Prince Kwan's fell to his knees, blood leaking from his leaps as the jeers of the crowd rained down. He couldn't help but slam his fist into the ground, rage pulsing through his veins without anywhere to be vented. He didn't dare to look up and face his elder brother's gaze… Not only was he ashamed, but he didn't want to burden Prince Kalmin with his hope.
In the end, Prince Kalmin's eyes closed. Taking a deep breath, he leaped backward. He understood his limits and knew that attempting this trial would only harm his chances.
A lewd laughter Ryu would never forget no matter how much it distorted resounded through the arena. Prince Atticus casually took a few steps forward, looking down at himself as though he was surprised to have made it so far.
"You two made it look so difficult! To think it was so easy. Tsk tsk, I truly have to look down on your Opes Kingdom heirs, too sad, too sad." He shook his head as though lamenting something.
The two Princes said nothing. The crowd might be ignorant to what had happened, but how could these Princes be? To face the bloodline aura of past sovereigns without being able to rely on some sort of heritage was absolutely impossible. However, it seemed that everyone was unaware that there was another besides the two Opes Princes that didn't share the bloodline of any of these Totems.
Ryu's expression remained indifferent and cold, basking in the pressure these Totems gave him. When his soul awoke from its slumber, his four bloodlines completely eradicated the Tor Blood within him. It could be said that at that moment, Ryu was no longer related to the Tor Clan at all. Yet, while the two Opes Princes were unceremoniously disqualified, Ryu faced these raging waves with his head held high.
Time passed slowly. The Princes, after the first ten or so steps, began to struggle greatly. If it had just been one Totem, this first trial wouldn't have lasted so long. However, dealing with three at the same time while only receiving partial help from one was difficult to bear.
"Grandpa, why isn't Ryu moving?" Yaana asked worriedly. She naively believed that Ryu was confused by the trial since he was blind. Could it be that he didn't know what to do? She worried for him greatly.
The Old General didn't respond. He continued watching Ryu's still figure, wondering to himself just why it was that his old heart was beating so quickly. He hadn't felt this feeling since that battle so long ago. Nothing had excited him like it since.
'But, he doesn't have the air of a General or a King… I doubt that this young man would be a very good leader… So why is my blood boiling?'
"Haha! Fourth Brother, are you too intimidated to move?!" Cayden's boisterous laugh sounded as his heavy foot boomed onto the platform below. He felt as though a mountain was weighing on his shoulders, but to think he'd still have the state of mind to jeer.
As things stood now, Cayden had travelled the furthest distance. Relying on his Iron Body, he forcibly endured the tyrannical aura in a just as tyrannical fashion. If nothing went wrong, it was clear to the crowd that he would place first.
Prince Amory, Ryu's First Brother, was currently placed last if Ryu was ignored, however his expression was the calmest. His approach was also the smartest. With his every step, he slowly acclimated his body to the aura. He sought after the utmost stability.
As for Prince Atticus and Prince Silas, they didn't seem to be taking these trials seriously at all despite ranking ahead of Prince Amory. However, this made sense. Since they were already the sole heirs of their Kingdoms, the only reason they participated was to earn their Clans a higher ranking for the Natural Order Sect's treasures and to show off their talent a bit. Still, they wouldn't risk their lives.
Because of this, these Coronation Games had essentially become a battle of the Tor Bloodline!
BOOM!
The ground cracked before Cayden as he finally stepped upon the central platform. With little more than three steps, he would reach the Totems, completing the trial and cementing his place as first. It was at this moment that Ryu took his first steps. He seemed at such incomparable ease that the Princes and those watching were stunned for a moment, but then they calmed. Hadn't even Prince Atticus' first steps been equally as easy? Unfortunately for their analysis, Ryu's steps didn't pause.
Third step… Fifth step… Ninth step…
Cayden no longer had the leisure to throw out one-liners, focusing his entire being on the task at hand. His cultivation was pushed to its limits as he circulated his [Iron Body Arts].
The slight sheen of silver emitted from his skin, capturing the attention of all those watching.
"He's practiced your Sect's [Iron Body Arts] to the second tier already?! To think he's reached the 'Shimmering like Metal' realm…" An old man of the Whispering Willow Sect, and one of the Spiritual Severing realm experts who helped bring the Totems, praised Cayden.
The crowd that had been focused on the ease of Ryu's first steps suddenly turned their attention toward Cayden. He was only two steps away now and he had so abruptly shot up in power, how could they not be enraptured?
Cayden's roars filled the arena. His body grew by one size, bulging outward as he became a man of unrefined silver.
"The 'Unrefined Ore' realm!" The two old men looked toward Amell in envy. The Tor Clan's Faith was truly to astonishing. To birth such astounding talents three consecutive generations… If it wasn't the Laws the Immortals set, wouldn't their Sects be finished?
At this moment, Ryu's slightly conflicted heart had calmed to an extent.
'Both the Tor Clan and my Tatsuya Clan were birthed with an inordinate amount of Fate… In the end, my Tatsuya Clan was unjustly destroyed… How ironic is it that I will now give the Tor Clan the same Fate?'
Cayden lunged forward. His body, which had grown by over 20%, surged, his laughter filling the arena.
"I, Cayden Tor, take first place in this trial!" He roared as his hand slammed downward toward the Totem.
However… The once animated crowd had fallen to absolute silence. Cayden, who had expected to touch the gruff exterior of an aged Totem instead felt the skin of a hand so soft he mistook it for a woman's.. When he looked, he found Ryu standing calmly, his hand resting in the place Cayden thought was his.