Seeing Arthur's figure on stage, caused most of the Elders up on the platform to stand up in shock, and many of the Fae Masters in the crowd to have their mouths drop at the unbelievable sight, right in front of them.
Even Niklos, who was currently sitting in his chair in the centre of all the other Elders narrowed his eyes when he saw what Arthur was currently doing.
Dagen, who was kneeling on the stage behind Arthur felt his eyes widened significantly an expression of awe rose up within him. He had honestly just thought that Elder Zarek would kill him seeing as though he had just hurt his son, or at the very least, have his cultivation crippled before being sent to the Clan Prison.
But then.... out of nowhere, Arthur appeared....
The young sixteen year old gripped the arm of the elderly man tightly, smiling gently as he refused to let go.
"Elder Zarek, if you don't hurry and bring Henrik to the medical tent, he's injuries are sure to be more than just superficial. Take care of your son and I'll take care of this one".
The expression of shock and bewilderment on Elder Zarek's face, just seeing Arthur appear out of nowhere, with a speed that rivalled his own, and with a strength that seemed to be beyond the limits of a vapour ruby origin essence Fae Master.
Despite his shock and his complete and utter perplexity at the situation, Elder Zarek narrowed his eyes and showed a bloodthirsty expression.
The full strength of his Rank 3 Fae Master cultivation was currently revealed, as a formless topaz coloured aura was released from his body. Even though he was almost a hundred years old and his strength was far from its peak, he still possessed the cultivation of a Rank 3 Fae Master, and thus when needed, could still release the full strength of such a cultivation level!
He tried to push back Arthur, causing the latter's shoes to squeak loudly as they slowly skidded on the platform.
Arthur's smiling expression never once faltered as he activated a Rank 2 Fae, causing the strength in his body to skyrocket and the pressure from Elder Zarek's strength to diminish greatly.
He was no longer getting pushed back by Elder Zarek's strength. However, if one looked closely, tiny, minute cracks appeared in the floor beneath Arthur. Even though he could resist Elder Zarek's physical strength, he couldn't push back, or even attempt to move the elderly man from his current position.
The blood-tinted look on Elder Zarek's eyes surged, and his bloodlust exploded outwards.
HIs eyes narrowed, and his face scrunched up, making the wrinkles on his face appear more demonic than anything else.
"Third little brat! I respect your perception and your talents! And I respect the strength of your Father even more! Even after this I would still be wary of your physical strength with Fae! However, that little shit behind you is different! He purposefully tried to harm another member of the Clan! Using a Rank 2 Blood Poison Fae against a Rank 1 Fae Master, how is one supposed to block such a thing!?".
Elder Zarek didn't stop there, his mouth kept rambling, as he increased the pressure on Arthur as much as he possibly could.
Arthur suppressed a grunt as he felt the push against his arm increase. The old man was only a solid topaz origin essence Fae Master, which was still more than an entire realm above Arthur's current cultivation!
Even if he had the added bonuses from the blood essence gathering tree, the power of a Rank 2 Fiend Fae, and the strength of a Rank 2 Fae Master, he was still falling short of this Elders power!
"Such a vicious young man will surely extend his poisonous reach to other sections of the Clan if he was given time to grow! I am only completing my duty as a member of the Kovacs Clan, in order to purify this cancer than has started to grow within us! Surely you can all see the reasoning in that, everyone?".
Elder Zarek turned around, towards the crowds and the other Elders.
His position in the Clan was quite influential, even in comparison to other Elders. Elder Zarek was quite the Fae researcher, and the foremost developer into Fae Formula within Parachenko Village. He had seen the Fae Formula that Arthur had given his son, and granddaughter and thought quite highly of the young man.
.... Even if he was mainly interested in that "diary" of his more than anything else.
The Elder paused his train of thought for a moment, his eyes widening as he glanced at Arthur once more.
'Shit! If I could pretend to give up on that little fucker, then couldn't I bargain for that diary!?', he thought.
Elder Zarek opened his mouth to speak, but heard the voice of the Clan Leader, suppressing any other thoughts he had for the moment.
"Arthur Kovacs! You dare to try and rebel against an Elder!?".
Arthur glanced to the side and noticed his Father fall down onto the main stage, his arms at his side and his expression angered. Arthur knew that he was more shocked, or puzzled than anything else, but Niklos knew the benefits of keeping up a façade.
Sometimes, it was better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission....
Arthur pretended to let out a sigh before glancing at Dagen and clasping his hands and bowing slightly before Niklos.
"My apologies Clan Leader! I take full responsibilities of my actions, and the actions of Dagen here! I am willing to receive any punishment for my transgressions!".
The eyes of many in the crowd, and quite a number of Elders widened when they heard Arthur's words. They almost did a double take, making sure that they were all looking at the same thing as what they were hearing.
The son of the Clan Leader, asking for forgiveness on the behalf of some random mortal born Fae Master? What the hell was going on?
Elder Vova raised an eyebrow, baffled as to why Arthur of all people would do such a thing, while his Father only narrowed his eyes further, exerting a fraction of his cultivation to the world.
It wasn't just for show either, like it was at the beginning of every Clan Tournament.
This was the cultivation base of a Rank 4 Fae Master. It was like gazing into the den of a sleeping tiger, or looking into the eyes of a hidden dragon. If this was any other Rank 4 Fae Master in the world, then perhaps Arthur would have a reason to be worried.
Niklos took a single step forward, causing Dagen's kneeling figure to become squashed under the weight of this immense formless pressure! His body pressed into the ground, to the point where he couldn't even stand up if he tried!
Arthur was slightly better off. His hands still clasped together, and his legs still standing straight, yet, his back had bowed even further, to the point where he was more of a ninety degree angle more than anything else.
The presence of that domineering, almighty Clan Leader that many had seen during the beast tides had revealed himself once more. Only this time..... it was to punish his son.
Quite a few of the mortals, and no small number of Fae Masters gulped when they saw Niklos stand in front of Arthur. What was he going to do? Arthur was his son, so the punishment couldn't be that serious.... could-.
Niklos' arm flicked out, and the sound of fist colliding against cheek echoed out, all throughout the arena.
A few crimson coloured droplets splattered out onto the floor.
Arthur took half a step back, not even once faltering as he continued to clasp his hands in front of him, his posture slightly bowed in the face of the Clan Leader. The corner of his mouth cut, as the fresh taste of blood filled his mouth.
He lifted his head slightly, eyes staring directly into the man who created him.
Nothing.
Not love. Not hate. Not rage. Not guilt. Not even a shred of familial affection could be seen in either of their eyes.
For a second there..... many forgot that these two were Father and Son. Even Dominic, Leon and Chensa in the crowd felt their breaths hitch as they gazed at their brother and father.