability to spot talent. If she is here, someone has drawn her attention."
Sonny gulped and said, "Is it possible that Rijkaard is the powerhouse that Hercules had chosen as the party leader?"
"To be honest I am not so sure. All we can do is watch. Because all of you know, if she is here, then so is Rijkaard. This means you have two apprentice siblings to deal with Isabel." The moment Michael finished speaking, he squeezed his fist as the silhouette of a man holding a lance burned away at his thoughts, while Isabel felt a chill down her prideful spine.