Chapter 75. Ceiling

“Morning Ken. We need to get ready. Headmaster Nelson wanted us to give a final speech for the students before we leave today.” Clare said gently as she shook the young man awake.

“That headmaster Nelson is really treating us like some motivational speaker. Never expected to have to give the entire student body weekly morning speeches.” Ken replied as the pair got ready.

After a fulfilling breakfast where the pair chatted happily with some of the students and Ken turned down more girls, the pair joined headmaster Nelson at the assembly hall one final time to give the students one final pep talk before they thanked the headmaster and teleported back to Dragonspire.

“Were you able to get Thallan to train you? I heard he had never done a private lesson before.” Cecilla asked, as she greeted the pair in the common room after their teleportation.

“Sure did! Turns out, he and Valentina are actually husband and wife but have been separated for the past 20 years due to some of the things Thallan did to get the pair the opportunity to become heroes. Anyways, I will tell you the story later since I need your help to see if we can get them back together.” Ken replied as he greeted the rest of the girls.

“How close are you to holy level?” Lovetta asked as the group headed back to their suite to catch up after spending the month apart.

“About a 1/5th way there. My progress hasn’t slowed at all and I definitely haven’t hit any wall, but the jump from divine to holy is so large that unless I somehow figure out a way to get 4 years worth of growth in half a year, I won’t be able to get there and we would need to go find a remote corner of the world and go into hiding.” Ken replied as he slumped into the sofa in their living area.

“Everyone’s welcome to come to Atlantica. It might take a while to get used to living underwater, but my father will no doubt be able to protect Ken.” Indra offered.

“Thanks Indra! if it comes down to it and we don’t have a place to escape to, we will go live under the ocean and be one with the merman!” Ken replied happily.

“So now that we have given up on reaching holy level, you don’t have to do any more exchanges and will stay with me all day every day right?” Genesis asked, her voice full of hope.

“Genesis. You know I’m not giving up. I don’t know how I’m going to get there but I’m not giving up until the very end. I will try to talk with Zishell, Julius and Osmar during the tournament and see if I can get them to train me.” Ken replied as Genesis sat on his lap and complained some more.

After catching up with the girls, Ken settled back into his daily school life at dragonspire. Spending most of his time studying and training, doing what he could to get as strong as possible as the school semester approached its end.

“Time to get up!” Seraphina said happily as she grabbed the sleeping Ken and picked him up and out of bed.

“Seraphina! Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should always pick me up for fun!” Ken complained as he got startled awake by the happy dragoon girl. After getting dressed, the young man headed for the stadium ground with the girls to enjoy some stall food before the tournament started.

“Congratulations on winning your matches yesterday Ken.” Ryo said as the young vampire boy arrived at the stadium with his friends nice and early.

“Great job on winning the tournament for the first years! Obviously I know what you are capable of doing but to put on a show for your first big stage appearance, be careful not to attract too many girls and end up in a dire situation like me.” Ken said jokingly as he chatted with the first years for a bit before heading to the backstage of the stadium to get ready for the second day of the open tournament.

“Morning Vincent! Fernard!” Ken greeted happily as he joined his two friends backstage as all 3 easily made it to day two of the open tournament.

“Tough drawing for us, Fernard. You got to deal with Osmar and I got Julius. Vincent! It’s time for you to show the world you are back and make it to the match against Yvette and take that spot for yourself!” Ken proclaimed as the trio sat together to discuss their strategies.

“I wish I could. But unfortunately I’m still at least another year, maybe a year and half away from reaching holy level and I don’t think it’s possible at my current skill level to beat any of the heroes. I will definitely do my best to see if I can at least reach that final match.” Vincent replied as the trio chatted and waited for the tournament to start.

After Ryder Ethelred, the retired hero turned open tournament commentary gave the opening speech, the matches started once again as day two of the open tournament took place in front of a stadium full of eager audience and equally eager fans watching from every corner of the world.

While Vincent came close and was one match away from making it to the last match against the hero, both Ken and Fernard successfully cleared their matches and made it to the final match for their respective bracket to face off against a hero and a possible spot in the top 10.

“Good luck you two on your matches!” Vincent wished the pair the best of luck before he left backstage to watch the remaining matches from the stands.

After watching Fernard going up against the 3rd ranked hero Osmar Fleming in a fierce all out brawl that left the crowd cheering wildly. Ken entered the arena one final time to have his highly anticipated match against the 2nd ranked hero, Julius Gaeleath.

“Guess Fernard is still no match for Osmar. Wonder how I will do against the 2nd ranked hero!” Ken murmured to himself as he waved at the cheering crowd who were all excited to see the matchup between the most hyped up newcomer versus possibly the strongest human hero of all time.

After a quick greeting, Ken got into position and went fully enhanced as soon as the match started with the strongest boost he could use without breaking.

Dashing in and out at speed too fast for any average person to see, the stadium was a blur of sparks with his broadsword clashing against the hero’s.

With his balanced style, Ken waved in fireballs and ice blasts in between sword strikes and without giving the hero any room to take a breath, Ken gave everything he had in a barrage of attacks that left the crowd in awe that someone this young could move at this speed while having such powerful attacks.

While the crowd was riled up and getting excited. Ken could feel nothing except anger and disappointment. For he fully understands that even after four and half years of training and studying and learning from the best and sparring with some of the top heroes. The man in front of him is not even fully enhanced while easily parrying all of his best attacks like it was childsplay.

After letting Ken put on a show to get the crowd excited, the hero casually went into offense and ended the match with one single slash that shattered Ken’s sword, protection spell and left the young man speechless and in total defeat.

“Ken! Time to get ready for the banquet! Are you still moping around because of the match yesterday?” Alice asked as she entered the suite to get dressed for the banquet.

“He didn’t even go watch the finals today. He just laid in bed all day, depressed.” Emma replied as she patted the young man on the head.

“What did you expect Ken? You think you will be a match for one of the top 2 who is said to be the strongest in history?” Cecilla added as Ken turned around to throw a pillow at her.

“Cheer up Ken. You will eventually be stronger than he is.” Lovetta offered as she hugged Ken.

“I thought I was almost there! The sparring against the other heroes wasn’t like this! What is up with that monster! I know the difference between a low tier holy enhance is night and day versus a high tier but still! I was fully enhanced and boosted! To treat me like I wasn’t even strong enough to even fully enhance without even going into boost! How can a monster like him even exist! And Zishell is even stronger?” Ken complained loudly.

After much persuading, Ken eventually got over his temper tantrum and joined the girls and headed for the dining hall to attend the banquet solely because he needed to speak with the heroes and try to get the top 3 to give him private lessons.

“How did it go?” Genesis asked as Ken finally joined the group on the second floor after spending hours chatting with the heroes that had mentored him and tried to persuade the top 3 to give him that opportunity.

“Terrible! Both Julius and Zishell flat out rejected me saying they don’t take on private mentorships per their contract with the kingdom! What bullshit is that? Why are they not allowing the hero to have private lessons!” Ken complained as he shoved food into his mouth.

“Because those 2 are too valuable for the top two kingdoms to maintain their power. They don’t want someone like you to accidentally get enlightened and overtake the hero they spent so much time and money on. They would rather a talented individual get buried than having their position as the top kingdom get threatened.”

“Rose! Glad to see you! How have you been?” Ken answered excitedly after seeing Rose was the one to answer his complaint.

“Would be better if I were with you. Any luck on reaching holy level yet?” Rose asked as she sat down with the group.

“About 1/5th way there. Probably get to half way by the end of this year max and by the end of next year I would reach holy level. Around the same time the current top 2 did.” Ken replied with a sigh.

“What will you do? Doesn’t seem like holy level will happen in time.” Rose asked.

“Thankfully, Osmar agreed to train me. I will be doing an exchange in Kirksawald after the break. Thallan told me he might have the knowledge to help me advance so fingers crossed it goes somewhere.” Ken replied, hopeful that the beastman hero might have what he needed to reach holy level in just 6 more months.

After spending the night chatting and complaining, Ken eventually parted ways with all of his friends and returned to the suite with his girls.

“Indra. Can I come over for a few weeks? I will go home first since Ryo will be coming over but I want to train with your father if possible and the underwater environment is also very helpful for my improvement.” Ken asked as the group returned to the suite.

“Of course! I’m sure my family will be happy to see you again.” Indra replied happily.

“Why can’t you just stay home for once!” Genesis complained loudly.

“Why can’t you just go chat with Professor Aleheart or Professor Gilliam? The 4th ranked hero is interested in you and wants to talk to you and possibly train you! But nope, flat out rejects me every time I ask you and now Professor Gilliam thinks I’m just making things up about how talented you are.” Ken countered with his own complaints.

“It will be all over soon, Genesis! half more years of working and training my butt off to reach holy level. Whether I succeed or fail, that will be the end and we will either be together and have a relaxed school life where I will work at my own pace trying to get to the top 10 or we will be hiding somewhere remote and just live out the rest of our lives.” Ken added as he waved goodbye to Alice, Clare and Cecilla as the trio teleported back home with their personal artifacts.

“I hope you fail. Who knows how many girls you will end up with if you actually do become the youngest in history to reach holy level and one day become a top hero.” Genesis replied bitterly, not happy with how little time she’s got to spend with Ken over the past few years.

“So you rather us living in fear of some assassin hunting me down rather than us living a life of luxury?” Ken asked.

“Don’t try to play dumb. It’s not like just because you don’t get to holy level in half a year, you won’t end up becoming one of the strongest in the world. You are already stronger than almost everyone in the world except the heroes. Who can they even send to try and assassinate you? I bet you just want the spotlight so you can sleep with as many girls as you wish.” Genesis retorted.

“You know there are plenty of powerful individuals that don't participate in the tournament for one reason or another right? Lovetta’s dad, Seraphina’s dad, Indra’s dad and I’m sure many others out there that could easily beat at least half of the current top 10 but they are not competing for the title of a hero.

After fighting with Julius, I think I finally understand the ceiling of how powerful someone can get. Getting to fight Indra’s father again will give me a good idea now just how he compares and I really want to go train with Lovetta’s dad again as well and if my life wasn’t in danger, Seraphina’s father too.” Ken replied as he laid in bed deep in thoughts about how it was possible for him to get stronger fast enough to reach holy level as the deadline fast approaches.