Jayden fell to the sunken beast sync arena, but it was only 40 centimeters high. His body collided with the floor, but it wasn’t enough to break his bones but only giving him a light bruise.

The Bladewing Hawk was with him, while Jayden sensed his Steelcoil Serpent were still trying to suffocate Felix.

However, it was already gravely injured. If it was not, Felix wouldn’t have ignored it and might have already surrendered.

After all, the Steelcoil Serpent was at 3rd Tier—its bind skill was tough and strong. With its metal energy, it would even be difficult to pull out his serpent.

Jayden spread his arms and legs as he stared at the moon hanging in the night sky. He had not anticipated his defeat, but he had already expected it.

He recalled his conversation with Master Shen.

"You should fight Felix. His momentum is unstoppable now. If you win, I’ll let you graduate early and choose any position you deserve."

"What if I lose?"

"You’ll still graduate and choose any position you deserve."

"I don’t understand."

"It’s simple. The position given to you is what you deserve depending on the result of the battle."

"Okay. Do you expect me to win?"

"No. Hardly so."

"Why?"

"If I’m in your shoes, at the same rank, with the same sword technique practicing, I still won’t win against him. He’s been chosen by a true sword cultivator."

Jayden could still vividly recall the tone of admiration mixed within Master Shen’s voice.

If even he admired Felix, why wouldn’t he?

He sighed. "Chosen by a true sword cultivator, huh? How about his beast pet, then? It doesn’t make sense."

He chuckled.

He believed Felix wasn’t as simple as being chosen by a sword cultivator with the help of being given by a sword. Felix’s beast pet, who could actually keep up from the onslaught of a Commander Rank 6, with two beasts on the 3rd Tier, and even injured the other, was certainly beyond normal.

He suspected it was four stars, at least.

Jayden closed his eyes and smiled.

He whispered. "It’s hard to accept, but I won’t be jealous of him, of how bright he’s shining. He has his own path, I have my own. Though, it’s quite funny we possess the same purpose in life."

Jayden came from a poor family. Like Felix, his parents were ordinary corporation workers, with their beast pets only having 1 star potential.

He came to the Azure Cleave Dojo, hoping to graduate and earned a credential enough for him to enter in the military with higher status.

With higher status came higher income, and with higher income means higher possibility to retire his parents early and bought a home finally for them in a better district.

Jayden’s beast pet soon arrived beside him. The Steelcoil Serpent was now healed, surprising Jayden. Not a single scar was left.

He then learned from the Steelcoil Serpent that a beautiful doctor arrived and summoned her beast pet, the Verdant Pulse Stag at Unique rank, to heal him. Afterwards, she and Master Shen discussed while standing in front of Felix, who had lost his consciousness after strangling him for so long.

Jayden was stunned. He had not expected that his beast pet knocked Felix unconscious.

He smiled and felt quite a bit proud.

Even though I became his first stepping stone publicly, I didn’t leave an embarrassment to my parents.

...

Felix lost his consciousness after failing to hold himself from the tight binding of the Steelcoil Serpent.

However, before he lost his consciousness, Jayden was already falling, conveying he had already won.

That was why he stopped resisting, knowing he’d wake up soon anyway.

Soon, he woke up and sensed Moon was already filled with vigor. To his surprise, Doctor Eleanor was present.

He was befuddled.

Unlike what his parents described Doctor Eleanor last last week before, she was fully radiant now—the dark circles in her eyes had long replaced with flawless, embellish skin.

An exceptional beauty to say the least.

Felix woke from his reverie from the sudden realization. His heart skipped a beat.

T-The ritual was successful, right?

As Moon landed on his chest, Doctor Eleanor glanced at him.

Doctor Eleanor chuckled. "Sit up."

Felix obediently sat up without hesitation.

Doctor Eleanor then turned her head away and stared at a distance.

Felix’s heart raced. He knew what Doctor Eleanor tried to convey.

He slowly turned his head and saw Sarah and Noah standing side by side, but a space between them.

His heart skipped a beat. His eyes slid downward and saw Mia smiling from ear to ear while waving her hand at him.

She wasn’t shouting, she was hardly expressing her emotion.

However, Felix knew her, he knew that her simple wave and her wide smile was enough to convey how exhilarated she was in seeing her older brother.

Felix was frozen. Suddenly, his body trembled.

He stood up, not even grasping the wooden sword, while Moon jumped down from his shoulder.

Felix didn’t hesitate to leap and landed on the sunken floor of the beast sync arena, before running towards his family at full speed.

Moon sensed her master’s overwhelming emotion, so she simply followed him behind.

Master Shen and Doctor Eleanor glanced at Felix with a smile. They strangely felt happy for Felix.

They were both proud for him, of how much he worked hard just to obtain the victory he deserved.

Master Shen said, "This child truly deserves the blessings given to him. Thank you Doctor Eleanor for not disappointing him."

Doctor Eleanor shook her head and watched Felix hugging his younger sister tightly as they were then hugged by their parents.

Doctor Eleanor said, "I should be the one thanking him. I haven’t revealed to you, didn’t I? That he was the one who gave the cure to the Sleeping Hollow Disease."

Master Shen gasped in astonishment. It was the first time he had broken his composure after being shocked from what he learned.

Doctor Eleanor giggled in response.

She said, "I also didn’t expect it, really. I think the cure came from the sword he summoned. That one single object not only change his life, but also the lives of the many. I’ve already submitted the thesis for the Annual National Medical Assembly and approved it to be presented on the last day of the month.

I told Felix about this, and that should be why he set the date of the duel today instead of next week that could have give him ample time."

Master Shen was frozen for a while, blinking his eyes from time to time.

He then exploded into the hoot of laughter, shocking Jayden and rest of the disciples who noticed his action.

After a while, he said, "Even then, he won. I didn’t expect it, but I had the feeling he’d win, anyway. That child normalize turning impossible to possible."

"I agree." Doctor Eleanor nodded.

She turned towards Master Shen and smiled, stunning Master Shen.

She and Master Shen were at the same batch of students who graduated from Chambers College. They then became an instructor until they reached their current status.

Hence, they were a bit familiar with each other.

Doctor Eleanor said, "Are you planning to attend to the Annual National Medical Assembly?"

Master Shen was quite embarrassed after being stunned by her radiant beauty. He coughed and nodded.

He said, "I do now."

===

A/N: Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to show your supports by giving golden tickets, powerstones, and reviews! It means a lot since this is participating for WSA.