by Jason Hale
Chapter 73 - Purple Lightning Attribute
Today, the Holy Flame Church was full of bluster. Hundreds of nobles flooded its halls, eager for the competition to start. Many had already taken their seats in the arena, awaiting the competitors' entrance.
Meanwhile, said competitors were completing their last arrangements.
...
"Take those two Saint-Origin Pills."
Elmar ordered while extending two golden pills to Nier and Holgren.
Holgren looked at them with confusion while Nier appeared slightly detached.
"Elder brother, is that really necessary? This is…such a waste."
Even for the imperial family, Saint-Origin Pills were in short supply. Their worth didn't fully exert itself before the Transcendent and Semi-Holy Rank. Beneath those ranks, using them was a waste.
Arch-Knights and Priests could not absorb even one-tenth of the pill's power. For Elmar to pull out two required considerable resources. Thus, Holgren really couldn't bear using them at his current level.
"Better be safe than sorry. I ran a background check on your opponent and failed to find anything of interest. But the less we find, the more suspicious he is. With house Kracht's resources, they absolutely cannot train such a talent. I suspect a Saint behind the scenes.
Who knows what resources he has at his disposal? We must not act sloppily. Don't worry, I will help you two refine the pills and minimize the losses. What you cannot digest, you can store and use in the future.
Other benefits aside, the sheer holy power should be enough for a breakthrough. In any case, those pills belong to you."
Holgren said nothing more. However, he was inwardly full of apprehension. The more assurance he had in victory, the more uneasy he felt.
His life was in Konnor's hands. How dared he defeat him? However, if he showed flaws, Elmar would definitely spot them and cause more trouble. Even if he didn't want to, he had to try his hardest!
Meanwhile, Nier maintained an absentminded look. Spotting the abnormal behavior, Elmar frowned.
"Nier' what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
She instantly replied and shifted her attention back to him.
"According to you, what level can I reach after taking this pill? And how much more powerful will my physique be?"
Elmar's frown deepened. Although dedicated to cultivation, Nier usually didn't pay much attention to her battle power. If anything, her immersion in cultivation was more of a tactic to avoid loneliness.
"At least two levels. As for your physique, you only have a one percent chance of unlocking a holy constitution. However, I can guarantee your flesh will at least reach the Transcendent Rank.
Beneath the Transcendent Rank, nothing will be able to injure you."
Most physiques were innate and improved with the cultivation. People born with special physiques far beyond their levels were few and far between. And with time, unless nurtured by powerful pills and elixirs, cultivation would always catch up to the physique level.
Elmar for example currently possessed a Holy Physique. However, with the imperial family's resources, he could not bring it to the next level. Unless he grasped new opportunities, his cultivation would one day catch up to it.
"That should be good enough. Elder brother, please help me refine it."
...
Meanwhile, house Kracht was getting anxious.
"He's in a trance? Now of all times?
What should we do?"
Daphne complained while standing outside Konnor's chambers. The competition was starting in one hour, and the contestants were all expected to gather at least half an hour beforehand. However, Zamira was now telling them that Konnor had entered a cultivation trance?
How could she not get worried?
"Perhaps that's for the best. We're already treading on thin ice. Offending the imperial family for this quota is not worth it."
Ilaina secretly heaved a sigh of relief. However, Zamira was of another mind.
"Let's check the situation."
Following Zamira's lead, the three Kracht women stepped in. What awaited them was the sight of Konnor sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Purple light swirled around him while rose petals appeared and fluttered by his side.
"He's been like this for ten hours already. At this rate, he will really miss the next round."
Although annoyed, there was nothing Zamira could do besides watching and hoping that the trance would soon come to an end. If they missed the second round like this, why did they bother attending in the first place?
However, as worry began filling her face, a strange phenomenon occurred.
Violet sparks glittered around Konnor's form while berserk, purple lightning burst from his body. Carrying with them energy waves that almost sent Daphne and Ilaina spiraling into the air. Fortunately for them, Zamira was there to deflect the lightning's effects.
Crackling sounds thundered within the air as the purple lightning rose and drew dozens of arcs around Konnor's form. The terrifying power emanating from within it caused even Zamira to feel some apprehension.
"What kind of cultivation does he practice for his attributes to be so overbearing?"
It wasn't the first time this question sprang within her mind. Konnor's light attribute was already strange enough, but this lightning one seemed even more dreadful. If his light attribute seemed to emphasize speed and flexibility, this lightning one was all about destruction.
Konnor's eyes opened with purple lightning rotating around his irises.
"No need to get worried. Wait for me outside, we will soon set out."
That said, he once again closed his eyes. Zamira didn't dare delay and carried the two still dazed girls outside.
"The Hundred Flowers Scripture contains three attributes. Light, Lightning, and Nature.
The first gives you unparalleled speed, the second unparalleled strength, and the last unparalleled resilience. Now that you've unlocked the lightning attribute, combined with your bloodline level, I dare say that even without your lineage weapon, you can fight across an entire rank."
"So what? As I reach higher ranks, those advantages will shrink. If I don't improve, by the time I reach the Semi-Holy Rank, how many levels will I be able to skip?
What about the Holy Rank? The Divine Rank? Ultimately, those advantages are just more pronounced in the lower ranks. Among those Divine Rank powerhouses, who wasn't the titan of an era?"
Konnor replied, not letting the Flame Mark inflate his head.
"That may be true, but in this world, how many Divine Children are they? As long as you don't slack off, your future is not comparable to theirs. Even the meridians you will unlock in the Transcendent Rank are not what they can aspire to."
Konnor said nothing more and dispelled the phenomenon surrounding him.
His mind then drifted to several locations.
"Freya, how did your task go?"
"I've managed to deplete a third of house Schoner's wealth, a total of sixty-five million purple crystals, and shift it to bank accounts solely on my name. Whenever master wishes, I can put them under your name.
Right now, I'm hiding within the inner court, in the holy consort's palace."
"Well done, you will soon have your reward."
"Wolfgang, how are you handling your task?"
"Boss, thanks to the vulnerability left by your arrangements, house Schoner has already fallen in our hands. As for house Henlein, it's a bit more difficult. I should get it done in half a month."
"Good."
Konnor shut the connection and stood up.
"Then it's time to settle things here."
He then stepped out of his chambers and alongside the Kracht women, headed toward the arena.
...
The bishop handling the competition was currently kneeling in front of a middle-aged man dressed in a long white cassock bearing the church's emblem.
"Your eminence, how should
we proceed?"
That man was an exarch of the church, and therefore, a Saint. He was also the mastermind behind the first round's events.
"Man proposes, heaven disposes. Now that things have come to this, we can only proceed with the second round. A pity…
However, it's inconsequential. The leaders of the Celestial Faction have already given their consent. Even if the von Juras win, we can still make them give up the quota. We will just have to pay some prices."
The Holy Flame Church wasn't a united group. It was divided into two factions. The Imperial Faction that served the interest of the Holy Flame Empire, and the Celestial Faction composed of members directly appointed by the Celestial Church. Naturally, they served its interests.
Although the Imperial Faction tried its best to counterbalance the outsiders, the difference in power was too large, and often, they had to bend the knee.
This time would be no different.
...
Full of bluster, the arena's seats were currently filled by thousands of nobles, ranging from imperial knights to viscounts. As for counts and above, they occupied more honorable VIP seats enclosed above the stadium, from which they could see everything that occurred below.
The twelve dukes each possessed their own luxury booths. However, they chose to gather in a single one to observe the competition together.
They were all high-level Semi-Saints with the youngest being more than seven-hundred years old, while the oldest approached the twelve-hundreds.
Therefore, their interest in the competition was minimal. However, it was an event organized by the church, with invitations sent to their doorsteps. They had to show up.
"Old man Slesinger, wasn't your son among the contestants. Why is it that I'm not seeing him today?"
The one who'd spoken was the youngest of the twelve dukes, the Kringel duke. He was also the most unbridled and paid little attention to decorum. His bearing was more like a mobster than a noble's. He was also quite fond of taking pleasure in others' misfortune.
Having heard of Koloman offending the crown prince, how could he not tease that old fogey?
"My son was injured and is recuperating at home. He cannot participate."
The Slesinger duke casually replied and paid him no more attention.
"Is that so?"
...
Meanwhile, the twenty-nine remaining contestants had all gathered to listen to the second round's rules.
"You will get split into four groups. Since you're now twenty-nine, we will have three of seven and one of eight. The last man standing of each group will advance to the next stage.
Now, you can come to pick your group numbers."
One after the others the contestants drew their numbers, and soon enough the four groups were established. As fate would have it, Konnor, Holgren, and Nier all ended up in different groups.
Chapter 74 - Battle Royal
"How could I be this, unlucky?"
This was the thought of those that ended up in Holgren's group. They were all Arch-Knights; however, none had any illusion regarding the battle's result.
"The only way to tip the scales is to join forces against him."
They silently exchanged mental messages and readied themselves for the battle.
On the contrary, Nier' competitors were thanking all the Divine Lords for their mercy. Of the twenty-nine contestants, she was the only one beneath the Arch Rank. Therefore, most of them felt relieved, assuming that even in her True Form, she wasn't out of their league.
For the spectators' enjoyment, the groups would fight one after the other from A to D.
The arbitrator, the surviving bishop they were all so familiar with, hovered high above the ring, ready to intercept any misdemeanor.
"The rules are simple. The fight ends when only one man remains conscious. You can concede if you wish to and save yourself needless trauma. Artifacts are forbidden. As for injuries and death, you are responsible for your own safety. If you fear death, there is still time to step down."
The church had no intention to restrict the contestants by sanctioning killing and maiming. In any case, they were quite content seeing new grudges form within the nobility. Many members of Holgren's group considered surrender. After all, even if they'd all came to an arrangement, chances of victory still appeared slim.
No one wanted to gamble his life on such an uncertain outcome. However, with their relatives, elders, and thousands of nobles eying them, they ultimately didn't dare concede.
"Since no one wishes to concede, may the battle royal begin!
Group A, on the stage!"
...
High above the twelve dukes was a floating, invisible booth concealed by high-level magic.
Not many possessed the qualifications to seat in that area and those who did often disdained attending. Currently, two women were seated on throne-like chairs and observing the events below.
With their eyesight, not even the tiniest detail escaped them. Naturally, those two were Verena and Else. As for the reason of their presence, it was to observe Konnor's results.
As they silently observed the scene below, the middle-aged Exarch in charge of the competition made his entrance.
"Your majesty, your grace. Had I known that you would bless us with your presence, I would have prepared accordingly. Please forgive my negligence."
His face displayed a friendly smile. However, neither of the two felt any good will toward him. Else flat out ignored him, not sparing him another glance.
"Exarch Heinrich, long time no see. Please do not stand on ceremony. This was an impromptu visit, and we've just arrived."
Although Else clearly didn't plan to greet him, Heinrich didn't appear offended and took his seat beside Verena who stood at the middle.
"It's rare for Saints to gather to witness this kind of event. To what do I owe the honor?"
"We're just curious about the progress of the imperial family's young generation."
"Is that so? Her grace the holy consort also bears such an interest?"
Toward that two-sided question, Else didn't bat an eyelid. And still, without turning toward Heinrich, she replied:
"I heard your eminence suffered severe setbacks during the previous round, and your position is now unsteady. While having difficulty protecting your burning house, are you sure the time is ripe to inquire on my…interests?"
A frown quickly flashed by Heinrich's face, but the change was too fast for anyone without holy eyesight to notice.
"I don't know what's more sorrowful. That you've been outplayed by someone you might never find, or that you cannot even openly investigate the…disturbance.
I wonder, should you fail to recover the beasts, how are your high exarchs planning to deal with you?"
This time, Heinrich had to suppress the urge to stand up and throw a palm at Else's mouth.
"Holy Consort, you're out of line!"
The debacle had indeed cost him a lot of prestige within the church's upper level, and if he failed to recover the lost beasts, considering that his failure thwarted the church's Anti-Demonic Beast program, harsh sanctions were inevitable.
"Out of line? Since when is the truth out of line? In any case, if you feel stung, then stop blabbing your mouth like a bored, neglected wife in need of gossip, and let me watch the competition in peace.
Otherwise, I don't mind -entertaining you-"
Despite his high self-control, Heinrich couldn't prevent the grimaces from showing on his face. Still, he said nothing more.
House Metze and the Holy Flame Church were nemeses. Else would never give him face. As the bystander, Verena couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
...
Group A was the least eyed since no extraordinary character was present. However, it was also the most balanced. With its seven contestants all at the second step Arch Knight Rank. In fact, it was too balanced. Every single one of the seven felt like they had a shot at victory. Therefore, no faction formed, and all fou
ght indiscriminately.
The battle was long and arduous, and seeing such a fierce competition, the crowd loudly cheered. However, one man stood out of the lot. It was a purple haired man with pitch-black eyes that seemed as deep as the night sky. His features were eighty percent similar to the Kringel Duke's. He was his third son, Lars.