Empros Kint sat alone outside. “For the boy to begin creating such complicated shapes already is insane. He may have failed but his talent is truly scary.” His brows knitted. “Has there ever been a stronger outer ki realm in existence? Has there ever even existed a manifest-king beneath the limbo realm? Much less a ten-year-old child.”

Raja Kint hopped on his bed, took the pill and went to sleep. Trying to create a shape is definitely not easy. But I’m sure It won’t take long.

“Knock! Knock!”

Raja Kint opened his eyes to feel his body fully refreshed. “I definitely have to be careful with manifesting law as an outer ki realm. Although, making my body indestructible won’t be as tiring as before.” He hopped out of bed and opened the door.

“We’ll be heading out in a few minutes. I know you were busy in your room over the last few days. We received a letter saying what group of the tournament we would be in. You’re in the first group.”

“And you?”

“The second group.”

Raja Kint smiled, “Perfect, we’ll face each other in the individual rounds.”

Kyoot Kint frowned. “Why would I want to face you? I already know how that’s going to end.”

Raja Kint chuckled as they headed downstairs. Everyone was downstairs talking to each other.

“Feel good?” Asked Empros Kint.

“Yes, and thank you Headmaster,” replied Raja Kint.

He turned his vision toward where Kyoot Kint was going. Rhode Kint wore a smile on her face while Exochos Kint silently stood.

“What groups are you both in?” asked Raja Kint.

Rhode Kint motioned toward himself. “I’m in the first group like you”—She motioned toward her brother—“Brother is in the third group all alone. But he’s strong so he’ll be fine.” Stepping closer to Raja Kint and in a low voice says, “what did the Headmaster help you with?”

“Nothing that concerns you,” replied Raja Kint. “Since we’re in the same group. We may as well stick together. Things’ll be easier that way.”

Rhode Kint pointed toward her head. “Same idea.”

Empros Kint sounded, “Alright everyone. It’s time to head out so that we won’t be late. Remember, when we arrive you have to go to the designated fields for competitor rest areas. Otherwise, you’ll miss this chance.”

Raja Kint raised an eyebrow.

“Just follow me,” says Rhode Kint.

Raja Kint nodded his head as the group didn’t call for their beast. “Why are we walking instead of flying?”

Kyoot Kint says, “The empire doesn’t want to deal with so many people in the skies. So that the chances for infiltration are kept to a minimum.”

They soon reached the empire and reached the point for breaking off into groups.

Master A walked up to his two disciples. “You both’ll be fine. Just don’t go overthinking anything. Also, be wary. You have the strength to place in the individuals which is the top 128. But, you can’t recklessly face someone too strong.”

Kyoot Kint nodded her head. “Worse case scenario I can just flee into the crowd.”

“You have a fleeing technique?” asked Raja Kint.

“Yup, Master taught me in case I meet any monsters like you or Exochos.”

“Good idea.”

Master A continued, “You both will know what to do anyhow. So you’ll be fine. Also, I’m sure you’re both curious. There’ll be eight groups with over a hundred contestants in each group. Only the top 16 of each will go on.”

“So everyone I meet will be weak, boring,” says Raja Kint.

“You’re probably the only seventh stage who can say something like that,” Kyoot Kint replies.

“Go on you two.” Master A waved as he walks off.

Raja Kint, Exochos Kint, Rhode Kint and Kyoot Kint walked to the rest areas. Everyone waved bye to each other except for Raja Kint and Rhode Kint. They walked to their area where two men stood outside.

The man on the right said, “Names?”

They answered as the talisman in the man’s right hand lightly lit up. The man nodded his head after a moment.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The man on the left took out two talismans from his pouch. Holding his hand out while saying, “place these talismans to your right underarm. If you don’t want to die, just insert even the slightest amount of ki into the talisman. You’ll be transported back here.”

The right man motioned to a large screen inside the rest area. “You can watch all the battles going on from there.”

Raja Kint’s eyes lit up as the screen was clearly made from arrays. He asked, “Is it fine if I study the screen’s array?”

The left man lightly smirked. “Go ahead.”

The two reached under their shirts, placing their talismans under their right armpits. Raja Kint could feel the talisman quickly sticking to his skin. Then it was as if he never placed the talisman. The two entered the rest area as Raja Kint waved his right arm around. Really can’t feel it.

He walked over to the large screen and sat down. The screen’s array wasn’t hidden. Yet, Raja Kint saw nobody else studying the array. Losers. He sat down and began focusing on a single line.

Placing his finger on the line. He felt the uniformity within the line. Nor was the line deep. Could there be law? Raja Kint began focusing on sensing if any law was present. Immediately he could feel a law present. A mighty foreign law that made him involuntarily gulp.

Maybe as I’m exposed to different laws. I’ll be able to understand how strong someone is. Plus, know what type of law I’m actually against. Raja Kint lifted his finger. Pondering for a few moments before focusing on another line. Like this, he studied for an unknown length of time.

“Group one prepare for teleportation in one hour. When you teleport don’t fight immediately. You’ll have to sit through a speech. After that good luck. Only 16 spots for you all.”

Raja Kint didn’t hear any of it as he continued studying the array. His mind was moving faster than a bullet train. Rhode Kint was nearby. She would occasionally glance over to see Raja Kint staring at the same few lines. She was mainly focused on just relaxing.

With such little time left. What outcome-changing improvements could she make?

As Raja Kint is immersed in the array. He suddenly notices his vision distorting. His mind is still on the array as he reaches the arena.

Rhode Kint notices that the teleportation basically kept everyone in their relative positions to each other. She quickly moved next to Raja Kint. When she looked into his eyes. She noticed he didn’t seem aware. Is he still thinking about the array? Her right arm lightly shook him free of thought.

“Oh, are we fighting now?” Raja Kint knitted his brows while looking around.

“We have to wait for the speech to end.”

At this moment a regal voice spoke, “I’m glad everyone was able to make it today. As you all know this year’s younglings are a special group. With one of them showing such potential that they were fought over like the last slab of meat.”

Laughter reverberated throughout the arena.

The regal-sounding man raised his arms and gently lowered them. The laughing dying down. “With such a precursor to this event. I’ve heard there are quite a few strong young cultivators. Already making a name for themselves. Being compared to past victors. As usual, I’m sure there will be some dark horses.”

The regal-sounding man took a breath.

“Only those who show potential will be picked. Young cultivators, fight with all you have for a better future. Whether it’s backing, money, resources or even revenge. All can be achieved in one step here. Here is where your journey will begin or die.” His right arm shot up.

In response a man with a mallet stepped before a drum. He lifted the mallet to the side and used his entire body.

“DING! DING! DING!”

The regal-sounding man quickly swings his right arm down. “FIGHT!” he roared, his voice shaking the body of all those in the arena as they charged forth.

Raja Kint saw two people coming straight toward him. He rushed forward reaching the girl on the left in an instant. He threw out a punch, connecting with her face as she was flung backward. Raja Kint turned his attention to the boy who wore a look of shock.

Raja Kint zoomed forward. The boy attempted to fight back but to no avail. Raja Kint swiftly evaded the boy’s attacks and slammed his fist into the boy’s chest. The boy stumbled backward, his body bent over. Raja Kint walked closer when he heard footsteps behind him.

Raja Kint spun around to see a boy with a snake ki technique. Raja Kint sneered. “You can’t slither around me.” He rushed forward, throwing out a punch. As the fists touched the boy was overpowered as he flew through the air. Raja Kint glanced at the bent over boy who was now missing in the crowd. Vision swiveling he noticed the girl was gone and the snake boy had disappeared too.

He then found Rhode Kint comfortable holding her own. He began to rush over when another boy stepped in his path. A ki mallet appeared around his palms as he struck out. Raja Kint struck out too as they quickly exchanged multiple times. On the fifth hit the boy stumbled backward.

Raja Kint pressed with a straight, right leg kick into the stomach. The boy barfed up an amalgamation of colored fluids and chunky food. Raja Kint frowned as he went to sidestep the boy.

The boy suddenly charged Raja Kint.

Raja Kint never let his guard down. He put more ki into his fist and slammed the boy’s palm. The boy’s arm flung backward and Raja Kint sunk his fist into the boy’s chest. The boy flew backward. “Huh?” Raja Kint quickly turned around only to be too late.

A boy jumped on him, holding down his arms and began to squeeze. Raja Kint could see this was another snake ki technique. One meant to constrict. Raja Kint noticed his airways were being blocked. He’s going to choke me out cold. Raja Kint narrowed his eyes and focused 100% of his ki into his arms. With this being an eighth stage any other seventh stage would be unable to break free. Even most eighth stages would probably die to this technique. Sadly for you, today’s an unlucky day.

Raja Kint gritted his teeth as his arms began to move outwards. The boy was shocked.

How is he breaking free? In his nervousness the boy used everything he could to pin down Raja Kint.

Sensing the constriction increasing in strength. Raja Kint smirked as he roared, “Ahh!” His arms flung out sideways as he quickly spun around. His right hand reaching out like a claw and clamping down on the boy’s neck. Raja Kint’s left knee shot upward.

“Urgh!” The boy’s eyes began rolling back when he disappeared from Raja Kint’s hand.

“Weird loser.” Raja Kint looked around. Rhode Kint had inadvertently teamed up on a ninth-stage cultivator with two others. Raja Kint noticed everyone around him was too busy fighting each other. “Maybe I’ll take this moment to rest. They just kept coming nonstop.”