Chapter 206: The Chosen One (End of Volume 1)
As a mage, Lucien had never been good at melee, and his Strength attribute was lacking as well, something in which Zich greatly excelled.
’It seems I have something to focus on from now on.’
That was his last thought before everything went blank. The last thing he heard was the loud cheers and gasps of surprise from the audience.
If one were to look at his face, they would not see anger or regret. Instead, there was a peaceful smile.
’Zich... Zich...’ he muttered the name over and over again, as if committing it to his memory.
A few hours later, when Lucien opened his eyes once again and returned to the arena, what he saw was Zich delivering the final blow to the Nullborn, causing the entire human audience to jump to their feet in excitement.
It was Ainos. After their match, he and Veyron had gone toe to toe, and he had still come out on top.
Unfortunately for him, he was the most active Nullborn in this tournament, and so, although it was not easy, Zich, who had been studying them, replicated his victory against Nameless, setting an even bigger record that proved he hadn’t defeated the Nullborn by mistake!
"I have never seen any genius like him in the last decades! He is the future of humanity! He is the Chosen One! He is Zich Graves, the Gravekeeper’s son who has proven himself before countless worlds!" Mithrash’s passionate voice echoed far and wide.
Projection screens across the entire world displayed Zich’s name in enormous golden letters, while countless humans who had gathered in plazas, halls, stadiums, and countless other places threw their hands into the air and shouted until their voices broke.
For generations, the Nullborn had been regarded as an existence that ordinary humans could not defeat.
Nameless had fallen.
Then Lucien, the strongest human prodigy of the tournament, had fallen.
And now Ainos, the strongest Nullborn remaining, had been defeated in the final without being given even a single true opportunity to control the battle.
The undefeated record was gone.
The championship belonged to humanity.
And the name Zich spread beyond the First Layer before the trophy had even been lifted.
...
[Breaking News: Human Summoner Defeats Ainos and Wins the Chosen Tournament]
[Sixteen-Year-Old Zich Becomes the First Human Champion to Defeat Two Nullborn in a Single Tournament]
[Sun Warlock Lucien Vilhart Defeated in Close Combat]
[Who Is Zich? The White-Haired Summoner Who Changed the First Layer]
[Is This the Birth of a Future Powerhouse? The Beginning of a New Era?]
...
The following day, after the final spectator departed, the enormous arena that had once been filled with deafening noise finally regained its silence.
The sun slowly descended. Golden afterglow fell across the battlefield, which had already been completely repaired.
Only a few scattered workers remained within the entire arena, continuing to clean the venue.
"How is your recovery?"
Arthur slowly walked ahead without turning around as he asked.
"Almost complete." Zich followed behind him and gently nodded.
The healing potions used by the healers here far exceeded his expectations. In only a few hours, injuries that would have left an ordinary person bedridden for ten days or half a month had already recovered by nearly eighty per cent.
Arthur smiled upon hearing that.
"That’s good."
After speaking, he suddenly stopped.
"Someone wants to meet you."
Zich was slightly stunned.
"Who?"
"You’ll know when we arrive."
Arthur did not continue explaining.
Instead, he led Zich all the way to the highest level of the Central Arena.
There was a platform completely separate from every VIP room.
A gentle breeze slowly passed.
A slender figure stood there quietly.
Her back was turned toward them.
Silver-white hair fell all the way to her waist, and beneath the light of the setting sun, it seemed to flow with a faint holy radiance. A pure white dress gently fluttered in the wind, and merely by standing there, she seemed to have become one with heaven and earth, causing all the surrounding scenery to lose its brilliance because of her presence.
Even from behind, she was so beautiful that it was almost impossible to look away.
After hearing the footsteps, the woman slowly turned around.
At that instant, Zich lost himself for a brief moment.
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
Her features seemed to have been personally carved by a god, without the slightest flaw. Her pale golden eyes were as clear and tranquil as a sacred lake beneath the morning light, while the faint smile that always rested at the corners of her mouth carried a warmth like a spring breeze.
Even more striking was the indescribably sacred aura surrounding her, which made people instinctively feel the urge to look up at her.
After seeing Zich, the woman smiled softly.
"Hello, Zich. This is our first meeting. Answer one question for me first."
Zich slowly regained his composure.
"Please ask."
The woman looked toward the now-empty arena in the distance.
"How many races do you know?"
Zich thought for a moment before calmly answering.
"Four. The Nullborn, the Velhari, the Sorath, and the Keth."
After hearing his answer, the woman could not help letting out a soft laugh.
Her laughter was exceedingly pleasant.
"It seems humanity truly honoured its promise. At least until now, they have continued keeping the other higher races a secret."
Zich frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
The woman did not answer. Instead, she slowly walked toward Zich.
When she stopped before him, the entire starry sky seemed to be reflected in those golden eyes.
Then she smiled and extended her right hand toward Zich.
"Let us formally introduce ourselves. My name is Razeil. I’m a member of the Angel Race. A Level 200 mage."
Upon reaching this point, the smile on her face became even gentler.
"Beginning today, I will become your mentor."
...
End of Volume 1: The Chosen One.
I want to sincerely apologise that this arc took so long, but the characters introduced here will play an integral part in the story and its development. Thank you for your support so far!