Thessalia waved her hands, casting, "Fireball!"

{Note: From now on, I will describe the shield projection as what it is, instead of characters saying Shield Projection and what mana essence they were trying to gather}

Kane wasn't as slow as well to defend himself, "Reflective Shield!"

The fireball was sent back to Thessalia, though weaker than her initial spell.

Thessalia snorted. She lifted her hands forward and grasped the air, pulling it back and sent it forward again.

This caused her to take control of the fireball, gathering fire mana essence and changed its form, "Rain of Fire!"

"Water Stream, Water Wall!"

The wall of water protected him from the barrage of fireballs. This produced a lot of steam that covered the arena platform.

Thankfully, the examiner bugs were present in the area, allowing the spectators to watch it on the magic screens instead.

"They're equal? Impossible!", Al'dous was shocked to the core.

The rest of the audience held their breaths, afraid that they might break the silence.

The ground suddenly trembled, alerting Kane.

'Earthen Spike!', Thessalia secretly casted.

Kane felt the disturbance in the air. A large number of small earthen spikes fell upon him.

"Wind Swallow!"

He sent multiple small tornado-like figures towards the earthen spikes, breaking them down into smithereens.

`In front!`

"Shockwave!"

The steam was blown away but Thessalia was no longer in her previous position.

He then heard somebody whispering behind his ear, "Naïve prince.", before he was blown away.

Kane fell on the ground face-first before rolling.

The captain guard noticed Thessalia launching another attack, forcing him to prematurely end the fight between the two.

"Stop, the winner is Princess Thessalia!"

The steam vanished and everyone saw what happened.

The Eldens clapped, satisfied with Thessalia's performance. The humans, however, and most of them, were shocked by the result. Gasps filled the area again, with murmurs and complaints here and there.

The others snickered, while the others remained indifferent, especially Zachariel.

"So brat, what do you think?"

"Senior, it would've been better if I remained in the Dark Forest instead of watching this.", Zachariel coldly replied.

Their fight was boring, at best, in his opinion.

"Come on, don't be so harsh upon Prince Kane. The emperor might be angry with you about that.", Von sarcastically whispered, "Also, are you not interested in the Elden's early arrival here as well?"

Zachariel didn't reply.

Von sighed, "Fine, fine, let's get out of here then. I have other more things to tell you. About the events that happened. And your… family."

The last word piqued Zachariel's interest, "My family?"

"You'll know when we get there.", Von gestured to Zachariel.

"Damn it! Damn it!", an angry shout reached everyone's ears clearly.

They looked at the source and saw it was Kane.

Many of them gulped in nervousness, `Is the prince angry now?`

"Kane Cromwell, are you that thirsty for victory?", Thessalia mocked him.

Kane slowly focused his cold eyes on her. He wanted to rip her apart right at this moment, however, he knew he didn't have the power to do so.

"My Prince, we should leave this area now.", one of his followers came to help him up.

He shoved the person away and abruptly got up, "Get off me, don't tell me what to do!", strutting out of the arena in such a manner.

Thessalia noticed Zachariel leaving the arena, and so did her father.

"Wait, young man.", Thalanil shouted, catching the attention of everyone.

Kane thought it was him who was being called out and turned around, "Yes, Your Highness Thalanil?"

Thalanil ignored him, "You're Zachariel Strom, aren't you?"

Zachariel stopped in the mention of his name. Von looked sideways, interested on Thalanil's sudden behavior, just as everybody else was.

"Zachariel Strom? Isn't he that guy who has a bout against Prince Kane and the Royal Family?"

"You mean that boy whose family is now in tatters?"

"Shh!! Don't be too loud or else he'll hear you! He's been missing for a month! Rumors say he was bested by the Royal Family. It looks like he's made it out alive!"

Zachariel heard all of it. His sense of hearing would mysteriously adjust itself so that he could even hear people who were whispering ear to ear.

`Family now in tatters? Bested by the Royal Family? What the hell happened to mother and father, and grandfather?!`

An ill omen bode in his heart. It started to beat so fast he wanted to get out of this place and ask Von about what happened in the month he was entirely asleep.

However, he kept his composure and faced Thalanil with indifference.

"Yes, sir. What do you need of this young one?"

"It is as what they say. You are truly interesting.", Thalanil said with his somewhat pale and weakly voice.

His stature wasn't looking good. It was thin and the wrinkled skin gave way that he doesn't have much in the world to live for.

Meanwhile, the crowd was gasping again. This time, on how Zachariel managed to grasp the interest of one of the leaders of the Great Elden Conglomerate.

It was already awe-inspiring for him to grab the attention of the Imperium Royal Family. How much more about those of the Elders or leaders from the Eldens.

"I know you don't want to waste much time. Let me be blunt.", Thalanil's voice turned serious. The previous weakness in his voice was no longer present.

"I hope that you could give my daughter a chance to fight with you, even if it is not on your level of power. This, I ask of you, as one of the leaders of the Great Elden Conglomerate.", Thalanil bowed.

There was a hint of honesty and sincerity behind his plea.

"Father!", Thessalia was dumbstruck.

The way how his father put it, Zachariel was definitely stronger and talented than her.

Everyone was left dazed as well.

"Your… Highness…", Elder Gorfo's face sweated.

Zachariel wanted to deny, "I already have a scheduled fight with another person. I wo…"

"Consider your fight with Kane absolved at this moment. I will submit a plea to the Supreme Elders to pass him another set of punishment instead.", his opinion angered many human spectators but he waved his hands, signaling them to let him finish.

"Zachariel Strom. If you accept my offer, I will lend you a chance to enroll you at our Great Schools. If you are a smart man, you should know why I wouldn't let your battle with Kane be set into stone.", Thalanil mysteriously added, "What do you say, Zachariel Strom?"

Zachariel was left at a crossroad. He knew what Thalanil was trying to imply. Regardless of the outcome of the fight between him and Kane, things wouldn't go in the better, but far worse than it is now.

Should he win, Kane would be executed or assuming he would be executed. The Royal Family wouldn't let such a thing happen, and when they voice out their rejection, they will certainly incur the wrath of the public.

That would lead to the internal instability of the Imperium. The dark underground factions might use this as a chance to launch a surprise attack against them, possibly leading to a devastating result that no one would expect.

If Zachariel would be executed, on the other hand, it was nigh impossible to happen in the first place. Zachariel knew he could easily overpower Kane.

Just using qi essence alone was more than enough to beat the prince in a variety of ways.

`Should I reject his offer, or should I accept it?`

, Von advised him using the telepathic link.

`Myself and those who are close to me, huh?`, Zachariel looked at his palm.

"I see that you're in doubt of yourself right now. Consider my offer valid until the moment you are about to battle with Kane, Zachariel Strom. I will wait for your final decision.",

Thalanil bowed before gesturing the rest of the Eldens to move out of the arena.

Von and Zachariel also left at the same time.

Kane was left standing with a stupefied look on his face. He gripped his fists tightly. The nerves were almost about to break out of it.

He threw a fit and left the area in rage.

The news of Thalanil planning to absolve Kane and Zachariel's match spread fast.

Many took it as a way of Eldens oppressing the Great Human Imperium and interfering with their internal matters.

Hearst Household.

Lucas sat on a comfortable chair with his wife on the other side.

"This Zachariel Strom will have no choice but to agree to His Highness Thalanil's offer.", he said while sipping wine.

"Why do you think so, my love? Wouldn't that be disadvantageous for him to do so? That boy will incur the public's wrath, and he may even be shamed for his cowardice and be oppressed even more by the Royal Family.", his wife voiced out.

"You don't understand, Geva. Zachariel's family is already gone. Should he choose to fight Kane, he will lose either way. He wins and the Royal Family will reject such a result. If Kane's life is threatened, they will threaten to kill those who threatened him to die in the first place."

"On the other hand, if Zachariel loses then things would become worse for him."

"If he is smart, he should accept Thalanil's offer. That boy would then have a free life in the Great Elden Conglomerate. He could become as powerful as whatever he wants and no one could stop him, not even the Eldens themselves.", Lucas narrated with great confidence.

"Why would the Eldens not try to stop him, my love? Wouldn't they be intimidated by Zachariel's presence and at least have the effort to put him down on his knees?"

Lucas rolled his eyes over the stupidity of his wife.

"Geva, have you ever heard of Thalanil greeting a human as kind as that once before? Or maybe in the past, have any of those damn Eldens ever taken us as their equals once?"

He gazed at her wife, raising his eyebrow, and waited for her answer.

"No?", shaking his head in annoyance.

Lucas stood up, placing the glass on the table in anger. He then grabbed her wife by the collar and shouted in her face, "Never! That's why when Thalanil is interested in a human, nobody, even us fucking nobles, should get in his way. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my love."

Lucas pushed her away.

"Damn it. All of this doesn't matter for now. What matters is how is that brat is going to behave once he finds out what happened to his parents. Oh, Zachariel Strom, I can't wait for the day I would beset you with my own bare hands."

…

Zachariel looked at his mother who was laying on the bed, unconscious. His eyes were narrowed but there was no emotion in them.

Both of his mother's eyes were plucked out and one of her breasts was missing. Nothing was left of her hair, but only a large cut and a burn mark on the top of her head.

Zachariel tried to grasp his mother's hands but no force came out of it. She was deep asleep.

Anastasia wept behind Zachariel. Clearly, the horrors of her disfigured parents brought her nightmares ever since then.

Von patiently stood at the sides, narrating the events that happened.

"Two weeks ago, the Medullan Forward Camp where your parents were stationed was suddenly attacked by a large horde of demon beasts. 2 divine demon beasts led the attack, causing massive casualties amongst the people who were there."

"Your granduncle, Leonardo, managed to save your mother, but not your father and your grandfather. Both of their bodies weren't found yet, unfortunately."

Zachariel listened in on Von's narration.

"Brion City was attacked by the same magnitude of demon beast horde as well. The entire Strom Household is… sadly gone. The only ones left are you, Amelia, and Anastasia. The other guy who went with you was found dead a few days earlier, in his own dormitory room, though publicly he was announced as kidnapped by one of the dark underground factions."

"The alliance will be dissolved, right?", Zachariel asked.

Von raised his eyebrows, "You know?"

"It's a given. I cannot be the heir to my father as I am not a real descendant. The emperor surely would've investigated that. Anastasia's the only viable heir now, but she is still not of age.", Zachariel explained his own thoughts.

Anastasia stopped her weeping when she heard her brother's words just now.

"Brother…? What are you saying right now? Why did you say you are not mother's child? You are not father's child? Are you saying you are not my brother?"

Zachariel's eyes coldly stared at her, "Yes, Anastasia. I am not your brother."

He said with no emotion.

"No, I don't believe it! I don't believe it!", Anastasia shook her head with tears falling off her eyes.

She ran at Zachariel and continuously punched him with her weak and soft hands, "No, you're my brother! There's no other way! I… I don't care anymore!"

Zachariel's eyes twitched at the sight of Anastasia's grieving.

`I guess I'll have to carry her all around then.`, he thought.

He caressed Anastasia's head instead, trying to calm her down.

'Knock! Knock!'

The door behind them was opened.

"Granduncle."

"Zachariel, I am very sorry about your parents. I wanted to be with your grandfather on that day, but I was put on the other side of the camp.", Leonardo said.

Von walked to the door, "Brat, I'll be seeing you around. Even though the alliance will be gone, I'll be keeping my eye on you. Remember that."

"What about Joey's family, senior?"

Von halted his steps, "They would be unfortunate then."

The door was closed.

Leonardo sighed and took off his hat.

"As you can see, your mother's status isn't looking good. Unless we invite a divined being to heal her, we wouldn't be able to help her get back."

Leonardo paused for a moment, blankly looking at Anabella, and turned away.

"The situation is dire, Zachariel. I want to help you but my family could only go at a length to assist you in your circumstances."

"You have many questions in mind, but the greatest one lies… in your origins. In how you came to be. But do not fret, Zachariel, my child. Your grandfather wanted to be the one to tell you instead, but it looks like that won't be happening."

"That's why I'm here, this time. To tell you, Zachariel Strom, about what happened 16 years ago. About how I, and your grandfather, found you, in a burning crater."