"Stein's family representative, Kayden," the clerk said with a professional nod. He handed Kayden his card, embossed with a shiny "2," indicating that he was the second representative of the Stein family.
"Kayden, I'll head to the watching area with my father and grandpa. Good luck," Juniper whispered, giving him a boost and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"If I win this, remember my prize," Kayden smirked and patted Juniper's buttocks playfully before making his way back to his cabin.
"Mr. Kayden, we meet again." Courtney appeared with the last representative from the Stein family.
The man by Courtney's side, named Anthony, showed full respect towards Kayden. After all, he was one of the people who escorted Kayden to the Stein family and had heard of his previous victories. "Mr. Kayden, it is an honor to meet you," the young man said with a small bow.
Kayden smiled and shook his hand warmly. He also greeted Courtney with a handshake before they all made their way to the gathering area.
The spacious area was filled with representatives from each of the nine aristocrat families, influential families, and members of the secret society. However, some families were missing members due to recent deaths in their ranks.
"So how do you feel about your first bout?" Courtney asked as they settled into their seats in one of the open areas.
"After inspecting the other competitors, there doesn't seem to be much of a threat," Kayden responded confidently.
"Oh, are you that confident?" Courtney raised an eyebrow in amusement.
Kayden simply nodded with a self-assured smile on his lips.
As the sun began to set, the families trickled in one by one to the designated meeting spot. The "aristocrat fairies," as they were called, also made their grand entrance, causing a stir amongst the crowd. Other young men flocked to them, eager to introduce themselves and possibly make a good impression. However, any attempts to approach Courtney were met with a fierce death stare from none other than Kayden, effectively deterring them.
"Your overprotectiveness is quite charming," Courtney flirted, batting her eyelashes.
Kayden couldn't help but smile at her words.
But even he couldn't deny the allure of the 9 aristocrat fairies who stood before them. Their beauty was unparalleled, making even Courtney seem slightly inferior despite her own status.
Suddenly, a new group appeared from the shadows, igniting a spark within Kayden's soul. "It's the Lee family," Courtney whispered excitedly.
As the Lee family made their way towards them, all eyes were drawn to Eliana's stunning appearance. She outshone even her fellow aristocrat fairies, leaving no doubt as to why she was revered as one of the most beautiful in their world. And standing beside her was none other than Henry, the reigning champion of the previous tournament.
Henry's handsome features seemed almost divine next to Eliana's, giving off an aura that left everyone in awe. Kayden couldn't even begin to estimate his current level of strength and progress as an ancestor himself.
As Henry greeted everyone and locked eyes with Kayden, a wave of familiarity washed over him. "Why does he look so familiar?" Kayden thought to himself.
And then it hit him. "I've found you Master," Henry said with a puppy-like grin on his face.
Elian's voice echoed in Henry's mind as he asked, "Is this the Kayden you keep mentioning, the one I am destined to serve?"
Henry simply nodded, his gaze fixed on the tall, imposing figure standing before them. "I want you to protect him, even when I am gone. I know he will bring you to new heights."
Kayden's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked back and forth between the two men. "Master? What are you talking about?"
Soon, the sect elder from the Lee family and a representative from the secret society arrived at the meeting place. Both were powerful and influential individuals - the Lee sect elder was said to have reached the peak of the emperor realm, while the secret society representative was no less formidable.
After introducing themselves, they announced the rules for the competition: 4 days, with each group needing to win 3 matches per day to advance. If they were to lose two times, they would be automatically eliminated.
The leaders of each family arrived to determine their placings in the competition. Kayden stood among them, receiving his token with a number "2" imprinted on it - a reminder that there were still 18 other families competing for a spot today.
As he made his way to the stage, Kayden couldn't help but recall an old grudge against one of the families participating - the Woods family. Their attempt to harm him and his loved ones still lingered in his mind, fueling a deep-seated anger within him.
The Woods family had been reduced to just two members after the brutal defeat of their third member, taken down by the formidable Kayden at the advance (low realm). As Kayden mercilessly slaughtered them, gaining an easy 2-0 victory, Courtney and Anthony could only watch from the sidelines. But they were determined to fight on, knowing that they had two more matches ahead of them.
As Kayden strode confidently back onto the stage to collect another token, Courtney's heart swelled with anger towards the next opponents - the Kentt family. With Bobby injured and out of commission, it was going to be an easy win for Kayden and Courtney. And with her fierce determination to avenge her little sister's near ruin at the hands of this family, Courtney put up a flawless performance, securing another 2-0 victory.
Leaving the stage with his head held high and palms raised in triumph, Kayden was met with applause from Courtney and Anthony. "Congratulations," she said with a smile.
Their next opponents were the Owen family, led by Aleeza - one of the nine fairies and a powerful figure at the king realm. This time, it was Courtney who took on the challenge, engaging in a long and intense battle before emerging victorious. Next up was Kayden against Maddox, an aura bearer at the veteran (peak realm). Despite Maddox's strong abilities, Kayden easily secured another win for their team.
The final match of the day pitted Anthony against Cohen - both skilled fighters at the veteran (peak) stage. The battle raged on for what seemed like hours, but in the end, Anthony emerged as the victor.
As the day came to a close, only twelve families had made it through to the next round. "Congratulations everyone," Kayden said with a sense of pride and camaraderie among his fellow competitors.
Courtney and Anthony's smiles were wide and bright as the group made their way back to their family lodging. The warm sun glinted off the windows and the soft breeze carried the sound of laughter and chatter. As they approached, Kayden noticed a figure standing outside, watching them with a curious gaze. It was Henry, his dual-pupil eyes fixed on them.
Kayden's muscles tensed as he sensed a strong presence emanating from Henry. He couldn't help but feel threatened by the stranger's intense stare. "What do you want?" Kayden asked, his voice laced with a hint of defiance.
"Nothing, I simply wanted to see you," Henry replied calmly. "It has been a long time since we last met, if you still remember that is."
Kayden furrowed his brow in confusion. "I don't know you, and it is not proper for you to come here where we reside."
Without another word, Henry simply nodded and walked away. But before he left, he turned back to Kayden and said, "We should talk one day."
Kayden hesitated for a moment before responding with a hesitant "Sure."
Henry smiled before disappearing into the distance. Kayden and his group were left feeling tense and sweaty after the encounter.
Ancestor Stein, Mr. Stein, and Juniper arrived shortly after, and Kayden explained what had happened with Henry. Ancestor Stein only nodded knowingly. "As expected of the genius who was born under a holy sword."
Kayden furrowed his brow in confusion once again. "What do you mean by that?"
"I happen to have heard from Ancestor Lee about the strange miracle that happened at Henry's birth," Ancestor Stein explained. He went on to reveal that Henry may be a reincarnation of a powerful expert from ancient times whose true limits were unknown. "
After their conversation with Ancestor Stein, Kayden returned to his chamber where Juniper was sleeping soundly. He smiled softly as he gently brushed a stray hair from her face. "No matter how strong my enemies may be, I will protect all of my loved ones," he vowed silently.