Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

"We welcome the Armament Guild to…"

King Adonis began with pleasantries, much of which should have fell on deaf ears considering the death and bloodshed that had already taken place. It gave the entire ceremony an air of chaos to it that thrummed at the hearts of those present, but something told Ryu that this was how it was all purposely designed.

This was the reality of what the Martial Gods were. They put up a façade of scholarly airs, but they were, at their core, a race of people that spoke with their fists, flesh and bone.

"… Today, as is the case with every conferment of King, those who were deemed unworthy in the past will have a chance to redeem themselves. However, the World Sea Realm experts of our people are far too valuable to sacrifice in this way. What we will one day face is one unprecedented in our history. So, we will instead give this opportunity to the youths."

Ryu's rate of food consumption didn't slow, but his thoughts inwardly narrowed in on King Adonis' mention of an enemy. Was this the enemy that had chased the Martial Gods to this point? Or was it something different?

Something told Ryu that the Martial Gods wouldn't so blatantly expose this enemy, especially not in front of outsiders like this. This made Ryu conclude that this 'enemy' was actually some existence that was completely different, but what the hell kind of enemy was that?

Ryu's thoughts spun before he suddenly recalled something.

Didn't the Zu Clan Ancestors also say something about an enemy coming back? Wasn't that why they had buried themselves so well on the Mortal Planes, waiting for a day to come back? Did that mean there wasn't a single enemy, but two?

Under normal circumstances, Ryu wouldn't care about this at all. But, now that he had taken a master, as far as he was concerned, the Zu Clan had become another one of his responsibilities. Since this enemy was likely the one his Master was preparing to fight against, he would have no choice.

But this really felt like an irony of all ironies. Would there really be an enemy he needed to fight alongside the Martial Gods?

Ryu's knife shattered the bone of a Ninth Order beast as though it was dead wood, the control of his wrist having faltered slightly. But, he continued on as though nothing had happened.

Godefride noticed this oddity and narrowed his eyes. But, he said nothing in the end. After all, he and Ryu weren't this close. As much as his actions just now had helped alleviate some pressure on Ryu, it was also out of his own selfish interests as well. Ultimately, he wasn't yet qualified to ask such things of Ryu.

"… Now, there are exactly 999 of you left and this is a perfect number for the coming trials."

King Adonis waved his hand, causing the formations in the air to ripple. Slowly, a stone forest began to appear at the center of the arena, expanding to the point it was ten kilometers wide and long.

The stones that made up this forest began to grow rapidly, intertwining with one another to the point what once was a forest became an endless maze instead. This maze had exactly 999 entrances but only nine exits in total.

If the participating geniuses could see the stone maze from above, it would be possible to see these original 999 entrances weaving in and out of one another, forcing clashes until there was inevitably just 9 remaining. It was clear that this was yet another selection process.

"… 999 will enter and 9 will leave. However, the matters aren't so simple as they appear to be on the surface. You will have to display strength as well as…"

Ryu didn't listen to any of this, focusing on consuming as much food as he could. It wasn't until King Adonis had finished and ushered for them to begin to take their places that he finally stood.

"Good luck." Godefride said with a smile.

Ryu nodded again. However, his words were completely different from his amicable response.

"I won't need luck."

Godefride chuckled as Ryu strode away, cutting a path through the banquet tables and over several pools of blood without a single blemish touching him or his pristine white hair.

"… What an arrogant kid." Sabelle said lightly.

"You'd better be careful, Sabelle. Or else you might end up in his bed one day." Godefride said with a laugh.

"You want a taste of my saber, Godefride? You spent some time away, did you already forget who you're talking to?"

"Ah, sorry, sorry, good sister. Don't hurt little ol me, I'm just a passive observer."

"Watch your mouth." Sabella said with a snort that reverberated beneath her mask. "Your words are no different from wishing a dead man upon me. I'll cut your tongue out next time."

Godefride fell silent hearing these words, but it was Eustis that finally broke it.

"If he's a friend of yours, why is it that you didn't warn him about this?"

Godefride sighed. "I've seen how this brat does things before. The fact he's here means he has a purpose, and if he has a purpose… Well let's say that even a Sky God can't make him change his mind."

It was clear now that Sabelle's words weren't assuming Ryu's death because he would have to fight these geniuses… But it was rather predicting it as a result of something completely different…

"What is the point of allowing him to be stubborn if he's going to end up dead?" Eustis asked.

"… Who knows, maybe he won't die?"

Eustis and Sabelle looked toward one another and frowned. Just what sort of happy pills had this Ryu fed Godefride to make him believe that this could end any other way?

Everyone knew that there was no way that any non-Martial God could possibly survive this. It was written in stone.