Genius Noble With System
Chapter 117: Duels (Part-1)

Chapter 117: Duels (Part-1)

Many noticed this small interaction between Apollo and Prince Michael, sparking excitement about the potential showdown between the two.

As the battles in all the rings concluded and the next groups took turns, the competition continued with a few surprises.

Beyond the well-known geniuses, there were seven or eight others, like Apollo and the Spirit Master girl, who displayed unbelievable power and left the crowd stunned. These unexpected talents added an extra layer of anticipation to the event, keeping everyone on edge.

Ninth Prince Leon and Seraphina’s turn also came as they joined the royal battle. Despite fighting valiantly and showing no signs of losing their will, they were ultimately eliminated. Among the extraordinary geniuses, their efforts, while commendable, were not enough to secure a spot in the final sixty.

As the sun set, casting a golden glow over the arena, the battles came to an end. Out of the eighteen hundred participants, only sixty remained. These sixty would face one another tomorrow to determine the strongest.

Apollo, Ninth Prince Leon, and Seraphina regrouped. Although the two of them lost, their spirits were still high from the day’s events. They have tried their best, but there were too many geniuses present, so in the end, they can only be defeated.

"Tomorrow’s battles will be intense," Seraphina said, her eyes reflecting excitement as she looked at Apollo, who was now among the top contenders. "We’ve seen some incredible talents today."

Ninth Prince Leon nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "Yes, and the competition will only get fiercer. You must be prepared for anything."

Apollo remained calm; his mind was already focused on the next day’s challenges. I’ll face whatever comes my way and cut through it."

That night, the city was alive with talk of the day’s events. Taverns were filled with animated discussions about the standout performances and predictions for the final battles. The betting houses saw a flurry of activity as people placed their bets on who would emerge victorious.

At night, as Apollo was meditating, the white cat approached him. The cat had been disappearing quite often since Hunter City had become a hub for countless warriors.

"What happened? You seem quite low-key and haven’t been talking much these days. Did some female cat cuckold you?" Apollo said with a chuckle, feeling good seeing the annoyed expression on the white cat’s face.

"Don’t talk nonsense, kid. I’m the one who cuckolds others; who dares to do that to me? There are just two or three nuisances in the city, making it difficult for me to appear openly," the white cat replied, lying lazily on the bed. "It would be a pain if they noticed my true form."

"Hmm, are you talking about the old, powerful warriors that appeared in the city?" Apollo asked, intrigued. "Then tell me, which ones even made the mighty Pussy King cautious?"

"Mmm, the strongest one should be the old man beside that prince kid. He should be a half-god, and not just any half-god, but a peak half-god," the Pussy King said lazily, dropping the bomb as if it were something ordinary.

"As for the other two, they barely reached the half-god threshold."

Hearing this, Apollo couldn’t help but feel surprised that the weak-looking old man was so powerful. This also made him realize how deep and strong the Sacred Light Empire’s roots were. Even though Prince Michael was a talented prince, having a bodyguard at the peak of half-god was too much.

But now, Apollo understood why the cat disappeared most of the time. If a half-god expert noticed him, it would be quite a problem. Even if Apollo didn’t fully believe all of the cat’s words, he knew the white feline was extraordinary and had some shocking origin.

As dawn broke the next day, the arena was once again filled with spectators. The air was charged with excitement and tension. The final sixty participants took their places, ready to prove their mettle. The morning air was crisp, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and tension.

Apollo stood among the final sixty, his mind focused on the battles ahead. He felt a surge of determination; today was his chance to face off against the best.

The senior from the Sacred Light Empire, standing in the sky above the arena, addressed the crowd. "Today, we witness the culmination of this grand event. These sixty warriors have proven their strength and skill. Now, they will face each other to determine the strongest among them. Let the battles begin!"

The rules were simple: single-elimination duels until only one warrior remained. Each match was a test of not just strength but also strategy, endurance, and willpower.

The first match of the day was announced, and the crowd erupted in cheers. One by one, participants stepped into the arena, showcasing their strength, skill, and strategy.

One or two top geniuses also appeared, but they effortlessly won their matches without any surprises. Lycan Fullblood, for example, stepped into the arena and demolished his opponent with a single punch. There were no unexpected situations; the top talents maintained their dominance.

Half an hour later, Apollo’s name was called. He walked into the arena with calm confidence, looking forward to seeing who his first opponent would be.

As his opponent’s name was called, a figure emerged, moving with deliberate grace. Apollo recognized him: Angus Clayford, a second-rank Mage from a renowned kingdom known for his mastery of wind magic and runes. Angus’s previous performance had been impressive, and the crowd buzzed with anticipation as the two combatants faced off.

Angus wasn’t a weak opponent; in fact, he was somewhat famous and considered to rank high among the sixty geniuses present. His mastery of wind magic and use of runes made him a formidable adversary, and many in the crowd expected a challenging match.

"Show me what you’ve got," Apollo said, his voice steady and confident.

His opponent nodded, a fierce determination in his eyes. "I won’t hold back."

The arena fell silent as Apollo and Angus faced each other, the air thick with anticipation. The two combatants stood a few paces apart, their eyes locked in a tense stare.

Angus raised his hand, and intricate runes began to glow around him, the air shimmering with the power of his wind magic. "Let’s see how you handle this," Angus said, his voice carrying a hint of confidence.

Apollo remained calm, his muscles tensing in preparation. The signal to start was given, and in an instant, Angus unleashed his first attack. A powerful gust of wind, sharp as blades, surged towards Apollo, carrying with it the force to slice through stone and uproot giant trees.

With a swift motion, Apollo dodged the attack, his movements fluid and precise. He felt the wind rush past him, a reminder of Angus’s formidable control over his element. But Apollo was unfazed. He moved closer, closing the distance between them with astonishing speed.

Angus responded by summoning a whirlwind around himself, creating a barrier of wind that deflected Apollo’s approach. The mage’s hands moved in complex patterns, casting more runes into the air that augmented his defences of wind.

Apollo paused for a moment, assessing the situation. He was very interested in the runes used by Angus, as they were like buffs in games. It was the first time he saw that runes can be used like this.

The spectators watched in silence, captivated by the intensity of the battle unfolding before them. They could feel the force of the winds and the razor-sharp wind blades unleashed by Angus, but Apollo effortlessly countered them with his extraordinary speed and strength. His ability to swiftly overpower Angus left the crowd stunned and in awe.

Apollo, on the other hand, knew he had to break through Angus’s barrier before he could land a decisive blow. He focused his life energy, channelling it into his fists. With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the whirlwind, his fist glowing with a fierce, cold white light.

The impact was tremendous. Apollo’s punch pierced through the whirlwind, dispersing the wind magic with a shockwave that reverberated through the arena. Angus staggered back, momentarily stunned by the force of the attack.

He was shocked to see how easily Apollo destroyed his whirlwind barrier, which was boosted by his runes. Even third-rank limit-breakers couldn’t break that barrier easily, yet Apollo did it with a single punch.

Seizing the opportunity, Apollo pressed his advantage. He closed the distance once more, his movements a blur of speed and power. Angus used the wind element energy to boost his speed and tried to summon another spell, but Apollo was too quick. With a series of rapid strikes, he overwhelmed the mage’s defences, each blow landing with precision and strength.

Angus attempted one last desperate move, drawing a rune that appeared in the air and glowed with powerful wind energy, creating a vortex around Apollo. But Apollo, undeterred, channelled his energy to break free, shattering the vortex with a burst of raw power.

With a final, decisive strike, Apollo shattered Angus’s magic shield with a mighty force that reverberated through the arena with a sonic boom, knocking him unconscious and sending him tumbling to the ground.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement reaching new heights as Apollo stood victorious.