“The championship works in a simple way. Everyone except the Clan Leader and a select few will participate.
“The winner of the Championship will undergo Dragon Blood Awakening. It enhances their strength by a large margin.
“Hypothetically, it makes the championship winner as strong as the current Clan Leader.
“Then, the current Clan Leader and the championship winner will have a battle. The winner becomes the new Clan Leader.
“If the championship winner loses, they won’t be allowed to participate in the tournament from next year,” Zera explained.
Neo nodded.
He finally understood the crux of the matter.
Tyr had only one chance to become the Clan Leader if he participated in the championship.
While he wanted to let his father win, he also wanted to stay true to his goal and chase the first rank with all he had.
The dilemma was the source of his nightmare.
If he could find another goal, it wouldn’t matter to him whether he won or lost.
“So go fight him now and defeat him. That way he will participate in the Championship, and it will be even better if you win there too,” Zera said.
Tyr had reduced his training frequency as the championship got closer.
If Neo proved he was not an opponent Tyr could defeat easily, Tyr would start training in earnest, which would make it easier for them to close the nightmare.
Neo nodded.
He found Tyr in the training hall.
“Father,” Tyr stopped and turned to Neo. “Is there anything you need from me?”
“I wanted to train with you.”
Tyr was about to refuse with an excuse when suddenly Neo grabbed the empty air.
The space twisted, and alarms rang in Tyr’s mind.
Before he realized what was happening, he had started preparing spells and was baring his fangs at Neo.
‘When did father get so strong?’ Tyr thought.
Neo didn’t give him time to react and dashed forward.
He slashed. His Formless Sword zipped across space, its blade teleporting next to Tyr’s neck.
Tyr couldn’t see anything, but he felt the space twist. He understood his neck would fall if he didn’t move.
“Block.”
A metallic clang echoed. The space returned to normal, and Neo retracted his sword.
“Are you serious about this, Father?”
“I am,” Neo said. “Do you think I don’t know you are planning not to participate in the championship? I don’t need your consideration, Tyr. I will win by myself.”
Tyr remained rooted on his spot.
He never considered the fact that his father knew his dilemma.
‘No, this is better.’
“You are right, Father. I don’t want to participate in the championship. If I do, I will shatter your dream.
“But I also don’t want to give up this chance to become the strongest of our clan. So…”
Tyr took a step forward. The air around him charged with energy.
“Please defeat me here. That would quell the worries in my heart.”
Alarms rang in Neo’s mind.
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on being defeated.”
He smiled and tightened the grip around the sword’s hilt.
Tyr raised his hand before bringing it down in a single swoop.
“Die.”
A gigantic sword materialized right above Neo’s head. Neo moved away, but it was as if Tyr’s words were divine truth.
He couldn’t dodge.
The sword was meant to kill him, and death couldn’t be avoided.
Neo swung his sword upwards. Death Essence flared around his Formless Sword and clashed against the falling behemoth.
Shockwaves erupted.
Neo grunted and increased the force behind his attack. His sword’s length rapidly increased, and it sliced through Tyr’s attack.
Just then, Tyr snapped his fingers.
“Again.”
Time was instantly turned back. Neo was slashing upwards to destroy the falling giant sword.
“Strengthen.”
Two more giant swords fell from the sky.
The situation made Neo realize that nothing would change even if he blocked the current attack.
Tyr would reset the events by saying ‘again’ and repeat the attack after strengthening it.
All Tyr needed to do was supply energy to make his words come true.
Neo burned his World Energy and activated the Concept of Time [Null Hour].
The gigantic swords disappeared from the sky.
He was left exhausted in return.
“That was only a greeting. If you are tired with this, you can’t win.”
“Don’t worry. I’m just getting started too.”
Neo deployed his True Domain.
Death Elementals started to appear in the surroundings. Tyr was alarmed.
“How did you get a True Domain? You need Savant Mastery for it, and no one in Tartarus can go beyond Expert…”
Tyr’s words were stuck in his throat when Neo deployed the True Domain of Darkness.
Then, he deployed the True Domain of Time.
Then, the True Domain of Shadows.
The True Domain of Holy.
The True Domain of Nightmare.
“H-how? How did you do something like this?”
Tyr had met people who came from outside. They all said one thing:
Don’t try to master too many elements. Focus on one or two, or else you will never reach Expert or higher in any Element.
Even the famed geniuses were no exception.
Mastering elements could not be done with talent alone.
So…
How?
Neo had True Domains of not one, not two, not three, but six elements. How was that possible?
That was beyond comprehensible—
“Why are you sweating?”
“H-huh?”
Tyr looked at his trembling arms. They were soaked in cold sweat.
He clenched his fists.
“Ha… haha…. AHahahaha!”
His chuckles turned into a boisterous laugh, and the seriousness in his gaze was replaced by a maniacal look.
“I’m sorry.”
He grinned.
“I’m sorry for talking to you lightly.”
He cracked his neck and stretched his muscles.
“I won’t repeat my mistake again.”
Just as Tyr completed his words, he dashed towards Neo.
“Sword.”
A gigantic sword appeared in the sky.
Tyr’s hand transformed into an enormous dragon hand, and he grabbed the sword before swinging it down at Neo.
Neo fused the [Null Hour] with his True Domain of Time and attacked the sword.
But suddenly, Tyr spoke,
“You cannot erase, dodge, or block my attacks.”