Dueling Portion

Instead of simply agreeing to Vice Principal Mia's words, Asher had in mind to take her offer to another level. It may be a little daring to do so against a woman of her status, but he was accustomed to taking risks.

In an entirely calm voice, Asher began to say, "You don't need to explain but, excuse me, Vice Principal, what if I can already raise my ranking by showing what I can really do in the battle portion of the Assembly?"

Vice Principal Mia raised a curious brow. With all that she knows and saw from Asher, she was honestly inquisitive on what he can show. Though she had doubts that he could change much in just a manner of two days.

"If you want to raise your ranking, you must face someone far higher than on Zara Kane level. Zara Kane's prowess is one that is equivalent to a well-experienced Spirit Tier cultivator. However, she neither has full control or proper prowess one can exude at this realm."

Vice Principal Mia patiently explained to him. She half expected to see Asher's expression changed, believing that he thought he could just face another average Spirit Tier student.

However, Asher still remains calm even when being told that news. Vice Principal Mia's words had even made him recall that moment he experienced with Jayline.

Jayline's Magical Aura was like a suffocating tornado. To say nothing on Zara's powers, it still far surpassed anything Asher ever fought with previously. From the masked creature to even those monstrous bear and black widow spiders in the Decrypted Woods.

Asher could still vividly identify that Jayline's Magical Aura was far superior to all of them.

Now Asher didn't precisely know just how strong Jayline was or his infamous fame around the Academy.

For most members of the Kane Gang, Asher was more than content to simply ignore any useless information from them. Still, he fathoms that Jayline may be one of the most powerful Spirit Tier cultivators around the Academy.

And he plans to face him and destroy him all the same. He felt even more assurance in his decision, especially after his morning cultivation session that nearly made him late to the Assembly.

With his own anticipation rising, Asher told Vice-Principal Mia, "Ah, that would be no issue. I welcome any tough challenge, and I have been training a lot over this past weekend."

Vice Principal Mia couldn't help but feel her curiosity rise even more.

Just what kind of training did he do that gave him so much confidence in facing powerful Spirit Tier cultivators?

More curious was that she didn't even sense any inflated confidence or huge ego from Asher's words and stance. He simply looked honest when speaking, as if there wasn't any lie in his words.

Really….a curious boy indeed.

Vice Principal Mia gave Asher a more beautiful smile as she answered him then. "Hmmm….it all depends on who you face. We will see then if what you show will warrant you a higher spot."

"The opportunity is all that I need. Thank you for this Vice Principal." Asher immediately expressed his gratitude.

Since he's already going the route of being a special genius youth, then there was very little reason to majorly hold back anymore.

Even before this meeting with Vice Principal Mia, Asher was sure about participating in the battle portion anyways. Now with this way, he'll get the absolute most of it.

For his relationships with Elsa, Reese, and Kylee, Asher would use his ranking spot to benefit them all.

"Such a firm will. Well then, I await your performance, Asher. It will take a bit to get everything set up, so please be patient."

Vice Principal Mia stated, already feeling a small surge of anticipation that she has cleverly hidden.

….

A little while later and the first part of the Potential Assembly had finally ended. Things had gone mostly as expected early in the Assembly.

But two new shocking news caused irrevisable waves throughout the entire Academy.

Asher and Hayato Earth Tier topic was still fervent news on everybody's minds. And their incredible talents only made everyone more excited for the next part of the Assembly.

Currently, the Competition year students were all assorted into specific sections.

The Early Stage Spirit Tier talents were grouped together, and for Mid, Late, and Peak, they were grouped together as well.

This assortment means everyone would be on the same level for the rest of the competition year. And this would make it easier for the Professor to know what specific level they should teach at.

The Talent Stone told a lot more about a student than the student even knows. All of them will soon realize the efficiency of having their specific talents worked on.

For the Ranking Genius students, they were still at their secluded section.

But now, there was one more secluded section just like them, which contained equally special young talents.

In this section, there was only Asher and Hayato here, and given their previous brief exchanges, it made for a tense atmosphere.

They both stood fifteen feet apart from each other, and their gazes were kept forward. Although, even as Asher never spared a glance at Hayato, he could still feel his vicious hostility radiating off from him.

Asher, of course, still didn't care. But, he had to remark that this guy honestly had a small mind to be so hostile towards him without even exchanging one dialogue with each other.

Asher just had to fathom he himself understands very little about pride or fame. Even if someone were to usurper his fame for whatever reason, he would still only care about his own personal growth in strength.

Gaining the attention, admiration, and envy of all those watching him was simply a par for the course when everyone could potentially achieve a high level of power.

However, even though Asher was indifferent to the hostility. It didn't mean he'll just let Hayato do whatever he pleases if he so chose to mess with him. Hayato would just be another example of what would happen to people that think they can act superior to him.

While Asher mused in his thoughts, everyone was finally settled and ready.

Right then, on the metallic stage, a handsome man had suddenly appeared at the center. His presence immediately captured all students' attention, making the whole field go quiet.

This man's aura was unfathomable. It wasn't on Principal Smith's level, but it was enough to show the insane amount of power he has at his disposal. This, combined with his sleek, short black hair, tall, lean frame, and elegant looks, made him appear as a royal nobleman.

Even Asher was taken from his thought by just this man's presence. This man only reminded Asher that Balreth Academy has depths that he wouldn't be able to see in too for quite a while.

The handsome man was simply known as Teacher Lucas.

And once everyone's attention was on him, he flashed an elegant smile that could swoon the hearts of many young maidens.

Teacher Lucas's eyes quickly roamed around the entire field for only a split second, taking only particular note of the new Ranking Genius students, Hayato and Asher.

Finally, then, he began to speak in a firm, powerful voice. "Congratulations to all who had their talents tested and revealed. From here on out, you will be sorted at your appropriate talent level."

A mixed wave of emotions permeated throughout the vast crowd of students. Some were eager over their assortment, others were neutral, and many others weren't feeling that much hopeful.

No matter where one was assorted into, all students know the Competition year won't be made any easier.

Once he let the news settle in student's minds for a moment, Teacher Lucas continued to speak.

"But, as you may know, we're not done yet. To all Competition year students, we're holding a chance to duel free of charge. Even if you do have a lower talent, this would be one chance to show off a crafted Battle Potential."

Murmurs began to leak through the Competition year students.

While one's Battle Potential can be predicted by one's talent level, it's not entirely set in stone. Compared to other aspects of one's talent, a student's Battle Potential can possibly go higher than what's expected of them.

A Battle Potential could include how well one can handle their Magical Power, find a weakness in other attacks, or develop a strategy to defeat an unbalanced odd.

There are various factors that go into when System's Tier cultivators battle with each other, and this would be a chance for any students to make themself stand apart from the common crowd.

Asher was scanning his eyes through the crowd, searching for one specific person. With his vision, he quickly spotted several Kane Gang members. They were either in the Late Stage or Peak Stage level of Spirit Tier talent.

Even with how unruly they all act, Asher could at least say those wannabe gangsters know how to pick decent members for the future.

Moreover, not even these members would dare to act unruly in such a strict Assembly.

Asher didn't pay his attention to these members for long, only noting that they were there. His eyes quickly went back through the crowd, hoping he could find Jayline.

Because he didn't go along with his demands, Asher fathoms Jayline would try and make some sort of big show now. And he wanted to nip this issue in the bud before it gets haywire.

But as Asher searched, Hayato had immediately jumped on stage only a few seconds after Teacher Lucas gave the call.

"Oooh?! The Earth Tier talent is going to fight first!"

Everyone got intently curious about who Hayato would choose. Even as Asher diminished his initial rising fame by quite a bit, he still was a genuine Earth Tier talent.

And when landing on stage, there was a burning fire searing within Hayato's eyes. He had something to prove and wasn't going to let Asher stay above him.

No matter even as Asher has superior talent, Hayato had unshakable confidence in his Battle Potential!