I promptly walk out of my home with Touya acting as a guide to the tournament location and Alice fluttering above me also Kami situated to my left side sticking out like a sore thumb. Kami's black crust blended rather well with my clothing. Before this, I had clean all the things that was on me for the past month including Kami so his blade is now looking much cleaner and shiny than when I first wielded him. But, Kami has been quite for quite long now, I wonder If something is wrong. We walked quite far now; the chanting getting louder and louder. The scenery was as green as it will ever be with nature surrounding most of my estate and only one massive building for us. Touya was slightly ahead with me and Alice following behind.
« So Master Jackal, you still have not told me where you have been during all this time? and how you grew so much in the past month? » Touya finally asked as he scratched in the head for asking a member of a great family a personal question. I have always been quite careless and open with Touya as he was my own personal guard my mother sent to protect me. No wonder why he looks quite devastated when I returned as he usually avoids battles and quite shy in fact.
« Well, it is a very long story but, making it short: you probably heard I died by falling in a ravine but, I survived the fall and I met two guys who helped me become stronger that took less than a week and followed a guide they made me, after walking for long I met Alice trapped and my sword on the ground beside her. I rescued them both and we kept walking until we got out of the ravine » I described keeping all the long details to myself and hiding my true strength.
« Ah, we have arrived Master Jackal » Touya declared as I and Alice looked ahead of us to see another gate with walls but, the screams and shouts and chants filled the entire area. Touya opened the gates and invited me inside the tournament arena. I and Alice both walked inside side by side.
The arena was large and right in front of us, the floor was made of concrete tiles and knocked out people were found all around the stage. There were columns and columns of people around the arena. Watching, eating and cheering. In the centre column walled around into boxes for the city head who was on the top box with the four boxes underneath for the great families, which far ahead said my family: mother, father, sisters and the younger brother was watching the fight. The next battle was Daichi and Tazu Talon the rival heir of the Talon family. Touya lead me towards the centre column and solemnly announced my arrival to my family.
« Sir and Madam, after a month disappearance, I formally announce the arrival of Master Jackal and his partner of the angel race: Alice » as I blushed slightly in embarrassment.
« So my useless eldest has arrived, why do you even bother coming back and you were most likely lucky to survive at all,» my father said as the crowds silently mocked me.
« Why hello father looks like you have not changed during the past month but, clearly as you can see I changed and I far stronger than most of you now » I announced with pride.
« Well then you shall partake in this tournament and your first match-up shall be your brother,» he said as he gestured his hands and the referee went up to me and placed to the centre side of the arena as my brother bolted down with his lightning attribute.
« You can do it, Master, go get him » Alice exclaimed as everyone paused to see Alice flying above the arena with everyone stunned by her beauty. Everyone stared in envy even my younger brother got distracted. Kaori looked at her with disgust as she was jealous of Alice as she is usually the one everyone looks at.
The referee blew his whistle once for us to ready our blades or attacks, as usual, my brother released his legendary sword of which my father spent millions on. I unsheathed Kami as everyone was dazzled by its curvature and unique look.
« So brother you came crawling back well I will make sure you cannot walk again,» Daichi said with malice.
« That is if you can defeat me which is very unlikely as I gain massive amounts of strength during this past month. I threw my katana cover towards Alice as she caught it and held onto it whilst cheering me on. The referee blew his whistle again meaning finish ready and the third one means to begin. The referee blew his whistle again and backflipped away from the arena.
The battle began.
I can feel the pressure from the audience especially my father, the heat of losing and being defeated. I walked around in a circle in the centre arena like any duels would start. Daichi did the same, he smiles uncontrollably and said
« Can't wait to defeat again like I did before »
« Who said you would win? » I replied with a sneer, I felt confident that I would win. My powers must exceed him now. Daichi unleashed his sword ki which shone with a blue aura - lightning sword style. I did the same but, my blade shone with a black aura - demon sword style. Everyone was shocked by my arcania as black arcania is usually for demons even my brother was surprised but, anger influenced his attacks as he continued forward.
He rushed with his sword and followed with a horizontal slice. I raised my blade up.
Metal clashed against each other. Yellow sparks flew around. He pulled back and struck again with more strength. I slipped his blade using the hilt and returned a blow to his torso. He barely dodged to his right as it infuriated him even more. He swung heavily upwards as I ducked in time. I threw an underhand cut as he backflipped away. He gasped for air with a slightly worrisome look. I tired a little bit, leapt into the air and thrust my sword towards his chest. Just barely, he dodged to the left drawing closer to the edge. He lunged at me aiming at my chest as I parried his attack and I pushed him back slightly. His embedded his flame arcania into his blade and chanted
« Hishiro style: flame edge »
*Hishiro style a very famous and exclusive type of swordsmanship with only a few disciples only available for people from a high ranking family and have high arcania*
Flames shaped into some sort of slice and were quickly directed to my direction, it's heat intensified as it travelled to me. It was close now, I have no time to escape. The flames hit me. Smoke and steam raised as Daichi roared with victory, the crowd cheered with happiness. The fumes slowly dissipated until all that was left was me standing there completely unscathed. Daichi gasped in dismay. Fortunately, I was able to put water protection on myself, just in time as well.
I dashed at Daichi as he was in a state of confusion and thrust my sword towards his stomach. Moments later, I landed behind him with my blade sheathed into its cover as Daichi lost consciousness and fell unto the floor like a bird that has been shot. Luckily, I felt generous and let him live choosing to attack with the handle. The crowd went silent as the great families look in horror about what has unfolded. Until
« Cheater! Someone must have stopped Daichi's attack, a mere fallen could not have stopped it » One person said as everyone agreed immediately.
« I'm afraid that it is impossible, Alice can only use wind arcania which would have increased the flames and I don't have any more companions » I explained with composure although I felt like killing him for that remark.
« Then how do you explain this, you have no arcania so how could you have won » the person replied with more frustration.
« Simple. After my disappearance I gained arcania for all elements and have a higher arcania power than Daichi » I announced with a louder volume as soon as I said that, my father stood up in disbelief and bellowed
« Prove it! You lowly disgrace! »
Alice fluttered around with excitement to watch as see my actual abilities.
I unleashed my arcania one at a time starting with flame. I hovered in the air with two flame spheres hovered around my head, water river around my neck, lightning sparks gathered around my waist. Four visible clones appeared and one giant earth golem grew from the ground. I think that enough as I stopped and exposed my power.
« I have the others as well but, don't want to harm the audience,» I said but, mostly telling it towards the city head. Everyone burst in shock but, abruptly cheered for me for the first time. The feeling of victory was satisfying. The city head listed down to me and said
« Jackal Gannon, I declare you my predecessor. Do you accept? »
A moment of silence followed as I started thinking about the position. I couldn't decide, being a city head would be great but, not adventurous. Pressure fell on me. City head is too much of a hassle and too much responsibility. But, would give me power above even my father of which I could exact my revenge. The silence was overwhelming until a yawn broke the silence. It was from Alice. That made me able to make my decision all thanks to her.
« It would be my pleasure. However, I would have to decline. » I replied as everyone gasped to why I refused a position like that.
« Why, could you at least answer that? » the city head politely asked with a slight surprise but, mostly with interest.
« Well, I wouldn't say that I do not want it but, I would rather venture the world with Alice and develop my skills and become a master level frontier » I proclaimed as Alice flew above me as I shook the city head's hand as he said
« Good luck, boy may you achieve your goal »
« Bye, everyone I will come here whenever I am near until then good luck everybody » I yelled as Alice chanted and we started to hover off the ground.
Alice chanted one word as to when zooming past the field. I looked at the sky and then at Alice and I already knew I made the right choice.