Most of them had already been chosen and out of the forty who have attended, only ten were left who would have their matches in the first round. Akane and Yoko had already been selected and they dominated their opponents so much that their opponents didn't even have a chance to land a blow.

"They're both amazing, I have to do my best as well."

Kai clenched his fist excitedly.

"Sixteenth battle, Kuroshi Kai against Kuroshi Kinzo. Competitors, step forward."

""Yes!""

Kai and Kinzo both faced each other on the stage.

"It's finally Kai's turn..."

Akemi said solemnly.

"Yeah..."

Juro answered as he furrowed his brows.

"I really hope he doesn't get hurt."

"Nn..."

Kai walked toward one side of the stage as Kinzo mirrored his movements.

The elder looked at both competitors and raised his hand.

"Let the battle commence!"

Kinzo immediately raised his hand.

"[Shadow Ball]!"

Kai responded by using both his hands.

"[Dark Beam]!"

A ball of darkness shot out from Kinzo's hands as a beam of dark light shot out from Kai's.

"That cast speed is insane..."

Kinzo clicked his tongue.

The ball of darkness clashed with the laser but it only took a moment to disintegrate.

Kinzo immediately ducked.

The laser shot past Kinzo's body and went straight towards the wall. The elder near the stage immediately created a barrier of magic to block the attack.

A large boom rang out as the laser collided with the barrier.

A bead of sweat dropped down Kinzo's forehead.

Wait, this is my chance! He should be adjusting his pose from magic of that level!

Kinzo immediately used his spell once more.

"[Shadow Ball]!"

While Kinzo was crouched, he used another [Shadow Ball] to try and get a hit on Kai.

"Eh?"

As expected, Kai wasn't prepared. The ball of darkness immediately hit his body and exploded.

BOOM

Smoke from the darkness could be seen on Kai's previous position. They had no power to kill people but they surely had enough power to incapacitate people who were unguarded.

"Kai!"

Juro stood up from his seat and looked worried.

Akemi clasped her hands together and worry could be seen in her eyes.

The elder near the stage looked closely at the place where Kai stood, there was still a bit of smoke so Kai could not be seen, he was certain that Kai hadn't died which is also the reason why he's not too worried.

"Due to the competitor Kai being unable to continue; the competitor Kinzo win-!"

"Wait!"

A voice of urgency was heard trying to stop the elder.

"Who's there?"

The elder furrowed his brows and looked around.

"Kai..."

Kai said his name from within the smoke.

"Eh? You're actually fine?"

The elder was in disbelief.

The smoke began to clear and Kai's silhouette could be seen standing.

"What are you talking about?"

Kai tilted his head and walked out of the smoke. Other than the front of his clothes looking a bit burned, nothing else happened. Not even small wounds.

"Impossible...!"

Kinzo was shaking.

"Well, let's continue the battle."

Kai faced Kinzo once more with a sharp glint in his eyes and a smile that wasn't really a smile.

"Let's see how this goes."

Kai stepped forward by one pace.

Kinzo was forced to look down.

"Gah!"

"What is happening...?!"

The audience was in a mess. They were feeling some invisible pressure weighing down on their hearts.

Kai stepped forward once more.

Kinzo began trembling in fear and he couldn't say anything. The elder by the side unknowingly stood back once.

The audience felt uneasy but it didn't escalate beyond that, Kai's level of [Soul Aura] was still too weak to affect them. But the other youths his age were trembling in fear, even Yoko and Akane weren't spared.

"Kai..."

Akane muttered his name was he looked at his figure.

"This guy... he's strong...!"

Yoko grit her teeth. She didn't think there'd be anyone of her level among her peers.

Kai then tried to take another step forward but before he could, the elder's voice rang out.

"Wait, stop your technique. Your opponent has already fainted."

"Eh?"

Kai blinked twice then looked at Kinzo's state.

His mouth was foaming and only the whites of his eyes were left.

"Oops..."

The elder sighed.

"You were too overbearing, I won't stop you from using it in the future but please limit it to allowing them to concede next time..."

Kai's [Soul Aura] was too much for Kinzo and he couldn't even say the words 'I concede'.

"Sorry..."

Kai felt apologetic to Kinzo, he didn't think that his soul was that overbearing. It completely and utterly dominated Kinzo. But during the past few days, Kai had only trained his mind and soul. Reo had told him to train them before practicing magic because the mind and soul were more important than physical and magical prowess.

""Kai...""

Akemi and Juro only managed to utter his name before sighing. They're gonna go through a lot of trouble to apologize to Kinzo's parents. Even if what Kai did was in the limits of the rules, it was on the absolute limit. He had not caused any physical pain but he caused severe mental pain; severe enough that even the elders weren't sure if it would leave a lasting mark.

"Bring this boy to the infirmary."

Several people came up and took Kinzo to the infirmary.

"Kai, you may step down the stage..."

The elder sighed.

"We're about to start the next battle."

Kai nodded and stepped down. He proceeded to the area for competitors.

"Yo, Akane!"

Kai waved at Akane.

"Ah..."

Akane let out a weird sound after Kai called her name then blinked twice as she looked at him.

"Kai..."

"What's wrong?"

Kai looked at her worriedly.

"Nothing..."

She shook her head to regain her composure.

"Kai, when did you get so strong...?"

Akane smiled wryly. She didn't remember seeing him do anything during the past three days than hole up inside his house. She even went to visit from time to time and Kai was the same as ever. But the pressure she felt when Kai used his technique, it was undoubtedly real. It was the first time she felt such pressure, it made her feel very uneasy.

Kai shook his head and smiled wryly.

"I'm still a few levels behind you."

Akane tilted her head.

"But from what I saw, you would have the power to defeat any of us here..."

Kai just smiled at her praise and kept continuing to deny it.

While they were conversing, a certain person was watching them closely.

"Kai... huh?"

Yoko muttered his name seemingly in a daze.