Kuroshi Clan's Grand Tournament Arena, 8:50 in the morning.

Akane was currently sitting down in the competitor's arena with Yoko. The competition will start at nine and these two were chatting here until time arrived. Nobody else approached them because everyone else knew that these two were the rising stars of today's tournament.

Unlike the mock tournaments and the three month tournaments, triennial tournaments were held without age limitations. All the youth are required to compete and the adults could compete optionally but anyone with a position isn't allowed. An elder fighting new students at a tournament wouldn't really give anyone an image of a tournament; it would be a slaughter.

By the way, in this world, fifteen is considered as an adult. Hence this tournament mostly has people between seven and fifteen.

Since anyone at E-class immediately becomes someone with a position, the tournament could be said to be a tournament between F-class.

The adults who never got to E-class and those who reached their potential in F-class were allowed to compete but they rarely compete in this tournament as they would just ruin their image.

The tournament this time was many times larger than the mock tournament, the regular arena had already been repaired but anyone who had been in the mock tournament was still afraid of the same event occurring.

There were a thousand competitors in this competition, many times larger than the mock tournaments, the tournament lasts for a total of one week and many fights take place at the same time.

This tournament takes place in a different arena; this tournament takes places outside of the clan where there are ten different stages to fight on and one grand stage for the semi-finals and finals. During this time, the clan would be left unguarded save for the mercenaries hired by the clan each year. They are the most trusted mercenaries in the continent so theft and damage to the clan would damage their reputation hence the Kuroshi Clan has no worries.

"Oh, the tournament is starting."

Akane told Yoko who she was chatting with.

"So it is."

Yoko turned her head and listened to the head elder who had just arrived atop the grand stage.

"Hear me, everyone."

The head elder's voice was magnified by magic so the entire clan could hear him. Transferring thoughts over a distance was difficult but transferring voice was quite easy.

"The triennial tournament is about to start, there will be four rounds in total. The people fighting are random and an elder oversees each stage. Competitors, when you entered, you were given a number; you will go to the stage number that you've been given and compete when the elders say your name."

The head elder explained the rules, most of the clan members already knew of this but the ones who competed for the first time were the target of this information.

Akane whispered to Yoko.

"We're lucky that the tournament didn't take place last year, the new ones this year will be quite troubled. If this triennial tournament coincidentally took place last year, we would've lost quite fast. But now, since we're nearly at the peak of F-class, we probably have a big chance."

Yoko nodded.

"I'll win the tournament this year."

"No, I will."

The two smiled at each other and had sparks going off from where their eyes met. They had long since passed their peers and were now a match for the strongest people in this tournament. Most of their peers have just reached F-class but they have long since reached F-class, first step. If they wished it, they would undoubtedly be E-class, fifth step by now.

In terms of training in magic, Kai was certainly faster but he had trained his body first. If the three were to compete now, Kai would undoubtedly win with ease. Akane and Yoko's bodies were both at E-class, but Kai's body was at C-class.

If Reo were to see these two now, he would find that his previous assessment of them was false. Their magical talent was actually the same as Kai's if given the same opportunity but Kai had more in his body than meets the eye.

Fortunately for Akane and Yoko, they were assigned two different numbers. If these two were to clash head on in the first stage, things would certainly get boring.

"I'm assigned to the second stage."

"I'm assigned to the seventh stage."

Akane and Yoko respectively said. Just when the elders stood atop the stages, there was commotion in the crowds. The competitors were unaware of the reason of the commotion until one of the competitors pointed at the other side of the arena where the patriarch sat.

There was a figure of a man who wore robes and had a superior aura all over him. And beside that man was a girl who was of the same age as Akane and Yoko, naturally that was the Duke, Hyosuke and his daughter, Erina.

Erina glanced down at the competitors arena then smiled and waved at Akane and Yoko. When she did that, most of the youths were thrown into an uproar. The ones that were above fourteen had a bit of immunity but were still quite shaken. Even though she was only eight, her beauty was the real deal.

The only reason that Kai wasn't too shaken was because of his past life, he didn't have interest in children.

Yoko and Akane returned the wave but they were glaring at the others who yelled beside their ear.

Erina realized her mistake and retracted her hand but kept her smile aimed towards Akane and Yoko then sat down beside the duke.

"Oi, she just smiled and waved at me didn't she?!"

"In your dreams, she was obviously aiming it at me!"

"You wish! She's obviously attracted to my good looks and skill!"

While the women had expressions of disgust of the men who were in an uproar, Yoko and Akane grimaced as well.

The head elder seemed to have enough of the noise because he yelled.

"You brats! Don't go crazy because of a mere wave!"

It was as if a grandfather was scolding his grandchildren but it proved effective as everyone calmed down.

"Let's continue the tournament, competitors head to your positions!"

The competitors formed a line and went around each of the stages, there was quite the space between each stage so even with a thousand people, it wasn't crowded at all.

Once each and every stage was accounted for, the elders all looked at the head elder and the head elder spoke once more.

"The triennial competition will now begin!"

The elders immediately began calling names and many people stood atop the stage, it had been half an hour since the competition started and there weren't many good feats except for a few.

On the second stage where Akane is placed, there was a competition between two fourteen year olds.

"Looks like we're really fated to battle, Inejiro."

"I agree, Tadamichi."

The man named Inejiro stood atop the stage holding a large shield with one arm. The shield was a rectangular shield; it covered his entire body while his other hand held a halberd.

"No matter how many times I see it, I really can't tell how a halberd and a rectangular shield fit."

Tadamichi shook his head repeatedly. He used a two handed hammer and his arm had a buckler attached to it.

"Competitors, start!"

Tadamichi leaped forward while holding the hammer.

"Doryaaaa!"

Tadamichi let out a war cry as Inejiro raised his shield to block the hammer.

"You of all people should know that that's a bad move!"

The hammer crashed into the shield but the expected scene of Inejiro being flung had not happened.

"Wha-!?"

Inejiro had a big grin as the shield that was supposed to be pushed back stayed in place.

"I made some adjustments to my shield you see!"

The bottom of his shield had a spike to latch into the floor.

"I see, so you made it to counter the weakness of the shield. But unfortunately, I have made preparations as well."

There was a small crystal attached to the body of the hammer which glowed brightly when Tadamichi attacked once more.

The hammer crashed into the shield and the shocks from hitting it were so big that the surrounding floor had cracks and the crowd had to close their eyes and cover their eyes with their arms.

The shield had been pushed back as the spike firmly held on the floor. But the floor itself was being carved into by the spike because of the impact given to the shield.

"Unfortunately, this isn't the day that you'll surpass me."

Inejiro had a huge grin and held out the shield once more. Tadamichi didn't let out and attacked with his hammer once more, after the first hit; Inejiro leaped from his position and wielded his halberd.

"[Dark Thrust]!"

Inejiro swung his halberd sideways and the halberd suddenly sped up because of his move. The power of darkness moved the halberd as if it was a booster.

"What the hell?!"

Tadamichi blocked with his buckler but the halberd quickly pierced through the buckler and sent Tadamichi flying off the stage.

Though he made off with light injuries, it was already Inejiro's win by ring out.

"Competitor Inejiro wins by disqualification."

Yoko and Akane both had shocked expressions and looked at each other.

"What the heck was that?"

Akane asked first, Yoko was calmer and analyzed the situation.

"I think that he used the shadows to move the halberd because the power of darkness doesn't work like fire."

"Oh, I see. Moving by the shadows is certainly faster than moving normally. But I didn't see the halberd turn dark or anything at all?"

"But he swung the halberd under a shadow didn't he? Maybe he only partially engulfed the halberd in the shadow."

"I see."

Akane nodded as she closed her eyes while trying to remember the scene when the halberd swung.

"Still, that takes quite a lot of skill. He must be pretty experienced with the halberd and shadows to be able to accurately use it at that small time frame."

Yoko praised.

"He might be quite the worthy opponent. If there are a thousand competitors and a hundred per stage, you'd have a small chance to encounter him but you better becareful nonetheless."

"I will."

Akane smiled and at that moment, Yoko was called.

"Ah, looks like it's my turn."

The only reason they were able to converse was because the second stage and seventh stage were parallel to each other hence Yoko went to Akane's side.

"Good luck."

"Nn. Thanks."

Yoko gave her a smile and waved goodbye as she walked to the stage.

"I feel bad for her opponent..."

Akane sighed and then faced the stage for Yoko's battle.

"Competitors, start!"