Born in Blood



Hearing Usan's words, everybody paused for a moment.

Not a whisper was heard.

The lower ranked acolytes were out of the loop, but they couldn't really ask for context.

The seven rulers were quiet, and so were the Rank 5's and 4's.

Right now, they were pensive.

If Hand of Light couldn't use it… then why was he keeping it for himself?

That sort of thing didn't belong to one type of family.

This wasn't royalty.

And Ilali didn't function like that.

Whoever had the greatest martial artists deserved the highest resource.

Everything was built around this type of system.

Power was awarded.

So the fact that the Luminous Light Clan kept everything quiet was a very alarming fact.

As such, they leaned towards the Unforgiven.

Of course, not fully.

They still didn't know how Hand of Light would react.

If he chose to, he could wipe Ilali off the map.

It was not wise to be an enemy of such a person.

Also, they had some qualms about the Unforgiven's personality.

"What, you think you're entitled to the Fruit just because you were exiled?" Myriad Brush said with narrowed eyes.

Usan met his gaze with a chilling glare.

"No, you old coot. We're all entitled to it. Every single one of us has a right to the fruit."

"But we have to earn that right."

North Star was quiet, but his eyes had turned into daggers piercing into Usan's flesh.

However, he couldn't attack Usan.

Why, though?

Surely using everything to kill the Unforgiven would be far better than letting crucial secrets spill to everyone?

North Star's face was as cold as ever.

Usan laughed loudly.

Everyone's attention fell on him.

"Even now, he hears us, but doesn't interfere," the Unforgiven said, his tone growing serious.

"It's just like him."

The Rank 5's watching felt an invisible droplet of sweat run down their brow.

The air was getting a bit harder to breathe.

They really were being watched.

…But other than that, there was no dominating aura anywhere.

Nor did they feel any pressure.

"Father is merely watching. He doesn't disapprove," Usan said. "We'd all be dead otherwise."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Disapprove of what?" Sun's spear said with furrowed brows.

"Don't think you're entitled to our family's property," North Star said with a hostile tone. "The Sacrosanct Tree is ours by right."

Silence.

No one could really deny that.

Usan sighed, clearly annoyed.

"Isn't challenging someone for their properties normal in this country? You all made the laws, after all." 

Silence.

No one could deny that either.

North Star looked increasingly pissed off.

It was as though he was looking for support, but everyone had turned into a potential enemy.

Usan hid a laugh at his brother's sight.

'He's waiting for father's support. Poor thing. All father cares about is his glory. Everything else is beneath him.'

A moment later, the Unforgiven's expression steeled.

"Challenging you back-to-back for the fruit isn't effective, so here's what we'll do."

Usan flew a little higher, his tone firm and eyes narrowed.

"A Martial Tournament between all the major Clans and Sectors."

"Whoever wins, will be rewarded with the Miracle Fruit, no matter the winner."

"If the Luminous Light Clan has the Supreme Martial Arts as they say, then prove it."

"If not, make way for the rest of us."

Usan's words ended there.

In Liam's opinion, he played it perfectly.

He didn't threaten anyone, he made it clear that it wasn't just him who wanted the Miracle Fruit, and in the end, he provided a fair plan of action for all parties.

Cerulean Dragon, Unmoving Mountain, Felling Wind, Miasma Queen, Sun's Spear, and Myriad Brush were seriously considering the issue.

Only North Star was discontent with the situation. 

He was meant to have the next Miracle Fruit in just a year.

That would possibly make him a Rank 6 powerhouse!

And this exiled maniac took that opportunity from right under his nose!

Worst of all, his father didn't voice his support!

'These pricks. They think they can sideline me?' North Star inwardly snarled. 'He should have never shown his ugly face.'

All he could do now was pull through and honestly try to win the tournament.

…And execute Usan and his entire clan afterwards.

A few minutes of silence passed.

Slowly, the hostile air dwindled a bit.

They were no longer intent on sending the Unforgiven back to exile. They couldn't do so in the first place.

The seven began to speak mentally among each other.

In the meantime, the masses began to whisper among themselves.

News started to spread in every corner of Ilali.

Liam grimaced.

'If they include me in this thing, there better not be any cameras.'

Eventually, the seven addressed the crowd.

"The Seven Clans will dictate th—"

Usan cut North Star off with a cold voice.

"No."

"I've set this into motion."

"I'm taking a seat at the table."

"Ilali needs someone external. Someone who hasn't sat in their cushy palaces for so many decades."

Although the seven looked extremely offended at those words, they couldn't disregard Usan's plight.

All the other Rank 5's were sort of on his side.

They grumbled a bit – exchanging mental transmissions among themselves – but eventually relented.

Of course, they didn't want to make enemies of the Moyong family.

They asked North Star for 'permission' to begin such an event.

He gave them the O.K.

But his demeanor was much colder towards then compared to before.

It was obvious that the relations between them were going to take a massive hit after this.

"Fine," the seven said in synchrony.

A moment later, Usan flew towards the seven.

Myriad Brush took his giant brush pen and stroked the air with it, somehow painting the air itself.

Massive letters of blackish ink spread to form a powerful Isolation Barrier – encasing the eight figures inside.

Liam heaved a tense sigh. 

'A tournament, eh?'

'It's been a while.'

Liam scoffed as he remembered the Regional Power Tournament.

'I don't have to hold back anymore.'