At the center most point of the martial continent, sat a castle of untold proportions that mixed in amongst mountains of grandeur. This place was a holy land of cultivation – the epicenter of natural energies and a the home of the most prestigious clan on Earth: The Belmont Clan.

Their history was long, but not always glorious. In fact, for much of their existence, they were servants to more powerful experts. However, one of these experts rose them up and allowed them to become a Royal God Clan of epic proportions. A Royal God Clan that many were wary of…

There was a reason why Connery Sapientia was so curious about studying their burial tombs and historical tomes. The Belmont family was a clan shrouded in mystery even to this day. Their current king, Elwing’s father, rarely appeared in public. In fact, much of the reason few put the supposed disappearance of the Elvin King in their eyes is because the only man known to rival him, King Belmont, hadn’t appeared in just as long.

However, the difference was that while the Elves had no clue as to King Acacia’s whereabouts, the Belmont’s knew that King Belmont was very much alive and well – and most importantly, that his ambition to raise the Belmont family to even higher levels had not been sated. So, when his first prince of this generation, Lionel Belmont, came back from a campaign to inform him that a legacy they had spent centuries guarding had been acquired, and by a woman no less, his excitement held no bounds.

“HAHA.” King Belmont’s voice boomed as he flashed out of his cultivation room at the words of his son. “Lionel, haven’t I told you to smile more? What’s with this cold look you’re giving your father?”

Lionel showed no real reaction to King Belmont’s over the top personality. He was very much used to it at this point. “It’s not so simple, father.”

“And why is that?” King Belmont stretched his back. He looked no different than a man in his twenties. If it wasn’t for his strength and aura, many would mistake him for Lionel’s older brother as opposed to his father.

He too, much like Lionel, had purple hair. And, not to anyone’s surprise, he too had melded his red and blue eyes together to a near perfectly purple hue – even more so than Lionel. Only less practiced Belmont’s had strikingly different eye colors like Elwing. Those who held the right amount of talent, or had enough time, would slowly fuse the colors to match their hair. However, no Belmont had managed to do so perfectly. One eye would always be more red, and the other would always be more blue.

“She’s a Sapientia.” Lionel, interestingly enough, started with this as a main barrier.

“And? For something like this, it’s worth allowing that Connery fool into our tombs. It’s not as though he’ll gain much from it anyway.”

“He’s not a fool, father. He simply works based on effective returns. It’s quite a logical way to do things.”

King Belmont sighed, “This is why, despite your talent far surpassing your siblings, I haven’t given you the title of official first prince yet.”

Lionel didn’t seem too shaken by this. He knew his father would eventually cave in the end, anyway. It wasn’t as though he played favorites with his children, “That’s only because you’re too young. You have too many years left, don’t pretend as though it’s because I have some character flaw.”

“Listen to you, being so rude to your own father. I should bring in Big Red to help discipline you.” King Belmont snorted.

Even Lionel couldn’t help but twitch at the nickname. Only King Belmont and King Acacia would dare call Ava’s father, Head Sicarius, Big Red.

“Tell me, Lionel. How do you think my power stacks up to the heads of the other Royal God Clans and King Acacia?” King Belmont’s playful demeanor disappeared, replaced by the air of an expert as he turned his gaze toward his son.

“You know that’s something I have no scope or understanding for. So, why do you ask?” Lionel didn’t think much before responding. He found this question to be ridiculous. How was he, no matter how talented he was, supposed to tell the difference between experts who could crush him like an ant?

“If you had to make a guess, what would it be?” Understanding his son, King Belmont was already prepared for this answer.

“I’d say that you’re weaker. Why else would you bide your time as you have? It might not be your fault, you also seem to be younger than them.”

King Belmont shook his head, “This is what I mean. You see people as simple equations. To be added and subtracted. To you, if I’m powerful enough, we should already be a King God Clan. Why stay a Royal God Clan?”

Lionel remained silent. His father was exactly right, that was exactly his thinking. His father rarely appeared in the public and spent all of his time cultivating, why would he waste away his years like this?

“In the coming weeks, large changes will be taking place. Maybe these things will help you put things into proper perspective. People will surprise you. Things you saw as simple, won’t be so simple at all. And maybe you might even begin to see through your own mistakes.”

Lionel’s face showed no real change at his father’s statements. Unlike most children, Lionel had never seen his father as an unmatched peak figure. In fact, Lionel rarely interacted even with his own mother. What his father was saying now just sounded like the excuses of a man who knew his power wasn’t enough.

Maybe, if Lionel had paid more attention, he would know that yes, King Belmont felt his power was insufficient. But, not for the reasons Lionel thought.

Unlike Lionel, King Belmont was very much aware of the shifting tides on the other planets. It hadn’t escaped his notice that of the four planets, two of them, both Planet Nix and Planet Mino, were bringing along three clans that no one had ever heard of.

For a mere hundred years to overhaul the God and Royal God Clan system of a planet? Especially when peak experts lived so long? It didn’t make sense.

What also didn’t escape King Belmont’s radar was the subtle movement of the Ragnor God Clan to these changes.

But, interestingly enough, there was one thing that even King Belmont hadn’t calculated for. After all, even with his centuries of experience, how could he predict the importance of a mere fifteen year old boy?

“I’ll keep your words in mind, father.” Lionel said faintly despite having already cast those words to the back of his mind. “But, this matter isn’t one we can ignore.”

“As I’ve already said, the offer has been sent to Connery. The fact, that you’re still saying it isn’t so simple makes me think that there’s something you’re hiding from me.”

Suddenly, King Belmont’s childish side came out again, “Don’t tell me…” King Belmont grinned, “Are you too scared to speak with this Madeleine girl? If you needed advice about women, why didn’t you come to me sooner?”

Lionel was at a loss for words. Why couldn’t his father be serious? The truth was that the problem was Dyon, but Lionel didn’t know how his father would react to him trying to steal someone else’s bride. But, Lionel also knew, from his younger brother Elwing, that this Dyon wasn’t someone who’d go away simply because of the authority a Royal God Clan held.

If he let his father announce a marriage, it would be likely that Dyon would react violently.

It wasn’t an issue of dealing with Dyon. After all, to Lionel, this Dyon was a small character. The problem was how Madeleine would react to Dyon. Lionel wasn’t a fan of the idea of the Belmont family being tainted as cuckolds. But, at the same time, this legacy was too important to let go. He had already been planning on wooing Madeleine, but after months of being with her, that girl showed no sign of any interest.

Lionel couldn’t understand how he could possibly lose out to anyone. But, logic dictated that he needed a new approach. If love wouldn’t come first, it would have to come after marriage.

Shaking his head and ignoring his father’s pokes and prods, Lionel finally told his father the situation. For the sake of the Belmont, the King had to know everything about this situation.

Surprisingly, King Belmont didn’t respond as Lionel had assumed. Knowing his father, Lionel had thought that an adamant ‘no’ was coming. King Belmont was a man who often placed emotion above logic, or so Lionel thought. And yet, he was contemplating this?

King Belmont immediately noticed his son’s surprise and sighed, “You’ve mistaken my decisions in the past as being overly emotional. The problem is that you have no perspective. If this was a girl you wanted to steal simply because she was powerful, I would stop you. In fact, the only reason I allowed you, as a prince, to campaign on another planet was because you didn’t tell me about this Dyon character before hand. I would have never allowed you to even attempt it. You would have stained the name of the Belmont.”

A purple flame burned in King Belmont’s eyes as he bore his gaze into his son. “What did you think? That somehow because you were from a Royal God Clan that she was drop everything for you? Have you no context? No understanding? Do you know what that girl has been through? Why would she choose power over someone who truly cared for her?”

Lionel had never seen his father so angry at him. Even when he was rude and cold, King Belmont had never reacted this. Was what he had tried to do so bad? He couldn’t help but be taken aback.

“Let me tell you now. Had you laid a finger on her against her consent, I would have killed you where you stand. You would have lost all right to be my son.” King Belmont’s words held no possible leeway. He meant what he said.

Although Lionel’s face still hadn’t changed from its standard deadpan expression, his surprise couldn’t be understated… He had expected his father to disagree with him, but not to this extent.

King Belmont turned away, clearly struggling with a decision. He hadn’t heard of this Dyon before. But, he had received a report just earlier today about a commotion caused by a fifteen-year-old boy… Someone who many thought to be the number one ranked on the list – the demon sage.

But, that wasn’t the only problem he was struggling with. He knew that his son, Lionel, had enough talent to compete even with Dyon. There was a reason why Lionel could fight against high level essence gathering sons and daughters of the Uidah King God Clan despite having a drastically lower cultivation. Even if the reports about Dyon were as true as their exaggerations, King Belmont was still confident in his son winning.

The problem was Amethyst’s legacy. No matter how moral King Belmont was, this faith seed was of unprecedented importance to their family and the martial world as a whole. To allow it to enter the family of someone else, would be nothing less than a slap in the face of every Belmont to have ever lived and likely a death sentence to many. This wasn’t a simple decision…

Then, he thought of something else. This Dyon…

“Where did you say this boy is from?” King Belmont snapped back to Lionel, surprising him.

“The mortal world…”

King Belmont took in a sharp breath. He had made a decision.

“Unless you can beat him, don’t think of having me propose this marriage.” With those last words, King Belmont flashed into his cultivation room, leaving Lionel alone in the mountain range.

After spending so much time berating his son about not treating people as simple equations, King Belmont had almost let himself fall into the same trap.

By every measurement, this Dyon was too dangerous. He was too weak. He didn’t have enough backing. And all of the compiled onto the fact that Madeleine’s virginity and lineage held untold importance to the rise of the Belmont and the salvaging of the martial world.

King Belmont wasn’t all-good and all-caring. He was a man who understood balance and nuance, while also understanding morality and the importance of ethics to a ruler. But, because of that, he also understood that what was right and what was wrong was always painted in greys.

Did the faith seed belong to Madeleine? Yes. But, there were lives on the line. Despite Amethyst’s choice, King Belmont still couldn’t believe that her powers would serve Madeleine and Dyon more than Madeleine and Lionel.

King Belmont knew and understood very well how the war Amethyst fought tied into the grander scheme. He knew very well how important the reintroduction of Amethyst’s faith seed was to the current martial world. And he also understood that beyond the hopes of his ancestors, there were the hopes of the future resting on the decisions of the now.

But, he needed to see it. He wouldn’t blindly believe that his son was the best option or that the Belmonts were the best option.

If this Dyon thought Madeleine should selfishly be his, he would have to prove it. He would have to overcome the shackles placed on him and his people. And, he would have to show the martial world that he belonged.

No one would care about his disadvantage. No one would care about his youth. No one would listen to any excuses he had.

If he wanted Madeleine, King Belmont could only wish him good luck.

That very same night, a planet even King Belmont had far from his thoughts was meeting – Planet Naiad.

This was a planet with the closest relations with earth and were home to the Clyte Royal God Clan, the Kami God Clan, and Endora God Clan. But, what many still remembered was the fact that it used to house a completely different Royal God Clan… Delia’s father’s clan… The Patia-Neva Royal God Clan.

Unfortunately, that clan was now in rapid decline. They were not even powerful enough to gain representation for this world tournament. As such, they were replaced by the Endora God Clan.

“Have you located Patia-Neva yet?” A man with hair such a light shade of brown that it was nearly blond, spoke. Beside him, on a throne just a few centimeters lower, was a woman with beautiful olive skin. She had features that should have been warm and inviting, but there was something decidedly dead and cold about her eyes.

“Head Clyte, unfortunately we haven’t been able to. He’s very good at hiding. We aren’t sure if it was by design or not, but from our sources, he was the head of a pitiful academy just two years ago – named Focus Academy I believe. However, it was disbanded. No one has seen him since then. It’s likely that he disappeared knowing we would be coming to this planet for the tournament.”

“And his daughter?”

The woman faintly trembled at these words but cut off her emotions immediately. Allowing them to shine through would only bring her more pain.

“I believe her name is Delia Patia-Neva. I don’t see her name on the rankings, but she is also much too young for the world tournament – or, more accurately, too young to do well. That said, although everyone who has cultivation between meridian formation and essence gathering participate, if Patia-Neva has hidden himself, I don’t think he’d allow his daughter to participate.”

Head Clyte nodded. His face remained cold and he never once turned his gaze to the woman by his side. Only he and her knew that this daughter wasn’t just Patia-Neva’s. But, how could the Head of a Royal God Clan allow information to spread about his wife having a child with another man? All he could do was torture and kill them both. Then, when he was satisfied with the pain his supposed wife had suffered, he’d have her killed too.

“During the group stages, the members of Planet Naiad have only one goal. Kill Delia Patia-Neva.”

**

Not too far away, in a familiar mansion, Thadius stood watch over a ring along with Eli – both nervously waiting.

Inside the ring, though, maybe the most nervous person was Ri. All of her ideas had failed and she was only becoming more and more agitated.

It had been a full day since Dyon lost his ability to communicate, but his eyes were just as resolute. If it wasn’t for how often Ri melded her soul with Dyon, she would have no idea how much pain he was in. However, there came a point where even though she wanted to share in Dyon’s pain, her brain couldn’t function properly under so much stress. She had no choice but to pull away and try to calm herself.

Previously, her idea had been to use the Florence family technique to absorb the crystals in Dyon. That way, not only would they gain an understanding of just what the technique was, they’d also kill two birds with one stone by saving Dyon. This would work because it was clear to Ri that this technique was heavily will based. And this will, was clearly related to the red crystals she saw.

However, the problem with that was that even the most soul talented demon generals just weren’t as talented as Dyon.

The only reason Ri had been able to learn to use the Tree of Life and Death so quickly, despite being far less efficient in comparison to Dyon, was because she had Acacia family blood running through her. The technique was quite literally tailor made for her success.

There was no one in existence who could learn a soul technique as fast as Dyon without that kind of booster helping them. So, Ri had been helplessly trying other things while she hoped one of the demon generals would soon learn the technique.

That said, she didn’t hold out much hope… A technique on the level of the ancient Elvin Techniques would be Devour. And, for an accurate gauge of how difficult it was to learn soul techniques, Dyon had once said it would take Ri half a year to learn to use Devour if she put her everything into it. And that was just for the first act of the first stage!

Ri had relatively mediocre soul talent, so she had been hoping that a more talented demon general would be able to learn the Florence family technique much quicker than she could. But, the problem was that she had vastly underestimated Dyon. He did things that were seemingly impossible with such ease that even Ri, who was around him all of the time, had forgotten how truly difficult it was.

That was usually a great thing, but now, it was the worst thing in the world. How many weeks or even months would it take to learn the Florence family technique? The start of the new year was less than eight weeks away, was that enough time? Would Dyon even last that long? Could he deal with such pain for such an extended period of time?

Ri wanted to break down, but she was forcefully holding herself together. She had to figure it out, was this the solution Dyon wanted her to find? Or had he thought of something else?

The truth was, Dyon had thought of a solution much more efficient than this within minutes of his affliction. The problem was that he couldn’t communicate it. He lamented over the fact that Little Black wasn’t here, or else he’d be able to use their mental connection to convey enough for him to understand. But, he obviously couldn’t form something like that with Ri… Could he?

Dyon could only sigh. He was frustrated, but he couldn’t be mad at Ri. She was trying her best. Even if a mental connection would work because of Ri’s half beast side, how would he communicate something like that to her? In fact, who ever said mental connections could only be done beasts and humans? Maybe?…

Dyon wanted to squirm, but he couldn’t move. His mind had slowed done so far that it had taken him almost an hour to complete just that simple thought. If he let things get worse, he might not even be able to communicate with Ri even if they formed a mental connection.

‘Come on Ri, you can do it. The answer is right in front of you.’