Reborn: Apocalypse Ready. War Goddess by My Side novel Chapter 542

Chapter 542 Real Threat

“The matches between Two–Sigil holders are mostly just there to let the new blood get their feet under them.

“We’re only sending a few dozen kids into that bracket this time. Not a huge showing.”

Steven gave a small nod.

Frank kept going. “The real event is the Three–Sigil tournament on your end. About a thousand competitors total.

“Every one of them got cherry picked from their academy, filtered through round after round of trials.

“Most of them are level 25 or higher.

“Our academy’s always been the underdog. Rowenville barely scraped by as a mid–sized city with the population cutoff, so we’re lucky to even get a seat at the table. Most years we’re scraping the bottom of the standings.

“This year we’re only sending 25 kids.

“Whether we walk away with anything worth bragging about comes down to the three of you.

“Everyone else’s ceiling caps out around level 28, and most of them are about to age out past 25.”

Steven nodded. “Mr. Reid, don’t worry. This shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

Frank’s tone turned serious. “I know what you’re capable of, so I’m not exactly losing sleep over it. But I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t say something anyway.

“The tournament’s called Three–Sigil, but that’s not the whole truth. A handful of competitors from other academies have already broken through to Four–Sigil. And I’d bet good money the noble houses of Orroux are quietly fielding their top prospects to fight for that imitation divine weapon. Don’t take any of it lightly.

“The two you really need to watch for are the ones I mentioned before, the pair out of Oakridge.

“We actually crossed paths with them a couple days ago.”

Bianca turned to Frank. “Mr. Reid, are they really that strong?”

Frank nodded. “As far as I’ve seen, nobody’s topped them yet. They could probably go toe to toe with some of Orroux’s own competitors.

“People are already calling them the future of Oakridge. Both of them are sitting at Four–Sigil. If you run into either one, be careful.”

Bianca’s lips curved into a smile. “Mr. Reid, you don’t need to worry about that. They’re strong, sure, but is Steven not strong? He can go blow for blow with someone at Four–Sigil’s peak. What’s there to be nervous

about?”

Frank let out a tired laugh. “I’m not worried about Steven’s individual results. It’s the combined score across everyone that has me on edge.”

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Chapter 542 Real Threat

Bianca just smiled wider. “Just watch us, Mr. Reid.”

Frank went on. “The Three–Sigil matches take place in the Advanced Hunting Ground. Most of what you’ll run into are level 2 and level 3 monsters, but there’s a fair number of level 4 beasts mixed in too. Watch yourselves. If you get pulled out by a guardian because you landed in real danger, you’re disqualified on the spot.”

Steven smiled faintly. “Got it. We’ll keep that in mind.”

Frank’s worry was wasted breath, though he had no way of knowing that. He simply didn’t know what Steven was actually capable of.

For Steven, the tournament itself barely registered as a priority.

His real assignment was combing through the crowd, trying to figure out just how many people out there were like Elliot.

The God Eaters had dug in far deeper than he’d ever imagined.

Before long, they were closing in on the hunting ground.

Elliot, Serena, and Lilliana got pulled aside by another academy’s chaperone and led off toward the Beginner Hunting Ground instead.

The two groups split.

Everyone traded quick goodbyes.

Steven watched Elliot’s back for a long moment as he walked away.

He’d been keeping an eye on the crowd the whole way here. Nothing yet.

On Frank’s side, it was down to just the three of them now.

Frank’s voice turned earnest. “Steven, Bianca, Fiona. Rowenville’s counting on you three.”

Steven nodded. “Don’t sweat it, Mr. Reid. We’ll bring a championship home for you.”

Frank laughed, a little helpless. “Not for me. For Rowenville.”

Steven let out an easy laugh.

A voice cut through the air.

“Big talk for a blowhard!”

Steven turned to look. Lola Mast.

Steven shot back, “You want to watch that mouth, or should I stitch it shut for you?

“Where’s your little dress today? Didn’t feel like wearing it?”

Lola’s face went red, caught with nothing to say.

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Chapter 542 Real Threat

“Didn’t feel like it today, that’s all.”

Lola strutted up to Steven like she owned the place.

Behind her trailed someone… flamboyant… dabbing powder onto his face with a little compact mirror…

The way he walked, he was one step away from a runway strut.

“What are you all staring at? Never seen someone fabulous before?” Lola said.

Behind her, Dreyfus Malthan pinched his fingers into a delicate little gesture and huffed. “Lola, keep calling me girly and we are going to have words!”

Dreyfus turned to Steven and the others. “Do I really come off girly to you? Because I don’t think I’m girly at

all.”

Steven and the others felt a wave of goosebumps crawl up their arms, watching that pinky rise higher and higher like it was reaching for the sky.

Steven’s face twitched as he forced out, “Nope. Not girly. Not even a little…”

Not girly, huh? Then why do I have a feeling there’s something lacy under those white pants?

Steven felt his eyes burning just from looking. If this guy was hiding fishnets under there too. Steven wasn’t sure he could stop himself from kicking him on principle.

Dreyfus smiled, soft and pleased. “See? Even he says I’m not girly.”

Ugh.

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