The Lionhart Youth training ground sprawled before Klaus like a colossal arena, a testament to both grandeur and strength. Its dimensions were awe-inspiring – a vast expanse, measuring 400 yards (365 meters) in length and 320 yards (292 meters) in width, encased within towering circular walls that seamlessly arched over the training ground, creating the illusion of a colossal dome.
At the entrance, a majestic golden gate adorned with a fierce lion head commanded attention. Two formidable guards, their muscles bulging beneath their armor, stood sentry with a vigilant gaze that dared anyone to challenge the sanctity of the Lionhart Youth Training ground.
Approaching the gate with an air of calm determination, Klaus carried only a suitcase, for within these hallowed grounds, real weapons were forbidden. Little did he know that Greed, the eccentric sword, held a secret ability – the power to shape-shift into any jewelry Klaus could envision. In a stroke of brilliance, Greed transformed into a discreet ring, concealing its true nature.
"Name!" barked one of the guards, his voice dripping with authority.
"Klaus, Klaus Lionhart," came the firm reply. Klaus locked eyes with the guard, a subtle satisfaction gleaming in his gaze as he noticed the surprise flicker across both sentinels.
"Proof of identity?" demanded the second guard, skepticism etched on his face.
Without hesitation, Klaus produced his name plaque. The guard, infused with a trace of mana, verified Klaus's authenticity before returning the plaque with a nod. The massive gate swung open with a metallic groan, heralding Klaus's entry into the Lion Youth training ground.
As the gate closed behind him with a resounding bang, the guards exchanged incredulous glances, their faces mirroring a mix of shock and disbelief.
"I suppose rumors are meant to be questioned," remarked one guard, the weight of realization settling in. The other guard concurred with a solemn nod.
***
To the right of the entrance, an outdoor gymnasium stretched beneath the open sky, its terrain covered in fine soil. On the left, an indoor gymnasium boasted a roof laden with an arsenal of training equipment, rendering Ludovic training ground akin to a mere child in the presence of a formidable adult.
As Klaus surveyed the opulent training ground, surprise etched across his features. The Lionhart family's wealth exceeded even his expectations, evident in the lavish expenditure dedicated solely to the training of their youth. His gaze then shifted to the multitude of children engaged in warm-up routines across the expansive grounds.
'Just as I've heard, there are a lot of them.'
Word had circulated that the assembly was comprised not only of Lionhart's direct descendants but also children recommended from external sources and vassal families. Klaus marveled at the sheer number before him.
{Some of them are already quite strong,} Greed remarked, his voice resonating within Klaus's mind.
'You think so?'
{I can sense that a couple of them already have a green core, about thirty of them have a yellow core, and the rest still have a red core, but some of them are close to a Breakthrough.}
'You can even sense that?' Klaus asked, genuinely surprised.
{Tsssp! I always tell you not to underestimate the great me!} Greed replied with a tone filled with arrogance. Klaus merely nodded, conveying that he wouldn't underestimate Greed again.
Klaus dropped his suitcase by the nearest wall, readying himself to warm up. Just as he was about to commence, a cold voice pierced the air.
"Is that really him? I heard that he was sick; how can a sick person look like that?"
"It doesn't make sense; just a month ago, he looked like someone who could break if you touched him too hard."
"Did they feed him a Body Transformation Pill?"
"Nonsense! Who in his right mind would waste such a rare pill on a nobody like him?"
"How can you explain such a drastic change, then?"
"What a lucky bastard."
"I closed my eyes when I saw him arguing with the clan leader. It looks like he thinks he is from the direct line. He really doesn't know his place."
"Him and his father are just wasting the family resources, tsp!"
The collateral children unleashed a barrage of criticisms, convinced that Klaus squandered family resources and didn't deserve the transformation. Most of them had witnessed his frailty just a month ago.
"Hmm."
Klaus turned, his piercing gaze fixing upon the collaterals who continued their verbal assault. Though they flinched, Klaus menacingly advanced towards them, catching them off guard.
'I would have normally ignored them, but...'
Klaus remembered what Ludovic had whispered in his ear earlier that morning:
"Be ruthless. Trample on anyone that dares to badmouth you. In our family, strength is everything."
Recalling Ludovic's earlier counsel to be ruthless and trample on those who dared to badmouth him, Klaus confronted the critics head-on.
"What did you just say?" Klaus growled, closing the distance. The children, taken aback, hadn't anticipated his direct approach.
"Huh?"
"Wh-what dd-do you wan--t...?"
"Stop buzzing like a fly and speak clearly," Klaus demanded, his blue eyes emitting a dark glow as he released a hint of killing intent.
"Hmm."
"St-tay b-back."
The collateral children, uncertain and trembling, found their legs betraying them in the face of Klaus's unwavering presence.
'Let me guess, red core?'
{Yep!}
"Haven't you learned the art of not whispering behind people's backs if you lack the courage to speak to their faces?" Klaus said locking eyes with the boy in front of him.
The boy, full of misplaced bravado, attempted to unleash his arrogance, "How dare you be so arrogant! You were ruined and forced to live in the annex Residence with your useless Pa-" Before the sentence could reach its climax, Klaus's fist blurred through the air, landing on the boy's stomach with a ferocity that left him retching uncontrollably.
The two boys beside him could barely blink before Klaus's swift retribution.
"I'm not a tolerant person," Klaus declared, a palpable heaviness emanating from his very presence.
"Kuh!"
The remaining collateral children, with hands poised on their sword-training hilts, took a defensive stance, expecting an imminent clash.
Crack.
The sound of Klaus cracking his fingers echoed, setting the stage for a performance before the main event.
"Die!!!" The two boys shouted in unison, drawing their training swords.
"Enough!"
In the nick of time, a commanding voice sliced through the tension. A handsome, raven black-haired boy in his early teens stepped forward, his authoritative presence quelling the impending chaos.
{oooH, Another one!} Greed exclaimed with a surprised tone, adding an unexpected twist to the unfolding drama.
'Is that the boy named Alex?' Klaus wondered.
Alex, hailing from the direct line, was renowned for making thirty-five swords levitate during the sword selection ceremony. Klaus, however, had surpassed him by levitating all the thousands of swords present in the sword garden.
"What are you all doing when the training is about to start? Are you planning to tarnish the Lionhart name in front of outsiders?" Alex's tone cut through the air, his steps purposeful as he approached the unruly group.
{HAHAHA, there really is another one!} Greed started to laugh in a very cynical manner. Klaus couldn't quite understand why Greed was acting that way.
-Until Alex stood in front of him.
*DING*
[You are in the presence of Pride's Apostle.]