"There, turn that corner! Quick!" A manatech engine snarled as Hal slowed down slightly to turn a corner in the wide streets of Aetherforth, bursting back to a speedy advance while gritting his teeth. Today was the start of the tournament, as per the midget, but as it turned out, today was already the finals. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩 They would’ve traveled all the way to the capital for nothing if they couldn’t even watch the grand finals of the 486th Magna Ascension Tournament "Damn it, why didn’t you confirm with your master first?!" "Why are you blaming me when it was she who told me that the event was today?! If you’re dissatisfied, then why don’t you try complaining to her, huh?!" Hal could only grit his teeth and work his beloved Pathblazer, knowing nothing would change with them arguing. Their hearts sank as they neared the arena. There were no cheers, meaning that the battle might already be over, and the ascension ceremony was already underway. The Pathblazer screamed in protest as its manatech engine was overworked for the first time. Soon, the two arrived outside the Aetherforth Arena, disembarking as quickly as they could—with Ennya almost tripping face-first—and rushing towards the guards at the entrance. The fact that Hal could simply store his Manatech Vehicle inside the system’s inventory was truly convenient. "S-Sir guard! Haaah...Are the finals...Haaah...over already?!" Ennya asked, huffing and puffing as she clutched her chest. Hal’s breathing was much more regulated but still a bit irregular. "C-Calm down and catch your breath first. No, the finals haven’t started yet." A considerable portion of the midget’s energy left her body in utter relief. Although she didn’t want to admit it, everything today was her fault, as she decided to sightsee for a day in another city first. She would never hear the end of it from Hal if they didn’t make it. Fortunately, they did... Hal was able to breathe a sigh of relief, too, the frustrations in his heart vanishing completely. At least they didn’t travel for an entire week for nothing. "Your tickets, please." "T-Tickets?! Why haven’t I heard about tickets?!" Ennya despaired, clutching her head. Could it be that she was truly destined to be lectured today?! But then, a light knock on her head restored some sense right back into her. "Ow! What was that for?!" "For stressing me out today," Hal replied casually before shifting his attention to the guards. "Sir, we’re both Magna Prospects. Perhaps there’s a chance we don’t need tickets anymore? Also, we can pay if needed..." This time, it was the guards who paled after seeing the mark behind his left forearm. Faking such an identity was a huge crime. Only an extreme few would be either dumb or courageous enough to try, so there was a high chance the two people in front of him were legitimate. Every time a new Magna Prospect is appointed, the appearance of their marks would be delivered to every guard in the city for easier verification of their identities. The guard talking to them immediately retrieved something from his bag: a set of small cards with the kingdom’s emblem at the back and Magna Prospect marks at the front, quickly checking each to see whether there was one like Hal’s. It didn’t take long for the older man to find the Prospect of Chaos’ mark. While two more Magna Prospects were appointed after Hal, he was still among the most recent ones, and so his mark was found third on the deck. After their identities were verified, the two were granted entry. There were even VIP seats reserved for them just in case they decided to watch today. The duo soon found theirs, which were unfortunately apart, but Ennya willfully took liberties and sat beside Hal. She decided that she would just return to her seat if the owner of her current seat arrived. After a few more minutes, the two were fully settled, sharing a popcorn bag while waiting for the finals to begin. They also spotted Stiff Face standing close to the emperor on a heavily guarded, elevated platform close to the main stage. Their hearts were naturally delighted to see him doing quite well, especially after leaving the eastern battlefield with a heavy feeling. They thought Zephyron wouldn’t be able to return. Luckily, he was able to, and it seemed that he had already recovered from his fatal injuries. Around five more minutes later, the covers of the tent on the left side of the main stage flapped open, revealing a moss-haired man in his early thirties, just a few years younger than the Wind Magna. Unlike the tough and stoic Targon, Edmund Ra seemed to be straightforward and slightly aggressive, yet at the same time, there wasn’t a hint of arrogance in his smile. It was like his heart could take whatever the result of this battle would be, and that he was only here to do his best and have fun. Meanwhile, from the tent on the right side of the main stage, a brown-haired man slightly older than Zephyron emerged. Barras was mostly loud and overly enthusiastic, hyping up the crowd as he walked to the stage. The man reminded Hal of Rocky. Soon, the two prospects stood face to face with each other, neither turning away as they locked eyes for more than three seconds. The crowd was naturally excited at the proud display of the two prospects. They seemed like simple individuals, but accompanying that was the impression that neither of the two would back down, even against an overwhelmingly mighty opponent. While there was much to be questioned regarding their combat prowess in comparison to the late Targon, both were undoubtedly worthy of the position based on their attitude alone. What they would show here also wouldn’t be the extent of their abilities. After all, once their marks awakened and they learned to utilize them, there was a possibility that they could surpass the previous Earth Magna. The two vanished in the next moment, reappearing a distance away from each other. There were no referees, no commentators, and only the emperor got to decide whether the battle was over or not. A few more seconds later...