"Are you The Crimson Monarch? How can you still be alive?" The black armoured man asked in disbelief.
The woman in pink and others also looked at him in disbelief. Everyone knew that it'd been tens of thousands of years since his death. It was very difficult for them to believe that after so many years, he was still alive.
The man in front of them laughed and said, "Yes, I'm the Crimson Monarch. And no, I'm not alive. I'm just a strand of will left behind by me to find a worthy successor."
"Oh, I see. Sorry for behaving rudely." The Black armoured man apologised when he heard that he was just a strand of will. The woman in pink and Schwartz also nodded in understanding after hearing his explanation.
"Okay, As I can see, all of my potential successors are here. So let me explain the rules of the trials." Crimson Monarch said.
"Initially, I had devised many trials, but due to some special circumstances, there will be only two trials—trial of fire elemental affinity and Trial of strength. After both trials have ended, I'll decide who among you will get my inheritance." He paused and looked at the expressions of everyone present and then waved his hand a transparent crystal orb the same as the one used by fortune-tellers on the earth appeared.
He then said, "This isn't the same crystal that all of you might have seen when testing your mana affinity. This is used for testing elemental affinity or, precisely, Fire affinity."
He looked at everyone and asked, "Do any of you have any question? If yes, then ask now, or we will proceed to the trials."
No one raised any doubt, including Max; therefore, after waiting for a few seconds, he clapped his hands and asked, "So tell me, who wants to be the first to test your fire affinity?
Just as he stopped speaking, the woman in pink stepped forward and said respectfully, "Allow me to be the first, Senior Crimson Monarch."
"Tch, Do you think if you are the first one to test, you will get an advantage over me? This trial is testing your element affinity and not your strength." The arrogant prince muttered scornfully in a voice only he could hear. He was confident that his affinity and talent didn't lose out to anyone.
...
Crimson Monarch looked at her and nodded. "Okay, go ahead. But before that, let me know my potential successor's name."
The woman in pink nodded and bowed slightly as she introduced herself. "This little one's name is Margaret Adler."
Crimson Monarch nodded. "Okay, Child. Go ahead."
"Margaret Adler...?" The arrogant prince repeated the name. "I think I have heard this name before." Suddenly a thought crossed his mind, and his expression turned pale.
"From your sickly pale expression, it seems you have discovered her identity, boy!" A lazy voice with a hint of mockery sounded in his ears.
He turned to look at Schwartz but didn't get angry like he usually would when someone mocked him; instead nodded gratefully. And then looked at the woman going to test her affinity with dread in his eyes. After seeing her strength, if he was afraid of her, then It wouldn't be an understatement to say that he was terrified after learning of his identity.
Although he had some doubt even after hearing her name as someone other can also have the same name, but after hearing what Schwartz said, he was 100% sure of his assumption. That's why he nodded gratefully at him.
Schwartz simply chuckled at this and sighed. 'There are some things, which the mere mention of them can make even the wildest horse behave properly without doing anything.'
...
Margaret Adler slowly walked down from the stone alter and reached the crimson monarch where the crystal orb was hovering mid-air.
She then extended her hand and gently put it on the crystal orb, and inserted a bit of her mana inside it.
After a few seconds, The crystal orb, which was transparent till now, gradually turned red, and the red light didn't stop there as it formed a red halo of seven meters around the orb.
She then moved her hand away and heard the Crimson Monarch saying with appreciation, "Seven-meter halo, Your affinity with fire element is very good. I hope to see you perform well in the next trial."
"Yes, I'll do my best, senior," Margaret said and returned to her alter.
The arrogant prince looked at her, returning to his side, and took a deep breath before bowing toward her and saying, "Miss Adler, I apologise for my insolent behaviour a moment ago. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
Margaret looked at him derisively and spat on the ground as she said in disgust, "Tch, I knew you coward men could only run your mouth wild. Scram and stop being an eyesore."
He didn't say anything to the apparent mockery and just nodded before staying quiet. He secretly sighed in relief.
Black armoured man and Schwartz's lips twitched when they heard her, but none of them said anything.
After Max heard what she said, he frowned and murmured in a low voice, "Does she have some kind of problem with men in general, or her attitude is also crap, just like that arrogant prince."
Everyone heard him muttering to himself as they were all very strong people and had very sharp senses. As for The crimson monarch, he acted like he didn't hear anything.
Margaret looked at him with cold eyes but didn't say anything, but it was clear from the way she looked at him that if The crimson monarch didn't prohibit fighting here, she would have slapped him to death.
Schwartz smiled wryly, and his voice sounded in Max's ears. "Kid, You are really brave, or should I say stupid. Can't you see that no one said anything despite us all being men here? You don't know, but she can speak like that because not only is she strong, but her identity is also not ordinary. So I advise you to think before you speak in future as it might decide your life or death."
Max nodded as what he just said was true. He seems to forget that he was not on earth where he could express whatever he has in mind freely. A cold shiver ran down his spine when he realised, if not for the rules here, he would definitely have regretted speaking just now, but he as a man couldn't help himself from complaining when he heard her.
"Okay, who will be the next one? Come forward." The Crimson Monarch said as he looked at the no one in particular.