"I didn't expect we would have this many people come and participate," Ren murmured, sitting in Leinor's p as they were waiting in the massive tent reserved for those who would participate in the tournament.

  "Even though it's winter, many young people came," Zern added as he brought them hot tea. "The Empire is vast, so many of them left on this journey months ago.

  "True... And thanks a lot." Leinor smiled, blowing on his tea, while Zern just nodded, happy he could call himself a friend of the Prince. "I asked Father before coming. There are approximately a hundred people who have passed the initial screening. Still, it was double that who signed up, but many were eliminated because of fake identities or their actual age."

  "This competition is being taken very seriously." Zern nodded. "Still, we have a pretty high seed number, so it will be a long time before it's our turn."

  "That's the issue... I'm bored!" Ren moaned, slurping on her tea with an annoyed face, showing her side that actually resembled a girl of her age. Those who listened in on them, surprised that someone so young was also present, thought it was natural, but for Leinor and Zern, it was very much out of pce. Or maybe not, as they recalled that their little pepper was just as moody as the weather.

  "What can you do about it? This is how it goes, Master." Zern tried to soothe her, with not much success.

  "Why not let all of us into the arena and have a big battle?" She pouted, "A chaotic free-for-all until only, I don't know, fifty of us remain? The world outside isn't built on one-on-one duels! A chaotic free-for-all... Now that is more like it. It would judge people's character, decision-making, and leadership. Those who can form groups quickly in a mess like that are true talents and charismatic leaders. Or if they can survive it alone, they are good... or they are lucky. Luck is still a skill." She shrugged, rambling on, "Also, we could see those with backstabbing personalities because it sure would come out."

  "That sounds... Good." Leinor nodded with a surprised face, and Zern also found it interesting as he dwelt on her words.

  As they sat there, the tent soon began to fill with newly arriving people, bck-clothed soldiers, led by Director Orchell.

  "I assume everyone is here." He began without ceremony, "Those who couldn't arrive in time should be happy not to be flogged a hundred times, besides being eliminated."

  "If there was such a stupid idiot, he deserves it! Even I managed to wake up today in time..." Ren giggled, almost interrupting him, but Director Orchell just ignored her.

  "Now listen up! All of you are to head to the arena, and after the Emperor's speech, the competition will begin. The first elimination round will be a group battle! Only 50 of you will advance to the finals, which will be the normal elimination rounds with one-on-one battles. Of course, the second part will only take pce tomorrow... Today, we will only hold the first elimination round!"

  The tent was quickly filled with people's voices, but the most surprised were Leinor and Zern.

  "Don't look at me." Ren grunted, pursing her lips, "It's not my doing. Probably." She was a bit taken aback, scratching her cheek, feeling robbed because whoever listened to her speech had not given her any credit at all.

  "Silence! Listen up!" Orchell roared, silencing the tent, "There are some rules! First, those who leave the boundaries of the arena are disqualified. The quickest way to disqualify someone is to push them out of the boundaries. No matter how, if you step out, it's as if you have surrendered. Second, murder is prohibited. If you murder someone, you will be harshly sentenced, crippled, or beheaded. We will be watching everybody, don't even try doing something funny! Third, weapons, armor, or any accessory you may have are prohibited in the first round. Everybody can only rely on their prowess. Fourth, alliances are permitted. Don't come to us crying when you are outnumbered; demons or enemy raids won't care about your perception of chivalry. Fifth, you won't get any extra rewards, no matter your seeding."

  "Wha-"

  "I'm not finished!" Orchell smmed his hand down, and his aura burst out. In that moment, Ren felt like she did when Boursat released his own at the end of their fight. "Do. Not. Interrupt. Me. Understood?" he growled while his gaze swept over everyone before the oppressing feeling vanished from their hearts. "After we have only fifty people remaining, those with lower seeds can jump upwards! Ultimately, we will reallocate the ranks of the top fifty. We will see if the strength you showed is worthy of your ranking... or if it goes to someone else with better skills. Please understand! The seeds won't be given out by how many people you beat, but by your overall performance. What does that mean…? I'll leave it to your imagination. Be ready! Ten minutes and we start!"

  "Interesting," came a feminine voice, and when Ren turned her head, she saw Isha standing next to them.

  "Yo. Care to join us?" She grinned at her.

  "That was my pn."

  "What?" Zern and Leinor asked at the same time.

  "What, what?" Isha snorted in answer, "It will be easier to stay in the top fifty this way, because we are the strongest here. It would be a waste of energy to fight before the finals. I don't want you to have any excuses when we meet, and I beat you up, boytoy!" She snorted as she looked at Leinor with a provocative smile.

  "Nyahaha, I like her!" Ren ughed, cpping happily, "Welcome to the team, Isha!"

  "Haahh… If Master is fine with it, so be it." She nodded, muttering under her breath.

  "Anyway, our little squad is ready!" Ren excimed, swinging her legs in Leinor's p, "Zern, you are responsible for defense, watching our back."

  "Yes, Master!"

  "Leinor, you have the role of the meatshield."

  "Wha-" he blinked his eyes with a surprised face while Isha stifled a satisfied ugh.

  "Mmm?" Ren tilted her head backwards, looking up at him, "Your internal energy enables you to recover the fastest and maintain the rgest stamina reserves. You are responsible for soaking up attacks and supporting Zern. I have a lightning affinity, and Isha has fire. We will be the main force dishing out the damage. I'll strike quickly, and with my speed, I can circle enemy groups before they realize what's going on, and Isha's explosive strength can be used to break through their defensive-oriented people. A two-prong attack easily shatters any resistance they may have. Even if they work together, most people here will have little understanding of their partner's skills or habits... Unlike us. I trust you two with my life, and I got a good feeling about Isha's strength."

  "This… feels like you were pnning this from the start," Isha murmured, looking at her weirdly, especially because she came up with something like this on the spot... it felt... weird.

  "Call it a woman's instinct," she winked at her.

  "You are barely a woman!" She chukled, teasing her, "You are ft like a washing board and barely reach waist height!"

  "At least I won't be stuck in a doorway going in. You stripper." Ren snorted with a sulking expression, eyeing her chest and waist. "Seductress."

  "Okay, okay, don't start fighting now. We've just become a team!" Zern stepped in, trying to diffuse the sudden situation. "But Master, this feels like you knew this would happen."

  "I did not." She shrugged, "But since yesterday, I felt like someone was creeping around and watching us like an old pervert!" Ren giggled with a mysterious smile, "It seems I was right..." She tilted her head, looking through the side of the tent, towards the walls.

  Right where the two Emperors sat, causing Carthus's face to show a particur expression.

  "What is it, Father?" Dermitos asked.

  "That little daughter-in-w of yours is a beast."

  "Huh? Where does this come from now?"

  "I have had my consciousness on her since yesterday and told you to modify the first round based on HER idea." He shrugged, shaking his head, "Which I found interesting and wished to try out. I just didn't expect that she subconsciously sensed my presence... I don't know if she intended it or not... but she did use me. Changing the competition to something she was happier with... Hah! Make sure they marry. As soon as possible. Don't let her escape."

  "You mean it was that little imp's idea? Because of that, you completely messed up the order of things?" Dermitos moaned as his father ordered everyone to change everything, dictating the rules directly into Director Orchell's ears, making him repeat his expnation word for word.

  "Yeah, and I found it interesting and fun." Carthus snorted, "This is our Empire, we make the rules. Haaah... I bet the Forefather will be thrilled to take her as a disciple. Especially if the Agency's reports are correct and the little witch worked out something new that propelled her and your son's strength to the level they are at now."

  "You sent agents to the General's Mansion?" Dermitos asked, furrowing his brows, something he specifically prohibited...

  "Yes. You may be friends with that fel... That Xendar... but I'm not. I won't refrain from using the Empire's tools... Son, you know well that this wouldn't fly under my radar for long."

  "Just… stop." Demitos said coldly, looking at his father with burning anger in his eyes, "We will only have another argument if this goes on... Growing up under a grandfather's tyranny, you should know best how not to repeat his mistakes."

  Carthus didn't respond to that. He just stayed silent, watching the arena as the participants arrived, deciding it was indeed best to stop fighting with his son.

  …….…..

  Not that long ter, Ren's little group stood at the edge of the arena, which was now elevated above the ground by at least two to three meters, leaving a slope there that ended in a wall of snow. The spectators had their stands built around the arena, and more than twenty thousand people gathered to watch the show. Most of the empire's nobility was seated on the walls, having a great vantage point to see everything from above, while the rest sat on newly built, wooden seats. At the same time, the Imperial Agency's people stood in a circle around the stage, ready to intervene at any time if they deemed it necessary. Luckily for everyone, the weather was nice and sunny, although a bit chilly. Yet, even in the cold, all the participants' blood was already boiling, as they looked around nervously before the chaotic fighting started.

  "Do you see those five bald guys?" Ren whispered, and on the opposite side of them stood five men, all with shaved heads and wearing orange armbands.

  "Mm. I don't recognize them. They are probably not from the Capital." Zern said, and Leinor was also clueless, simply shaking his head, letting Zern continue. "They look like disciples of some martial school or something."

  "Maybe. I never saw them, either. Why?" Isha asked.

  "They are eyeing us. Probably think we are easy targets because of me." Ren grinned in answer.

  "Should we go for it?" Leinor smacked his lips, already seeing them as his first target to focus on.

  "No. Let them come." Ren hummed, crossing her arms, "It's easier to counterattack when they underestimate us."

  It was then that Aerthus IX's voice resonated through the entire city, signaling the start of the first round, and all hell broke loose. The impromptu teams that formed amongst the participants rushed out and started to gang up on those who seemed lonely and without allies, or they took on opponents who appeared weak. In the first five minutes, more than two dozen people nded at the bottom of the arena, only to be stopped by the snow wall, which dampened their fall. Some even had furious expressions, as they were still uninjured and full of energy, but were thrown out by weaker opponents who worked together, countering them...

  "They're coming!" Leinor excimed, stepping forward as he blocked two incoming fists simultaneously, surprising the 'Baldy Team.' Zern immediately stepped up as one of them tried to circle the group, but Zern just stood in his way, and the rushing man bounced off of him like hitting an iron wall head-on.

  "They are… weak." Ren sighed with disappointment because as soon as they started to move, she realized they were just at the fourth level...

  "Your bar is at a surreal height, girl; most people may only reach the 5th refinement even if they try their whole life." Isha sighed with understanding and pity, looking at the other bald guy from their opening maneuver arriving at their left fnk. "Yet you have already fought with a Harmony Realm expert. If they knew about it, everyone would avoid us like the pgue," she continued while punching out, meeting the incoming fist with hers and sending him flying out like a bullet, causing him to disappear from the arena.

  "Maybe you're right." Ren nodded, shooting out with lightning speed, sweeping away the st one with a kick to the neck, knocking him out, and flicking him off the arena like he was a sack of potatoes.

  At the same time, Leinor grabbed the two with his bare hands, keeping them in pce like children. Then, when he saw Ren and Isha finishing so quickly, he decided there was no need to hold back and lifted them, throwing them out as if they weighed nothing. Seeing this, Zern raised his hand too, grabbed the now terrified guy by the bald head, and flung him out like an unwanted toy. Those participants who saw this just gulped, trying to keep their distance from them, as they did not want to lose their pce...

  "What now?" Leinor asked as he came up next to Ren, feeling a bit disappointed that they were this weak.

  "Do you see that group? The one with the middle-aged man... The one in dark red clothes." She pointed to their right, "If I felt right, their leader is at the 6th level and has a bunch of weaklings protected behind him."

  "Oh? I know him." Zern nodded, "I don't know his name, but he is the warden of the city's prison. He is a good guy, at least from what I heard. No wonder he decided to protect those whom he can."

  "That's good, but the ones he is protecting are doing nothing, only leeching off him. If they make it into the second round, they will be there only to make up the numbers. Not ideal... What he is doing is akin to protecting someone only to abandon them to the lions ter on and watch them suffer. This is being good to a stupid level."

  "What are you thinking about?" Isha asked with a small smile.

  "Zern, you go, bog him down, but don't throw him out. Leinor, take care of the two other fighters in their group. Decide if they can stay or not."

  "No problem," the two answered immediately.

  "Come, Isha, we will clean up a little. We don't need leechers."

  "Ugh, we will look like the vilin." She moaned, but she was still grinning.

  "Hey, you are a gangster, no? What's the problem with being a little nasty sometimes?" Ren giggled, but before she could answer, Zern was already upon the warden while Leinor attacked those who dared to fight back. With a fsh, Ren quickly shot through the now-present gap into the fray of the six, cowering people. "Yo, had your fun, guys?" she giggled with a slight smirk that immediately irritated her opponents. "Standing here, reserving energy, while others fight for you. Nice... Nice! Do some of you pn to attack them in the back after they have exhausted themself?"

  "Don't try to turn us against each other with snder!" One of them yelled.

  "Huh? No, no, no! I wouldn't!" Ren raised her hands, looking heartbroken, "Sorry, I was just curious. I'm not here to disrupt you... Promise! Because... I'm here because I couldn't help but bully you all~!" With a wicked smile, she licked her lips, watching their expression, unsure of what to do next.

  "Stop!" The warden cried out, but Zern was always before him, and the warden's punches felt like nding on something made of pure and thick steel as the young man blocked his way. He had a simir, earth-based affinity to Zern's, but even though he punched out with all his strength when Zern met his fists, a resounding thud rang out between them. Then, when Zern did a counterattack with his own, he was pushed back again to the starting point. He just couldn't get past him.

  As for the two helpers he met this morning, both of whom were part of the city's guard force and had reached the 5th stage of body refinement. It was a massive achievement as they were without any backing, as both were only commoners. They immediately chose to work with him when he approached them and tried to defend the weak, who had no allies... Yet now, they found themselves fighting the Fourth Prince.

  "Don't hold back. I'm just a fighter now, not the Prince." Leinor smiled at them, letting them attack and encourage them to give their best against him, "Even if you beat me, nothing will happen to you. My Father promised that anyone who beats me would get extra rewards, no? Here are your chances to rise to nobility! What are you waiting for?!"

  Hearing him, feeling their spirit rising, they released all their energy, trying to oust him from the Arena, yet somehow, if they pushed Leinor back two steps, he gained that back with one strike of his own. Feeling their limits, Leinor kicked out, nding his feet on one of their elbows as he raised it in defense, sending the poor guy stumbling backward into the other, almost falling over the edge, catching himself at the st moment.

  "Come, come!" Someone else ughed at the same moment, "This is your best time to train! Don't worry, you will advance to the next stage..." Ren smiled, still provoking the group, "I'm just a little girl after all!"

  "Doubt it," Isha snorted, arriving next to Ren and looking at the others, "How do you want to do it?"

  "Easy," she replied, taking a deep breath and letting out a loud shout that first sounded like a small girl's cry but soon turned into rumbling thunder.

  Even the spectators around the arena felt their ears ringing and their heads spinning, not to speak about the targets of her attack. Some of their eardrums had been instantly blown out, bleeding from their ears, losing both their hearing and bance in the process. The moment it died off, she kicked out multiple times, leaving afterimages of her small legs behind... The moment they disappeared, six shadows had flown out of the arena.

  "Geez, you are ruthless." Ishas shook her head, "You didn't even leave me any..."

  "They need to realize their pce." Ren snorted, lowering her leg. "If they wish to act weak, they will attract predators," she added, dusting off her hands and looking at the warden, who now watched her, angry and frustrated. "You are a good man," she sighed, but said no more, just stood there, looking around the arena, searching for new prey.

  It was already clearing up by now. Most of the people who failed to form a group or alliances had left by then, and only teams with members numbering from three to even ten had remained standing, watching each other like tigers, ready to fight.

  "Oh? If I count correctly, we have 51 people standing." Ren looked around with a smirk, "Now, now, who will be the unfortunate to lose out?"

  Her voice was amplified by her cultivation, which also stupefied the others. As they looked around, counting, everyone soon realized that only one of them needed to be out for the first round to end. Leinor and Zern had also stepped back, leaving their opponents, and converged around Ren while Isha just stood there, fiddling with her red hair unbothered.

  "Don't look at me like that," She snorted, watching Leinor keep an eye on her, "I will beat you in the second round... boytoy."

  As reality settled in, the remaining groups entered into a bigger stalemate than ever, as nobody wanted to be the first to speak, put on the chopping block because of it, and risk losing their pce in the top fifty.

  "How interesting. What should we do?" Ren moaned, walking forward, standing before everyone, picking her ear with a frustrated look, "Should we kick out the weakest among us? Or gang upon the strongest? And eliminate her now, before the one-on-ones?"

  Both of her words sent the others into nervous contemption, causing them to look around even within their own groups, not realizing her meaning at first. As she was talking about herself...

  "Hah, I see many of you are thinking about the first option, eh? The easier one. Pathetic! I suggest the second option. Come if you are not afraid of my fist leaving your face permanently disfigured!" She stood in the middle, her face wreathed in an angelic smile, but her aura was more like that of a devil's. Before they could react, her body suddenly flickered, as if it was cloaked in purple lightning bolts that cracked even the ground beneath her feet. "So... Who will it be... little pussies?"

  The spectators gasped with shock as this spectacle was reserved for those at the peak of the Body Refinement realm or in the Harmony Realm... Even then… seeing it appear around a twelve-year-old girl's petite body was unprecedented.

  "Oh boy, Master's switch has been flipped again!" Zern sighed as he massaged his temples.

  "Hmf, Boss called her a mini-bitch, and she acts like one, that's for sure." Isha snorted in agreement, watching her from behind.

  Only Leinor stayed silent, watching her with a slight smile on his face, holding his hands behind his back, standing straight and proud. In that moment, his eyes shone with warm light, reflecting the lightning bolts as his gaze was locked on Ren, sure of the outcome of this competition, with her winning it. Just like the first time he looked at her, he felt happy... When Ren was acting like this was the most exciting, he found her to be the most beautiful when she was leading from the front.

  "What? Nobody wants a go at me?" Ren ughed, her tone even more mocking than before, "Should… I make the first move?"

  "You're too cocky, kid! You're just trying to show off, don't even try to fool us!" A man who was towering over her like a mountain finally stepped forward, his temper winning over logic.

  "Maybe." Ren nodded, looking up at the muscur man, "But tell me, who are you? Your skin is tanned. You probably work outdoors all year round, so you must have a common background. You have good muscles, but you went a bit overboard... Most girls would find you more intimidating than charming. Look at him," she added while pointing at Leinor, who almost fell over, smiling wryly and with a reddening face, while Isha just stifled her ugh. "He has a well-defined body yet still looks normal. You look like a barbarian mixed with an ape. Uncool."

  "You little bitch!" the man roared as he punched down with a furious fist, swinging it without thinking. His muscles bulged up, expanding, doubling in size, letting off steam through his bronze skin as his fist nded square on Ren's chin.

  Leinor immediately stepped forward, but Isha held him back.

  "Easy. Control yourself."

  "Is this all you've got?" Ren asked, her head now turned sideways, as the man's fist was still connected to it... Yet he was trembling from the literal shock coursing through his nervous system, numbing his whole body. On the other hand, Ren just looked at him with a snted eye as blood dripped down from her lips. "Barely felt anything... You little boy. What? Did I strike a sensitive spot? Maybe you are still a virgin? Is that it? That shouldn't be a problem. It's good to save yourself for your true love... Or do you hate nobility? Or just girls? Kids? Which is it?" she asked with rapid succession, turning her head back, pushing his fist away with her little chin before grabbing onto it. The moment her fingers cmped down, electricity rushed through the man's body, assaulting his every muscle, making him unable to move or respond, locked away from his own brain. "Well, it doesn't matter. We got our volunteer! Let's end this!"

  Soon, the gawking crowd saw as the tiny little girl lifted a man, triple her size, and threw him out like a sack of potatoes right into the snow wall over the other end of the arena. The man's body was only out halfway from the snow, still twitching before going limp as he lost consciousness, unable to deal with the shame and the pain caused by Ren's electricity coursing under his skin.

  "Ptui," Ren spat out some blood, wiping off her now red lips and cracking her neck. "When you meet me next round, all of you little bitches, you need to take me seriously, you know. Or I will fuck you up!"

  As she looked around at the others, she spoke in a provocative voice, before turning back to Leinor, who immediately knelt, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief and sending his energy into the cut on her lips to heal it.

  "Ahaha, easy, easy, it's nothing~! You little crybaby~!" Ren giggled but let him do his thing, leaning into it.

  "Tsk, seeing is believing," Carthus murmured, sitting on the city wall, clicking his tongue repeatedly. "She is a menace... Let's end it here and continue tomorrow. I want to see what they will do... Start allocating the points so we can start at nine in the morning!" he stood up, and as soon as he finished, he disappeared from the wall while Dermitos just sat there smiling before announcing the end of the first round of the competition.