Genesis Code: The Genetic Awakening-Chapter 53: Tournament (3)

The riddle was simple—extremely so. However, those not in the know would never guess it. In a world saturated with magical energy, very few things could be both "up and above" and yet found on the ground.

’And our understanding of it isn’t much different from what was deduced long ago,’ Jess thought, already knowing the answer. ’We only know what we need to survive it. And that’s enough. In there, you could lose everything—or you could shoot for the stars.’

Jess glanced at the two competitors. The elf’s face broke into a slow grin, while the woman frowned. The riddle was new and unfamiliar, yet it could be easily solved if they understood why they were here.

"A dungeon," the elf said with a calm smile, confident in his answer.

"Correct!" the host affirmed, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

’Damn it! I was too slow,’ Freya thought, gritting her teeth as she realized she’d lost the moment the crowd began cheering. ’The advantage goes to him. But that might not necessarily be a bad thing.’ She clung to a sliver of hope, refusing to give up just yet.

But then, the ground beneath her feet began to shift. The surroundings transformed into a dense forest, towering trees stretching high above—a perfect environment for an archer.

’Damn it!’ Freya cursed under her breath. But that wasn’t all. She felt something bind to her body and then vanish. It was invisible, but Freya didn’t need to be a genius to figure it out. ’I won’t be able to use my spells!’

"Begin!"

Abruptly, the mana wall dissolved, taking her heart along with it. The elf, who was supposed to be just ahead of her, was nowhere to be seen.

’Damn it!’ Without hesitation, Freya bolted forward. ’Staying here is asking to be eliminated without even knowing how!’

Her best bet was to use the trees as cover and find a clearing—preferably one large enough to give her room to evade the arrows she knew were coming.

’A smart move,’ Jess commented as she watched Freya manoeuvre through the dense woods. ’Unfortunately for her...’ Her eyes shifted to the canopy, where the elf was already hot on Freya’s tail.

The elf had both his mana and the environment on his side. His spells boosted his speed, allowing him to glide effortlessly through the dense foliage.

In his hands, he conjured an elemental arrow—emerald in colour, infused with the air element.

With another burst of speed, the elf closed in on Freya’s position. He leapt from a branch, taking aim mid-air.

’Checkmate,’ the elf thought, a slight grin spreading across his face as he released the arrow.

The arrow reached Freya almost instantaneously, piercing through her shoulder from behind and exiting through the front.

"Agh...!" Freya groaned in pain, the force of the shot sending her stumbling face-first into the forest floor.

Without delay, the woman gritted her teeth and yielded. Even she knew she was nothing but a sitting duck at that point. Had it not been for the various protective formations, the damage would have been far more severe. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"YEAH...!!!!!"

"That elf was fast!"

"I know, right? It was like he was a flash! Now I know where his name comes from!"

The crowd’s roaring cheers erupted as soon as Freya yielded. The host announced the victor of the first bout, bringing it to a thrilling close.

Though short, the match was heart-pounding for the spectators, who were treated to a display of adventurers in their element.

"That Flash fellow is impressive—he’s got a good head on his shoulders," Osbourne commented with a faint smile. "The woman didn’t disappoint either. She knew she was at a disadvantage and quickly tried to find a way to turn the tables. Unfortunately, she was just too slow."

"Mm," King Gray nodded in agreement. "The judges already know the criteria we’re looking for. They’ll select accordingly."

While Freya showed good wits, her physical limitations without her magic made her a liability in situations like this.

"For our next group, let’s welcome..." The host continued his duties, ensuring the spectators remained engaged and the adventurers adhered to the rules.

Fight by fight, adventurers entered and exited the arena. Some managed to turn their disadvantages into advantages, catching their opponents off guard. Others, lacking in strategy, fell prey to their opponents’ schemes.

About an hour later, one of the fan favourites stepped into the spotlight—the elf Jess had seen at the registration centre. As the host called out her name, the arena erupted in cheers far more thunderous than any before.

"She’s here," Jess commented, her eyes glued to the stage as Elyndra walked forward. "And her opponent isn’t weak either." She turned to look at the beastkin who had stepped onto the stage.

A beastkin of the white-tiger lineage, his aura radiated ferocity. Known as Crusher among his colleagues, he was the embodiment of raw power.

He stood at an imposing height of 2.1 meters, his long white hair tied at his nape, beast ears perched atop his head, and a white tail with yellow stripes swaying behind him.

His muscular frame stretched the fabric of his gear, and his very presence exuded strength.

Elyndra, dressed in her combat gear, stood tall and imposing. Her sleek, silver-grey dress reached her ankles, with slits running up the sides to her lower waist.

Beneath the dress, she wore a pair of matching tights that showcased her soft curves and elegance, drawing the admiration—and desires—of the male audience. Her eyes remained locked on her opponent, unwavering and focused.

In her hand, she held a grey staff that stood thirty centimetres taller than herself. At its top was a sparkling gem—an artefact designed to enhance her spell speed and power.

"You may be a skilful mage, but that won’t be enough to take me down," Crusher said, his arms folded across his chest. "Even without my magic, I can handle you without breaking a sweat."

The elf remained silent and composed, ignoring the giant of a man. She glanced at the host, urging him to begin the fight as soon as possible.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The host’s voice boomed, and the crowd cheered even louder. "As you can see..." He went on to highlight the redeeming qualities of the two competitors.

Strength and speed against magic and spells. Who would come out on top?

The puzzle required for the two to solve appeared, and the elf wasted no time diving into it. Crusher, however, remained in place, a confident grin plastered across his face as he made no effort to participate.

But everyone knew why.