The finals were set to be held in three days.

This was so that the contestants could have enough time to recuperate and heal for the upcoming match. Typically, the contestants wouldn't need that much time to heal from injuries that involved fractures or broken bones.

A day was enough.

...And that was simply because the medicine that was provided to the contestants was extremely potent and expensive.

With the amount of money the streams were bringing, this was a necessary investment.

But that wasn't the main issue.

What couldn't be healed, however, was the contestant's state of mind. That required time, and hence why several days were given for rest.

On the second day, the day before the finals...

"What's that?"

"What's going on?"

A large shadow was cast over the borders of the Nurs Ancifa Empire as the people beneath started to panic, pointing toward the enormous object that levitated in the air, oppressively staring down at the borders as a large flag fluttered in the wind.

"Isn't that!?"

The citizens were quick to associate the flag, and the panic only heightened.

"Are we under attack?"

"They're attacking us?!"

"Everyone return to your houses! Do not panic and return at this instant!"

It was the guard's job to keep the citizens at ease, barking orders around as they tried to keep everyone from panicking. But how easy could that be?

....It could only do so much.

Especially since the enormous ship was still staring down at them.

Inside the ship.

"What's the hold-up?"

Empress Jordana sat in her seat impatiently, looking down the glass windows of the ship. There, she could see a small city beneath as tall walls stood erect, protecting the citizens from any danger.

Currently, several weapons were pointed in their direction.

"Is this how inefficient this Empire is? If it were up to-"

Woom-

A projection appeared in the middle of the ship.

There, a young man with yellow eyes and long blonde hair appeared. His appearance looked rather sickly, but he carried an air of regality and authority.

"Emperor."

He first greeted the Emperor who sat next to the Empress.

Then, turning his head he addressed her as well.

"Empress."

"Crown Prince."

The two returned a short greeting.

"How may I help you?"

"...Let us in."

The Empress was quick with her demands. Though her tone was soft, there was a certain resolution to it that made her stance clear. She wasn't looking for objections.

"May I ask, why?"

"1

The couple paused, looking at each other for a brief moment. They stared at each other for a while before the Emperor nodded his head and the Empress spoke,

"Right, it is only fair that we disclose this. We're here to pick up our son."

"Your son?"

Gael's expression remained called.

"Must you personally come to take him? The tournament is over, and while he did sustain some injuries in his bout, it shouldn't be to the extent where you should be worried. If you want we can have-"

"No, we're not talking about him."

"...Uh?"

Gael's expression turned strange. As far as he remembered there were no other children...

"We're talking about our other son."

The Empress lifted her palm, and a small projection sprang to life. It revealed a young man with strikingly handsome features and penetrating gray eyes. Gael stared at the projection for a brief moment before his calm facade showed signs of cracking.

He alternated his gaze between the two figures before raising his finger.

"Give me

moment."

His figure flickered out, leaving the room in a state of silence that only lasted for several minutes before he reappeared once more.

"....Alright."

Gael nodded his head, his expression unusually serious. Staring at the two of them, he

lowered his head.

"You have permission to enter."

"Grea-"

"But!"

Gael stopped them before they could celebrate.

Extending his hand and displaying a projection of the ship, he quietly said,

"You will be the only two that can enter. The ship stays outside."

Immediately, the room grew tense. The Emperor and the Empress both frowned at the proposal. Going in alone would be rather problematic as they would leave behind their

soldiers and protection.

It would almost make them seem as though they were hostages in a different country.

But then again, this was their own decision. Furthermore, they were extremely powerful. Unless all the seven monarchs of the Empire decided to gang up on them, they had the

-confidence to run away.

Not that it would happen...

Their death would mean an all-out war with the Nurs Ancifa Empire.

They weren't crazy enough to do that.

Especially not when the two other Empires were eying the situation like hungry hawks. Upon

reaching such thoughts, the two looked at each other and nodded.

"Alright."

The both of them stood up, waving their hands as their appearance changed.

"We'll abide by your request."

"...Thank you very much."

Gael smiled and elegantly bowed his head in respect.

"I officially welcome the two of you to our Empire."

***

"Hoo."

Gael let out a small breath after shutting down the communication device. The situation was

rather abrupt, and he had no real time to handle the situation.

Two Monarch level entities were about to cross their borders and a lot of preparation was

usually needed in advance.

The fact that they came so abruptly was cause of concern.

He would've normally rejected them, but upon hearing their reasoning, he found it difficult to

do so.

If Leon was really their son...

"What trouble."

Gael massaged his forehead before turning his head and staring at the girl who was quietly

resting on the bed, looking at the ceiling with a dazed look.

"Aoife? You're awake."

"Um."

She replied with a low voice.

A couple of days had passed since she lost, and it still seemed to hit her to this day.

"You fought great. You exceeded everyone's expectations."

"...."

Aoife remained quiet.

It was as if her brother's words went to deaf ears.

She remained lying on the bed with a pale face, staring blankly at the ceiling as though she

was a sick patient on her last days.

This greatly worried Gael who moved closer to her.

However, just as he had taken a step to comfort her, she turned her head, shifting her

attention toward him.

Her yellow eyes flashed with different colors.

It was enough to make Gael stop as Aoife raised her hand to display a flame.

Swoosh!

The flame flickered out, leaving behind an orb of water that quickly morphed into a shadowy

mass. Aoife's hands trembled as she stared at the shifting elements, her eyes trembling

slightly as her lips parted open.

"My Concept..." She mumbled under her breath, and the dark mass transformed into a powerful gust of wind

that surged through the room, making Gael's clothes ripple and flutter.

"...It's this."

Elemental Sovereignty.

***

Clank-

I stared at the projection before me as sparks flew in the air and two figures appeared. They

were none other than Leon and Aoife.

'So that's how the fight went.'

I was currently rewatching the entire match since I had missed it.

Since Leon was my next opponent, I had to take this seriously. Since he managed to get to

where he was, then he had without a doubt become extremely strong.

Not that I didn't know it.

"He's always been strong."

Clank!

The exchange between Leon and Aoife was rather entertaining with both sides showing some

impressive moves.

"Heh."

I couldn't help but scoff when I saw Aoife perform my spell.

It felt wrong.

"Um, now that I think about it, how is she doing?"

I hadn't paid much attention to it since she had been placed in the nursery. I thought about

meeting her once she got out, but there seemed to be no signs of her leaving just yet.

Were her injuries that bad?

'No, more than that... How is she going to explain her abilities?'

Her 'concept' or the ability that she showed... It wasn't something that she could replicate.

After all, it belonged to the Angel who sucked the powers of all the hosts that it had. The same

was true for their mana.

"Oh, man."

I could already feel a headache for Aoife.

Plus, knowing her, she probably wouldn't say a thing about the entire situation and keep it to

herself.

At least, I hoped...

I'd need to talk with her later.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, my attention turned toward the projection. That was when I noticed a change occur

in Leon as Aoife started to cough blood.

She looked pale, and I knew that this was the time when Evelyn had completed her task.

But that wasn't what I was paying attention to.

No, it was Leon.

Unknowingly, my eyes started to narrow as Leon's entire demenour changed, and he got into

a strange stance. The entire Colosseum fell into silence following his movements as I

narrowed further and observed every little detail of his movement.

'Why does this feel familiar...?'

He took a step forward, and that brought his sword down.

That was all it took for me to understand, and I felt my expression change.

"This..."

The match ended right after this movement.

I sat in silence within my room, quietly staring at the projection unable to say any words as

the last scene replayed in my mind over and over again.

I drew up Leon's movements inside of my mind and soon closed my eyes.

"Yes, it's that."

Putting in the foot movement that I had managed to pick up from Leon, and combining it

with what Leon displayed, I could tell that they were a perfect match. Though Leon didn't display it since his movements were flawless, there were a few

imperfections in his movements. And that probably stemmed from the fact that it was incomplete.

'Right, it's no wonder he doesn't use the move.'

As powerful as it was, if someone knew its weakness, then he was as good as done for.

"There's a chance he won't use it on me."

Well, hopefully.

I didn't really want to go up against it.

"Haa."

Leaning back on my chair, I dazely looked at the ceiling.

A thought occurred to me.

"Right, I finished the quest. Where is the completion sign?"

It would usually come at about this time. This time, however, it appeared to be a lot slower

than usual.

'I'd be a nice boost considering that Leon is still quite a bit stronger than me in terms of tier.'

The fact that it hadn't shown up just yet was a little worrying.

However, I could only brush those thoughts aside for now. There was only one day left until

the finals.

I needed to be prepared.

"Hoo."

Closing my eyes, I sunk into my consciousness and started the floating orbs before me.

'...Let's figure out what the other three do.'