BXBX NOVEL Chapter 198 - How Did That Happen?
When Shane was done providing a detailed analysis, he looked around to find the same silence greeting him as before. This made him feel odd because the entire arena had been listening to him in rapt attention and nobody made a sound. Had it been humans instead of the Elementals listening to him, they would have brawled, caused an uproar, or had given him some reaction other than the stony silence that he received right now.
As such, he stepped back awkwardly before Empress Idral told him that his evaluation was great.
Meanwhile, the Emperor stepped forward as he asked the audience at large,
"Our guest\'s evaluation was spot-on and I wouldn\'t be able to do it better...Is there anyone who has a different opinion with regards to any of the stated facts? I only want to hear genuine opinions and I won\'t punish anyone for speaking their mind! However, it has to be well thought of and I don\'t want to listen to excuses!!"
Shane thought that the Emperor\'s decision to involve his people in the discussion would be futile.
Most Elementals might be stubborn and hard to convince but some of them should have understood what the Emperor wanted to achieve. By giving Shane the opportunity to fight against one of their strongest Elemental in the younger generation before evaluating the spar, the Emperor had hoped to evoke a reaction amongst his subjects.
It was not clearly visible to Shane, but he sensed that the atmosphere in the arena was filled with shock and confusion which led him to think that the Elus-race was rather passive and subtle in expressing their emotions.
However, even after waiting for almost five minutes, there had yet to be someone to come forward to state their opinion about the spar and the evaluation received by Cedir.
Shane\'s eyes flitted from the crowd to Cedir who was in his deflated form again and wondered what his opinion about the evaluation might be when he saw that the princess didn\'t seem to bother about this fickle topic.
Ilya seemed to be apparently bored so when she saw him staring at her for a few moments, it didn\'t go unnoticed. She returned his gaze which caused Shane to ask her
"What do you think about the spar and evaluation?"
Shane was curious to know if the princess was like her parents, knowing that the Elementals have to adapt or if she thought that their combat style was good enough to stay alive.
"It\'s ridiculous how our race is still alive" She bluntly stated, not holding back her words.
Her voice was loud enough to be heard on the other side of the arena that was still as uncommunicative and eerily silent as if it was filled with inanimate objects and not living beings.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the arena tensed up and Shane could tell that the princess was not good at being considerate to others.
She had stated a valid point because Shane was also curious how their race would survive if everyone were to fight against unknown opponents as Cedir did, but, as he was a guest, he wouldn\'t point it out like this.
He gave her a dry and humorless smile, not knowing what to do as he said
"I think your race is just more adept at fighting large groups, which is the reason for their simple fighting style…"
The tension within the arena diminished slowly before it intensified, increasing manifold at Ilya\'s next words.
"Quantity is good, but quality is still better. If I were to fight with you, we could defeat a group of 20 Greater Elementals without an issue!"
\'Why would you say that? Are you picking a fight?\' Shane lamented in his mind and the tense atmosphere in the arena spoke volumes of the uneasiness of the Elementals who wanted to be anywhere but there. The Emperor turned around towards his daughter
"Does that mean you would fight with Shane against a group of 20 Greater Elementals...right now?"
To this question, Ilya answered with a simple "Yes" without any hesitation. This caused both Emperor Kidar and Empress Idras to be astonished as the Emperor announced in a loud voice.
"Greater Elementals, you heard her. If you don\'t want to tarnish the reputation as a Greater Elemental, establish the strongest group of 20 and prove my daughter wrong!"
Flabbergasted, Shane could only look at Princess Ilya and the Emperor as he thought
\'Hello?? I\'m also here...Do I have no say in this?\'
However, before he could even say something he heard Empress Idras quiet voice
"I\'m sorry that this is happening right now, but could you please fight with Ilya against the Greater Elementals group?
She never fought with anyone else because nobody was worthy enough to be considered her combat partner.
In that sense, she acknowledges your combat prowess!
However, that is not why I want you to fight with my daughter...If you two can defeat 20 Greater Elementals, the possibility that the other Elementals refuse to learn a new combat style would dwindle!"
Sighing deeply, Shane couldn\'t help but feel that he was being exploited.
\'I can just count this as an early thank-you for receiving the permission to enter the Elus-race\'s basic dimension where the Lesser Starlet foxes live!\'
He had gained a favor from the Elus-race before but Shane knew that his return of favor was only a small one and that he had to thank them properly. He had found a means to do so by helping the Emperor and Empress to convince their people to learn a versatile combat style.
Shane was still astonished at how the situation had escalated so quickly.
Glancing at Ilya for a short moment he told himself that she was not someone to be taken lightly.
Somehow, he felt like Ilya had planned this and that she was not innately so rash, blunt, and arrogant.
This caused Shane to look at her in a new light as goosebumps sprang over his body.
\'She seems to be craftier and slyer than the other Elementals…\'
Shane told himself to be careful around her when he said
"Okay, let\'s fight!"
Shane changed to the [One with the World(Unique] title for a short moment to unleash his full mana absorption again because he thought that it was useless to play around.
Furthermore, his world seed\'s mana absorption didn\'t really change much and Shane would be able to supply himself with mana to use it later.
He didn\'t want to use too much of his world seed\'s stored mana because he still required it to stay longer in the Basic-Dimensions. That would lessen the burden on his family if he could store more mana until the world seed would blossom.
As such, he unleashed his whole mana absorption and to the Elementals, it was like Shane was playing with open cards which was, surprisingly, taken in good faith.
"It will take a few minutes before the Greater Elementals form their team. Princess, should we make a plan or do you want to fight alone?"
Shane was fine with either way because he was confident that Ilya, as a Superior Elemental with two rare affinities, was strong enough to keep herself safe.
However, what he heard next astonished him.
"If you can transfer a large amount of mana quickly to me, I\'ll create an opportunity for you to take everyone down. I won\'t attack and only act as support to show the Greater Elementals that their combat style has many flaws!"
\'So...she wants me to do everything...alone?\' It was not difficult to tell what Shane was thinking, as his thoughts were reflected clearly on his face. Even an expressionless race like the Elementals was able to decipher what Shane thought when Ilya added confidently
"Don\'t think about it too much. As long as you supply me with enough mana, you can take down everyone easily!"
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