n

n

n

nEveryone looked at the scene in stunned silence.

nThe puppet just collapsed out of nowhere. The Elder stepped forward and examined it. The armor is still fine, the wooden puppet didn't have any damage. So, it is not physical. He gave Sam a sharp glance, before he checked the puppet's core.

nThere it is.

nHe saw it. The puppet core is devoid of the spirit that was enchanted to it. The spirit disappeared completely. As if it was not there.

nThe Elder stood up and walked towards Sam's puppet.

n

"I would like to examine your weapons.

"

n

"Please do.

" Sam obliged. The Elder placed his hands on the armor. Spiritual energy spread out and turned into a runic inscription, covering all the components. His eyes glowed brightly. It must have been his own version on observation ability

nHe stayed in that state for three minutes and then sighed.

nHe felt the armor surface and clicked his tongue.

n

"Winner, Sam.

"

nHe announced while still standing there.

n

"HOW? He must have cheated. There is no damage to the puppet at all.

"

n

"Damage is not just physical. There is something beyond that. And judging by your words and tone, would I be wrong to assume, you are questioning the credibility of a judge in the Inter academy tournament?

"

nThe Elder rebuked sharply.

nThe opponent didn't know what to say and took a step back.

n'What the ** is happening?' He cursed inside his head and turned to look towards the elder of his academy who is among the spectators.

nThe elder hesitated a bit and asked the judge.

n

"Can we know the reason?

"

nThe elder looked at Sam and said.

n

"I am not in a position to reveal that. However, I can stake my reputation on my judgement. Sam's weapon set won fair and square, without any form of underhanded play.

"

nThe Elder nodded and just took his student away.

nSam smiled and let his armor back down.

nThe competition went on.

nManson won the second round as well. Even the Viswa-Karma academy students did. Sam also won the second round in the same way. This fight is also anti-climactic. They didn't understand how Sam is winning.

nWith all the majestic weapon kit, they couldn't even see how well it works. Even his opponents are indignant about this.

nThe next round is between Manson and the first Viswa-Karma student, then Sam and the second Viswa-Karma Student. This realization made most people get diverted from Sam's issue. Gambler academy versus the Viswa Karma academy.

nThat too in the finals of the inter-academy tournaments.

nThese things did happen before, in some regional tournaments or some low level tournaments, but this is the first time that this happened in such a huge official tournament. No matter what the results are, the first four places are occupied by these two academies. And they have a feeling that Gambler academy wouldn't lose out in this. Sam's set... it has yet to undergo any amount of stress. Much less a dent or a breakage. It didn't even a slight scratch. It is as pristine as it was, when it was assembled.

nEven the sheen hasn't faded one bit.

nManson went first.

n*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

nThe attacks were relentless and the exchange was really well balanced one. However, soon Manson's armor gave in. The spear lodged into the gap and pierced the puppet.

nManson lost, but he wasn't too disappointed. He still has one more fight. After Sam's fight with the second Viswa Karma student, whoever wins goes to finals, while the person who lost will fight with Manson, for the third place.

nSo, it is not really a bad thing for him. He has a chance to reach the third place and he is still only in the late-stage. He has some time in the second grade and he can improve.

nThe next match soon began.

nSam's puppet went on to the stage first.

nViswa Karma student hoped that he would be able to win. He bit his nails in nervousness.

n*BANG*

nSam's puppet blocked the first attack from the enemy's sword.

n*BANG* *BANG* *BANG*

nAs the sword constantly came, it kept on landed on the edge of the shield.

n*CRACK*

nWith enough attacks, a crack appeared on the sword, while a dent appeared at the edge of the shield. The puppet swung the sword again, in a different direction and Sam's puppet used a different part of the shield to block the attack.

n*BANG*

nThe sword broke. It took too much damage from the previous fights, it is already good enough that Sam's shield has dented, that is the first ever sign of damage.

nThe enemy puppet dropped the sword and raised its hand to hold the spear on its back, however, the moment it did, it appeared like it slowed down all of a sudden. Its movements became sluggish, leaving a huge opening.

n*BANG*

nSam's puppet slashed the long sword from the side.

n*SLASH*

nIt landed on one of the dented and deformed parts of the armor. The sword went through it

ndirectly.

nWith just a single slash, the armor was cut open along with a huge chunk of the wooden puppet. As soon as that landed, the puppet also collapsed to the ground.

nThat is it for the semi-finals.

nSam looked at the opponent. He is not disappointed at all. The opponent is just observing his fallen puppet and then at Sam's puppet. He had his fingers rubbing against his chin as he climbed the stage and observed Sam's weapons closely.

n

"May I?

"

nHe asked Sam. Sam just shrugged. The other party looked at the armor and the sword carefully and it seemed like a revelation dawned on him.

n

"Is it Soul Steel?

" He asked Sam.

nSam nodded and the other party clicked the tongue. He understood what is happening. The soul steel's preciousness doesn't just come from its rarity, but by its ability. Soul Steel has one

nof the most dangerous abilities in its natural state.

nWhen someone touches the ore without necessary preparations, they will lose their soul

npower. It will consume their soul power bit by bit.

nEven if the contact is indirect like with a sword or stick for example.

nHowever, once the ore is refined, more often than not, it loses its ability. That is why only very high level masters work on the soul steel.

nRight now, Sam's sword and shield which are made of soul steel are contacting the spirit hidden inside the puppet. Even with that indirect connection, that spirit is being depleted and

nthe puppet is eventually collapsing.

nThe opponent sighed in admiration.

nWhen everyone was thinking of creating a great alloy to defend against physical attacks, Sam just went beyond everyone's thinking and used soul steel to target the mental world.

nAnd no one can even say anything about it.

nOne can only say that he is competent enough and covered all the bases. And they cannot find

nfault saying that the puppet's soul is weak. Even if it is a cultivator, their soul strength wouldn't be able to escape.

nIt might take longer to deal with the cultivators, but they will also fall eventually.

nThe opponent turned to his friend from the same academy and said.

n

"You cannot win this. Give up. We can at least leave early.

"

nThe judge was a bit stumped by the suggestion. It could be considered extremely

ndisrespectful. However, his friend shrugged and replied.

n

"Sure. If you say so.

"

nHe immediately withdrew from the competition. Then the opponent still on stage extended

nhis hand to Sam.

n

"Great work. I really you joined our academy. I am sure a lot of our instructors would have

nappreciated your skill in the craft.

"

nSam shook his hand and thanked him. The opponent then looked at Manson.

n

"Would you like to compete for the third place? I hope we can declare it a draw. But if you

ninsist, I am fine with competing.

"

nManson frowned and asked.

n

"Why?

" He looked at his own set and then at that guy's. Manson is not really confident, except

nfor the one spot, where attacked, the rest of the armor is still effective.

nThe shield is barely damaged and the spear wasn't even used. However, his own set is

ndamaged much more.

nThere is a high chance that he will lose.

n

"I just had some inspiration and would like to go back earlier. So, a draw is not big of a deal.

"

nManson was stunned. Someone would let go of a rank like this just because of some

ninspiration.

nHe just nodded and agreed. Just like that, the whole competition came to another anti-

nclimactic end. The elders were a bit dissatisfied, so were the audience, but they can't do much.

nSam walked up to the stage and started removing the set off the puppet.

nThe judge walked to him and said.

n

"Your skills are really good. Too bad, the set didn't have a worthy adversary to shine. I really

nwish I could see it in its full glory.

"

nSam didn't mind the compliment that much and smiled.

n

"Don't worry about it. Just come into the city in a short while. I assure you, the set will be put

nto a good use.

"

n

n