For a moment, no one in the guest seats spoke.
After what felt like an eternity, Master Finn broke the silence tentatively. "Why not let them continue to compete? There's no rule that Gold-level Lore Cardians can't participate."
However, even after Master Finn offered his suggestion, an eerie silence descended upon the guest seats.
Lucian, Azrael's teacher, didn't really have any opinion on the matter. Given Azrael's current performance, the individual championship was a foregone conclusion. Of course, he could see that, and so could the other high-level Lore Cardians present.
Lioren and Tempest didn't care about the matter either.
Lioren, as a Sovereign-level Lore Cardian, was primarily responsible for suppressing secret realm outbreaks in the Shu region. Events like the national competition didn't really concern him. He'd come to watch the competition on a whim, having some time away from his suppression duties for a while.
Tempest, on the other hand, had just received a message from his disciple, Victor, saying he wouldn't be participating in the upcoming individual competitions and would be returning north to cultivate. With all his disciples gone, he naturally wouldn't interfere further.
Even if Adrian had been acting recklessly, he wouldn't have stopped Azrael from continuing to compete. A loss on the field was better than a loss on the battlefield, which could be fatal.
Seeing the three Master-level and above Lore Cardians present remained silent, the other high-level Lore Cardians looked at each other, at a loss for ideas.
After a long silence, Prime Minister Yuichi finally offered a solution. "Don't let Azrael and Adrian compete anymore. As compensation, each of them can choose a set of Gold-level materials. How about that?"
He believed that if the two continued to compete, the individual competition would only end in a duel between the two of them. The final prize would still go to them.
Besides, Gold-level players weren't suited to competing against Silver-level players. It would be better to simply give the prize to the two in exchange for their withdrawal.
The purpose of the National Competition was to select talent. The team competition had fulfilled its mission, selecting two talented players, Azrael and Adrian. The same would certainly apply to the individual competition.
For the vast and powerful Empire of Aetherlight, two sets of Gold-level materials were nothing.
Lioren raised his eyebrows upon hearing this, somewhat surprised by Prime Minister Yuichi's courage. The other elderly officials present exchanged glances before finally deciding to agree.
Indeed, Azrael and Adrian's participation would render the individual competition meaningless.
"Since it's decided, let's notify them."
"If they disagree..."
"Then let them be."
At this point, Prime Minister Yuichi glanced at Lucian, who had remained silent so far.
"Then there's the second matter. As the winner of the team competition, Pixar University will have a chance to enter the Welfare Secret Realm. Azrael, at the Gold Level, is obviously not suitable to enter the same level of secret realm as his teammates. How do you handle this?"
Prime Minister Yuichi brought up the second matter.
"That's easy," Master Finn said without hesitation. "Originally, the Welfare Secret Realm was meant for them to choose. Let Azrael choose a Gold-level Secret Realm instead."
Prime Minister Yuichi stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before uttering a single word, "Good."
With the crucial matter resolved, Lioren addressed Lucian beside him. "Master Lucian, I admit that Azrael's talent surpasses even mine at his age."
Lucian was startled, having never expected Lioren to hold his disciple in such high regard. "Little Azrael is indeed talented, but I only hope he can eventually succeed me. Reaching the Sovereign tier will depend on his own fortune."
He shook his head slightly. Of his several disciples, only Corey and Alice were Diamond-level Lore Cardians. Corey had been staying in the north due to certain circumstances... Alice's personality forced her to teach in Pixar University.
Now, Azrael was the only one he could rely on.
Hearing this, Lioren remained noncommittal.
As the two spoke, several elders behind them exchanged silent glances.
Down on the platform, Azrael, having advanced to Gold rank, no longer felt exhausted. After a brief rest, he left the battle station.
As soon as he stepped off the platform, the rest of the Pixar University Battle Club surrounded him.
"Azrael," Oliver said, looking at the pale-faced young man before him. He had so much to say, but for a moment, he didn't know how to express it.
Azrael quickly reached out and stopped him. "Stop being so sentimental, man. Besides, we're in this together."
Oliver was startled at first, but then realized he was referring to the events in the Eye of Infinity secret realm.
Jea-Min and Choi-Gyu also thought of this, and the four of them smiled in tacit understanding.
Only Kevaugn scratched his head, perplexed. He felt like he was being sidelined, but he had no proof.
Leaving the four to celebrate, Azrael approached the silent Alice.
"Senior Sister, I won," he whispered to the silent, intellectual beauty before him.
Alice tilted her head back, revealing her fair neck. Her eyes, like crystal, gazed silently at the younger student before her. Her usually icy expression instantly melted. "Yes. You did very well, Azrael. The teacher will be very happy, and I as well."
Azrael stared blankly at his senior sister. "Senior Sister, you can actually smile."
As soon as he said this, Alice's expression returned to her usual calm demeanor, a single word carried by the wind.
"I'm going to find the teacher."
Watching the tall figure depart, Azrael felt a strange sense of apprehension, as if he had said something wrong.
Just as he turned to tell Oliver and the others to leave, a staff member hurried over.
"Student Azrael, please stay," the staff member called out. "There's something else I need to discuss with you."
Azrael was puzzled. He knew the procedures of the national competition: the awards ceremony was held after the individual competitions. Normally, he had nothing else to do today and could leave.
Seeing the confusion on Azrael's face, the staff member hurriedly explained, "Student Azrael, since you've advanced to the gold level, the organizing committee has decided that you and student Adrian will not participate in the subsequent individual competitions. Of course, as compensation, you can choose a set of gold-level materials."
Azrael fell silent after hearing this. As expected, what he had anticipated happened.
Fortunately, the organizing committee also gave corresponding compensation. Even if he agreed, he would not lose anything except a meaningless title.
And as for reputation, based on his performance in the team competition, no one should think that he couldn't win the championship in the individual competition.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to ask about Adrian's decision, "What about Adrian? Did he agree?"
"Student Adrian has agreed," the staff member replied immediately.
Azrael looked towards Northern University of Science and Technology's preparation area not far away. Adrian, with a pale complexion, was gently comforting the sobbing teammate next to him, who felt that he was holding the captain back.
As if noticing Azrael's gaze, Adrian turned and gave him a gentle smile.
"Okay, it would be really boring to continue playing anyway."
Seeing Azrael agree, the staff member couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He had been really worried that the young man in front of him would insist on continuing to compete.
"Excellent, then I'll report this. Student Azrael, please do as you wish."
Watching the staff member hurriedly leave, Azrael turned and told Oliver and the others to go back to the hotel first.
Soon, the National Competition Organizing Committee announced on all major platforms that Azrael and Adrian would not participate in the individual competition. The reasons and compensation were also announced truthfully, without any trickery to make Azrael and the others take the blame.
It wasn't that the organizing committee was being magnanimous. Firstly, Azrael was Lucian's disciple, and secondly, with geniuses like them, who knew how strong they would become in the future. If one of them became a master or even a Sovereign-level Lore Cardian, the organizing committee could only hope they weren't holding grudges.
Shortly after the announcement was released, a huge online discussion erupted. Most of the discussion, of course, was focused on who would be the champion if Azrael or Adrian competed again.
Some netizens, eager to see the excitement, launched a poll. In the end, Azrael overwhelmingly defeated Adrian with a 99% chance of winning.
Consequently, Azrael naturally earned the nickname "Uncrowned King."
He himself didn't care, believing it was just empty fame; he'd rather focus on concentrating on his fundamentals. Azrael's success was entirely due to hard work and sweat! He denied the online accusations of being a "stat freak."
Time passed, and soon the day of the individual competition finals arrived.
In the stands, Azrael raised an eyebrow and said, "Mikeala won."
However, there was no response from those around him, as Oliver and the others were helping him deal with the ordinary spectators nearby.
"You're acting like we're bodyguards," Kevaugn couldn't help but mutter.
Choi-Gyu burst out laughing nearby. "Azrael's protection detail is pretty impressive."
Kevaugn was speechless. It was true; he had truly been protected by Azrael throughout their journey.
The two finalists were Mikeala and Eina from Beijing University.
Azrael had only learned a few days ago that Victor had retreated north to cultivate. In his opinion, if Victor hadn't withdrawn, winning the individual championship would have been a piece of cake.
He didn't believe Victor hadn't known he wouldn't be there, but he left determined. "You haven't changed, Victor."
At that moment, the winner had already been decided.
Without the hindrance of Eina's summoned creature, his performance was indeed incredibly ferocious, a bit like the comic book version of the Hulk. However, it was clear that there was a limit to Hercules' improvement. Mikeala's Frost Giants' depletion ability was ridiculously high.
And Eina lacked formidable abilities like Excalibur and Lightning Release: Kirin.
Therefore, even if Hercules slayed countless Frost Giants, it was all for naught if he couldn't break through Lúr's defenses.
On the sidelines, Mikeala, having won the individual championship, looked unhappy. She glanced around the stands and spotted Azrael and Adrian watching the match.
"Heh, just something others didn't want."
But thinking of the gold-level materials the champion would receive, she finally calmed down.
With the individual competition over, the awards ceremony followed. The battered arena remained unrepaired; it served as testimony to the winner's power.
A replica of the arena from the team finals was also built nearby.
Speaking of which, while constructing the replica, the senior engineers kept wondering, "Is there really a card that can survive this kind of attack?!"
The thought of this filled them with a deep sense of awe for Azrael. A tribute to the legendary endurance king, Azrael!
"It's time to go downstairs. The awards ceremony is about to begin," Professor Chisaki, rarely seen dressed in formal attire, said with a smile.
He hadn't stopped smiling in the past month, ever since Pixar University won the team championship.
Azrael glanced at the somewhat enthusiastic audience around him and sighed. In this situation, he had no choice but to let his Shadowkhan lead them down.
Mikeala was already waiting for them downstairs.
Seeing the Pixar University students, she had no desire to engage in conversation and simply stood aside in silence.
The awards ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Yuichi and Master Finn. Lioren, Lucian, and other pillars of the Empire of Aetherlight had already returned to their respective garrisons after the team competition.
"Congratulations, congratulations," Master Finn smiled, shaking Azrael's hand.
Azrael had previously learned from Alice about Master Finn's relationship with his teacher, so his affection wasn't surprising.
"Master Finn, you're too kind. My teacher taught me well."
Master Finn's face fell upon hearing this. "It's just a pity you're not from the capital"
Azrael smiled politely.
The award ceremony ended quickly.
A set of gold-level materials was not handed to Azrael because he needed to go to the government office in either the Northern Capital or Pixar to make his own choice. This also left ample room for thinking for the young Lore Cardian.
"Let's go, what are you daydreaming about?" Chisaki patted Azrael on the back.
Azrael came back to his senses and followed the others.
Thus, the most difficult battle in the national competition since he came to this world ended. Azrael obtained a set of gold-level materials as expected, and he also broke through to the gold level, finally barely escaping the precarious situation.
A week had passed since the end of the national competition, and Azrael had some ideas for new cards. He was currently checking out the gold-level material sets available for selection in the government office in Pixar.
"Spirit of Electricity, Skylight Mirror." Azrael flipped through the sets of materials on the tablet in his hand and couldn't help muttering, "Isn't this the Thunder God's essence?"
The government office was quite attentive, and the materials available for selection were basically categorized in sets.
As he browsed, Azrael suddenly became puzzled and turned to the staff, asking, "Is it mandatory to choose these already categorized materials?"
The staff member was stunned at first, but then realized that the overly young Gold-level Lore Cardian in front of them wanted to create a custom combination. "No, but sir, you can only choose five materials or fewer."
Azrael nodded slightly, having already found the materials he needed.