They are coming.

  The boogeyman that stalked at the back of Viers’ mind.

  Finally, the day is here... My hunter.

  Viers had foreseen this for a long time. Since the day he met a half-dead bull demigod, refused his offer, took his core, and ate his flesh.

  It gave him the ability to transform into monster form and other boons. Others desire such invaluable things too, the core most of all. Which Viers estimated to be a Rank 7 core. Since the bull came from the eastern continent, the pursuers would be easterners too, more likely than not.

  According to his vast and rapidly growing sea of information from uncountable soul searches, reinforced by the news from the recently returning Sakaki Sakuya, the eastern continent’s ‘cultivators’ were stronger than this side’s Pathseeker, averagely speaking.

  And they had far greater numbers of people who had transcended mortal limits, who went beyond Level 5.

  Just now, Viers felt his Mystic Star Shroud, an obfuscation art he bought from the mysterious being Aletro, shrinking.

  Even when Level 5s such as Countess Grace Weiss scanned him, Viers felt the shroud shrug their attempts without difficulty whatsoever, only sensing what he wanted them to sense. This was the reason why he had never been caught despite his myriad villainous activities.

  But, just now, it was as if someone set fire to the edges of the shroud, diminishing it. This went on for under a minute before it stopped.

  The shroud still worked, a lot of it still left, Around twenty-five years or so. Aletro did warn that when the likes of Level 6 to 8 scan him, the shroud’s operating time would get cut. Since whoever tried to scan him wasn't able to pierce the shroud, they weren't Level 9 at least.

  Great news, since a full-blown godlike being wasn't actively searching for him, but a Level 6 was still more than enough to obliterate Viers from existence. He had just become a Level 4, no matter how extraordinary he was, he had no arrogance to think that there existed no Level 4 better than him in the world. Level 5? He was not their opponent yet. Level 6 was too far above the charts.

  Viers didn't know if the Divine Level boogeyman was specifically searching for him. A small optimistic heart voice told him it might just be an unrelated event. Viers crushed that heart voice mercilessly. He or she was searching for him, for the Sea Rumbling Bull’s core in his possession! Assume the worst. Perhaps there were even multiple pursuers. He must never be careless.

  My secret is still safe so danger has passed. The Latias Capital hasn't been up in flames yet so at least whoever he is he's not the type to burn the forest to catch a hiding rabbit. Still, it is not preferable to stay here with something so dangerous close by for the time being.

  All the more reason to go far away.

  Like Zetel.

  “...Avel, are you alright? Does your wound still hurt?” Croix said with concern.

  “Ah, apologies. The anesthetic, I think. Makes it hard to concentrate. Please go on.”

  “Alright. So did you know we got buffed while inside the fort? It’s incredible!”

  Round 1 ended at midnight. Viers was carried to the infirmary immediately. A few hours later, still before the sun came up, came his team. They chatted and then left so Croix and Viers could talk in private. Clarissa dropped by to take a peek but left after seeing he was fine without saying a word. The setting was they didn't know each other. Farley, Paina, and Sakuya did the same.

  Croix told the result of the competition that Viers missed.

  “The first place belongs to Celestine’s team, the second and third, Vadym and Cassian. Not much difference in score between the three. Sister Celestine’s team is a dark horse. Since Cassian is the oldest among them, he’s the most bitter, landing on the third spot, especially when losing against Vadym. The two’s rivalry is well known. Vadym is a dual affinity of Star and Death. I’ve seen his recordings. When he went against a Rank 4-”

  “Is that so,” Viers looked at Croix’s fingers that he waved around as he illustrated his story. Elvina cut his fingers during their duel, but there wasn't even a scar left after the reattachment. Viers’ wounds were so much worse so he was still in bed but it was much better. He got to hand it to the Latias healers, the medical treatment here was top-notch.

  Croix then spoke about the remaining teams, starting from the fourth place highest scorer. Viers listened until Croix said his own place, eighth.

  “Thoughts, Highness?”

  “Actually, I didn't think we would be so low. With Ciel, you, Boram, Falmerion, I think we’d be higher. Yes, we didn't go all out, but neither did the top three...” Croix sighed. “Even lower than Theus’ sixth.”

  “There were ninety-three groups. Eighth place is pretty good, isn't it?” Viers asked.

  “Not good enough,” Croix answered. “I’ll do better in the next round, even in your absence.”

  Viers gave a positive hmm.

  Lutz’s team was ninth.

  “It’s a shame about brother Lutz. He is an honorable man and a nice person.”

  “You sound like you admire him,” Viers thought of the burn-faced prince that he kinda stepped on the toes of in the past.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “The way he rallied the others, his strategies, his judgment, most of all his character... All befitting a prince. Seeing him, I realize many of my deficiencies.”

  “Realizing one’s shortcomings is a good thing,” said Viers.

  “Next is team White. All four are wearing masks. Their origin and the full extent of their abilities are a mystery, but they are a powerful bunch. They made the locusts swarm we saw in the distance. They fought Cassian with his two Rank 4 familiars, Deva monster by the way, to a standstill! It was unbelievable.”

  Croix was, of course, talking about Farley and the others. Croix and the world saw the highlights of every passing team during Duke Crowe’s announcement. Viers was there too, when he epicly fought multiple Rank 4 cockroaches. It was great for the camera because he acted with the assumption he would be on camera, the sly devil.

  Hearing Croix heap praises on his companions felt very gratifying. Clarissa and the others worked very hard, he had seen it firsthand and had a small part in their ascension to the ranks of elite Pathseekers. Viers didn't spoon-feed his close allies their power. He showed them the door, it was they who must open and walk through it.

  So if they make something of themselves, it is mostly because of them, not him; such was Viers’ thoughts. It was the feeling of a proud dad.

  Croix went on from the eleventh to the sixteenth without too much detail. Viers was a good listener. Elvina and the Rising Fortune didn't make the cut.

  “It is a shame about sister Elvina... She had a high enough score but was unable to notch a Rank 4 kill. She helped defeat one, but not enough in the eyes of the judges. She didn't show her nervousness much but I know this jeopardized her deal with her mother's captors. She worries about her safety.”

  “I’ll get her out of that shitty company, Highness. I promise.”

  Viers picked up that to the siblings that Croix respected and knew to some capacity, he called them brother or sister in private.

  “I know. I’m putting a lot of trust in you and a lot of responsibility... because I can't shoulder the burden. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked this of you.”

  Croix knew he was sending Avel to a Level 4’s lair on a hostile foreign territory to save a prisoner without support whatsoever. The eighteen-year-old prince didn't know how his vassal would achieve that but he knew it would be dangerous.

  “If you’d remember, it was I who suggested it,” Viers said. “I’d only offer to do it if I have enough chance of success. I have no intention of dying.”

  “But, your wounds...”

  “Won't affect my chance of success. Fight in Round 2 without worrying about me. It is unnecessary and you have your own difficulties to surmount.”

  “Fuh,” Croix was emboldened by Avel’s confidence. “I envy how sure you are of yourself, Avel... Speaking of which, you did a great job with the Liapris elves. The Shore is thriving, a lot of elven goods flowed from there and some people are allowed entry to the elven grove now. There's a healthy budding cooperation between our races there. You have my thanks. When I talked about it to Elvina, she said she wished to visit if there’s an opportunity.”

  “You’re too kind. I was mostly in seclusion for my Level Up to 4. It was mostly the Countess’ policy and Jessica.”

  Though Jessica had gone to the Latias Hogwarts along with her son and the others, she came back a few times to the Biome and visited Liapris when the opportunity allowed, solving problems when she could. She lived with the elves for a while so there was sentiment on both sides.

  Croix then talked about the details of Round 2. From the sixteen out of ninety-three groups that passed, there would be a group battle, here in the Capital, tomorrow. Presided by the Ducal House of Lucan. Ducal House of Crowe had passed the baton to the next organizer.

  “The silver lining is that there will be no elimination. All sixteen will go on to Round 3 when this is over. Still, it’s no excuse to slack off. We’ll do our best to pull your weight too.”

  “I’m sure you will.”

  Seemed like Round 2 would be a direct clash between teams, separated into four blocks. No fancy settings, just a straight-up team versus team. Win or lose, they would fight another team. The top two of each block would then proceed to fight the top two of the other blocks.

  It was straight and simple. A perfect opportunity to showcase one’s abilities and the big shots to judge the contestants. Viers felt he made the right call to sit this one out and conduct a raid on a Magisterium Tower.

  Too straight of a tournament arc for me. How banal.

  How many chapters would it take if this is a novel? Twenty? A hundred? More? I wouldn't underestimate it. I've read xianxia novels with really stretchy tournament arcs. Hell, there are power fantasy stories in RR where the tutorial arc hasn't finished even at chapter two hundred!

  If the author delved deep into each team, meaning sixteen times four, sixty-four people is certainly enough material to make an arc. Backstories, Arte origins, legacies, sob stories, grudges, revelations... if some of the fights last multiple chapters, well, you get the idea.

  While Croix and the others did all that, which they seemed to have no problem whatsoever, Viers got to raid a private company’s installation instead. The way to do it was up to him. It wouldn't be a walk in the park but all in all, he felt he got the better deal.

  “Ah, look at the time,” Croix slapped his forehead. “You should be resting. Well, I’ll take my leave. Have a good rest, Avel. I’ll get what you requested from the Round 1’s merit score.”

  Viers nodded. “Say hi to Ciel and Boram for me. One last piece of advice before you leave, Highness.”

  “Yes?”

  “Be wary of the last place guy,” Viers said.

  From what Croix told him earlier, the leader of the sixteenth team was a Level 3 young man and he was the sixth son of a baron. He wasn't particularly strong or noteworthy, quite ordinary even. Compared to the threat of his half-siblings, Theus, and the mysterious team White, Croix had too much in his head.

  Viers thought he merited special attention precisely because he was nothing special.

  In tournament arcs like this, the MC is usually the one that starts at the very bottom and then wins the whole thing at the end. This guy is in the perfect position.

  “Leth Silveray? What about him?”

  God, even the name sounds like a main character... And this guy is the sixth son? Well, there's that guy who is the EIGHTH son. Fishy fishy. The rest of his team is all girls? My MC sense is tingling even more!

  “While looking up to surmount your betters is praiseworthy, if you don’t be careful while you walk, you might get tripped by an unassuming pebble, remember that,” Viers said.

  “...I’ll heed your advice. Thank you.”

  Croix left after bowing slightly, even though Avel was his vassal he still treated him with respect and decency. He was a good kid, Viers thought.

  Now then, I should get going. Hopefully, the Magisterium execs still haven't heard the news of their lapdog’s demise and Elvina’s elimination. Zetel is pretty far after all. Even if they did get the news, the sooner I act to save Elvina’s pure-blood elf mother, the better. My reinforcements are coming too. After I heal up, I’m good to go.

  Viers left a body double in the infirmary for the alibi and left through the window. His aim was the safe house his inner circle bought in Latias Capital. Dia’s Gate Plant was there.

  He was being followed.

  There was a bit of panic stemming from his earlier paranoia since a Level 6 hunter or above was just here, but after sensing the Level of this pursuer, Viers just smiled.

  Well, well. What do we have here? Interesting.