" I will announce each of you individually. when I announce your name, head straight inside and walk to the drake mosaic in the middle of the throne room. Bow to the king and queen , one bow for each. Then stay there until all have gathered. The king will give a speech, while the queen may or may not. after the speeches a Duke will challenge the kids right join the nobility. Jason will face the Duke's champion. Then another Duke will challenge the kids honour and bravery. After facing the second Duke's champion, one last Duke traditionally the one who you serve will challenge Jason's right to be his vassal." The steward, who introduced himself as steward Carl, informed. most of this Jason had already veen informed of but he still listened respectfully.
"Finally, as you know the first two rewards, for winning, often change for the initial two duals. Today's rewards are: for the first dualbone hundred gold, the second dual is a mana Crystal matching whatever element Jason manages to awaken. The third reward is the same as always, a baron title and a barony of his choosing from the crowns lands. Of course almost no-one ever wins the third dual, only a super genius could. Also if Jason can beat all three challengers he can issue a challenge to be a "kingdoms seed" if he passes that challenge he will recieve the title of a count with a county chosen from the crowns lands. " The steward informed everyone.
"One hundred gold is a low reward for the first dual, but to think that King Ramus is offering a mana crystal, that is the highest second dual reward to have been offered in the last ten thousand years. " Gerald said with a small amount of shock.
"Whoah, how many adoptions would happen in that time. " Jason was shocked.
"Well only adoptions into the nobility will call for a challenge. Sometimes the challenges are issued for the chance to become a recognized champion. Those under twenty can also use this method to earn a noble title if they are currently commoners of the kingdom. There may only be about two to four adoption in a century but these challenges happen about ten to fifteen times during a century. Two victories let you become a champion, three a baron, four enable you to become a count. Only about once to three times in a century does a person earn a baronship this way and only once a century can a new count come about. " Gerald explained.
"So what is this 'kingdom seed' you mentioned before?" Jason politely asked Carl.
"A kingdom seed is those with extreme talent. It is irrelevant of cultivation level but based on cultivation speed and how much power you can use in a cultivation level. Our Kingdom has six seeds currently. they can each fight far beyond their cultivation levels, and have very fast cultivation speed. " Carl answered, a flash of pride appearing in his eyes when he mentioned that the Kingdom held six seeds. "Ok the King has been seated so I will begin."
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"Hello everyone, We are glad that all of you have come for today's grand occasion. A common born man of our kingdom has come to join our nobility, and even join one of our more reputable noble lineages. He is brave, and honorable according to the family he wishes to join.He does not have a family name so shall take up the name of the clan he aims to join. Becoming a vassal of my kingdom is his honor. " The king ended his speech.
The Royal advisor waited for the queen whovwaved him forward. After getting her approval he strode forward and began. "Who wishes to join the nobility of this great Kingdom?"
"I, Jason, wish to add my name to the nobility of this fair landd" Jason responded with the line he was taught to say.
"Who wishes to stand forth for this child of the common people?" the Royal Advisor questioned a second time.
"I, Marquess Gerald Wayne Dempsey Kovar of the March of Flames, seventh star bronze blacksmith, nineth star bronze formation master, Master of the Abyssal Bear who has gone through two ascensions, stand forth for Jason to join the nobility of the Kingdom. " Gerald stated to the people. Jason noticed that everyone was shocked about Gerald's rank in formation mastery but the rest they didn't seem to really care about except a few kids who seemed interested at the mention of the bear.
"I, Marquess Tabitha Allison Gregory Majja Kovar, Alchemist of the nineth star, formation master of the seventh star, tenth level ArchWizard, known as the Thunder Witch by my enemies and Flower Fairy by those I've healed, Stand forth for Jason to join the Kovar clan." Tabitha said in a domineering tone that brooked no argument.
"I, Joseph, of the Kovar line and heir apparent of the March of Flames, Champion Halberd Demon, seventh star bronze blacksmith, two star alchemist, stand forth for Jason becoming a vassal of the Black Duke, and there by the vassal of the Lightning Drake Kingdom." Joseph said with both nervousness and pride. Everyone was shocked by the revelation of Joseph's level in blacksmithing, Even the king showed a momentary look of shock at the revelation. Joseph wasn't even one hundred yet but was already a seventh tier blacksmith. If he could ascend again it was nearly guaranteed that he would become the kingdom's second silver star crafter.
After a momentary pause the Royal Advisor continued, "Who would challenge this young childs right to rise!?!"
"I, Golden Duke, Challenge this child." A giant man with a battle axe twice the size of the Marquesson his back. This man obviously wasn't a full human and had the blood of another race in his body.
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Jason stood in the mystical arena the Royal Advisor summoned by using a formation. opposite of him stood his first adversary. He looked like a slightly buff fourteen year old and was a tenth level knight apprentice, The same level as Jason, though Jason was a mage apprentice instead.
There was a loud bang, caused by the Royal Advisor, and the fight began. Jason stepped into the stance he had been honing over the last four weeks. His enemy, who Jason began to call golden boy because both his hair and his eyes were golden and even glowed slightly, immediately charged with his two tomahawks ready in his hands.
Jason stood where he was slightly confused which showed on his face. His enemy seeing this though Jason must be afraid. He increased his speed hoping that Jason would fail to get off any spell.
When golden boy was three feet away he lunged forward, while moving his qi to increase power, he wasswinging the tomahawk in his right hand at Jason's neck as he flew through the air. Golden boy smiled thinking that this mage was too cowardly.
Jason's new family was worried for him. While they knew Jason wouldnt die as he was in a virtual realm, the pain and trauma he would experience from being decapitated was real. And unfortunately Jason still believed he was really in the arena, as only nobles and those who had gone through their first ascension knew about the virtual realm, thus making him dying in there even more tragic of an experience for him.
As the blade of the tomahaek inched toward Jason's neck he became even more confused."Why is this golden boy so slow? it's like he is a snail. I have always been slower than the puppet which I believed was because i was a mage. $o how come this qi warrior is even slower than me?" Jason couldn't help but ask himself.
Jason ducked and slid past the golden boys right sidewhile the golden boy's momentum carried him past Jason's right side. This maneuver while simple made it appear to golden boy as if Jason had teleported behind him. He knew that jason couldn't use the space element so quickly discarded this thought, thinking back heard using his battle experience he quickly realized what happened. Turning he saw Jason staring at him with the same look on his face.
This time walking slowly while keeping his eye on jason he closed in. once he got close he used his skill 'rapid arms' which doubled his attack speed. Swinging his tomahawks repeatedly he tried hitting Jason.
Jason was happy to see his opponent had increased his speed, it was now equal to Jason which still confused him.
The crowd was truelly confused. Gerald and Tabitha even more so. "With the speed and skill jason has shown how could he have not beaten a level one warrior puppet?" Tabitha asked Gerald. A level one warrior puppet possessed the strength of a level five knight apprentice. Each level of a puppet was equal to five levels of a human. If the puppet knew martial arts it would be slightly stronger.
"War Blade must be going hard on them by making them beat a lvl two puppet before teaching them to use weapons" Gerald said after a minute of thought, smile on his face. He realized that jason might have a but of talent in martial arts after all, as all the puppets in the Kovar clan knew martial arts, besides Jason was a mage first so even a little martial prowess was a great hidden card.
Jason was tired of just dodgibg these attacks as there was no challenge in it. The next time an axe swung at him instead of dodging he hit the hand holding the tomahawk. It left golden boy's hand and landed in Jason's who then slid past the left side of golden boy and his other axe, grabbing it he tore it from his adversary's hand stopping behind his enemy with one axe against golden boys throat and the other against the back of his neck.