It was Zephyrion’s first fight of the second round. The crowd had already witnessed the battles of the primary descendants from the other high houses. Overwhelming might and talent that crushed their opponents with utter ease.

Now, they were about to witness the battle of a dynasty heir. Across the Ferran Empire, dynasty heirs were regarded as a different breed entirely. Overwhelming talent. Overwhelming might. They were akin to gods amongst men.

The chatter gradually faded. A deafening silence settled over the entire coliseum.

Zephyrion could feel it. The thousands of eyes fixed on him, anticipating, waiting. The city lords seated above were no different. Their brows were furrowed as they watched in tense silence.

There was a question in their eyes. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

How would this battle unfold?

Yet the countless gazes did nothing to shake Zephyrion. He regarded the girl before him with an impassive stare.

Marrien Vida was tall and slender, with sharp eyes and a severe presence. Half her head was shaved, and coupled with her intense gaze, it gave her a menacing air that did not diminish even while standing before him.

’Mid house. Rune art focused on speed.’

The Vida House, as he remembered, possessed a rune art centered around swiftness. Short bursts of explosive speed.

He had seen her fight near the end of the first round, where she had successfully held her own against an onslaught of other candidates.

Her rune art was decent enough, yet it wasn’t worth dragging the battle out.

He stood before millions of watching eyes, all of whom anticipated an overwhelming display of force and might from a dynasty heir. If there was no sufficient reason to prolong the fight, Zephyrion saw no reason to do so.

"Young lord..."

Marrien Vida suddenly bowed respectfully.

"It is an honor to face you. I hope to learn from this battle."

Zephyrion gave a curt nod.

"The honor is mine."

Marrien straightened, then lowered into a deep stance, her eyes taking on a fierce light.

As the roaring silence of the arena settled, the overseer’s voice echoed throughout the coliseum.

"Begin!"

The wind detonated against Marrien Vida’s back as her body was suddenly launched airborne.

"...what?"

Her eyes widened gradually as she saw Zephyrion, who had been standing across the arena only moments ago, now standing where she had been.

Even as her body skipped violently across the coliseum floor, dust erupting in her wake, Marrien still couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

"Wait... what just happened?"

"How did she end up over there!?"

"Don’t tell me... it’s already over?"

The crowd stared at the arena in confusion and disbelief. It was only after the overseer’s hesitant voice rang out that they finally understood the situation.

"W-winner, Zephyrion Calderalth!"

Countless eyes widened in utter shock.

"Over?"

"Wait, that was the fight!?"

"Did anyone even see him move!?"

Still, the shock only lasted for a brief moment. The next instant, a deafening roar shook the entirety of the coliseum as countless voices erupted into chants of his name.

Somehow, the fact that many had failed to even see the exchange only made it even more unbelievable.

Unfazed, Zephyrion simply turned and returned to his seat.

Above, the city lords’ eyes had narrowed deeply. Many in the audience had missed it entirely, but for people of their standing, they had seen everything clearly.

It was one thing to witness Zephyrion’s speed through live footage. It was another thing entirely to witness it in person.

The recording artifacts were limited to certain speed ranges. Even individuals who wouldn’t appear especially fast to them in reality could seem monstrously quick through a screen.

That was what many of the city lords had assumed regarding Zephyrion’s speed.

Yet now, after witnessing it firsthand, they couldn’t help but frown deeply.

Such speed...

"Ha... the fucking brat. Why’d he take so long to finish her?"

The city lords slowly turned toward Garrick, disbelief evident in their eyes.

Had he just said... long?

Yet Garrick merely leaned back in his seat, a faint look of annoyance crossing his face.

"One second. Too damn long." Garrick clicked his tongue irritably. "Should’ve finished it in one nanosecond. Sloppy brat. But fine, I guess this is barely acceptable."

At that moment, the city lords became fully convinced.

The man seated amongst them was completely insane.

The excitement from Zephyrion’s battle lingered throughout the coliseum for a long while, with countless discussions erupting amongst the crowd.

With the conclusion of the round, the number of candidates had been reduced to twenty.

Calderalth had only lost two participants, leaving Zephyrion, Lumi, Kaelion, and Fiona amongst the remaining youths.

Their numbers overwhelmingly surpassed those of the other houses, causing many candidates to cast wary glances their way.

Especially toward Zephyrion, whose battle had been so overwhelming that many still hadn’t fully processed what they had witnessed.

Eventually, Ingrid stepped forward and granted the candidates an hour of rest before the next stage began.

The candidates merely remained seated, their expressions calm and composed. None of them showed any intention of moving. Their meaning was obvious.

They didn’t need the rest.

The audience was no different.

One hour passed amidst endless chatter before Ingrid stepped forward once more to announce the start of the next stage. Like before, the matchups were called out one by one.

The battles of the second round proved noticeably more intense than the first. Every candidate who had reached this stage possessed genuine skill.

Still, much to Zephyrion’s disappointment, his targets continued being paired against youths from the mid houses.

The battles still hadn’t been enough to fully reveal the depths of their rune arts. He had only managed to grasp fragments rather than the complete source.

However, a change soon arrived.

"Lumi Calderalth. Draven Hartvain!"

Zephyrion’s eyes sharpened faintly.

A suitable matchup.

’Finally.’

Lumi smiled brightly toward him before making her way toward the arena. Even as Draven stepped forward to stand opposite her, she still turned back to wave cheerfully at Zephyrion.

Zephyrion resisted the urge to sigh.

’Please... focus.’

’Gods above... but you have to admit she’s absurdly cute.’ Demorian let out a dreamy sigh.

’Look at her! She’s about to fight and she’s still happily waving at you. How does something this adorable even exist? Though we’re practically brothers now, my protégé... I truly must say this level of cuteness is completely wasted on you.’

’...I’m blocking you.’

’Wait no, don’t be irrational—’

Zephyrion sealed him instantly.

"Bwahaha!" City Lord Borric burst into loud laughter atop the platform. "What’s this tiny little thing supposed to do? My Draven’s going to turn her into floor paste!"

"Hmph. How crude." Marisse shook her head with visible disgust before gazing toward Lumi with pity.

"She’s far too adorable for this. Perfect for my little Lucien. Hmm... perhaps I should just take her afterward. Lucien would absolutely love her."

She turned sharply toward Borric.

"You... tell your oversized ape not to damage her too much!"

"Fat chance, balloon!" Borric barked out another laugh. "I already told my son if he doesn’t cause at least three lifelong traumas, he shouldn’t bother coming home! This little one’s about to become trauma number one!"

"You barbaric—!" Marisse glared at him before eventually exhaling helplessly. There was simply no helping it.

The Hartvains were infamous for their brutality regardless of opponent. She would just have to make do with whatever remained.