What Raze had predicted had become a reality. The news of the Dark Faction being attacked had spread, but what had spread more was the person who had defended it, the one that was known as the Sun Warrior.
The Light Faction Elders had learned of this, and they were quite relieved that the Demonic Faction wasn't able to get an upper hand on them.
In their minds, they believed that the Demonic Faction, after having wiped out one of their cities and successfully defending an attack, was getting a little too confident, and this had put them in their place.
The Dawnblade clan was at the center of the discussion taking place, especially since they had lost one of their Elders.
At the base of the clan, in a large oval building that let in light from above, the Elders were sitting down cross-legged opposite each other, and in the center of the room was Beatrix Highborn.
"We understand that you have been in seclusion after your loss to the Demonic Faction; it appears your strength has risen quite a bit," the Elder complimented.
Beatrix gave a slight bend of the knee before answering. "I have taken what had occurred as a lesson to continue to strive forward. I am confident that I would be able to best anyone from my generation."
"Certainly," the Elder replied. "Dame, I believe, was part of the same generation, but you had bested him and everyone else at the last martial arts tournament."
"It's because of your victory in the past that the Light Faction has been able to avoid confrontation. If your student is to win again, then it will solidify our position. Because we won the last martial arts tournament, it will take place in the Light Faction as well."
"Which is why I need you to continue your growth. You are the shining star of the Dawnblade Clan. I'm sure you have heard of the news."
"The Dark Faction has the student known as the White Dragon we need to be wary of, and now they have someone known as the Sun Warrior as well. It's quite possible that these two will appear."
"Meanwhile, the Demonic Faction also has this rising Demon character, and the Dark Magus himself is one to worry about."
"In terms of students, the Black Tiger is who we need to worry about from their end. We will pass on any data we have before the tournament is to take place."
It was quite common during the time of the martial arts tournament for names to be spread through the continent. It was a way to try and get fear to rise in others.
The tournament was where they would learn if they were true or not.
The Light Faction only had Beatrix at the moment, but they had their ways and secrets of their own to win the tournament.
From the Light Faction, the top five from the academy would be selected along with Beatrix's student from the Light Faction.
If things went their way, winning twice in a row while the enemy was in their territory was the perfect time for them to get rid of the others.
What the world didn't know was that in the Demonic Faction a large change was taking place that no one had any idea about.
The Splitting Fang Clan was a powerful clan in the Demonic Faction. They focused on new techniques not seen before and were on the rise.
Many would have claimed that their power was no less than the other three large clans in the Demonic Faction: the Neverfall clan, the Behemoth Clan, and the Lost Clan.
Their history was small, and they had to prove themselves in many ways, one of these ways was through a talented student known as Mantis, or his more well-known title was the Black Tiger.
He was the top student at the Pagna academy located in the Demonic Faction. The most talented they had and was most likely to lead the Demonic Faction to victory, at least in their minds.
The Splitting Fang Clan was built in the middle of a jungle at the edge of a cliffside. Outside the entrance had a large carving of a tiger with teeth growing out of it.
It was a rural place, away from multiple cities and wasn't a city of its own. Because it was an area that was dedicated just to growing stronger.
Yet, if someone was to turn up to the entrance today, they would notice a stark difference. One of the large teeth had been destroyed.
Going further into the clan's base, the warriors were cut and beaten, lying on the floor. This continued on to the inside, where the leaders, the head of the clan, and more, every single one of them were defeated.
Mantis, the Black Tiger, was standing in the center of the Clan leader's room. The seat that the clan head would sit on was broken, and he was knelt down by the side of it, wiping blood from his face.
"I can't believe it, who in Pagna could take out the Splitting Fang Clan, with just three people?" Mantis said as he wiped more blood from the side of his mouth.
The man's footsteps moved closer, but Mantis had already fought as hard as he could along with the others; he no longer had the energy to fight back.
"We are from the Bonum Society, and we need you, young one, to be a lot stronger than you are. At the state you are currently in, you are guaranteed to lose.
"You will become our greatest weapon."
Elsewhere in the Demonic Faction, the Neverfall Clan had also received news of what had taken place in the Faction and were discussing a number of things.
"Sir, no one qualified for the tournament from ours this year, it might look bad on the clan," one of the Elders spoke.
Belil waved his hand as if it was no big deal. "That doesn't matter, if we really want to take part, we can always challenge one of those selected before the time comes, and I'm more interested in the events of the world."
Belil then looked at Rayna, one of the only family members of his that always turned up to these meetings, but when she saw his smile, she knew what he was going to bring up, because it was brought up every single time one of these meetings took place.
"Now don't give me that face," Belil said with a small pout. "In fact, what I wanted to do is give you a congratulation gift on your marriage."
Rayna gulped because she already had received one of his wedding gifts, and it was the destruction of part of the Light Faction. She was worried what another gift might be.
"I'm sure you have heard, recently a clan that went by the name the Flesh Clan had gone and attacked the Dark Faction; they were dealt with as expected, but this meant that there was a region in the Demonic Faction that was ungoverned.
"We, the Neverfall Clan, have taken over it, but I wish to give it to you. I want you and the Dark Magus to start your own base there. It's not the best town, but I'm sure you two can make something of it, especially if you make your own sub-clan under the Neverfall Clan."
This certainly was big news. Rayna getting territory in the Demonic Faction was cementing the power of the clan even further.
"However, I have to say something, where is this husband of yours because my patience is starting to get a little thin."
