°°°°

The sun rises up waking all the people, lightening up the whole Empire.

Beautiful clear skies and a nice weather.

The morning was placid like the calm before the storm. As today is the first day of the tournament, Verion and the others prepared themselves to go forth towards the capital.

All the contenders have steeled themselves to win the tournament knowing that only one among them will become the champion.

As for Sieggen, who only wishes to defeat his long time archrival, the champion who crushes every opponent that will stand in front of him.

And so, Verion started to depart riding their carriage facing towards the museum.

•••

Verion arrived at the entrance of the capital, what he saw was a wall standing at 50 meters tall protecting the Emperor's Kaiserpfalz.

The carriages that'll enter the gate will be checked by the Imperial guards --- Imperial guards are a lot stronger than those guards from the Empire's entrance just like Renel. Imperial guards are equal to an Obsidian rank adventurers.

The guards are done checking Verion's carriage

As Verion's carriage was moving towards the museum.

He took a glance at the Kaiserpfalz radiating the greatness of an Emperor far away.

He didn't saw it clearly so he couldn't describe it what it looks like. But he the prowess from the Imperial Castle can be felt by anyone. Just like a spell generator that boosts the whole City's morale.

Finally, Verion and th others arrived at the Museum.

It has a circular shape that has two large entrances from opposite sides. A VIP room was located at the top corner where the crowds will be watching. There is also a wide battlefield at the center that has 150 meters radius. It was designed that way so the battle won't get easily interrupted due to the fighters being worried if they'll hit someone. The place where the crowds will be sitting on is about 5 meters above the ground to avoid them from miss fires.

As Verion entered the Colosseum, he could hear the loud cheering from crowds making the entire Museum shaking from the clamor.

But sadly, it's not because of him as he's stil at the main entrance of the Colosseum.

The one who's being cheered was Adonis.

He stood at the center of the battlefield with his chest puffed up. His shoulder length gold hair was waving from side to side. He was wearing his full plate crimson armor with his jet-black sword on his waist.

As Verion continues to study him, a sudden voice called his name.

"Von-sama! Your Guild's --- the Ethereal Dragons --- contenders is being called by the announcer to please move towards the center of the field."

It was a middle-aged woman from the entrance of the Colosseum, she's the one who spoken to Verion.

"Hm? I see, so it's now the time to show ourselves to the crowds."

Verion with Droth and Syth went off the carriage and continued walking to the battlefield.

The lady bowed her head slowly as they passes through her.

Verion chuckled.

"Kukuku~ let us show them how great a Sovereign is."

"Yes! Verion-sama"

As they were approaching to the battlefield, the crowds cheering gradually went down followed by a ghost silence through out the Museum.

All the contenders including the Titanium ranks eyes went to Verion radiating vicious, arctic and monstrous aura.

Even the Titanium rank adventurers felt danger coming from Verion. However, Adonis and Sieggen were different, they felt that a new rival has come to threaten their positions.

It sent chills swallowing the entire body of everyone on the Colosseum.

"...Hiii.... Y..yes... Let us all welcome t..the Ethereal Dragons' contenders, their leader Von-sa---" the male announcer suddenly stopped and followed by an impassioned female voice.

"Let us all welcome Verion-sama!"

It was Nezhia's voice that announced Verion's name to the crowds.

The Colosseum was eloped by silence again for a while and wonders who is this Verion thing that she mentioned.

*I knew that this would happen.*

That's what Verion thought making small grin on his face.

And then the male voice came back again.

"...Ahhh excuse me? Can I take it back now?"

"Hmm? Oh sure kufufufu~"

"Ahem! Well are you ready everyone!!?"

As the announcer's voice echoed in the Colosseum, it was followed by a thunderous cheers from the crowd.

"And so let us introduce our contenders in this year's tournament. Going first ---"

And so the introduction of the Guilds have started.

The first one that has been introduced is the Imperial Vultures, 10 contenders moved forward and waved to the crowds followed up by the echoing cheers from the crowd.

Surprisingly, there is only 1 Titanium rank adventurer from the Imperial Vultures --- like Ethereal Dragons --- which is Adonis. The other Guilds has more or less 3 Titanium rank adventurers while the Dark Legion has 4. But even so, Adonis stands at the summit among them.

It was followed by 4 more Guilds which are Gray Shield, Infernal Crusaders, League of darkness, and Divine Swords.

After that the Dark Legion Guild was called.

A great uproar from the crowd rivaling the Imperial Vultures when they were called.

Sieggen was the main reason why it all happened. His white straight medium length hair shines as the sun hits them. His full plate golden armor and a deep blue sword on his waist, making the crown cheering his name in the entire Colosseum.

And our final contenders, the Guild who lost their glory and fame, they suffered countless defeats and now let us all welcome the ETHEREAL~ DRAGONS!!"

Despite of the invigorating introduction of the announcer. No one can hear the cheering of the crowd. All they heard was uttering and articulations why there are only three of them. The other Guilds all have 10 contenders with them.

"Silence!"

Droth's voice resonates all over the Colosseum. Everyone's attention gathered into him. He's using the particles on the air to amplify his voice.

"Even if you combine everyone's strength in this field. They can never match the might of Verion-sama."

Everyone raged as they heard Droth's words and a ruckus happened.

The crowd went booing and so for throwing things to them.

"Hmm? I think I have heard that name somewhere. From whom did I heard that?"

Adonis thought and shrugged his shoulders leaving it be.

The introduction is done and the cheering from the crowd is back.

Up until now, the crowd was long already full, so a hundred thousand people has been shouting all throughout the Colosseum.

The contenders left the field as the first match is about to begin, nervousness and excitement filled up the whole Museum.

As the announcer announced the two Guild that'll fce each other, the excitement was written on everybody's face.

"And now for the first match"

Loud drumming sounds and trumpets covered the entire place.

"Infernal Crusaders vs Ethereal Dragons!!"

A sudden uproar has filled up the stadium.

The three of them --- Verion, Droth, and Syth entered onto the battlefield again with their ice-cold aura.

The crowd went booing again to them because of what Droth has told them before.

He told Verion that he must do that in order to portrait Verion's greatness to them.

Verion's reply was, "Good grief!" And then went off.

And after the crowd realized that Droth's blabberings were serious they immediately shut their mouths as they saw Verion's sinister aura.

A moment later the Infernal Crusaders also went out of the gates and entered the battlefield.

They have 3 Titanium ranked adventurer and 7 Adamantite ranks, each of them has belittling looks to their three opponents.

"Alright! Now that everyone is on the field, I'm gonna explain the rules. But don't worry, the rules are straightforward and simple. The winner can be determined if either the other side surrenders or been knocked unconscious, that's it. So, as soon as you hear bell rings, the battle will commence."

And so, the contenders lifted their weapons.

Everyone from the Infernal Crusaders are men wearing their full clad flaming red armors with Guilds symbol marked on it that shows their pride.

The three Titanium rank are on the back, 1 of them is an Arc Wizard that had the greatest firepower among the mages, the other is a Swordsman and their leader the strongest among them, a Crusader. It's the known job or class that has both high firepower and an unreasonable defense.

The distance between the two opposite sides is bout 50 meters.

The bell rang and the Infernal Crusaders Adamantite rank adventurers charged at full speed to their opponents leaving dust on their paths.

"Hahaha, even if you defeated an SSS rank monster. Without a front liner on your team will be easily destroy by us."

A man on his 30's holding a giant axe with his muscularly built body said while raising his axe.

"That's right, without having a front liner on a team would be disadvantageous but ---"

Droth shrugged and raised his daggers from both of his hands and swiftly dashes to his opponents.

Before the bell rang, Verion commanded Syth to buff Droth as he knockout all the 7 adventurers that'll charge to them.

As the adventurers advances forward, a sudden flash caught up into their eyes and suddenly fall to the ground rolling from head to toe.

".... There's no need for us to worry if our opponents are just worms."

Verion continued his statements with cold and deep tone.

The one sided cheering from the crowd went off Suddenly as they saw all the Adamantite rank adventurers rolling to the ground unconscious.

"Wh..what the hell on earth have happened."

The announcer was in bafflement, as well as the people watching them.

"Ahem! Let me explain in details of what did happened."

Nezhia entered the stage again.

"That boy named Droth over there was buffed by that other boy holding a staff and then he knocked off everyone with his swift movements."

Even after Nezhia's explanations, the people couldn't still believe what happened.

No one would ever thought that a single Orichalcum rank adventurer could knock out 7 Adamantite rank adventurers.

Granted, they're not even showing yet their full strength.

"Hoho? Seems like what we're facing right now are three Titanium rank adventurers am I wrong?"

"No, you're right Crane-san"

Crane was ranked 4th at last year's tournament, he couldn't defeat Nymira at the semifinal so Nymira places 3rd.

The Arch Wizard replied to their team captain, the mighty Crusader assuming that their answer is correct.

"Then how about fight me next kid?"

The Swordsman said unsheathing his sword on his waist pointing them to Droth.

"Me too, I'll target that enchanter over there. It'll also be my pride for defeating a lower tiered class a mage who reached Titanium rank."

The Arch Wizard raised his staff proudly and casted his grand spell.

"Then me too, let's end this thing right now. For I will defeat Nymira this time."

Crane charge to his opponents with all of his might with his teammates.

The Arch Wizard launched his grand spell [ Explosion ] that could destroy an Entire City in full power, but this time he concentrated all of it's energy into one area. The place where Verion and Syth are standing.

And so, Droth without turning back faced the Swordsman with it's very fast movements and following to it's attacks.

Droth used his right dagger to slash his opponents abdomen but was blocked skillfully. He then changed his position and dashed again at even faster pace than before.

The Swordsman could not even more follow his movements and was looking everywhere where his eyes caught up to Droth's afterimages.

Droth raised his daggers and charged from the Swordsman's blind spot and immediately stab him into his back. And he immediately falls down.

As the Arch Wizard saw his comrade falls to the ground, he felt a sting into his heart and raged. He immediately released the spell hitting Verion and Syth.

The effect of his skills were so devastating, if the barrier especially made by the Grand Guildmaster --- which is not present right now --- wasn't been there. The entire Museum including it's surroundings would've vaporized.

The thunderous cheers from the crowd came to live again as the smoke from the explosion was fading away.

"Looks like I wasn't needed anymore out there hahahaha!"

"Ha! I told you, they're no match for an Arch Wizard like me." He replied to Crane.

"Whoooo!!! It looks like we have now a winn---"

When the announcer is about to announce the victor an ominous aura has eloped the entire stadium.

"Hmm? Is that all you got? I'll praise you enough for knocking out this two boys with me kukuku~"

Verion was standing unscratched in the middle of the explosion's marks. Even his black suit has not been damaged.

"I... impossible, how could you take that attack without even a scratch?.

The Arch Wizard was in bafflement, that attack would've even dealt half of Crane's health. Granted, that Verion was a mage therefore making him vulnerable to any attacks.

"Kukukuku~ do you think that an attack from a worm can even scratch me? No one would even believe if I'll said that."

"You bastard--"

"Cool it off, Klaus."

Crane stopped the Arch Wizard from being overheated and looked at him telling "just leave it to me".

"Fine!"

What happened to Droth and Syth was also according to Verion's plans that he told to them. He said that after their Arch Wizard casts it's spell, they will pretend that they were brought down by it.

"Hmm? And you are?"

"I'm Crane the Crusader and the 4th ranking adventurer in the Empire."

The crowd cried as Crane was introducing himself to Verion.

"I see, then I'll make a sample from you."

"What?"

Verion moved forward and took one of the few weapons survived after the explosion.

He then repaired and remodeled them and hold the sword making a form of a Samurai preparing to initiate it's attack. He sheathed back his Samurai sword to his waist and closed his eyes to concentrate sharply.

"Hey hey hey!!! What is Von trying to do? Did he got crazy from the explosion and became a Swordsman? And what is that form? Hahaha!"

As the announcers Voice echoes through the Colosseum, the people laughs at Verion.

But even though, Nezhia was looking at his master with full of admiration to it's magnificent form.

Only few adventurers noticed that Verion was serious.

The one who first notice was Adonis, the moment he felt that ominous aura. The tides have already changed.

Same as Sieggen and Nymira. What they saw on Verion's form was a perfect incarnation of a real Swordmaster.

Crane also felt chills to his spine and raised his arm to order silence to the Museum.

But that only took a matter of moments.

Verion opened his and relaxed his shoulders. As he prepares make a move, all the sword experts at the Colosseum already knew what would happen.

Verion unsheathed his sword, it happened instantly that from the moment you blink he's already on the other side.

Even Adonis hardly followed his movement.

From what he saw, Verion slightly unsheathed his katana from his waist and from that moment and from that time.

The victor has been decided.