Rise My Elementals!

Chapter 749 Beginning of the semi-finals

Author: M_W Cancer

Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce

As soon as Selina was taken away from the stage, Elmont immediately announced the end of the second round of the Battle Competition. 

"Selina can no longer continue fighting. Therefore, the winner of this fight is Osborne!" Elmont motioned his hand towards Osborne.

Despite breathing heavily after experiencing such an intense fight, Osborne still raised his arm to express his triumph. At the same time, the crowd started chanting for his name.

"Osborne!"

"Osborne!"

"Osborne!"

Osborne slowly withdrew his hand after it started feeling a bit numb. He should be using this time resting to recuperate as much stamina and energy for the next fight.

Since the next round will be special, all the staff arrived on the stage and started fixing the damages done from the first round until now. They also made some slight adjustments to fit the prestige of the next round.

Not long after, the staff created another stage right at the very center of the Victory Arena. This stage was much smaller in size, precisely only one thousand meters square. But contrary to before, this stage was many times taller, even higher than the spectators stand. The staff did this purposely in consideration of the remaining three players. 

In all the previous Emerald Elven Battle Competition, disastrous events would always happen. It just can't be avoided. So, the only thing they could do is learn from all of those accidents and apply countermeasure to them in hopes of lessening the danger in the next Emerald Elven Battle Competition. 

Unlike the previous rounds, everyone would undoubtedly use everything they have to win in the semi-finals, let alone during the grand-final round. By making the stage higher, it would further lessen the risk of causing accidents to the spectators. For example, the Magic array of the barrier was unknowingly damaged. To be more precise, by making the stage higher than the spectator's area, every Magic spell would only shoot to the sky or the empty space around the stage, and not to the walls of the spectator's stand nor any people uninvolved in the Emerald Elven Battle Competition. 

After the stage was finished, all the staff immediately positioned themselves in all corners around it, fully prepared and ready for anything that could possibly happen during the semi-finals and the grand finals.

Seeing the stage done, Princess Tifa then started introducing with an excited tone in her voice, "With the fight between Selina against Osborne over, it is now finally time for us to proceed to the semi-finals of this year's Emerald Elven Battle Competition. Just one more round to go for the grand-finals and the deciding of what all the participants have been waiting for, the champion!"

"Everyone should already know that in this round of the Battle Competition, the three remaining participants would fight against each other for a chance to qualify in the grand-finals and become the champion!" Princess Tila added even more hype, causing everyone to cheer loudly and express their impatience for the start of the semi-finals. She continued, "Let's welcome once again the three remaining participants of this year's Emerald Elven Battle Competition,"

The first person to step forward after hearing Princess Tila's words was Osborne. The latter is still currently covered with many wounds all over his body from his previous fight against Selina. Although some of the wounds had already slightly healed after he had drunk a few Healing potions, it was still unable to hide a fair portion of them.

"First player; we have the Orc who has proven the saying that the best defense could also be a good offense, Osborne!" Princess Tila motioned her hand to her left side.

The following person was Edgar Pierce.

"Second player; we have the Elf that had ended all of his fights extremely quickly that it's almost as if his opponents were never a challenge to him, at all. Edgar Pierce!" Princess Tila motioned her hand to her right side.

Knowing that Princess Tila had already called out both Osborne and Edgar Pierce, Leo raised his right foot forward as he knew it would be his turn soon.

"Last but certainly not the least, the Guild Leader of the Guild famous for its mischievousness, the Mischievous Lion Guild, Guild Leader Loki!" Princess Tila raised both of her hands forward in the center in between Osborne and Edgar Pierce.

Instantly, the crowd became hype and started cheering even louder than all the previous noises they had made in the earlier rounds, including even the four previous games of the Emerald Elven Battle Competition. After all, this is what they have long been waiting for to watch from the moment they stepped forth inside the Victory Arena.

"Was it really just a coincidence that you are positioned in our center, Guild Leader Loki?" Edgar Pierce can't help asking.

"Of course not! Didn't you saw me always positioning myself where I would be able to walk at the very center once the grand finals begin? It was naturally all just for this moment!" Leo replied before letting out a chuckle.

"Whether we are walking from the right, left, or the center, it still doesn't guarantee anyone's win. All three of us has a fair chance of becoming the champion, so good luck to the two of you, Guild Leader Loki and Edgar Pierce," Osborne solemnly expressed before walking away from the two.

"Osborne is correct," Leo muttered.

"Correct on what? He's clearly just overreacting," Edgar Pierce rolled his eyes.

"He's correct on the part that there is no time for us to joke around, and we should be treating this seriously," Leo explained before also walking away from Edgar Pierce.

"Tch! Tell me, are you both actually scheming something against me? Because it really feels like you are doing exactly that!" Edgar Pierce coldly harrumphs with both of his arms crossed under his chest.

Ignoring Edgar Pierce, Leo approached Osborne. After arriving in front of the latter, he asked, "Are you alright?" 

It's pretty apparent for Leo already just from the wounds around Osborne's body alone as to the answer to exactly how serious the latter's current situation is. Though Osborne might not seem to look like he is suffering from anything on his expression and the way he acts just now, that's merely a façade to hide the reality.

Suppose one would seriously look closely at Osborne's wounds right now. In that case, one could easily understand that just one fatal mistake would result in him having no other choice but to surrender in the semi-finals. In addition to that, depending on what that fatal mistake is going to be, there is also a fairly high possibility for him to end up becoming a cripple.

"I am okay. But, thanks for asking," Osborne replied, continuing to hide the truth from Guild Leader Loki. After all, although they can now be considered friends, it still doesn't change the fact that he will be one of his opponents in the semi-finals.

"There's no need for you to continue hiding. As a matter of fact, even Edgar Pierce already noticed your current state," Leo shook his head.

Hearing Guild Leader Loki's words, Osborne could only give up on hiding and heave a sign of helplessness before saying, "Is it really that obvious?"

"If what you mean about obvious is you were drinking more or fewer galloons of Healing potions to recover your wounds while at the same time recuperating as much of your stamina and energy a while ago, then yes, you were indeed obvious. Honestly, calling it obvious is an understatement. Instead, the appropriate words to use is you were showing us the truth!" Leo replied.

"I shouldn't have done that, right? Although I was able to recover a bit, in exchange, it allowed both of you to know the current state of my body," Osborne knew more than anyone else just how unfavorable the table has turned against him. Truthfully speaking, if it weren't because he was showing a strong determination and insistence on his face, then his Highness, Elmont, would have long already announced a draw in his fight against Selina earlier ago and proceeded immediately to the grand-finals of the Battle Competition. In other words, they were just considerate of how he feels, just like what they did to Selina a while ago, lest they hurt his pride and discourage him.

Needless to say, Osborne really appreciates their efforts and what they have done to him. And honestly, this is also his personal choice to continue fighting in the semi-finals. So regardless of what the others would think is the right thing for him to do, they still won't be able to change his final decision. However, it likewise doesn't change his chances of winning. Rather, it just made it even worse than what it already was after now that he knows that both Guild Leader Loki and Edgar Pierce weren't actually oblivious to his current state.

"Yeah, but that is not my business to tell you what is right or wrong. After all, the final decision has always lied on your shoulder," Leo simply shrugged his shoulder off.

"Thank you," Osborne expressed his appreciation.

"But it is my business to think of a method on how to win and become the champion!" Leo continued.