All the spectators—whether they were family members, allies, or just friends—stared at me with the same expression: wide eyes and jaws dropped in shock. I couldn't blame them. Even I was a little stunned by the massive gap in power that now separated me from my brothers. This tournament might turn out to be far simpler than I had imagined.
After the judge, who seemed just as surprised as the audience, announced the result, I returned to my seat. My brothers and sisters, all seated nearby, were watching me with timid glances. Whispers started swirling around, their words stabbing into the silence like needles.
"Did that trash really beat Kon Zhoug without breaking a sweat?"
"There's no way. He must've cheated!"
"How could Yu Han, of all people, get so strong so fast?"
"Exactly! Kon Zhoug wouldn't have lost unless that coward cheated!"
"That's enough."
A sharp voice cut through the murmurs. It was YuXiang Jun, his tone cold and dismissive. He crossed his arms and leaned back, closing his eyes with his usual indifferent air. "If anyone's going to call this bastard a cheater, it should be me. But... I can't let you spout nonsense after having seen his journey up close."
Typical YuXiang Jun. Always so detached, yet somehow managing to defend me in his own twisted way.
"Well, well," a different voice rang out, smooth and laced with mockery. "If someone had told me a non-alchemist like you would show up at the banquet and defeat the 27th son so easily, I would've laughed in their face!"
I turned toward the voice. To my surprise, it was Ha Zhao Han, accompanied by Yu Yan and Zhou Baok. I recognized them instantly from Byeok's descriptions, though they didn't match perfectly.
Zhao Han was thin, as expected, but his jet-black hair was far longer, cascading nearly to his waist. Yu Yan was beautiful, almost charming, though her disinterested demeanor ruined the effect. Her vibrant brown hair, styled into twin tails larger than her head, made her look almost doll-like. Zhou Baok, on the other hand, was impossible to ignore—towering over everyone, with a square face and a chin that could have belonged to an orc. His scornful gaze bore into me. Was he jealous because his sister seemed more interested in me than him?
Not that I cared.
"As you can see, I'm here," I said calmly, locking eyes with Zhao Han. "And yes, I defeated Kon Zhoug without breaking a sweat."
Zhao Han's lips curled into a sinister smile, his gaze suddenly sharp and oppressive. "Well, that's one win. Or maybe just a lucky fluke. Don't let it go to your head, okay?"
"Is that a threat?" I asked, matching his tone.
He chuckled, hiding his mocking expression behind the sleeve of his robe. "Who knows… maybe."
Before I could respond, Yu Yan leaned forward, her face mere inches from mine, a sly smirk playing on her lips. Then, turning to Zhao Han, she asked, "Big Brother, if I manage to beat you and Zhou Baok... can I make him my slave?"
Wait... slave?
I froze, her words sinking in. My expression twisted in disgust, but I held my tongue, glaring at her instead. Zhao Han's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with malice.
"Of course," he replied smoothly. "Why not?"
What? These bastards don't even see me as a real person. Their own brother!
Still, I forced myself to stay calm. "Sure," I said, my voice steady, though my fists clenched in fury. "But that's assuming one of you even makes it to the final round. And beats me, no less."
Silence fell. All three of them stared at me, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
"HA! Did you hear that, Zhao Han?" Yu Yan burst into laughter, clutching her sides. "He actually thinks he can beat us! What a fool!"
We'll see who the real fool is, I thought, glaring at her smug face.
Even Zhao Han chuckled, adjusting the hairpins in his hair. "You're a funny one, Yu Han. But know your limits."
He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip deceptively gentle. "I told you before—don't let this little victory go to your head, little brother."
The three of them turned and left, their air of superiority almost suffocating.
As soon as they were out of earshot, my vision blurred with rage. My nails dug into my palms, trembling with barely restrained hatred.
"Damn it…" I muttered under my breath. "Just one more push, and I'd have ripped them all apart right there."
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down and turned my attention to the arena. "I need to analyze every move from now on," I whispered to myself.
---
The tournament dragged on, each match more boring than the last. But then Yu Yan, that pest from earlier, stepped into the arena. Finally, something interesting.
Her opponent was the 20th son—a young man who wasn't too tall or too short, with long, dark green hair that reached his chest. His determined gaze radiated courage. He looked like the kind of person you couldn't help but admire.
Facing him was the most immature girl in the family. Yu Yan's training outfit clung to her slender frame, and her eyes gleamed with the predatory focus of a cat stalking its prey.
The two took their stances. Then—
"KONG!"
At the gong, the 20th son lunged forward, wasting no time. His strikes were clean, elegant, and infused with spiritual energy. Every move radiated precision and power, his determination unwavering.
But Yu Yan? She dodged each attack effortlessly, her expression as bored as ever. Her agility was unreal—so much so that the 20th son couldn't even track her movements. More than once, she ended up behind him, yet she didn't strike. She simply continued evading, as if the fight didn't even interest her.
This went on for five long minutes.
Then, Yu Yan decided it was time to stop playing. She backed away, putting some distance between herself and her exhausted opponent. Suddenly, fiery red flames burst from her fingertips, forming sharp, claw-like extensions.
Was that her ability? If so, she truly was a genius.
The tide of the battle shifted instantly. Yu Yan unleashed a barrage of ferocious attacks, overwhelming the poor swordsman. Finally, she paused, making him think she had relented. That was his fatal mistake.
With a single touch to his forehead, his entire body was engulfed in spiraling flames. His screams echoed through the stadium, but the spectators remained calm. Some looked at him with pity; others, with disdain.
Wow... maybe she isn't so useless after all, I thought, grudgingly impressed.
The 20th son's charred body collapsed onto the ground. His once-proud green hair was gone, and his lifeless face was frozen in an agonized scream. I could see tears still clinging to his nose.
It was... tragic.