After the gathering, an elder suggested letting them see how talented he was. They already know that he produced such large-ranged cosmic ability at such a young age.

But it only happened in the spur of the moment, so they weren't much convinced even if his parents, the patriarch, and an elder supported each other's claim.

The elder suggests such a thing because of how the sixth young master coldly stared at Locke, who suddenly appeared before them.

Most elders and young masters agreed, and the guests thought it was such a great idea.

Locke agreed and began deciding how Locke could prove his talent. Meanwhile, the sixth young master, Brian, an eight-year-old Elfiau young master, suggested a duel between them.

The elders thought it wouldn't be a big deal if they would fight each other since they only have a one-year age gap.

Locke didn't complain and immediately agreed. He saw the smirk on Brian's face but shrugged him off since he already knew he was planning something. For Locke, it's not a big deal since he's more powerful than him, and he's confident in his ability.

It's not arrogance. It's trust and confidence in himself.

His confidence was supported by his combat knowledge from his former life. Locke, who stood on top of everyone, was once undefeatable! Why would he lose to an 8-year-old arrogant kid? The kid has a weak foundation and control over his cosmic ability. On top of that, he has no combat knowledge at all! Locke already knows because of how he walks and moves! Every time he moves, there are so much unnecessary movements, showing that he didn't master any technique yet!

'Hmph, let's see how far your arrogance brought you, you brat?' Locke inwardly sneered as he kept an innocent smile on his face, unbeknownst to everyone that he's already plotting something against the sixth young master.

'Though, I wonder who was the one who made him arrogant?' Locke inwardly chuckled, observing the face of an elder, smirking under his mask. Locke saw the elder's smirk under his smirk through his technique [Truth-Seeking Eyes], a technique that grants him the ability to see through everywhere.

Locke coldly thought, 'I found you. The corruption of the clan~...'

Locke and Brian began heading towards the training grounds, where many people were sparring. They noticed the elders and patriarch coming, so they immediately stopped. They were already used to giving the training ground to the young masters, elders, and patriarchs.

Before letting Locke enter the training ground, Zelios pulled him and whispered, "Showcase your talent, Locke. If you have proven yourself, many people will respect you. You'll also gain more benefit!"

'He's really a benefit-grubber...' Locke inwardly frowned helplessly. He only smiled at his father and nodded as he held the grip of his dagger in his sheath.

The patriarch then said, "How about let's begin? Locke, Brian, go to your positions!"

"Yes!" Locke and Brian immediately went to the middle of the grounds. The people who stopped sparring sat down at the side of the training ground and curiously observed the two young masters.

Frankly, many people don't like Brian! Even the patriarch hates him due to his arrogant nature, which bought them misfortune several times.

He's only 8 years old, but he's already annoying and arrogant!

If he's not only the son of the patriarch's second son, he should've been banished from the clan at 7!

'Beat his arrogant face!' Most people thought, secretly cheering the kid fighting against Brian. They were still unaware that he was the seventh young master. Even if they knew, they would still cheer him.

"Now, let the duel between Brian Gaius, the earth prince, and Locke Victor, the ice prince, begins!" The patriarch announced, surprising the crowd with the unknown kid's identity.

As expected, Brian, the arrogant one, decided to move and rushed towards Locke, smiling at him innocently. Locke's innocent smile pisses Brian off. He tightly held the sword in his hand and slashed Locke.

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Locke easily dodged it with a single step backward and inwardly scoffed, 'He doesn't even have a proper technique. Oh no, even if the basic knowledge of holding a sword is too sloppy...'

Locke unsheathed his dual daggers from his sheathe and attacked his sword, changing the sword's trajectory, losing Brian's balance. When he fell out of balance, he looked miserable. The crowd snickers, humiliating Brian.

Brian hatefully gazed at Locke and used his cosmic ability.

[Earth Hand]!

A large hand appeared from the ground, grabbing Locke's feet.

Locke frowned at how fragile the earth he could create. He could feel that he could break it anytime, so he shook his feet and casually removed the 'dirt.' Locke frowned at how dirty his pants were now.

Seeing how Locke acts and destroys Brian's technique, Brian get pissed more. Brian's veins popped out of his temple and dashed at Locke, positioning his arm to a piercing stance.

Locke was too disappointed. He could easily dodge pierces, notably if it was executed by a kid! 'This kid is really arrogant. He's only powerful in words and attitude but weak at everything...'

[Phantom Footwork Technique]

Locke stepped and dodged the attack, leaving an afterimage behind, surprising everyone.

The young masters opened their mouths agape, thinking the same thing, 'That's the patriarch's footwork technique!'

The [Phantom Footwork Technique] imitates the movement of phantoms or ghosts, leaving an afterimage behind while moving fast. It's an excessively complex technique since it's imitating a monster! The monster's movement and attacks were the hardest things to learn!

Locke appeared behind Brian and opened his palm.

[Aurora Frost]!

The wind turned cold, instantly freezing everything ahead of his palm. Locke was merciless! He instantly froze Brian.

Everyone was stunned and amazed by Locke's performance. Even some 12-year-old cosmic master-in-training can't defeat Brian, yet a kid younger than him overpowered him! The people felt a vast gap between Locke's talent between theirs!

'It's not that Brian is weak. He's considerably fast, but he was focused on adding momentum. That's why his strikes must be heavy. But Locke is faster, he could easily dodge his attack...' The patriarch grinned.

"Locke, unfreeze him. I announce that Locke victor is the triumph!" The patriarch announced. Locke vigorously and innocently nodded.

Locke obediently placed his palm on the ice and melted it. He doesn't necessarily need to have a fire-related ability to melt it. He only needed to increase the ice's temperature, letting nature melt the ice.

When the ice melted, Brian heavily panted. He hatefully stared at Locke, who turned around and slowly walked back to his parents.

Brian couldn't accept his loss. He felt that Locke cheated because he froze him! He feels that his loss wasn't acceptable since he couldn't even attack back!

It's an unreasonable belief.

Brian secretly touched the ground and sneakily used his cosmic ability. 'Take my strongest skill!'

[Quicksand]!

Locke instantly noticed the changes in the ground while the young masters, elders, and the patriarch saw Brian's action!

"Stop this in an instant, Brian!" The patriarch was angered!

Locke heard the patriarch and immediately understood what was happening.

[Instant Freeze]!

Locke froze the entire ground, freezing Brian's feet and hand on the process. Since his feet were stuck in the ice, he raised his daggers and slashed the ice around his feet.

[Mad Dagger Technique: Cutting Reinforcement]

It's a technique cutting everything around his body, protecting the user from getting hit or stuck. It's a perfect technique for getting stuck in ice.

Locke turned around and coldly stared at Brian, getting more annoyed. He wanted to attack back. But since his arms and legs were already frozen, the patriarch would do the rest.

He regained his composure to smile innocently and turned his head at a specific elder, looking frustrated.

'Hm. The elder should've done something for Brian to get humiliated at his loss. Why? He's just an elder...' Locke was suspicious but kept a straight smile, heading back to his family.

Brian wanted to move, but he couldn't move due to the restrictions on his arms and legs. He shouted at Locke, "Fight me directly! You're just an asshole that wanted to become the heir! You won't become the heir! Your mother and father are weak, and so are you!"

Locke stopped walking. Everyone was surprised by Brian's arrogant claim.

Everyone knows how prestigious the Victor family was!

The Victor family was the mightiest family due to their ice abilities. Even if the ones who provoked them were their relatives, they wouldn't hesitate to destroy the provocateurs. That's how the Victor family acts.

Locke also knew that very well. He coldly stared at Brian, giving him a killing intent.

"Boo! You're just the son of the weakest family, and you dare provoke the strongest?" Tyler shouts, making the crowd snickered.

Everyone is surprised since it was rare for Tyler to support someone, but that wasn't their focus in this situation.

The patriarch, Shiatsu, immediately thought, 'Knowing my son-in-law's personality, he should've told my grandson to destroy someone provoking their family. Well, it's not that I'm going to stop Locke from destroying that brat. He's unimportant, and their family was already isolated from the clan. Their family was fortunate enough that I allowed their son to be a young master. They knew they were walking on thin ice due to their betrayal during the second world war. Now that their arrogant young master provoked the Victor family below the belt, their Gaius family might now disappear from its existence.

Though, I'm worried about how angry Locke was. He might lose control...'

Brian trembled as he stared at Locke's intimidating dull gaze.

'I-I'm dead...' The elder watching behind watched, frightened to the possible consequence of the sixth young master's provocation.