Kael rose to his full height and exhaled slowly, feeling a flicker of anticipation at Grace's mention of potential followers. Raife City was sorely lacking in talent—especially high-tier combatants above the tenth tier.
Now that his name echoed across the continent, those seeking to become his followers ought to possess some real capability.
With Grace and Amelia in tow, Kael made his way to the training grounds.
The arena, newly constructed under Grace's orders, stood at the heart of Raife City, close to the lord's manor. As Kael stepped out of the carriage, the structure came into view.
Spanning several kilometers, the grounds could accommodate tens of thousands. Designed to host Raife City's elite warriors, it was anything but shabby—and given the city's current wealth, extravagance was hardly an issue.
Even before entering, the roar of cheers and applause from within hinted at the lively atmosphere.
"Let's go take a look," Kael said, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Grace and Amelia flanked him, their beauty unparalleled. Among all the women Kael had encountered, only the Flame Sovereign could rival their allure.
Their presence instantly made Kael the center of attention. Gazes from the crowd—a mix of envy and admiration—locked onto him.
Kael understood the reason but paid it no mind. Scanning the assembled warriors, he declared, "Who among you is worthy to become my follower?"
His voice, infused with a thread of mana, pierced through the noise like thunder, reaching every ear.
The arena erupted. This youth dared ask who qualified to serve him? Then he must be—
The lord of Raife City?
The very Kael who had defeated Einar?
By the heavens, he's so young!
Kael smiled faintly as his gaze swept across the crowd. The assembled warriors' capabilities varied widely—some possessed solid foundations and decent strength, while others barely qualified, not even reaching the eighth tier.
Internally, Kael shook his head. While the weaker ones could potentially be nurtured—after all, even the least among them were seventh-tier fighters who'd be considered talents in any army—they weren't his priority.
"What? Has everyone lost their tongues?" Kael's voice rang out once more.
Only then did the crowd fully process that this youth was indeed Raife City's lord. His extreme youth amplified their awe, and exchanged glances conveyed growing conviction—to follow such a prodigy, one who might even tread the path toward becoming the continent's strongest, promised boundless prospects!
As this realization spread, a burly middle-aged man pushed through the crowd. His face was framed by a bristling, curly beard, and he carried a longsword with practiced ease.
Executing a flawless warrior's salute, the man declared, "Lord Marquis Kael, I am Oliver—a ninth-tier fire warrior. I seek your instruction!"
Clearly, this challenger intended to prove his worth through combat.
A glint of interest flashed in Kael's eyes. "Very well."
Immediately, the crowd parted like the Red Sea, clearing the central platform for Kael and Oliver.
Grace and Amelia also stepped back, the former's eyes alight with curiosity. "I wonder how far Senior Brother's magic has progressed. Teacher mentioned he's begun elemental fusion," Grace murmured.
Amelia's gaze likewise shimmered with anticipation. Both knew Kael was formidable, but the true extent of his power remained mysterious—making this demonstration all the more compelling.
"Begin your attack," Kael instructed calmly.
The warrior took a deep breath. "My apologies for the offense, Lord Marquis!"
His blade flashed like winter lightning, while fire-infused battle qi erupted from his body—a roaring, river-like torrent that drew collective gasps from onlookers.
"By the gods! That's some formidable fire qi!"
"This power... He must be at the peak of the ninth tier! Such intensity could threaten ordinary tenth-tier experts!"
"Impressive. Truly impressive."
The middle-aged warrior's strength was undoubtedly formidable within the training grounds. At the peak of the ninth tier, his power was noteworthy even by continental standards.
Battle qi surged wildly, the energy around his longsword resonating with the air to produce a clear, ringing tone. No one doubted that a single strike from this blade could reduce a hundred-meter radius to rubble.
With a sudden lunge, the warrior swung his sword toward Kael!
Kael neither retreated nor dodged. He simply tapped his staff lightly, and frostflame—a hybrid of ice and fire—erupted from its tip. This was the most basic of defensive spells, forming a fiery barrier before him.
BOOM!
The warrior's blade collided with the wall of flames—only for his prideful battle qi to disintegrate instantly. His sword was wrenched from his grasp, and the sheer force of Kael's defensive magic sent him stumbling back over a dozen steps!
That's right. Kael hadn't even attacked. A rudimentary shield spell alone had repelled a peak ninth-tier warrior!
"Is this the power of a tenth-tier expert?"
"No—ordinary tenth-tier fighters couldn't achieve this! Oliver's at the peak of the ninth tier; he should at least shake a tenth-tier's defenses. How is this possible?!"
The crowd watched in stunned silence. Kael's spell had been laughably simple, almost casual. Yet this veteran warrior couldn't breach even such basic defense and was forcefully pushed back.
The scene defied comprehension.
The warrior stared blankly at his trembling hands, his sword long fallen. His gaze, equal parts awed and terrified, locked onto Kael. Is this the might of the younger generation's strongest? The thought alone chilled his spine. He's barely twenty... How did he cultivate this power?!
"Senior Brother is incredible," Grace murmured, equally astonished. Now she understood why their teacher spoke of Kael with both pride and exasperation—such talent bordered on the absurd.
"You're quite skilled yourself. Would you consider joining Raife City?" Kael smiled, stepping forward to help the warrior up—a gesture that left the man flustered.
For a noble of Kael's status to personally assist a common warrior? Unheard of. The act subtly elevated Kael's standing in many onlookers' eyes.
Oliver, the middle-aged warrior, promptly bowed. "I would be honored to serve Raife City!" Jokes aside—aligning with a lord this powerful guarantees a glorious future!
Kael gave the middle-aged warrior an approving nod and a smile before turning his gaze to the crowd. "Who else wishes to try?"
A peak ninth-tier expert clearly wasn't enough to satisfy Kael—especially since this warrior had likely reached his limit, with little hope for further progress. Kael refused to believe that among the thousands gathered here, there wasn't a single standout talent.
His challenge hung in the air, stirring excitement, yet hesitation quickly followed. Witnessing how effortlessly Kael had repelled the seasoned warrior with a mere flick of magic made many reconsider. If even a fighter of that caliber was so outmatched, stepping forward would only invite humiliation!
Most silently conceded they couldn't surpass the middle-aged man's strength and stayed quiet.
For a moment, the training grounds fell into subdued silence.
Then—
"Let me try!"
A booming, earnest voice cut through the stillness.
Kael's eyes landed on a mountain of a youth striding forward. Though only a few years older than Kael, his stature was staggering. Kael had once thought Zorath the Silent imposing, but this young man dwarfed even him—a literal human hillock with bare arms, no weapon in hand, and a face radiating simple honesty.
The giant's appearance made Kael's eyes gleam with interest.
...