Huge fangs. A colossal body. Those blood-red, terrifying eyes.
'This… this is what Sect Master Noah calls 'Little Red'?' Finn thought, staring dumbfounded at the monstrous creature. 'What part of this giant beast fits the word 'little,' much less such a cute name?'
Just the creature's back alone could easily match half the width of the Assembly Hall's stage. And this was supposed to be little?
Aside from Finn, Ashe, and the Core Elders of the Cloud Soaring Sect, nearly everyone else looked on in open fear. They were shaken by the vicious beast's immense presence—and the truth of its form.
Finn knew about the Six-Winged Enormous Blood Tiger. Among vicious beasts, this species was infamous, their name alone enough to inspire dread.
When he was young, he had read about them. There was even a tale that had spread through the Sacred Dragon Kingdom: long ago, a Sky Rank Six-Winged Enormous Blood Tiger descended on a major city. In a single day, the entire city was wiped out—nothing left but smoking ruin. According to legend, the beast had been driven into a murderous fury when adventurers destroyed its den.
And now, seeing this creature up close—watching the ripple of its crimson fur, feeling the oppressive power that radiated from it—Finn could not even speak. All he could do was watch, part in awe, part in disbelief.
'Just taming such a beast... No wonder Noah is revered,' he thought. A monster of this level had its own intelligence. It could understand a human's commands.
Noah stepped toward his partner and stroked its thick, furred leg. After a moment, he reached for his interspatial ring. A long staircase appeared out of thin air, leaning against the tiger's side.
"To ensure everyone's safety, the higher-ups of the Cloud Soaring Sect decided that Elder Marcus and I will personally escort you to the Floating Island. The other Elders will remain here to guard the sect," Noah announced solemnly, his voice carrying over the platform.
No one in the Soaring Seven looked surprised. In fact, it was common for other factions' leaders to accompany their groups to the Seven Great Faction Games.
"Since all preparations are complete, you may board Little Red now," Noah continued in a calm voice. "During our journey, Elder Marcus will explain who you're likely to face among the participants from the other factions—and who you should be most wary of."
As soon as he finished speaking, Noah rose effortlessly into the air.
It was the hallmark of every Sky Rank Adventurer—the ability to fly, not by wings or external tools, but by channeling pure power into a floating technique.
Noah drifted up and settled on Little Red's massive head. Elder Marcus, on the other hand, simply bent his knees and vaulted ten feet up to the creature's back, landing as if it were nothing. After all, he was an 8th Level Profound Rank.
Ashe moved first, calmly ascending the stairs. Lore followed her, then the other members of the Soaring Seven began filing up as well.
Before Leo and Finn climbed aboard, they turned to the four Core Elders waiting by the platform. In unison, they bowed respectfully.
The four Elders smiled and nodded in return.
"Those two boys," murmured the Punishment Hall Master, shaking his head with a small smile. "At least they understand how to show respect to their seniors."
Another Elder nodded in agreement. "Indeed. They all carry pride, and I can't blame them. Each of them is exceptionally gifted—and four of the seven come from influential clans."
They spoke quietly among themselves, offering measured praise for the group's talents.
Meanwhile, once everyone had mounted Little Red, a spherical barrier enveloped the beast and its passengers. The Six-Winged Enormous Blood Tiger could fly at terrifying speeds, so this shield would protect them from the roaring wind.
GROOOOWL!
With a thunderous cry, Little Red flared its vast wings—each one broad as a pavilion roof—and with a single mighty beat, they ascended beyond the clouds.
A gale erupted below, sweeping across the Assembly Hall, though none of the Elders budged an inch as they gazed up into the sky.
The Soaring Seven were speechless. Not one of them could hide their awe. Each one—Finn included—secretly longed to someday have a companion Vicious Beast of their own.
But taming such creatures was no simple feat. Most vicious beasts were born savage and feral. If an adventurer truly wished to form a bond, the only way was to capture a young cub and raise it from infancy.
Of course, that came with its own dangers. Finding a young Vicious Beast meant braving the wrath of its parents—often lethal.
There was another, darker method: purchasing a cub in the Black Markets. But this practice was widely condemned. Black Market traders slaughtered adult beasts for profit and sold their cubs, fueling a trade built on cruelty.
Such transactions were expensive—especially for cubs with flight or advanced potential—but some still paid any price to gain a powerful companion.
While everyone remained enraptured by Little Red's flight, Marcus stepped before them. He swept his eyes across the seven, clearing his throat.
"Listen carefully," he began, voice steady. "I'll introduce you to the other factions you'll likely face."
Everyone straightened, giving Marcus their full attention.
"Unbeknownst to some of you, our Cloud Soaring Sect is considered the weakest of the Seven Great Factions," he stated bluntly. "Not because of lack of potential, but because our focus isn't on a single specialization. While the Immortal Sword Pavilion hones swordsmanship to the highest edge, the Soul Puppet Sect raises mastery over puppets, and the Burning Heaven Sect trains in fire techniques, our sect gathers broader knowledge. We have more diverse skills than any other faction—but less specialization."
He paused a moment to let that sink in.
"Truthfully, we don't expect you to claim first place," he went on gently. "That is not for lack of faith in you. But consider this: the weakest of the Immortal Sword Pavilion is a 4th Level Scarlet Gold Rank. His strength alone could rival Ezekias."
Gasps and swallowed breaths echoed among the seven. Several glanced toward Ezekias, recalling his raw power.
'If the weakest among them is like Ezekias... can we even hope to win a single match?' many thought.
Leo hesitated, then raised his hand. "Teacher," he called respectfully, "if the weakest in their group is that strong... what about the strongest?"
Marcus gave him a faint smile. "The strongest among the Sword Seven is Azur Lilytel, a 7th Level Scarlet Gold Rank. Perhaps you're familiar with the name—are you not, Lore?"
Lore's expression turned solemn. His hands curled into tight fists.
"…It isn't a secret," he said quietly. "Azur Lilytel is my cousin. We've never gotten along."
A sigh drifted among the group. No one was surprised. In powerful clans, competition often turned bitter—and sometimes deadly.
Marcus continued his briefing, eventually arriving at the Alchemist Association.
"As for the Alchemist Association," he said gravely, "news has spread across the Sacred Dragon Kingdom. Association Master Morris has taken on a new student—Brien Latter. That young man is said to be an orphan... but even more astonishing, he wields the Blue Alchemy Flame."
Expressions tightened all around.
During their early training, they had learned about the rarest alchemy flames. The Blue Flame ranked second only to the fabled Blue-Green Alchemy Flame.
"To my knowledge," Marcus continued, "he is the only one in the kingdom with such a flame. If that's true, he will likely become the next leader of the Alchemist Association. It's best you avoid provoking him—he may have the Royal Clan's favor."
Everyone nodded solemnly—even Finn inclined his head in agreement. He had no interest in unnecessary conflict.
"Remember," Marcus said more warmly, "I'm not telling you this to discourage you. The Cloud Soaring Sect wants to test your courage—and your resolve to grow stronger and make your names known throughout the kingdom."
He turned as if to leave, then paused.
"…Ah, the Ice Feather Sect." His tone shifted subtly. "Overall, the Soaring Seven and the Ice Seven are roughly matched—except that their weakest member is 3rd Level Scarlet Gold Rank, while ours is officially recorded as 1st." His gaze settled on Finn. "Though personally... I doubt that's your true strength, Finn Doria."
Finn forced a faint, awkward smile. The others turned to look at him with furrowed brows—Leo the only exception.
Marcus finished calmly.
"That's all I had to say. Use this time to meditate and strengthen your soulforce."
He strode back to Noah's side.
Leo, who had been listening quietly, let out a long breath. "I never imagined... I was so weak in comparison."
Finn turned and smiled reassuringly. "They're only ahead because of the resources they've been given."
Leo gave a strained laugh and nodded. It was true—and dwelling on it wouldn't help him.
One by one, the Soaring Seven spread out across Little Red's vast back to meditate.
--
Days passed in a blur. Their journey remained calm. The Soaring Seven focused intently on training, sometimes sparring—though no matter how Leo tried, he couldn't land a single hit on Finn.
At last, Marcus's voice roused them from meditation.
"Prepare yourselves," he called. "We've arrived."
They stood and peered ahead.
Floating above the endless sky was a massive island, like an impossibly vast chunk of earth suspended in air. A sprawling city crowned its center, with gleaming towers, lush forests—and a rainbow arching over it all.
Little Red descended before a monumental building. Wind roared across the landing ground, but two guards in front of the entrance stood unshaken. Above the doors, carved in ornate letters, read:
Floating Island Auction House
Noah and Marcus dismounted first. The stairway reappeared, leaning against Little Red's flank. One by one, the Soaring Seven climbed down.
Once all were on solid ground, Little Red shimmered—and shrank back into his smaller, endearing form, flying lightly to Noah's shoulder.
"Thank you, my friend," Noah murmured, stroking his tiny head. "You've done well."
He turned to the group. "Come. Let's go inside."
As they entered, the guards bowed respectfully.
Only Finn, among all of them, felt the truth of those guards' power—both were 4th Level Profound Rank.
'Impressive,' he thought. 'The Royal Clan's strength is no rumor.'
Inside, the building gleamed with ornate carvings and brilliant displays. The Soaring Seven stared in open wonder.
In the main hall, dozens of young adventurers in various uniforms had already gathered. The Soaring Seven's red tunics and black trousers instantly drew attention.
"The Cloud Soaring Sect," someone in an orange tunic remarked. "Only the Ice Feather Sect hasn't arrived yet."
An elderly man in a green robe and a woman in a flowing green dress approached Noah and Marcus. They exchanged polite greetings.
Finn recognized the woman—Alicia.
Their eyes met for a moment before Finn looked away. When he did, he spotted a group of young adventurers approaching in green uniforms—black trousers for the boys, black skirts for the girls.
"Which of you is Finn Doria?" the boy in front demanded, his tone dripping with arrogance as he glared at them all.
Finn frowned slightly, puzzled.
"I am Brien Latter of the Alchemy Seven," the youth declared. "I've heard that Finn Doria possesses the Blue-Green Alchemy Flame. Step forward—because I challenge you to a duel!"