-" So we need to kill monsters, right?" A student asked in shock.
-" Yes... The test would be pretty easy if all you need to do is just survive, wouldn't it?" Dennis smiled as he walked back and gestured for Jonas to take the lead.
-" Many of you may be rethinking joining the tournament now..." Jonas stared at the group of students and smiled. " But you don't have to worry, we will do our best to guarantee the safety of everyone present."
-" Guarantee our safety? Saying something like this is easy! What if we get eaten by a monster?" A young boy shouted in anger, his face completely dominated by fear.
-" Of course, there will be dangers, even in the Royal Tournament there is still the chance of dying." Jonas shook his head as he saw the cowardly face of the vast majority of the group. "Each one of you will have a small bracelet that will pinpoint your location, and if in danger you can crush the small gemstone in it, and we will send a group to your location, however, be wary as you will be disqualified by this action." Jonas finished all he had to say and nodded to Hugh before walking to the back of the room.
-" With this, we are all set to depart, if any of you are having second thoughts about joining the tournament, this is the time to make your decision!" Hugh gazed at the crowd with his eyes full of resolve, he hoped that only a few of them would back down from the tournament.
-" I don't think that this is a good idea, I'm a single child, so if I die my parents will be sad." The boy who had shouted at Jonas earlier dropped his head and walked to the back of the room.
-" This is too dangerous for me... I'm still in my first year, I can always join the tournament the next year." A young girl clenched her fists and followed the boy.
-" Cowards! This is our chance to show the world our talent!" A small boy with dark brown skin walked to the front of the group and stared deeply into Hugh's eyes.
-" We are cultivators! We can't be afraid of monsters!"
Henry let out a joyful laugh as he saw the group of courageous students taking the lead, and he became even happier as he saw a young girl with brown hair following them.
It had been almost half a year since he saw his sister, and he was happy to find out that she was doing fine. Henry was constantly worried about her the past few months, and only now he could feel relieved.
-" This is the true cultivation mindset! Onward, Always!" Hugh clapped as he saw more and more people walking to the front. " Many of you may still be unsure, but know this! Only those who conquer their fears will become a true cultivators!"
Hugh's words were the last push many of the students needed, and the vast majority of them walked forward. They all dreamed of becoming powerhouses, and it was clear what needed to be done.
Hugh was satisfied with the number of participants and activated the warp gates, this was the biggest qualificatory tournament of the last fifty years, and he hoped that this year could mark a change in the qualificatory tournament prestige.
It didn't take long for everything to be set, and the students all started to enter the warp gates. Dennis, Jonas, and the rest of the tournament staff were the ones leading the students, while Hugh followed right behind them leading the nobles.
Henry was anxious to experience the warp gate, and the strange sensation of fluttering around the space made him dizzy. The warp only took a few seconds, but, it seemed to last an eternity.
He was just recovering from the effects of the warp when the arid air of the desert blew into him. Henry had never visited the Magyar Desert and was surprised by its enormous size.
The warp gate lead to the top of a gigantic tower, which had an incredible view of the whole desert.
Henry couldn't help but be amazed by the vast expansion of the desert, the sand dunes were so golden that they looked to be made of pure gold.
It was only now that he observed the great Magyar Desert that Henry thought about how they would watch the tournament, however, he choose not to ask Hugh about this matter, as he was sure that they had all planned.
-" Now, why don't we go to the main hall?" Hugh patted Henry's shoulder and guided him to a luxurious hall.
The room had ten big crystal mirrors, and just as the group finally settled in the hall, the crystal mirrors lighted up and began to show the area where the students had gathered.
-" This is one of our biggest achievements!" Hugh felt pumped as he saw the crystal mirrors. " Those mirrors can receive the images from the bracelets that the students are using."
-" Oh? What a genius invention!" One of the nobles jolted up as he realized what he was watching. " With this, we can all watch many of the kingdom's events even from our home."
-" What's the distance that this mirror can work?" Abel watched the mirror with interest, he could already see the many uses of this invention.
-" The distance isn't too much, but, we can extend it with the help of some towers." Hugh smiled proudly as he saw how the nobles had reacted to the hard work of the magic engineers of the Royal Academy. " The only downside is that the cost of building something like this is way too much, we could only develop this due to the King's help."
-" Oh!" Abel's face instantly darkened, he knew that the king would never allow the Royal Academy to sell the production method. " I bet that the king is trying to build those towers in the frontier."
-" That was precisely why he was so interested in funding this artifact." Hugh grinned as he saw the disappointed faces of the nobles. " He is truly worried about the matters in the frontier, and having a way to survey the situation without going there is extremely helpful."
Henry barely paid any attention to their conversation as he was too focused on the images on the screen. " Thomas..." Henry was apprehensive, he wasn't sure if his sister had made enough preparations so he decided to help her. " Take this ring to Makayla, and tell her that I'm waiting for a good show."
Thomas took the ring and nodded, he was about to leave the room, when he noticed that he didn't know how to get to where the students were gathered. " Master? How I'm supposed to get there?"
Henry was so nervous about his sister that he could barely think straight. " Mister Hugh, could you please guide this young man to the Tournament Ground?"
-" Huh?" Hugh was confused by Venerable H's request, the spatial ring on the boy's hand didn't escape his attention, but, he didn't care if Venerable H wanted to help some of the participants, " Someone please take this boy to the students! Be hasty!"
One of the staff quickly moved and guided Thomas to the students gathering, and even helped him to find Makayla, who was surprised to find the young boy once again.
-" You?!" Makayla gazed at the boy with a hopeful gaze. " Did he ask you to bring something to me again?"
-" Yes... Master asked me to take this ring to you." The time Thomas spent with henry had transformed him from a poor boy who could barely face the girl, to a serious aide. " He said that he is looking forward to seeing you in the tournament."
-" M-Master?" Makayla's head spun around, she couldn't understand how Henry got a servant, or even how he had been allowed to watch the qualificatory tournament. " So he is here? Who is he with?"
Thomas wasn't sure if he understood her question. " Who is he with? Master was brought here by Mister Hugh."
-" Uhh??? Mister Hugh?" Makayla had heard about the name of the Dean of the Royal Academy, so she naturally thought that the boy was lying. " Yeah right! Who he came with? Be serious!" To Makayla, Henry was likely to be hiding away in a shady inn, not hanging around the upper classes of the Thule Kingdom.
-" You may not believe it, but, Master is currently a special guest brought by Mister Hugh." Thomas couldn't help but find the girl's reaction funny, he wondered how would she react if she learned that her brother was now considered a good friend of one of the strongest cultivators in the entire kingdom.
-" Henry is Mister Hugh's friend?" Makayla thought back to the teleportation room, Hugh was accompanied by a group of nobles, and a mysterious man using a mask. " Is he the masked man?"
Thomas thought about what to answer, Henry hadn't said anything to reveal his identity, so he decided to give a vague answer. -" You will have your answer in due time." Thomas grinned as he answered and left.
Makayla could only stare at the boy's back, she couldn't believe that she had worried about Henry so much, only for him to be making friends. -" And I thought that he was in danger."
-" That boy again?" Isabella looked at Makayla with her eyes full of suspicions. " So? When you are telling me what is happening?"
-" Maybe after the tournament..." Makayla gripped the spatial ring she had received and closed her eyes. " At least, I hope for.