"It's finally beginning….." Naze watched the show on television as he casually laid down on the sofa with a bucket of popcorn in his hand.

"The Barnes brother….Barnes...huh...I wonder if the old geezer passed the letter…." Naze mumbled as he saw Lear and Arthur facing each other.

"Umn...uhmmn.."

He sighed in frustration as he heard the muffled noises and turned his head to look toward the man tied on the couch with his mouth taped.

The man looked miserable and was wrapped in bandages all over.

"Need some?" Naze asked as he looked at him and stretch out his hand with the bucket is popcorn.

"Umnnn...huhmmm…"

Naze looked at him unable to understand a single word. In the end, he pulled out the tap on his mouth.

"Who are you?"

"I am Naze. Now, take the popcorn and enjoy the show, Sir…" Naze replied when he suddenly realised something.

"Sorry, my bad I forgot they cut off your right hand…." Naze forced a smile on his face and put a handful of popcorn in his left hand.

"Why did you save me? And why are you keeping me captive here?" The man asked as he looked at Naze.

"You ask too many questions….just enjoy the show...you might even see some familiar faces…" Naze said pointing at the television.

"Let me contact my family once…"

"One more unnecessary word and I will put the tap back on…so let's just enjoy the show.." Naze replied with a smile.

"I want to know if they are fine or not!!!"

Naze looked at him and put the tap back on his mouth but that didn't stop the man from releasing the muffled noise.

Naze looked at him pretty annoyed, "Your wife is missing….you children are safe…now you better not say anything...or I will knock you out…."

The man finally stopped but his face clearly had a worried look on it.

…

Orca Academy, Capital.

"It surely turned dark quickly…." Axel said as he glanced at Max and then at the stage.

"Well, Lear isn't that weak…" Wilson muttered.

"I don't think it's a good idea for them to clash directly before the competition in Ishtar…" Axel said with a frown.

"Don't worry, it's a spar...it won't have a result…" Max replied.

"But it will have an impact, Lear's strength will be out and Arnold might become wary of him…besides people were already trying to get Lear out when he was weak...if he shows his power won't they make a move in agitation…." Axel replied.

"It's not like we have any option….we can't let him just get thrashed and he has to be the one in that position….besides, if they want to make a move then they are welcome…."

The Ancient families have organized the event. His master had made sure of their safety. After all, there was a possibility that the other Ancient families might eye him if his identity was fully exposed….

…

Lear stood on the stage with a calm expression on his face, not paying any attention to the crowd who were buzzing in excitement.

On the other hand, Arthur looked a bit agitated.

"Why are you doing thi-?" Arthur hadn't even completed his words when he was forced to move his head.

''Swiss!"

Arthur looked at the flexible blade which had just sliced a few strands of his hair.

The buzzing noise immediately went silent. Most people couldn't see what had happened but those who did had a surprised look on his face.

"You would be dead if I hadn't missed on purpose…but there won't be a second time..." Lear spoke and the next moment, he whipped his sword.

"Clang!"

The numerous blades on the sword immediately sped out like snakes surprising everyone.

Arthur's frown deepened as he immediately waved his hand and sand shot out from his storage artifact.

It fell on the stage like a heavy tide and completely submerged the blades within it.

But Lear used this opportunity to close in. The sand barrier had barred both their ability to see each other.

When Lear was close enough, he immediately pushed his feet against the stage and took a big leap and managed to pull the sword out of the sand as well using the force behind the leap.

Arthur heard the sound of the jump and prepared himself.

The moment Lear appeared in the air, Arthur immediately casted a sand pike.

In the mid-air, it was almost impossible to dodge the attack.

People had indeed been surprised by Lear but at this moment they thought the same as well.

One should only use this tactic when they were confident of overpowering their opponent from above…

Arthur hesitated when he saw that pike was about to penetrate Lear.

The moment his concentration flickered, a strange sight occurred which left everyone shocked.

Lear who was on the collision course with the pike, suddenly stepped on the air and moved aside, he then took another step and pushed himself towards the ground like a bullet.

He grabbed the hilt of his sword with both his hand and the next moment killing intent burst forth from him.

'Don't you dare to let your guard down…' Lear stared Arthur in the eyes as he swung his sword.

The exchange happened in the blink of an eye, no one managed to see what had happened except for the headmasters of different Academies.

Lear landed on his feet behind Arthur and gave him a look as he kept his sword back in his storage artifact.

"Next time, you will be dead if you keep hesitating…" Lear muttered as he walked off the stage.

Arthur looked at the locket which had cracked. It was his defensive artifact, a life saving one and it just indeed did save his life.

"He really did strike….I would be read if not for this.. " Arthur sighed and was a bit sad. But he wasn't a fool. If Lear really had plans to harm him, why in hell would he be warning him….

'Fine….I will keep your words in my mind…' Arthur muttered inwardly as he looked at Lear's back and then left the stage as well.

The match was just a spar, hence there were no winners and losers. This only left most people in confusion. But one thing was clear, Lear Barnes was no longer trash...

Lear returned by the headmaster's side who had a wide grin on his face.

The rest of the headmasters glanced at Lear in surprise. It seems that Arcane wasn't as weak as they thought them to be. But they were still calm, after all it was clear that Arthur had underestimated Lear and even had hesitation to strike his brother. If it was anyone else instead of Arthur, then the results would have been different in their eyes.

«Ruler: You won...» Lear looked at the message.

«Lear: That idiot hesitated at the critical moment and made the wrong move to avoid hurting me...there was no way I was going to lose...if he was serious I had no idea how it would have turned out…»

«Ruler: I bet he won't have any hesitation second time...»

«Lear: Yeah, he knows my limit now...I bet it won't be easy next time... especially in Ishtar….in father's presence he will put down all his worries against me...»

Here, Arthur was the oldest among his brothers. So it was his responsibility to look after them but in Ishtar he could relax believing there was someone to look after them..