Air Hero

Elica Rosebud

Everybody knows that Giovanni possesses extreme speed, but what Max caught from his battle just now wasn’t only that. People might look down on him as someone who is pampered since he comes from a prominent family.

However, behind Giovanni’s attack just now, Max discovered several points that make him even warier. Firstly is Giovanni’s judgement. The first shot that Giovanni fired that couldn’t penetrate the firewall is only a probing attack. However, after that one move, he immediately determines the power needed to break through the Flamemancer defence.

Secondly is Giovanni capabilities in close combat. That one light tap at Flamemancer’s neck is able to take him out instantly. It is showing just how deep is Giovanni in control of his strength and his martial arts knowledge. Making someone pass out with one tap light like that isn’t done easily, even for the people who know the technique.

Thirdly, what Giovanni shows so far is only his speed, but Max thinks he is still hiding more. His Energy, Power, and Sensitivity should all have reached a D+ rank or even higher for him to utilize his speed with ease.

After all, just like a car with a fast engine, it will crumble easily if the other parts aren’t suitable. It means that what he shows in the hero examination test might only be a part of his full capabilities, or he has grown considerably since then.

The commotion didn’t even end when Giovanni stepped down from the arena. It shows that how many people are rooting for him to become the winner.

“Alright, since the first match has ended, let’s proceed with the second match. Eagle Eye versus Captain Amazing.”

Max also watched the second match, but it is lacklustre and pale in comparison to when he watches it. It just because Giovanni showed such dominating side in the first match. Not to mention that the winner of this second match will be facing Giovanni next. So he didn’t feel that he needs to prepare a countermeasure for the people fighting right now. Nevertheless, he still paying close attention to their technique and skill.

After all, learning a new move or technique could happen anytime and anywhere. An A-rank hero might learn something new from a D-rank hero and vice versa. A D-rank hero might think in ways that the A-rank hero never thought of, and a D-rank hero surely could learn a lot from an A-rank hero that is stronger than him.

It wasn’t the higher the rank, the better they are. After all, someone like Bonio and Yann perishes at Max’s hand that wasn’t even D-rank at that time. Also, there’s no guarantee that a D-rank hero is more inexperienced than a higher rank hero. There could even be a D-rank hero that has been working for five years, and there is a C-rank hero after two years in the field.

However, there’s no upset or dazzling display on the second match as Eagle Eye win the rounds with his accurate long-range attack. He is able to keep Captain Amazing on the bay with his accuracy.

After that, one after another, the match progressed at a normal rate. It wasn’t too long or too short as every D-rank heroes that managed to proceed to the top 50 has their tricks up their sleeve. They also performed their best in order to win and move forward. Finally, at this time, Max realized that all of the strong contenders are on his side of the bracket.

At Giovanni’s side of the competition bracket, there aren’t any of the rest strong contenders. So it might be designed to make sure that the final will be exciting or just Giovanni’s luck.

At lunch break, Max has someone delivered food to his waiting room. These are also the privileges they got after advancing to the top 50, and then the matches continue.

When the next match started, it is the first match for the right bracket, and it is actually Elica Rosebud. Another strong contender for the title, and Max never saw her in action before. He is excited to see her performance.

Not to mention that she is pleasing to look at, although her demeanour is cold and freezing the bone.

“Ninth match, Frozen Rose versus Lava boy.”

It seemed that Elica opponent is another fire-element heroes. The four most common elements are fire, wind, water, and earth, with body manipulation, comes next to another category. So, it wasn’t strange to find a lot of fire-element heroes on the top 32.

When the match starts, Elica is just standing there on her side of the field. Her opponent isn’t rushing either since he knows that Elica is a tough match. The opponent is testing the waters by sending out fire bullets towards her. However, before the bullet hits, it gets frozen in the air and fall to the ground with a loud thud.

Max finally able to see Elica’s ability with his eye. He is amazed to see a rare element that she possessed. It is ice ability. Although water and ice ability is similar, they are fundamentally different power. Water-elements user can't make ice, but ice-elements user could change their ice into water. However, they couldn’t control it anymore after it is turned into water except turning it back into ice first.

Seeing that his attack failed, Lava Boy decided to try close-range combat. He covered his leg in a fire as if wearing burning shoes and run forward. Max also realises that this ability to boost speed is achievable using any elements, although the wind is the fastest among the four common elements.

Elica didn’t even move her hand. Slowly from below the sole of her feet, ice emerged; it started to spread out and covers the ground. Seeing that he will probably step on the ice if he continues to move forward, Lava Boy launches some fireball towards the floor in front of him.

His goal is to melt the ice and give himself some foothold. He doesn’t know what is the effect of her skill just now. Is it to make the ground slippery so he will fall when he stepped on it or for other reason. He didn’t want to think lightly of her move and decided to make a safer approach.