"What took you so long? Did you take a dump?" Asked Jack. "You missed most of Vincent match."

"I saw the ending," Nico replied. "Did I miss anything else?"

Jack thought for a moment, then laughed. "Oh yeah, one of the instructors wet himself in the middle of the match and then ran off!"

Nico chuckled.

A couple of matches followed. There were fewer people watching from the side as the more interesting matches had happened earlier. Anya was relieved because she was last.

In the late evening, the instructor called Nico and Sir Fredrick up the platform.

Many people were not interested in the match-up. Sir Fredrick, although a strong fighter and a nobleman, was not the strongest amongst the condensation stage students. Nico was not well-known at all to many people.

Nico prepared a spear in hand, standing in a mid-guard position. Sir Fredrick also selected a spear.

The instructor gave the signal.

Nico attacked Sir Fredrick from the top.

Watching Nico first attack, Sir Fredrick blocked and attempted to counter from the right.

Nico grabbed the spear and pulled forward. Sir Fredrick tripped, but thrust his spear into the ground to stabilize his body.

Nico powered through Sir Fredrick with his elbow and his body, using Chaotic Devil Cultivation enhanced strength to its fullest.

"Damn you pest!" Sir Fredrick pulled away.

Nico followed Sir Fredrick like a shadow and continued pounding out his attacks. Nico felt good that he didn't have to think too much for this match and simply let himself mindlessly charge and attack.

Nico took a few hits, but he remained unfazed.

"Nico is pretty reckless today," Xavier commented.

"He's enjoying the fight," said Vincent.

"He's also sleep deprived," said Ashe.

Nico thrust drilled several times into Sir Fredrick's force barrier to end the match.

"Winner of the match, Nico," the instructor declared.

Anya and Sir Lougram Mayley was the last match of the day and started late at around 8:00pm. Most of the spectators had retired.

The roommates stayed to cheer her on.

"You can do it Anya!" Nico then hollered loudly.

"Good luck Anya," Ashe stated.

Vincent have her a thumbs up and Jack shrugged.

The match began, but Sir Lougram were a lot quicker than Anya. His water burst messed up a lot of Anya's timing.

"Although water and wind skills are weaker than fire and earth type attacks, they are faster to cast," said Xavier.

Jack nodded, but Nico was fixed in a trance.

Anya her own waterblast toward Sir Lougram. Sir Lougram dodged right. His staff unleashed Windblade, blowing Anya back. She took several steps back before regaining for balance. He quickly thrust his staff.

Anya held on and prolonged the fight. She cast Scramble, and rushed toward Lougram. However, her spell didn't last long enough for her to close in on Sir Lougram. She slashed several times into Sir Lougram's body aura, but he evaded back to his comfortable distance.

Sir Lougram cast several windblades. Anya attempted to dodge, but one of the windblades shot her barrier.

After a few more bouts, Anya lost the match.

"Don't worry about it Anya, I'll pick you as my partner tomorrow," Ashe was sure Nico or Vincent would pick Jack.

Nico didn't know if Vincent was close to anyone else besides the roommates.

"Vincent, who are you picking for your partner tomorrow?" Nico asked..

Vincent thought for a moment. "Obi?"

"Okay, I'll take Jack for tomorrow then."

Professor Quin and the other assistants gathered information for tomorrow's partner match.

"You did well today," Professor Quin commented as he approached Nico. "Have you decided on your partner for the match tomorrow?"

"Can I have Jack for my partner?" asked Nico.

"Unfortunately, Jack is being partnered with Marcus."

"What!?" Nico didn't expect that. The order of the selection was based on the match-up, and Nico was close to the end. "Who else is left then?"

Professor Quin showed him a list of five people.

"Can I back out of the tryout?" asked Nico.

Professor Quin was slightly surprised. "Are you not aware of the prizes and opportunities from being in the combat team tournament?"

Nico had heard about it numerous times from Ashe. Aside from the prizes, being in the combat team meant catching the attention of powerful groups and an opportunity to be recruited by the associations and guilds. However, attention was the last thing Nico wanted at the moment. He wanted to focus on learning more about this world and completing the system task. There were still a lot of things he needed to learn before sticking his neck out.

"Professor Quin, you have no idea how tiring it is to be a student," Nico said while yawning. "I've been reading and studying all day and haven't slept yet. If I join the combat team, doesn't it mean I have to practice and prepare for the tournament? I would rather sleep than try to impress a bunch of old fogeys."

In addition, Nico had enough old fogeys to teach him various things.

Professor Quin didn't know how to respond, but he understood that students all have different priorities.

Nico returned home and passed out on his bed.

In the meanwhile, Baron Randall looked at a man kneeling before him.

"My lord," a short haired man trembled before Baron Randall.

He was a new instructor of the Academy and had been assigned by Baron Randall to watch the combat team tryout.

Baron Randall looked coolly at the man. "It was quite a simple task. All you had to do was cast an enhancement spell on Vincent's weapon."

"I don't know why, but my pants got wet for no reason."

Baron Randall eyes narrowed it. "None of the professors were near you, how could that happen?"

"I'm not sure, but it could be a student."

"If it's a student, then this could be potentially dangerous. Remove yourself from the Academy and return to Pasadine. Don't show your face in front of me again."

"Yes my Lord!"

The instructor left. Luckily, they were in the Windel Academy. If this had happened in Pasadine, his life would have been on the chopping block.

****

"I'm surprised you picked me as your partner," Obi prepared his hammer for the first round match.

Vincent nodded and selected a quarterstaff.

There were eight matches for day two. Nico was the only winner that backed out and Baron Randall turned down the selection for the partner round. Professor Clemson placed two alternates to complete the match-ups.

Vincent & Obi vs Hobin & Corribal

Prince Keras Kelsera & Mariot & Hilber

Juliana & Princess Toria Gordon vs Tulan & Ian

Marcus & Jack vs Norick & Tokon

Ashe & Anya vs Tokon vs Larabee

....

....

....

Hobin and Corribal also prepared their weapons on the other side of the court.

"I can't believe Professor Clemson placed this match-up first," said Xavier from the side. "Everyone will likely leave after this match. The selection is pretty much set at this point."

Vincent and Obi stood side by side, and so was Hobin and Corribal. Vincent faced Hobin while Obi faced Corribal.

The instructor signaled the start of the match.

With Vincent ability, they were able to knock out Corribal.

Hobin took out Obi, but Vincent was a dangerous person to attack head to head.

No one could predict the outcome of Hobin and Vincent's match-up. Although one hit from Vincent may easily injured many people, the same could be said of Hobin.

Hobin dodged out of the way and countered. Vincent backed away. Although Vincent force barrier could handle Ian's attack, it would break if he received an attack from Hobin head on.

The match was a dodging match, the first person to get hit loses.

They fought several bouts.

"This is nerve-wrecking!" Xavier scribbled every details into his journal without looking away from the match.

As soon as Hobin attacked, Vincent would dodge out of the way.

"They are going to lose stamina soon," said Ashe. "That's going bad if Vincent can't get a hit in."

In the end, Hobin higher cultivation and ability outlasted Vincent.

As predicted the following fights were predictable. Professor Clemson already had a list in mind, so he released a list shortly after the tryout.

Combat Team List:

Hobin

Prince Keras

Juliana

Vincent

Ian

Marcus

Ashe

Princess Toria

Norick

Obi

Tokon

Corribal

****

"Russo!" The project manager bellowed out from across the room.

A young man stopped typing his analysis of a new proposed development. He was irked by the interruption, but maintained a cordial facade as he raised his neck to look at the manager.

"I have something important I need to take care of, I'll leave the report to you." The project manager got up and left, leaving four other workers in the office.

"What an ass!" The other workers complained. The project manager always left early, leaving them to do most of the work.

Russo refocused on his work.

After ten minutes of typing, his cell phone rang. "Hello?"

A woman on the line rambled on about something. Russo got up from his desk and walked out of the office. Russo waited for her to finish before responding.

"Hi Ma, I'm doing well.... Work? It's fine, I've just started here so everyone here is nice...."

Except for that jackass. Russo aimlessly stared at the office across the hallway, a private office that belonged to the Antonio's Restaurant on the first floor.

"Uh-huh. Maybe... Ma, I'm fine, you don't have to worry.... No, I didn't take this job because of Nico.... All right, I'll try. Love you ma."

Russo hung up and returned to his work. By the time it was 5:30, he exited down the stairs and into the streets. There was a short line of people waiting in queue for Antonio's.

Russo walked across the street to the bus stop. He sat down and waited, occasionally looking back at the restaurant.

Russo looked at his watch, 6:00 PM.

"Why isn't it here?" Russo stood up and looked down the streets.

Cars and more cars, but no bus. He waited another ten minutes.

Finally, his patience wore thin and he hollered down a taxi. The taxi pulled over and stopped in front of him. He opened the door and got inside. Another person rushed in from the other side and took the seat.

"Miss, I called down this taxi first," Russo commented.

The young woman looked at Russo in amazement. It wasn't just because he had a striking appearance, but he looked awfully familiar for some reason.

A celebrity? She suddenly snapped back. Think, Grandmother first!

"Please let me take the seat with you!" She pleaded. "My grandmother is sick and I need to see her in the hospital."

The young miss looked out of place in the city. Her hair was a complete mess, she hadn't showered since she got off the plane and eyes were baggy from all the stress. The first taxi driver had scammed her by driving the opposite direction and she had been roaming around looking for directions to the hospital. She finally spotted a taxi and dashed toward it as soon as possible.

Russo reluctantly nodded and they both shared the cab.

"Thank you!"

She continued to fidget as the taxi drove to the hospital first.

Russo noticed that the girl looked a bit tensed. "Is it your first time in the city?"

She nodded.

"Is your grandmother okay?"

"I'm not sure." She impatiently looked at the road up ahead.

"Hey!" Russo shouted.

She snapped her head to look at him, but his face was distorted like some sort of clown. She wondered if he was trying to be funny.

"It works on my nephews."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Eventually, they reached the hospital. She paid her portion of the tab to the driver and got out of the car.

"Thank you again!" She politely bowed.

Before she closed the door, her eyes widened. "Ah, you're Gabe Russo!"

"I'm sorry, I think you got me confused with someone else. Take care."

****

A few nights before summer vacation, Nico took out a new crystal sound pendant from his pocket.

Nico had spent many weeks experimenting with the inscription on the crystals. He had been rearranging the route within the crystal, but still no changes. It actually caused the crystal to stop working a couple of times. He had broken three crystals already.

Nico rearranged the manaline of the crystal's internal structure, his Saturn ring.

The receiver crystal reacted to the change from Nico's aura.

The crystal died.

Nico rearranged the manalines to the original location. He felt like a surgeon reconnecting the blood vessels back to its original location. The sound crystal restored its original function.

Nico followed the enhancement instruction again. Maybe he was misinterpreting the directions. First he had to line the main branch and then the secondary branch, switch the lines.

He tinkered with the crystal again.

"What the f*** why isn't this thing working!?" A voice cried out from the crystal.

"Eek!" Nico backed away from the crystal, it wasn't his voice. "What the!?"

"Ah! A voice. Hey you! You there! Can you hear me!?" The man voice cried out again from the crystal. "Hold on right there! Don't you dare move! Who are you? Where are you?"

"Uh? You're human?" Nico asked.

"Of course, I'm human! I am the great Nil Eda! Now answer my question!" The voice erratically demanded.

Nico grinned with skepticism toward the crystal, but the name sounded familiar. "How do I know if you're not some evil devil trying to steal my soul?"

"What the f***! Why would I want to steal your soul?" Cried the voice. "You're from Kelsera? How do you not know who I am!?"

Nico remembered the inventor's name was Nil Eda, but he wasn't sure of this person's identity. "You can quit yelling, I can still hear you."

"Yeah, but for how long? Do you know how long I've been working on this communication device? 3 years! Do you know how long that is? This thing could die any moment!"

Communication device? Nico narrowed his eyes in curiously. Like a telephone? Nico examined the manalines, and recorded the pathway. The lines were very stable.

"It should be fine. So this sound crystal is also one of your invention?"

"Of course! I am genius after all. Anyway, tell me what you did to make your crystal receive my voice?"

"What do I get in return?"

"If you help me out, I'll give you a 20% split."

"50%."

"What!? No way, I'm the one making this thing work."

"No deal then. You can work on it for another 3 years if you want."

"30%! How are you going to help me out anyway? I'm the one with all the knowledge here."

"How do you know I don't have the knowledge? Maybe I'm more knowledgeable than you and you're the one that ends up stealing my ideas? Now that I think of it, if I can create a receiving crystal, I can probably work out a transmitter myself."

"What!? No, wait! 50% is fine, but you also have to continue helping me with my research."

"Deal. You can call me Salo, I'm in Launtel City." Nico didn't trust the voice completely, and although he didn't want to reveal too much information about what he knew, he was sure the voice knew a lot more about the inscription than he did.

"Launtel City? You're quite far away. Okay, if this crystal stop working, send me a message through the merchant guild."

"Okay," Nico nodded out of habit. "Where are you located?"

"You really don't know me?" The voice sounded surprised. "I'm in Gordon City."

"Huh?" Nico had heard it before, it was the Ashe homeland.

"What sort of country hick are you that you don't even know who I am!?"

Nico wondered if there was a way to shut it off. Nico altered one of the lines and the communication stopped. No voices could be heard anymore.

Thank god, the voice was irritating him. If he had to listen constantly to it, he would be annoyed.

The crystal started to blink. Nico thought for a moment, and reactivated the crystal.

"What the f*** is wrong with you! You're not going to say goodbye. That's beyond rude and shows no etiquette."

Nico rolled his eyes. "I didn't know, it's not like I've ever use this thing before. Goodbye!"