The Blood Legacy (The Divine Elements Book 1) (29 page)

---A few hours ago---

“Lord Regis, the tournament has started.”

A middle-aged Elder in black robes stated in a respectful voice.

Standing in the courtyard was a stocky man, who was surrounded by an entire brigade of guards.

The guards all wore pitch-black armor that had the red insignia of a bear. Their appearances were completely different to the usual guards stationed around the city, so it was clear that this was an elite group of soldiers!

Hearing the sudden voice, the stocky man turned around as he faced the Elder of the school.

“Why hasn’t Orlon greeted me yet?”

A calm voice sounded from the city Lord.

“The school Head is currently still in cultivation and hasn’t returned from his previous destination.”

The Elder responded in an apologetic tone.

It had been years since the Head last came to the school, and many Elders of the Red Boar School were worried about his disappearance. The Head would occasionally communicate and send orders, but none of his messages contained any hints of his location or when he would return.

“Hmm, very well. Where is my son?”

Regis inquired in an unsatisfactory tone.

Considering his noble title, it was beneath him to be welcomed by a mere Elder, but since he only came to watch his son fight, Regis let such matters slide.

“Chax has received the white armband for his victory in the first round, so he should be preparing to the enter the duels for the second round.”

The Elder answered in a polite voice, as he sensed that the city Lord was slightly disgruntled at the absence of the school Head.

“Let’s go to the stadium then. It’s better than standing around here.”

Regis stated in a brusque tone as he gestured for two of his guards to follow him.

“The rest of you stay here. I will be back after Chax wins the tournament.”

After those final words, Regis abruptly started walking with two black armored guards behind him.

Seeing that the city Lord had not even waited for him, the middle-aged Elder could only sigh in resignation as he walked behind Regis as well.

Watching the intimidating guards and an Elder of the school quietly walking behind a stocky man, the nearby disciples and servants all stopped what they were doing and simply stared at the awe-inspiring scene.

Most of them guessed, from the overbearing attitude and the insignia on the guards’ chest plates, that the stocky man in front of them was the city Lord himself!

Although the city Lord had a disdainful look on his face, the regal and oppressive aura around him was unmistakable!

For the disciples and servants who had previously met the Red Boar School’s Head, the pressure that the city Lord emanated was akin to the Head’s aura!

No one knew the real cultivation of the city Lord, but he had to be at least above the fifth rank of the Vajra stage! Equally impressive, were the two guards marching behind the city Lord!

The cold and merciless gaze in their eyes combined with the sharp movements that they executed as they walked, all made the hearts of the surrounding disciples quiver with excitement!

They all hoped that one day they would become as strong as those elite guards and serve the city of Vernia by keeping its peace.

After a few minutes, Regis and his group finally reached the Arena.

“Follow me this way, Lord Regis.”

The middle-aged Elder stepped forwards as he proceeded to guide the city Lord into one of the ornate booths erected close to the center of the stadium.

Seeing that he was given a prime location for viewing, Regis gave a nod of satisfaction as he entered the booth allocated to him.

“The second round should begin shortly. If you need anything else, I have a servant stationed outside the booth that can cater to your every need.”

The Elder politely stated while giving a slight bow, and proceeded to exit the booth.

As soon as the Elder left, a shadow suddenly darted into the city Lord’s booth!

Without turning around, Regis quietly asked.

“What is the news on the boy, Viktor?”

The shadow coalesced into the figure of a tall wiry man, as he slowly started to speak.

“There are many rumors about the boy floating around the school. It seems your son has a bit of a history with him.”

“Chax? Report to me on their encounter. Do not leave anything out!”

Regis abruptly turned around to face Viktor, as he asked in a serious voice.

For a full five minutes, Viktor recounted the rumors and gossips about the fight between the two boys.

*CRACK*

The sound of a wooden table being splintered loudly resounded in the booth.

“That little bastard dares to fight back against my son? A slave should behave like a slave!”

Regis furiously roared as faint traces of essence leaked out from the pores of his skin.

Viktor silently stood there as the city Lord fumed with anger.

This bloody moron! Is a person supposed to quietly take a beating just because it’s your son? Such a despicable family…

As Viktor’s thoughts raced within his mind, his outward expression did not change in the slightest.

“I want you to kidnap the boy after the tournament ends. It is obvious that he is no longer just in the first rank of Spiritual stage!”

Regis muttered in a chilling tone.

“Is that wise? He clearly has someone teaching him, as there is no way the boy advanced on his own in such a short period of time. It’s better to wait until we have more information on his master.”

Viktor advised in a neutral voice.

“I did not hire you to give me your opinion. Do as you are told, unless you want me to replace you as well.”

Regis slowly stated as his eyes fiercely penetrated into Viktor.

“Very well, I’ll do it.”

Viktor calmly stated as if unfazed by the city Lord’s scrutiny.

Within the blink of an eye, his figure formed into a shadow and silently darted out of the booth!

“I do not trust him, my Lord.”

One of the black armored guards said in a steely voice, as he gazed at the booth’s exit.

“Neither do I, but his element is useful.”

Regis softly declared as he entered the balcony of the booth and took his seat.

Knowing that the city Lord did not wish to further talk about Viktor, the guard silently followed behind him.

The booths were set up such that they all stood a few feet higher from the ground, so they had the best visibility of the stadium. The distinguished members who were given a booth were all high-ranking officials and guests of the school.

Many of the officials and guests seated in the adjacent booths gave a respectful nod or slight bow to the city Lord.

Returning their greetings, Regis turned his head towards the stadium as he calmly observed the current duel.

His mood had completely shifted from before, as he eagerly waited to see the development in his son, Chax.

Regis had personally called in many favors to convince the renowned Master Dane to take his son as his disciple, and it was finally time to see the results!

“What rank of cultivation do you think Chax has reached?”

Regis asked without shifting his gaze from the stadium.

“I think little lord should be around the eighth rank by now. The beast cores you sent last month had greatly accelerated his growth.”

The nearby guard quietly answered.

“Good, good. By the way, when does Chax enter the duel? I do not want to waste my time by watching these talentless punks fight!”

Regis muttered in a low voice, as his fingers impatiently tapped the side of his chair.

“Little lord should enter right after this duel is over. He was registered for the third duel.”

The guard promptly replied as he sensed the impatience of the city Lord.

“…. disciples assigned to the third duel, please step forward!”

The old man’s voice echoed within the audience.

“Haha, Chax’s fight is soon about to begin!”

Regis exclaimed in an excited voice.

After a few seconds, a large boy immediately stepped on the stage.

“Hmm, that must be Chax’s opponent. A pity… he is nothing compared to my son.”

Just as Regis was muttering to himself, suddenly, a familiar voice resounded in the stadium.

Chax had just entered the stage!

“No need to wait anymore. Let’s begin.”

When the figure slowly stepped on stage, Fatty sensed the intense pressure exuding from Chax!

Feeling his hands faintly tremble, Fatty tightly clenched his fists in order to steady his nerves.

Dammit, dammit, dammit! Why did it have to be him!? There is absolutely no way that I can fight against Chax! Maybe, I should give up…

Fatty’s thoughts frantically raced in his mind, as he debated on what to do next.

Turning his head to look at his big brother, Fatty saw the pale faced Calron worriedly gazing at him.

Seeing the expression on his brother’s face, Fatty felt the turmoil in his heart slowly resolve. This was his chance to do something for Calron, and besides, how could he simply surrender to someone who constantly looked down upon his big brother?

“Hehe, how can the little brother be a coward, if the big brother is so amazing? If I give up now, I will never be able to catch up to big brother!”

Fatty softly muttered to himself, as he gave a small smile to Calron, and then turned to face the opponent in front of him.

…………………..

“Fatty… no, don’t do this… ”

Calron whispered to himself as his heart violently pounded against his chest!

“He looks up to you… I don’t know why, but he adores you like his own blood brother.“

A gentle voice sounded out from behind Calron, as he suddenly felt a soft hand on his shoulder.

Felice slowly stepped next to Calron while she continued speaking.

“He told me that he wanted to be as amazing as his big brother, and it was his motivation to train relentlessly. Even now, he wants to fight to prove his strength to you!”

Felice softly said as her eyes started to get misty.

How could she not know what her little brother was thinking? If it was not for Chax constantly oppressing Calron, why would her little brother continue to stand his ground against someone of Chax’s strength?

“Fatty… “

Calron clenched his fists until the veins on his arm slowly started to pop.

“Just watch him. Rory is not so weak as you might think.”

Felice gently whispered with a slight smile on her face, as she withdrew her hand from Calron’s shoulder.

Tilting his head to look at the girl he was once extremely weary of, Calron did not know how to feel about the current Felice.

Calron realized that this was the first time that he had truly talked to Felice! Her previous cold and heartless exterior had completely vanished, as it left behind a girl who was simply worried about her little brother.

Although Felice spoke in a light tone, Calron could still detect traces of worry in her face.

“Fatty, you better not lose… “

Calron murmured as he turned his attention to the stage.

………………….

“The heavens must really favor me, to make you my opponent for this duel!”

Chax loudly stated as he gave a low chuckle.

Fatty remained silent, as he knew words would just be wasted on the arrogant boy in front of him.

“What happened? You were pretty impatient to fight me back in the booth, don’t tell me that you’re afraid now because that lightning trash isn’t behind you?”

Chax continued to taunt Fatty as he walked towards the center of the stage.

Hearing Chax insult his big brother, Fatty’s expression abruptly changed as his eyebrows knitted together in a furious anger!

“You can insult each other as much as you want, but wait till I give you the permission to start your duel.”

The old man’s voice echoed in the stadium as it was amplified with essence.

“Are the two participants ready?”

The old pervert inquired as he looked at the two disciples.

“I’m ready to give this punk a thrashing!”

Chax fiercely growled, as his eyes bore into Fatty.

“I am ready.”

Fatty replied to the old man in a firm tone.

“You may begin!”

The old man suddenly bellowed as he stepped away from the stadium.

Immediately, Chax released his essence as a fiery wave of scarlet flames coalesced around his body!

Cracking his knuckles, Chax laughed out loud.

“You still haven’t told me your name. Well, whatever, it’s not like it matters!”

Hearing the large boy continue to taunt him, Fatty remained still for a while, and then suddenly released his own essence!

A wild howling wind viciously screamed in the air, as bursts of arctic blue essence circulated around Fatty!

A cold freezing mist exuded from his body, as the temperature abruptly dropped by several degrees! Ice started to form beneath Fatty’s feet, as the expression on his face slowly morphed into a chilling anger!

Seeing the two contrasting forms of essence behind the boys, the crowd felt their heartbeats race in excitement!

From the threats exchanged between the two boys, the intensity of the flames around Chax, along with the bone-chilling mist around Fatty, the audience knew that this was not going to be a simple duel.

Meanwhile, Chax knitted his eyebrows in doubt as he sensed the cold and frosty aura around Fatty.

“Why does he give off the same feeling as Felice… “

Chax had still not realized that the person in front of him was Felice’s little brother and a member of the Axier family!

“Hmm, seems like you have a few tricks up your sleeve, but it won’t make a difference. Your cultivation of the third rank is simply too pitiful!”

Chax calmly said, as he put aside his doubts and focused on the duel.

“Shut up!”

Fatty stated in a low frosty voice.

This was first time that Fatty spoke since the duel had started!

The current Fatty was completely opposite to the one that used to goof around and play pranks on Calron. This was a rare side of Fatty that slowly started to emerge once he had awakened his element!

How could Fatty be so simple? The Blood Legacy coursed through his veins just like Calron!

The path of blood and carnage was their true inheritance!

Subconsciously, the Blood Legacy had started to add fuel to Fatty’s rage, as his skin started to slowly emit a faint crimson hue!

In the audience, Calron felt his heart wildly thumping against his chest.

“The legacy is activating within Fatty!”

Although the change in Fatty was very difficult to detect, but how could Calron not sense the presence of the Blood Legacy?

Calron had a much stronger mental fortitude than Fatty, so he was able to mildly control the bloodthirsty urges of the legacy. Fatty, on the other hand, was just starting to get used to the Blood Legacy!

“Curse this tournament! Fatty, surrender NOW!”

Calron sent a furious mental message from the source pool, and towards Fatty’s bridge. This was the first time that Calron had tried to mentally communicate through the Blood Legacy, but he had no other choice at this moment.

The crowd was howling and cheering with excitement as they encouraged the two disciples on stage to fight. Calron’s voice would never be able to reach Fatty over the yelling of the crowd!

Calron knew deep within his heart that it would not work, as Fatty was already too immersed in the bloodlust of the legacy.

Fervently hoping that his brother would hear his message, Calron intensely watched the scene on the stadium.

…………….

*WHOOSH*

A torrent of flames blazed behind Chax, as he abruptly rushed towards Fatty!

“Your time is up, punk!”

Chax loudly roared, while his fists exploded in a surge of scarlet flames, as he prepared to strike at Fatty!

Seeing the large boy advance towards him, Fatty let out a similarly loud roar as he charged towards Chax as well!

A mist of ice-cold essence violently burst out from behind Fatty as his fists suddenly started to emit an arctic blue gas!

The stage quaked with faint tremors, as the two forces were about to collide against each other!

BOOOOM!

A gust of violent wind spread from the center of the stage as the two fists collided!

Immediately after the first collision, another explosion sounded out!

BOOOOM!

BOOOOM!

The crowd all numbly watched the scene in front of them.

The voices and the cheering from the audience abruptly stopped.

BOOOOM!

“W-what is this?”

A disciple in the crowd muttered in a quivering voice.

“I can’t watch this anymore… this is too sick… “

BOOOOM!

Except for the sounds coming from the stage, the whole Arena had turned completely quiet.

Within the crowd, a teardrop suddenly splashed against the ground.