To win, Alexander had to "flex" the limits of his own body, which even provided him with a very good sensation at the moment.
Momentarily, this reduced the feeling of restriction imposed by his current limits.
But this power came with a proportional and cumulative rebound effect.
As soon as the fight judge stopped his momentum, his body quickly stiffened until it became completely paralyzed, with the spear still at the prince's neck.
Upon noticing the situation of both, the judge quickly called the academy's healing expert, who promptly ran to the arena.
With great care, she removed the spear tip that was threatening the prince.
After fully healing the imperial prince, who didn't require much care, the specialist in healing spells and arts approached Alexander and cast a succession of enchantments, but still pondered unsatisfied: "It could be harmful to heal him more than this... I will cast some spells that should accelerate your regeneration, but I can't do much more than that."
"You should be able to start moving again in a few minutes. Everything else will depend mostly on your natural recovery capacity," concluded the woman calmly.
Without waiting for any thanks, the specialist turned and left.
When Alexander finally managed to move again, most of the public had already left the arena, and a powerful mana carried him upwards, towards the stands.
The moment he touched the stands, Diana tried to heal him further, but he stopped her: "I was already attended to as much as possible. Now I just need to rest a lot to recover."
"That's good," said Diana, relieved.
"Good late afternoon to you, Director," said Alexander, opening a slightly stiff smile. "Would you happen to have some things for me?"
"Direct as always, huh?" said the director, with a very bitter smile for someone who had won. "Don't worry. I won't go back on my word."
The director, who had already sent Lucas to get the cores while Alexander was paralyzed, took three boxes from his storage item and handed them to Alexander as if he were saying goodbye to old friends.
As soon as it came to the last box's turn, the director was tempted to try to negotiate with Alexander.
But since his acquaintance was around, that would harm his prestige.
Even having to resign himself to sighing and handing over the last box due to his prestige, the director looked at Alexander and warned: "Be careful when using them… Dragons are temperamental and hot-blooded creatures."
Alexander nodded at the director's words, but the instant he stored the boxes, he raised his head and provoked: "Those cores only concern the agreement I made with you, right? Where are the tournament winner's prizes?"
"You still dare to ask for more, boy?" asked the director in a dangerous tone, while the mana around Alexander became denser.
In the eyes of others, Alexander wisely remained silent, but the truth was he was receiving the system mission rewards.
He knew the director wouldn't do anything, as he was just venting part of his frustration.
『 Missions 』
Imperial Tournament
Mission Type: Combat.
Mission Description: Win the Imperial Tournament. Completion Evaluation: {S}.
Rewards: (500K XP), (50 free attribute points), (5 growth points).
[You completed the mission: (Imperial Tournament)]
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[You received: (500K XP), (50 free attribute points), (5 growth points)]
Ding!
[You leveled up. But due to the interference of your special skill |Attribute Control|, all your attribute increases upon leveling up were denied and converted into free attribute points.]
*[+50 free attribute points]*
*[+1 growth point]*
Ding!
[Your body is receiving an amount of energy that exceeds its limit…]
Ding!
[Your body is receiving an amount of mana that exceeds its limit…]
Ding!
[You have reached the maximum level of your current race. Choose one of the selectable evolutions within three days or you will evolve compulsorily and randomly.]
Alexander was a bit disappointed for not having obtained another {SS} completion rating, but after thinking, he concluded that killing the {Forest King Bear} was, and can still be considered, harder than winning the tournament.
He only had the momentary impression that it wasn't, because he managed to find a lake in the middle of that fight and didn't have to fight the bear head-on.
Knowing the adversities of the evolution he chose and knowing this was the best time to use his (Random Copy Card), Alexander decided to allocate all his free attribute points into his intangible attributes to obtain the best possible result.
[125 points added to Charisma]
[62 points added to Luck]
Ding!
[You used the (Random Copy Card) on {Robert ||Thundering Sky||}. Randomizing among his skills, spells, and enhancements…]
Ding!
[You received the enhancement (Dual Magical Affinity)]
Ding!
[Choose the attribute with which you wish to create affinity: (Earth), (Fire), (Wind), (Lightning), (Light), or (Darkness)]
When he saw that he had hit a jackpot, even Alexander, who normally remained calm, almost shouted with joy.
However, he also realized he was facing another difficult choice.
Not wanting to "miss" and regret it later, he decided to make his choice by elimination: (Fire) and (Lightning) were already discarded for being conflicting with his first element.
The elements (Earth) and (Wind) also didn't seem ideal for his style—leaving only (Light) and (Darkness).
After carefully recalling the descriptions of his options and pondering his purposes, Alexander reaffirmed his decision/choice about what he would do from then on and chose his new element with a firm thought: "Light."
Ding!
[Creating new affinity…]
Ding!
[Affinity created successfully.]
Ding!
[You acquired the class {Light Mage (Apprentice)}]
Ding!
[You received the special passive skill |Light Aura|]
Ding!
[The proficiency skill |Ascending Flow| was maximized]
Alexander already expected that having affinity with light would help his skill |Ascending Flow|, but he didn't expect it to maximize it immediately.
Even less did he expect his new affinity to provide him with a new class so easily, opening infinite possibilities.
"Thank you, Director. Thank you very much," said Alexander with a big and sincere smile. "You have no idea how much you helped me. I am truly grateful."
"Cut the falsehood and take your prize," said the director, trying to maintain his mask of anger, while throwing a well-ornamented item, a luxurious version. Little did he know that his own eyes were completely betraying him.
"As there is nothing left to do, I'm going home," said Alexander.
"Who said there isn't?" smiled Lucas. "The traditional closing of the Imperial Tournament is a party hosted by the host academy."
"Do I really have to go to this party?" asked Alexander to the director. "I need to rest to recover."
"What do you think?" retorted the director, calmly. "Is it a good idea that when MY academy is the host, the tournament winner doesn't participate?"
"Laughs" Lucas.
"..." Diana.
"..." Diana's mother.
"..." Diana's father.
"I can rest when I'm dead," declared Alexander, discouraged.
"That's the spirit!" said the director smiling.
"If I'm really forced to go, you'll have to provide me with some items and potions," warned Alexander. "Otherwise, I won't be responsible."
Considering it was a fair request, the director told Alexander to stop by his office later to pick them up.
He himself had no reason to carry potions of Alexander's level.
As soon as they settled the details, Diana's family and Alexander left the academy and went to the betting house.
They needed appropriate clothes for the party, which required money.
As Alexander proved to be a gigantic underdog, some people ended up recognizing him even in the twilight.
But, as he was a "nobody" before the tournament, no one was sure if it was him and just commenting.
Unlike on the streets, where no one really recognized him, as soon as he entered the betting house and went to one of the counters to receive his prize, Alexander was quickly taken to a private room.
"Congratulations on the double victory, in the tournament and in the bet, Mr. Alexander… The original value of your prize would be a little less than 6 thousand large black diamond coins," explained the person in charge, checking the promissory notes. "However, the establishment's owner, as a way to congratulate you on your surprising and moving victory, ordered the amount to be rounded up to 6 thousand large black diamond coins."
