Laughter filled Cyntilla's courtyard. Crown Prince Ryu was holding his stomach as tears fell from his eyes. The pathetic state of the 8 demons in front of him were hilarious to him. His 4 companions' serious faces told him there was something important to talk about, but right now he enjoyed the sight of Trynith's servants laid low.
Cyntilla was just stunned to the side. He was unsure how she felt completely but a mix of shock and pride had flickered across her face. Ryu was not entirely pleased by that but now that he had a true picture of events, he found it hard to hate the human.
He knew Cyntilla had held some things back but the details were not pertinent to his coming challenge. Ryu had his pride and this human must capitulate. The actions of the Demon Empire did give him more respect to the human's response. Honoring a mark, even with clear benefits, was highly respected in Darkmoor Kingdom.
"Princess Cyntilla, please take care of your people. I have things I need to discuss with my companions." Ryu was seemingly polite, but his chill tone left no doubt of his current mode now that the amusement was out of his system. The 8 demons did not even dream of staying in the courtyard as they followed their clan princess to their own quarters.
Ryu casually laid out a few formation plates and infused his demonic Qi into them. The patterns flared before erecting a powerful sound ward. Their images were also now distorted. Only someone in the Iron Tier and above could pierce this defense which was extremely low in this empire.
"Speak." Ryu now sat in the leather chair much like his mother. This exercise had born unexpected fruit. His 4 companions had told him with only a few glances that there were things that had been missed by their reports.
"Shuri." Gorn had the lone human of the group step forward and bow to their prince. She was a finely honed fighter but her true value to Ryu were her Soul Eyes. She had honed the skill well and was in the process of cultivating them in the Darkmoor Fortress. Her short cropped dark hair framed her tanned face well. Her dark eyes seemed to contemplate before speaking.
"He is definitely a 6 elemental but his harmony does not match any on record. It is emerald in color if I was to give it a name." This was not too large a piece of news. The severe limits of 6 elementals past Soul Realm made them largely ignored once they were confirmed. No power could nurture them effectively.
There were still some clans that had the trait run in their bloodlines, thus some things were known. The flame generated by a 6 elemental dantian was quite mysterious but some characteristics were known. A crimson or dark red flame generally paired with a combative ability, but a pink flame was not like that despite being red as well. The known colors to Ryu's memory were some variation of pigments rather than the elements themselves. In other words, a color of flame had little to do with the elemental cores' mixture.
A violet flame for instance was not an indication of fire and water being dominant at all which made it difficult to determine how much the harmony affected a cultivator.
"Noted, but it cannot be why you look so contemplative. Speak." Ryu knew this human well. She was a fearsome warrior but her true terror was her ability to analyze her opponent in a glance and find their weakness. Few lasted more than a few rounds with her if they were very lucky, Ryu being a rare exception after fighting her for a few years.
If Shuri was contemplating, it was because she had difficulty measuring her opponent.
"If I am not wrong, all 6 of his cores are divine level." Pin drop silence descended. Gorn looked stunned, Volt was having his jaw hit the floor, while Crusher's eyes seemed to gleam in excitement. She was a Sand Tier that love to fight a worthy opponent.
"Explain." Ryu did not need to be flowery with these 4 and simply moved the conversation along.
"He was able to sustain inventive but exhaustive battle techniques with key Qi use against 8 demons at least 1 minor realm more powerful than himself." Ryu instantly grasped what Shuri was getting at. The level of core dictated not only quality of Qi, but quantity as well if cultivated well.
It was possible to have divine cores and ruin them if not using a good cultivation technique, but the problem is no such technique existed for a 6 elemental. How was the boy doing it?
"His staff technique was not a battle move all the time." Crusher suddenly contributed and Ryu saw both Gorn and Shuri nod. Volt seemed a little lost but it was not his specialty to observe enemies, his specialty was speed and lethal strikes.
Ryu was curious but no one could seem to figure out how to explain it.
"I think his staff his a bound tool from a Ruin. There were rumors he found such but the Lotus Academy is not one to share those details. It worked for a 6 elemental which I have never heard of." Shuri's words seemed to inspire Crusher suddenly. The well muscled aether child woman as she started tempering her elements while moving in a specific way.
It was not needed but Shuri suddenly smiled.
"A tempering tool!" Shuri had been bothered by how Lind Frey used his staff. Rather than as a normal staff weapon, he usually enhanced his blending of elements and seemed reluctant to use it as a weapon.
Ryu was now truly piqued. He went back through his memory and recalled a fact from soon after Lind Frey entered the Academy. An Immortal Realm technique for 6 elemental tempering had appeared at the Sapphire Auction House. Ryu was willing to bet Lind was the original source.
This made Ryu even more curious about this human boy. So little was known once he was isolated until the incident with the Demon Empire. The involvement of the Heavenly Maiden Sect seemed to be a friendly connection and concern from an Outer Sect Elder.
"How were his techniques?" Ryu had heard praise of Qi regulation and direct battle skill, but there had been no mention of techniques.
Both Shuri and Gorn were frowning now. Volt actually perked up at this point.
"He does not seem to have many at all." Volt then began to channel sparks of lightning on his fingertips but no farther. "I could see things like this at times or combination results from the staff but the power was maybe half of what it should have been." All of them nodded at his words. Ryu was confused.
"Should not the staff overcome his limitations?" Shuri now looked directly at him as she smiled sadly.
"He is trying from what I can tell. In pure elements, his power is unmatched, but easily countered. His ability to combine, however, seems barely passed tier 2 or 3 of the Soul Realm. In other words he has honed his body well, but he is fumbling to get his techniques to work." Ryu now understood.
If it was a single element, he could expect a powerful move, perhaps even a combination of side effects like fire boiling water to make steam, but when combining elements, Lind Frey's comprehension was far lower. Even with a tool to overcome the backlash as he suspected, it seemed Lind was far behind his contemporaries even at tier 6.
"So my victory is assured?" Ryu brought it to a close but was surprised to see all 4 not immediately respond. Volt was expected, but the other 3 had good tactical minds to different levels. Crusher was a monster in single combat, while Gorn was better at planning and Shuri at analysis. Yet, none of them confirmed his own analysis of their reports.
"He is tempting. My body tells me even with a major realm difference, he might beat me." The other 4 stared at Crusher. She was somewhat simple, perhaps single minded would be a good term, but her expertise was beyond doubt. If her instinct said Lind Frey might win even being only a Soul Realm, then she was likely not lying at all.
"He is not straight forward, Highness. He did not rely on a fixed set of moves but seemed able to adapt to his opponent. When backed into a corner, he always seemed to find a way out even if it risked harm to himself. He is fearless." Shuri remembered the strange smile on Lind's face but did not mention it. She would not state an opinion, only facts. Even so, that smile had sent a chill down her spine.
"I concur with Shuri. I have watched many battles at the Soul Realm, but I could not predict how the boy would approach enemies so much stronger than him. He did not flinch nor try to run away. If he retreats, it is either a trap or simply to gain some space to advance." Gorn's words were high praise from the demon. Ryu narrowed his eyes as a clearer picture of his foe came into his mind.
"An inventive mind, well honed body techniques, courage to face danger, and an unbreaking will to win." This time all 4 heads nodded. This did not match up to the quiet scholar his network had reported. Even assuming he trained when Ryu's arrival was announced, it did not explain this evaluation from his closest companions. Had the Demon Empire assault changed Lind that much?
"What will you do, your Highness?" Gorn brought the conversation to a close, indicating there were no further reports worth hearing but Crusher seemed to want to speak. Ryu nodded to her and all turned to the warrior.
"There was one last thing. I was not sure at first but some of the demons seemed to shroud him in darkness." Ryu was confused but then his eyes narrowed and looked up at the blue sky visible in the courtyard.
"So, he really was possessed. A heart demon in the Soul Realm." This was a rumor that had been impossible to confirm, but it was highly suspected given who had come from the Heavenly Maiden Sect. Elder Qing was well known for her work on wounds of the mind and soul. Even a few demons had been healed by her over the last 5 years.
"I am not backing off. If he becomes possessed, even better as I will have a perfect excuse if he dies." Ryu did not intend to kill the human, but only a fool would let a heart demon wreak havoc. It would almost be a mercy in many people's eyes. "I will issue the challenge in 1 month."
Confused looks stared at Ryu and he smiled. The 4 companions knew he was not one to waste time, but in this instance, their hands were tied.
"Have you forgotten he is currently under the care of the Heavenly Maiden Sect. I am not one to cross them without good cause. Negotiations have already been put in motion, but there has been an interesting twist." Ryu stood up from his chair and looked at the cloud filled blue sky.
It would soon be the season of storms, but he did not mind that at all. Storms suited demons quite well.
"What is the issue, your Highness?" Gorn was truly curious at what could give Crown Prince Ryu pause. Their prince turned and smiled at them in a way they had rarely seen. Ryu was clearly concerned.
"They have sent a Sky Realm." The words caused all 4 of them to take a step back. This was far from a small matter. A tier 1 Sky Realm was an unrivaled powerhouse. Other Sky Realms could not battle freely on the continents as their power would level mountains and wipe cities off the maps forever.
As such, very strict rules existed for their deployment and battles. For the Heavenly Maiden Sect to dispatch a Sky Realm meant they valued Lind Frey very highly, but none of them could fathom why.
"This challenge will not be stopped, but it will be delayed. Prepare for the arrival of their vice-sect master." Gorn went into motion as the other 3 followed his orders. Ryu looked up at the blue skies and wondered if he could spot the flying woman that was on her way to meet him.