Chapter 46: Eliminating The Future Threat

Emily’s mind raced frantically, searching for any possible solution. Leon was doing the same. But no matter how hard they thought, nothing came to mind.

Then suddenly, Emily raised both her hands.

’We need to run.’ "Double Blast — Elemental Harmony!" she shouted.

Instantly, a gigantic fireball materialized in the air, large enough to swallow over ten people whole. But it didn’t stop there. A thick layer of ice covered the blazing sphere, jagged spikes protruding from every direction. The fireball looked like it wanted to burst open, but the ice layer was holding it back. The entire mass began spinning violently, creating a powerful whirlpool beneath it. Space itself seemed to distort under the overwhelming pressure radiating from the attack. Everyone nearby was forced backward as waves of heat and cold exploded outward from it.

’Such power.’ Leon looked at her with amazement in his eyes. And it wasn’t just him. Everyone looked at Emily with awe in their eyes.

"She is so strong. Who is she?" One person whispered.

"Wait. I know her. It’s the ’Scarlet Frost’. Emily Flemming."

"What? It’s her! The youngest S-Class hunter? Holly! We are saved. We are saved. We can finally leave this place." Tears rolled down that person’s face as he spoke enthusiastically.

Hope flickered in everyone’s eyes. It was as if a group of drowning men had finally seen a portion of land in the distance.

Emily heard everything, but her focus was totally on the person before her.

Finally...

The fire-ice combo shot forward like a raging calamity. It closed the distance toward the wyvern.

"Run!" She screamed right after hurling it.

Everyone snapped out of their daze.

"Wait! Run? But why?" One whispered.

"Are you saying even she can’t protect us?"

The despair that had finally started to fade away returned again. But this time even deeper. Because if a veteran like her was no match, then what could they do? Everyone suddenly pushed their bodies to the absolute limit, driven by instinct. There were only two choices left. Escape somehow... Or accept death.

But just when Emily thought she had created an opening... just when she believed the wyvern would at least be pushed back for a moment...

Something happened.

A figure suddenly leapt down from the wyvern’s back. Facing the destructive ice-fire attack rushing toward the colossal beast, the figure casually swung the back of his hand.

Thwack!

The instant the person’s back hand touched the explosive ball...

The massive spell changed direction instantly and shot away into the distance, and crashed into the ground.

Boom!

The ground trembled. Dust and steam exploded outward, rising high into the air. Everyone lowered their head and covered their eyes.

After some time, everything started to clear...

Everyone froze in horror. A gigantic crater stretching up to 500 metres on both sides had been carved into the earth.

Everyone instinctively staggered backward, their faces pale with fear.

Emily remained rooted to the spot as well, her entire body stiffening.

Leon’s jaw tightened as he looked at it. ’What kind of power is that? He just back-slapped something that devastating?’

The figure from the wyvern’s back slowly descended from the sky as if he were floating in the air. He landed gracefully upon the ground without making the slightest sound. Not even a single dust particle stirred.

He was more than 6 feet tall, wearing a robe that exuded a royalty-like vibe. He took a step. The moment he did, a suffocating pressure pressed on everyone as if a mountain were weighing on them.

Some even collapsed on their knees. Right then...

Figures began emerging from every direction, surrounding them completely.

Monsters.

Some were weak, merely F-Class creatures. Others radiated terrifying pressure. Even several S-Class monsters stood among them.

But none of them attacked. None lunged at the sight of humans. It was as if they were soldiers awaiting orders... a terrifying army under someone’s absolute command.

The man finally spoke, his calm voice echoing across the land. "Where do you all think you’re going? Have I been treating you that badly?" The person said in an amused voice. He slowly took another step toward Emily and the others. Everyone instinctively took a few steps back. Emily’s hand wrapped around the sword’s hilt.

Just then, footsteps echoed at the back. A few of them turned their head. Monsters were dragging those 7 who had stayed back in the tower. And in front of them was a man leading the monsters as they dragged those 7. Leon’s fist clenched. It was the same person who had helped them flee from the horde of D-class tyrant ice bears on the first day.

"It’s you. Harold." Leon whispered.

Emily was standing beside Leon. "No, he isn’t." Her eyes were fixated on the person standing at the front. The very same person who had just dealt with her strongest attack, as if it were nothing. "The person standing in front of you is."

Leon had no time to process as the tall person before them spoke again. "I wanted to wait for your number to reach 40. But it looks like you are so eager to start the tournament right away. Hahahahaha... Good, good."

Emily’s jaw tightened.

"Then I am going to start it right away. But, there is just one problem. Each team can have only five people. You are thirty-one in total. So to make six teams of five, one of you must be excluded. Or I must say... Eliminated before the tournament starts. So who is it going to be?"

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what was about to happen. Sol walked toward Emily quickly. "Sis, I am having a bad premonition. This primal is planning something. And I don’t believe it’s going to be in our favor."

Emily didn’t reply and continued to focus on the person before her, Harold.

Harold stood silent for a while, letting his words settle. Then he started again. "Looks like you didn’t understand me. Before the tournament starts, you have to decide who stays put. That means there will be a pre-match before the tournament." His lips curved into a wicked smile. "Where all of you have to defeat a single person. The person most likely to become a threat to you during the tournament. Of course, if you want to survive yourself, that is."

Suddenly, realization dawned on everyone. And all eyes turned toward Emily.