Given how scarce the flags were, though his goal was to acquire rune arts, it was safer to prioritize gathering flags first.

Zephyrion selected the closest marker. Moments later, he sprinted through the forest at astonishing speed.

His legs blurred into twin streaks, yet not a single indentation was left behind on the ground, making it seem as though he was gliding through the forest itself.

A moment later, he arrived at his destination, stopping at the edge of a small cliff. Below, hovering above the center of a lake, was a crimson flag.

Zephyrion slowly swept his gaze across the surroundings with calm indifference. The area was utterly silent, save for the gentle rustling of wind and the distant chirping echoing through the forest.

Then he blinked once, pausing briefly. A second later, he turned toward the flag and stepped off the cliff without the slightest hesitation.

Metal aura formed beneath his feet as walked on the water and slowly approached the flag.

Yet while the scene appeared calm, within the coliseum, and across the entire South, the atmosphere was anything but.

"Young lord... he’s hiding!"

"Hah... don’t tell me he can’t see him!"

"He’s right there! Right there, for the Iron Father’s sake!"

Frustrated curses and anxious shouts echoed throughout the watching crowds.

Due to the nature of the relics broadcasting the event, everything was being displayed exactly as it happened. Meaning what remained hidden from the participants was perfectly visible to the audience.

And right now, through the massive screens, everyone could clearly see the slender youth standing silently beside the flag as Zephyrion unknowingly approached.

"I traveled all the way here to see the returned prodigy... don’t tell me he’s about to lose right at the start!"

"To lose the very first fight... that’d be a massive blow to his reputation."

Their frustration was understandable. After all, the anticipation surrounding this Proving centered almost entirely around Zephyrion in the first place.

’Yes!’

Within one of the towering platforms overlooking the coliseum, a slender man with sharp eyes clenched his fists tightly as he stared at the screen, excitement blazing within his gaze.

He was none other than Kazan Gido, head of the Gido house, a powerful mid-tier house in the South.

The Gido house was renowned for concealment and espionage rune arts. Their ability to go unseen.

Their secret rune art allowed them to blend seamlessly with the world itself. This was exactly what his son, Kozo, had just used. Right now, though he stood directly beside the flag, to Zephyrion he was nothing more than empty air.

’That’s right, Kozo... let him get closer... when the moment comes... strike!’

Kazan had never felt more exhilarated in his life. He could already sense the envious gazes from the surrounding house heads, and it only heightened his excitement further.

If the Gido house managed to bring down Calderalth’s young lord, their status would soar beyond anything he had ever imagined.

Kazan leaned forward eagerly in his seat, his sharp eyes locked firmly onto the screen as Zephyrion drew closer and closer.

Meanwhile, faint frowns had formed on the faces of the city lords. Zephyrion losing this early was something none of them had expected.

Their gazes gradually shifted toward Garrick.

And their frowns deepened even further.

Zephyrion was moments away from defeat, yet a savage grin stretched across Garrick’s face. If anything, he looked entertained. Excited even.

The city lords genuinely didn’t know what to make of it.

Still, it wasn’t only Garrick. Even Ingrid released a faintly derisive scoff. After what she had witnessed weeks ago... him losing? She hadn’t heard anything so absurd in a very long time.

Across the South, countless people held their breaths as Zephyrion finally reached the flag.

Hidden in plain sight, Kozo smirked faintly.

’How lucky.’

The Gido house’s secret rune art thrived in prepared environments. Kozo had spawned closer to the flag and simply waited for another participant to arrive.

Who would’ve thought the famed prodigy of Calderalth himself would walk directly into his trap?

From Zephyrion’s calm expression, it was obvious he hadn’t sensed a thing.

Prodigy or not... Zephyrion would never see this coming.

Kozo had already begun imagining the fame, admiration, and opportunities he would gain from defeating Calderalth’s returned genius when Zephyrion suddenly stopped before the flag.

Instantly, Kozo’s focus sharpened.

Zephyrion reached toward the flag. His hand was only inches away from touching it when Kozo’s eyes flashed coldly.

’Now!’

He dipped into the WorldPulse, a sharp hum rippling outward. Metal condensed around his arm, forming a gleaming dagger.

His camouflage shattered instantly, but his blade had already appeared inches away from Zephyrion’s neck.

"It’s over!"

Whoosh!

Zephyrion blurred sideways. Kozo’s dagger carved through empty air.

Kozo’s eyes widened violently.

"What!?"

The next instant, Zephyrion had already erased the distance between them.

His fist slammed into Kozo’s stomach with monstrous force, folding him over instantly. Every trace of air exploded from his lungs alongside a spray of blood.

For a brief moment, Kozo hung suspended in midair.

Then he shot backward like a meteor, skipping violently across the lake before tearing through the forest floor and crashing into a massive tree with cataclysmic force.

Kozo’s eyes lost focus. Blood trickled from his mouth as he collapsed limply onto the ground, disbelief filling his trembling voice.

"H-how..."

The next moment, brilliant light burst from his relic, engulfing him before teleporting him away from the battlefield.

Within the coliseum, Kazan shot to his feet so violently that cracks spread across his throne.

"IMPOSSIBLE!"

His eyes were stretched wide with utter disbelief. At that final moment... Zephyrion had reacted as though he had known Kozo was there the entire time. Barely any wasted movement. A perfect counter.

Still, it was the punch that shocked him the most.

His son was a genius. A Mark Four.

Yet he had been defeated in a single strike.

One punch.

As Kazan felt the amused gazes of the surrounding house heads settle onto him, his jaw tightened before he slowly lowered himself back into his seat.

Meanwhile, the entirety of the South had fallen into deafening silence. Countless eyes slowly widened as everyone struggled to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

A moment passed.

Then an earth shaking roar erupted throughout the entire South.