On the high balcony, Amelia stiffened when she heard her name.
"Amelia," Elder Eleice's calm, cold voice broke the hum of the crowd, "do you know that boy?"
The sudden question made Amelia's heart jolt. Dozens of gazes turned toward her, waiting for her answer. She quickly bowed her head, her voice steady though her chest tightened.
"Yes, Elder Eleice. We are… neighbors."
Eleice's violet eyes lingered on her for a brief moment before shifting back to Leon. "Hmmm… is that so."
And then—
She rose to her feet.
The coliseum fell silent in an instant. Her movements carried no hostility, yet the sheer pressure of her aura rippled across the arena like a tidal wave. The air grew heavy, cultivators in the crowd stiffened, and even the chiefs unconsciously straightened their backs.
Her voice rang out, clear and commanding, as her gaze locked with Leon's.
"Boy. Do you want to join Astralis Academy? Your potential is remarkable. With us, it will be tempered into greatness. Join, and the path before you will open wider than this village can ever imagine."
Her words crashed through the coliseum like thunder.
The reaction was immediate.
Gasps erupted from the audience.
"Did she just—?"
"Recruit him directly?! In front of everyone?!"
"An Astralis Elder, here in person… and she's offering him a place?!"
On the balcony of chiefs, Harren's eyes bulged, disbelief written plain on his face. Varkas muttered a curse under his breath, his thick hands gripping his armrest until the wood creaked. Malric could only gape, his earlier dry humor gone.
Even Robert's composed mask cracked. His eyes widened slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. For the first time in years, genuine surprise stirred in the chief's expression.
Among the elders, Elder Selene drew in a sharp breath. "Astralis… she is inviting him openly…" Elder Kaelen's hand trembled slightly against his beard, while Elder Roderic's stern face hardened further, unease flashing in his eyes.
The participants below were no better. Many of the youths turned pale, their envy and disbelief boiling over.
"Astralis… the greatest academy in the empire…"
"Why him?!"
"Lightning and fire… and now this?!"
Denny's jaw hung wide open. "The… f-fuck… Elder Eleice herself…?! Leon, you bastard, what the hell even are you?!"
Jacob's reaction, however, was venomous. His clenched fists trembled, nails digging into his palms as his teeth ground audibly. His earth element awakening, a moment he thought would win him admiration, was already forgotten. Now, all eyes were on Leon. Rage burned in his chest like poison.
Through it all, Leon stood calmly on the stage. The storm of awe, envy, and fury swirling around him seemed distant. His obsidian eyes locked with Elder Eleice's amethyst gaze.
He had expected attention. But this… this was far more direct than even he had imagined.
Elder Eleice's voice cut through the chaos once more, cool and commanding.
"I will also provide you with a bottle of Spirit Foundation Elixir. With it, you will be able to step smoothly into the First Stage of the Warrior Realm."
The coliseum fell utterly silent.
The villagers stared wide-eyed, their mouths agape. They had never even heard of such a treasure. A single liquid that could ease the bottleneck of cultivation, smoothing one's entry into the Warrior Realm? To them, it was as fantastical as legends of immortals.
But the chiefs and elders knew better. Their expressions darkened, their eyes flickering with disbelief.
"That… that's a Spirit Foundation Elixir," Harren whispered, his voice hoarse.
"Even in Elyaryn, such things are rare," Varkas muttered under his breath, his thick hands tightening on his seat.
Malric gave a low, humorless chuckle. "To casually hand such a treasure to a village boy… This is Astralis Academy's might. To them, it's nothing."
Elder Selene's lips parted slightly, her heart pounding. "Such… extravagance. For this youth…"
Elder Kaelen's beard trembled as his jaw tightened. "Not extravagance. Investment. That boy is no longer just Stoneford's."
Even Amelia, who had braced herself for Leon's future, felt her chest tighten at the weight of Eleice's words. Her hand curled unconsciously into her robes.
All eyes returned to the stage.
Leon stepped forward, the thunderous silence pressing down from every corner of the arena. His obsidian eyes gleamed faintly as he bowed his head. His voice was calm, measured, yet carried an unshakable confidence.
"I humbly accept your proposal, Elder Eleice."
Then, raising his gaze, he let a faint smile curve his lips — a smile sharp, handsome, and dangerously charming.
It caught even Eleice by surprise. For a heartbeat, her violet eyes flickered, the faintest spark stirring in their depths.
"…Good."
With a wave of her hand, a small bottle appeared in her grasp. Pure white jade, etched with silver runes, it pulsed faintly with spiritual light — unmistakably precious. Without ceremony, she flicked her wrist.
The bottle arced gracefully through the air.
Leon's hand shot up, catching it cleanly. Without hesitation, he slipped it into his Spirit Concealment & Storage Ring, the treasure vanishing from sight as if swallowed by the void.
The sight of him handling it so casually left many gaping. To them, such a treasure was worth a lifetime. But to Leon, it was merely another step forward.
The coliseum erupted once more.
"Accepted?! He accepted Astralis's offer on the spot!"
"And received a Spirit Foundation Elixir—!!"
"This isn't just history… this is destiny!"
Meanwhile, Jacob's fists shook violently at his sides, nails biting into his palms until blood welled. His teeth ground with a sound sharp enough to echo in his skull. Leon… you…
And on the balcony, Elder Eleice finally leaned back into her seat, her expression serene once more. But within those violet eyes, a spark of genuine interest lingered.
The Spirit Foundation Elixir glimmered faintly as Leon stored it away in his ring. But inside, his thoughts were calm, almost detached.
This elixir… it's of no use to me. I've already stepped into the Eighth Stage of the Warrior Realm. For others, it's a miracle. For me, it's redundant.
His obsidian eyes softened slightly. But for Father…
Alfred had awakened his element long ago, yet without proper resources, he had never been able to step onto the path of cultivation. This elixir could change that.
I'll give it to him. He deserves a second chance. As for Mother… there will be more opportunities in the future. I'll make sure of it. They both deserve to live longer, stronger, and free.
With that thought sealed firmly in his heart, Leon turned and descended from the stage. His steps were steady, unhurried, carrying a quiet gravity that only made the crowd's whispers grow louder.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Jacob and William. Both of them stood stiff, their jaws tight, teeth grinding audibly. Their proud awakenings, moments they thought would crown them as village geniuses, had already been buried under Leon's unprecedented feat. Their eyes burned with envy, humiliation, and barely restrained hatred.
Leon's lips curled faintly, a cold smile flickering for just an instant before vanishing.
In the audience, Emma could no longer contain herself. Tears welled in her eyes as she clasped her hands against her chest, trembling with pride. Alfred sat tall, his jaw firm, but his eyes gleamed with unmistakable pride as he watched his son. The cheers and gasps around them didn't matter — for them, this moment was everything.
Elsewhere, villagers and visitors alike stared at Leon with a mix of awe and envy. Some whispered his name in admiration, others bit down jealousy, but none could deny the truth: a star had risen in Stoneford.
Denny, meanwhile, stood dumbfounded. His mouth hung open, his chubby cheeks twitching as he stared at his friend. "The… the fuck… Leon…" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. Yet despite his shock, a wide grin broke across his face. I don't get it… but I'm damn happy for you, brother.
As Leon walked past him, his obsidian eyes glinted faintly, colder than the storm overhead.
Now…
All that remains is killing Jacob and his father.
After that, I'll head to the capital.
His smile returned — calm, measured, yet laced with the promise of blood.
The announcer straightened, raising his scroll again. His voice boomed with lingering excitement, "Now that we have all witnessed—"
But his words cut off mid-sentence.
BANG!
The doors of the coliseum burst open with a sharp crash, and a guard stumbled inside, his armor scraped and his face pale with terror. His voice cracked as he shouted, stumbling over his words.
"C-Chief! B-B-BEASTS! The forest—the Stoneveil Forest—beasts are swarming out in numbers! They're… they're heading straight for the village!" His chest heaved, his eyes wild. "I-It's… it's a beast tide!"
The coliseum froze.
For a single heartbeat, silence reigned — and then the crowd erupted into chaos.
"Beast tide?! Impossible!"
"Not now—gods, no!"
"Protect the children! Get them out!"
Screams rippled through the stands as villagers surged to their feet, panic spreading like wildfire. Mothers clutched their children close, men shouted for their families, and even the elders' faces hardened in grim realization.
On the high balcony, Chief Harren slammed a fist against the railing, his voice sharp. "A beast tide here?! Stoneveil Forest hasn't birthed one in decades!"
Chief Varkas scowled darkly. "Damn it! We can't handle this with just village guards!"
Chief Malric spat a curse, his earlier humor gone. "So that's why the forest was restless these past days…"
Robert's face turned grave, his authority thundering over the chaos. "Everyone, maintain order! Guards, form lines! Elders, prepare the defenses!"
The village elders rose instantly, their auras flaring one by one. Elder Selene's eyes sharpened, Kaelen's face hardened as he stroked his beard, and Roderic cursed under his breath. Elder Mariel's hands trembled faintly before she pressed them together, summoning calm spirit energy.
Amelia rose too, her beautiful face turning cold as fire spirit energy flickered faintly at her fingertips. She turned toward Leon for just an instant, worry flashing in her gaze.
Down below, Jacob and William stiffened. Their earlier pride and jealousy evaporated, replaced by fear and uncertainty. For all their bravado, the word beast tide carried a weight that crushed the arrogance out of young hearts.
Denny's chubby face paled. "F-Fuck… a beast tide? Here?!" His teeth chattered as he grabbed Leon's sleeve, his voice shaking. "Bro… this isn't a joke, right?"
Through the chaos, Leon stood still. His obsidian eyes narrowed slightly as the roar of panic filled his ears. Where others shook, his gaze only grew colder, sharper.
A beast tide.
The heavens were giving him blood sooner than he had expected.
Thanks for reading....