…
Within an experimental facility deep in the forest, a horrifying sight unfolded. Countless zombie-like monsters roamed the area, snarling and growling as they dragged their grotesque limbs across the moss-covered floor.
They came in colors that denoted their strength. The green ones were the weakest, their movements sluggish and uncoordinated. The blue ones, stronger and more agile, could easily rival a 3-Star warrior in combat. And then there were the yellow ones—rare, only about 2,500 among the horde—but each of them radiated terrifying power, strong enough to challenge a 4-Star without effort.
Amidst this nightmare, at the very center of the horde, stood a mad-looking mage. His robes were torn, his eyes glowed with insane brilliance, and his laughter echoed through the dense, foggy woods like a curse.
"Hahaha! People of the Auxiliary Kingdom!" he shouted, spreading his arms. "It's my turn to have revenge! Witness the beginning of your end!"
A long view revealed the overwhelming numbers: 20,000 green zombies, 5,000 blue, and 2,500 yellow. But what truly stole the scene was the presence of a black horse standing ominously in the center. Mounted on it was a knight clad in pitch-black armor, exuding a crushing aura—the unmistakable pressure of a 6-Star peak layer warrior. The black knight remained silent, like death waiting to be unleashed.
…
Back in the present, I finally got the chance to eat. For once, we both silently enjoyed our meal. Thankfully, Lucy didn't try to feed me this time.
We were served a delicacy: roasted chicken, perfectly seasoned and dripping with juice. We had to order three whole chickens just to satisfy our hunger. Lucy surprisingly only ate one whole chicken, while I devoured the remaining two. When we were done, she smiled sweetly as if she hadn't just eaten a feast.
"Let's get going to the kingdom," she said, brushing crumbs from her lips. "The competition is about to begin."
I nodded with a smile, mentally preparing myself for what lay ahead.
Once we were inside the carriage, Lucy explained more about the upcoming competition in detail.
"Each of the princesses—my elder sister and my younger sister—will each choose a representative. From 2-Star to 5-Star, they'll compete in rounds of three. It's a 1v1v1 format, and whoever has the most victories will be declared the winner of the competition."
I nodded again, now fully understanding the rules. Before I knew it, we had once again arrived in the Auxiliary Kingdom. A wave of nostalgia hit me the moment I stepped out of the carriage.
Lucy, without hesitation, grabbed my arm and began casting several teleportation spells. In a flash of light, we appeared inside the grand arena. We weren't late—in fact, we were early. We stood at the very center of the topmost platform, reserved for VIPs and special guests.
Before us sat Queen Evelyn, elegant and composed, with the poise of someone used to being above all. On her left was the eldest princess, Elizabeth, and on her right sat the youngest.
All four of them sat with regal grace, as if silently watching over everything that happened in the arena.
In the center of the battlefield below, two warriors were already preparing themselves. Their auras radiated the power of 2-Star cultivators. I smiled bitterly.
Lucy, clearly in the mood to make a scene, suddenly grabbed the back of my shirt and effortlessly lifted me up. Before I could react, she threw me straight into the arena like a sack of potatoes.
The crowd gasped. A small, fragile-looking boy with an almost otherworldly face now stood in the middle of the battlefield.
Queen Evelyn merely observed with mild amusement. She wasn't surprised that Lucy had picked me. Her eldest daughter, Elizabeth—who looked very much like Sophia with her raven-black hair and piercing blue eyes—sat unmoved. Dressed in a gothic black dress that accentuated her curves and commanding aura, she looked down at me with intrigue.
Sophia smirked knowingly, her expression smug. She was fully aware of my true strength—after all, she had seen me survive a fight with a large bear. She estimated my strength to be at mid 2-Star, but the truth was I had grown far beyond that.
I looked at the two opponents I'd be facing. Both were at the peak of 2-Star, clearly confident in their strength. I had no intention of showing my full power—I planned to win by pretending it was sheer luck. No point attracting attention just yet.
I cast a calming spell—Calm Sea—to steady my mind and entered my fighting stance, silently waiting for the signal.
"BEGIN!" a loud voice shouted.
Immediately, the two warriors charged at each other, completely ignoring me. They didn't see me as a threat. Why should they? I was just a supposed mid-layer 2-Star, far beneath their notice.
I watched them fight with mild amusement. Their movements were sloppy and impatient. If I wanted to, I could take them both down in seconds with just a few spells. But I stayed still, observing.
The crowd started to murmur, some calling me a coward for not jumping in. I didn't care. Let them talk.
After nearly an hour of fighting, both combatants were exhausted. Sophia looked mildly devastated, puffing her cheeks while glancing at her big sister. Elizabeth remained aloof, analyzing me carefully. She couldn't understand why Lucy would choose someone like me.
Then, one of the exhausted fighters stumbled toward me, sword raised in an attempt to push me out of the ring.
I exchanged a few blows with him using my staff. The crowd gasped in surprise. I lasted much longer than anyone expected. I let myself appear breathless, my acting on point.
Queen Evelyn chuckled from her throne. She was clearly entertained. She knew very well I could have crushed both opponents easily with my Exorcist Spells. Lucy, too, watched with a smirk. She knew I'd survive a battle against a near-7-Star Spider, a feat that defied logic and expectation.
But what neither the Queen nor her daughters knew… was that I had two high-grade spells in reserve. Not to mention, I possessed a Legendary Spell—something that could turn the tides of fight in an instant.
[Extra chap TvT]