Teenagers from all over the six Kingdoms, as well as the adjacent lands, made their way to Barbatos Academy in order to join the tournament whose name had spread far and wide.
It was none other than the Lionheart's Tournament.
The rewards for the tournament were simply too good, that even those above the age of twenty were tempted to join. Unfortunately, an age limit was set, and only those who were aged twenty-two or below were allowed to participate in the tournament.
"Is he already here?" Nero asked one of his subordinates who was also a student in Barbatos Academy.
"I saw him walking hand in hand with Lady Iris yesterday in the gardens," a blonde-haired boy said in a flattering tone. "I don't know if he registered in the tournament or not, but I didn't see his name in the official roster."
"Understood," Nero replied. "Continue to keep your eyes and ears open. I will give you your rewards in Elysium."
"Thank you very much!"
"No need to thank me. As long as you remain loyal to me, I will take care of you in Elysium."
After the blonde-haired boy left Nero's room, the latter clenched his fist in anger.
"Walking hand in hand?" Nero muttered. "You are really pushing your luck, you worthless piece of trash!"
Lightning crackled on Nero's closed fist as he did his best to reign in his anger. A few minutes later, he finally regained his calm as he stared at the mirror in front of him.
"Aside from the Four Kings and Five Overlords, no one else will reach the Semi-Finals." Nero gazed at his reflection on the mirror. "I've worked hard over the past few years and sacrificed many things in order to reach what I am today. I will not allow a spoiled Half-Elf, who only got lucky to be picked up by a Ranker in the river, step over my head."
Nero's gaze sharpened as the image of the beautiful young lady with long blue hair, and eyes as beautiful as sapphires, flashed across his mind.
"Lady Iris is only the beginning," Nero stated. "Soon, I will be known by everyone as the Champion of this tournament. Everyone will know my name, and I will no longer be ridiculed because of my lowly commoner's background."
As if Fate was playing a trick on him, the moment he looked outside the window of the room he was staying at inside the Academy, he saw the Half-Elf walking alone, headed towards the Training Grounds.
Nero sneered at the red-headed teenager whom he had hated all his life inside his head.
"I hope you joined the tournament," Nero said with ridicule. "You're fortunate that I am willing to waste my precious time to watch your face get beaten to a pulp by one of the participants in the tournament."
Nero, as well as the Four Kings, and the other Four Overlords of the Young Generation were treated as Seeded Contestants, who no longer needed to join the early elimination rounds.
They would instantly be among the top thirty-two contestants, who would battle it out until eight of them remained. Those eight would then battle and the victors would proceed into the semi-finals, where the final four would be chosen.
Aside from the recognized geniuses of the young generation, Nero didn't fear anyone. For him, as long as he used the Trump Cards in his possession, becoming the Champion had a high possibility.
"Just you wait, Lux Von Kaizer," Nero pledged. "I will take away the things that are important to you, and you will understand that you only achieved the things that you have right now because you got lucky in life.
"Someone like you doesn't deserve to live a happy life.
"Someone like you… does not deserve to be Lady Iris' partner for life."
Nero gave the Half-Elf one last glare before closing the window of his room. He then stared at his rough hands that had been stained by blood and clenched them tightly.
No matter what happened, he would be the one to win the tournament, and, above all else, prove to the world that his lowly background would not hinder him from soaring high in the sky like a dragon in flight.
—--
'Not bad,' Lux thought as he looked at the countless young men and women who had come to participate in the most prestigious tournament that happened once every four years.
The Gathering of Heroes.
This was what this grand gathering was called.
The young heroes from all over the Six Kingdoms, as well as the surrounding territories, would send the strongest members of the young generation to participate in the Lionsheart Tournament that would commence in two days' time.
Lux had seen the previous tournament, and he vowed to himself that the next time it was hosted, he would participate and show how strong he was to everyone.
Although he was now about to realize his aspiration, the method he was going to use to join the tournament was different from the one he envisioned. Even so, he had already decided to join the tournament on his own terms, and stand on the stage that he had dreamed about in the past.
It was not only the brown-haired teenager that held a strong grudge against the Half-Elf. Lux also held a grudge against him too.
Both of them wanted to face each other in the tournament. However, Nero was unaware that Lux had joined the tournament using a different persona.
The Half-Elf needed to win the qualifying rounds without losing once in order to reach the top 32 participants, where the Four Kings and the Five Overlords were waiting for him.
'Lionsheart Tournament,' Lux recalled with a smile. 'Don't lose before I face you, Nero. I will make you understand that the useless Half-Elf, who you disdain so much, is going to use your face to sweep the arena of the tournament.'
The Half-Elf chuckled internally because he believed that, as long as he took the battles seriously, it was very hard for him to not reach the Semi-Finals where the true monsters of the young generation were waiting for him.
