And the week went by. Time was always flowing at the same pace but to all those here, it felt like it went faster than usual. In the end, Sophia unfortunately couldn't get anyone to help Jin and Min-Su. She was blaming herself a lot to the point that her Mother had to gently accompany her as she cried for a long time.

Jin and Min-Su did not blame her at all though. They never cared about it. As for Hae-Hyuk, he expected this outcome and felt it was good enough if she managed to force others to pay higher prices. He was not at all worried. The number of opponents remained the same anyways and he trusted his two disciples. They were far stronger than all the previous champions he ever trained and brought here. Considering what he paid in order to find them, it was the obvious conclusion.

He looked at them before slowly getting up and walked towards the door as he said: "Let's go, it's time"

The group left their quarters and went on towards the grand hall. Slowly but surely, everyone arrived and gathered once again. The five Saints were at the very front as they welcomed everyone once again. Then, they asked for all contestants to move forward, the contestants being the pinnacle experts.

86 beings stood up and walked to the front where they lined up before the five Saints. This was the world's strongest line-up. Only the pinnacle experts had the right to stand tall there.

Once the line was complete, the five Saints asked for the respective Champions to move behind the contestant they would represent. Jin and Min-Su got up along with 170 others. Or it should have been so.

Jin and Min-Su didn't think much before going to stand behind Hae-Hyuk who smiled at them as they arrived. He grabbed them by the shoulders and brought them on his side. Jin was to the right while Min-Su to the left. Hae-Hyuk brought them into the line. It didn't have any meaning in particular but it was a show of recognition and gratitude from him.

To Jin and Min-Su, it meant standing along with the world's strongest. Even if they died, they could brag about it in hell. They had no plans to do so of course. As they stood there, they only felt a sense of pride. Pure pride.

Not everyone was like that. There were many champions who were products fated to die who didn't care at all. And there were those who betrayed their masters too. Some champions went to stand behind others while some did not even get up from their seats. There were a few experts who ended up with no one behind them and they could suppress their rage and humiliation.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Some had more than two and some had less. So, the five Saints intervened. One of them said: "The champions have made their choice. The contestants may make their own"

As the words fell, some heads exploded. The few champions who remained seated all died and the few champions who betrayed their master were killed by the new one. Well, when the new Master had more than two. There was a pinnacle expert who lost one and earned a new one. He decided to keep him making this guy the only one to survive the betrayal.

It was a purge.

During the previous week, many guests tried to tempt champions to switch sides or even to remain neutral and not participate. Of course, they offered them treasures beyond measure and promises of protection. Some fools went for it. The truth was that the cultivators only wished to lessen the competition.

Would a disciple that betrayed his Master interest anyone here? No.They were bound to die. Either killed by their own Master or by the one they thought would bring them riches. There wasn't any way out for these people.

This didn't faze anyone except Sophia who had a hard time comprehending everything that had happened. It was so gruesome and ugly. Both the sights but also the minds behind it. How was it so wrong to reach for bigger benefits? How could it be wrong to try to cling onto one's life? But the harsh reality was that only one's benefits mattered here.

If a Champion couldn't be used, there was no longer a reason for him to be here.

To Jin and Min-Su, it only meant less rivals and it was good enough of an ending.

The five Saints nodded as there were no longer any contestant with more than two champions behind him. Heck, some had none. The strongest, Saint Arialdo, spoke: "As per customs, I now declare the champions and contestants tied by fate under the watchful gaze of the heavens"

There was a pause before he continued: "Usually, we would move on to the trial. However, there is something I must say first. I am soon going to reach the End Point and as such will most likely not be here for the next trial. As such, I nominate Saint Bôrakos as my successor. If anyone wishes to contest, feel free to speak now"

No one spoke and Saint Bôrakos moved forward as Saint Arialdo stepped back. He bowed before he said: "Under the benevolent gaze of the heavens, it is with utmost pride that I inherit the title of Saint Patron from Saint Arialdo"

Everyone clapped. Saint Bôrakos was the second strongest after Arialdo so it was expected that he would be the next to preside over the council of Saints. After the pinnacle experts gave their wishes to both the departing Patron and the newly elected one, Saint Bôrakos moved on: "Then, I guess it is my honor to declare the beginning of this centurial trial. May the heavens look down upon us favorably and fate be behind you!"

As his words finished, Jin felt weightlessness as his senses became blurred. He found himself drifting from consciousness as a weird warmth enveloped him...