Chapter 331 - The Younger Days... (1/2)

With the confusion clearing up a little, most of the participants had already run far off from the Sovereign.

Many of them peeked from their hideouts, witnessing the unbelievable scene of the terrifying beast running towards another figure, who instead of running in the opposite direction, was speeding directly towards it!

For a second, many of them questioned their eyes.

'A Madman!' this simple thought flashed in everyone's mind before they watched with hidden smirks on their faces. After all, the more people died early on, the more chances they had of surviving.

. . .

Outside the barrier, everyone had an easier time watching the trial. The barrier had shrunk a lot and now they didn't have to blindly stare at large terrains.

The appearance of the Rank-10 Beast had caused everyone to panic even more than the participants.

The two Rank-10 Mages had the worst reactions. Having fought her all those years ago, only they truly understood the extent of the Sovereign's powers.

In their opinion, this trial wasn't that of skills anymore. It was all about luck. The first 9 unlucky people who caught her eye would have their fates sealed. Resistance seemed out of option.

Everyone took heavy breaths, the situation was completely hopeless!

However, their shock had yet to wash away when they noticed something strange happening on the ground below.

”Hey, what is that?”

”The Beast is going for another victim, what else?” spat a man in anger. His nephew was nowhere to be seen; he was most likely dead.

”No, look there!” the man pointed at what appeared to be a black dot compared to the giant flaming fox.

At this time, not only them, but all the big shots present at the scene had their attention focused on this new development.

They hadn't had the time to show their contempt at this man's action when they found a rather dense body of Mana approaching them. All turned their heads only to come across a sight they never expected to see.

Half-torn clothes, blood oozing out of multiple wounds scattered all around the body, blood-shot eyes, and badly a mutilated arm which didn't look so kind as to ever heal on its own. This was currently the state of the man who had appeared on the scene, outside the barrier.

The shocking thing wasn't his depressing appearance, but rather his identity. Because he was the ancestor of the Ashin family and one of the only Rank-10 Mages, Kure Ashin!

”Che! Looks like someone wanted to save the world alone,” commented Ciro, the Rank-10 Mage from the Leonhard Dynasty.

”I didn't want this, old hag!”

”Don't tell me you disturbed that Beast's peace?” asked Gladis with a certain glare in his eyes.

Faced with both of their glares, Kure didn't back down. He knew they wouldn't dare start a fight here.

”It's that old witch's fault. She wanted to experiment with the Beast,” he spoke with a straight face.

”Wait, where is she?” Gladis narrowed his eyes.

In response, Kure didn't reply this time and only tilted his head upwards, looking at the blue sky.

”She realized death to be our next realm and ascended before us. Truly, she was always a genius, always a step ahead of us.”

Kure didn't try to hide the smile creeping upon his face which looked comical considering his ragged appearance.

Though those who listened in on their conversation had to face another shock of the century. A Rank-10 Beast was fighting mere kids in the trial and now a badly beaten Rank-10 Mage was telling them about the death of another Rank-10 Mage against the same Beast!

”NO! NO! NO!”

The shouting of a certain man from the Church of Light jolted everyone's senses but that of the Rank-9 and the three Rank-10 Mages. Still, it was quite the sight to see this shrewd man lose his composure in front of everyone.

He couldn't be blamed because of all the pressure he had been in to not let this news out. Now, as he looked around him, all he saw were hungry eyes of beasts in human skin waiting to devour him whole.

Their shock didn't last for long, though. Everyone's attention was quickly pulled by the Sovereign inside the barrier again.

”Huh? Who is that stupid child?” Kure asked. Even the Rank-10 Mages couldn't identify the person as they were too high up in the air.

Whoever it was, be it the participants or the spectators outside the barrier, they didn't think for a second that someone could leave a scratch on the Sovereign.

Except for a certain old man somewhere outside the barrier.

'Now this will be interesting. Both are closer to the 'True Stage' than anyone has ever been in this world. Ah, this reminds me of my younger days...'

. . .