Dust still swirled in the air as Vincent and Franklin exchanged glances. They needed no words to understand the next move. Both stood tall, with no intention of attacking each other.The audience grew even more frenzied at the sight.“Break his legs first! Throw that kid out of the arena!”“We want a proper fight! Get rid of him first!”The voices exploded like bombs in every corner of the stands. Objects were lifted and swung through the air—waving hands, tickets, even empty bottles. The anger, whose cause was unclear, was focused on only one person.Arden.The air seemed to press down on his shoulders.Even his own breathing sounded loud in his ears.Arden didn't need to look at the crowd to know what they wanted. There were too many voices demanding his downfall. It was as if his presence in the arena was a huge mistake that had to be corrected.Franklin grinned widely, his eyes narrowing sharply like a predator who had just found wounded prey.“Why are you so quiet, huh, kid?” he

“How could he take out Crimson Lion's two best fighters?” Sir Kaelan stood up from his seat, his face reddening until the veins in his neck stood out. The tip of his cane struck the VIP marble floor repeatedly, producing sharp thuds that disturbed everyone around him. His gaze seemed to pierce through Arden, who was standing far away in the arena.“That brat...” he muttered angrily. “He has no title! No track record! He's never even participated in an official competition!” His voice rose. “He must be hiding something. This is not normal!”His female assistant hugged the folder tightly to her chest. Cold sweat beaded on her temples as she tried to calm her breathing. Although trembling, she nodded quickly—as if afraid that a second's delay would cause the cane to be aimed at her.“Y-yes, sir! I... I will file a protest immediately.”Her voice was almost drowned out by the roar of the audience, who were still stunned—between disbelief and incomprehension at what they had just witnessed

Sharp whispers slipped among the guests of honor as Harvey stopped in the middle of the arena. Piercing glances came from all directions—from officials in fancy suits to young fighters lined up waiting for the ceremony to begin.Their faces hardened, their noses lifted as if smelling something they didn't like.“He shows up at a time like this? Seriously...”A man in a dark blue suit bowed his head slightly, but his gaze was clearly fixed on Harvey with undisguised hatred.“Tsk... look at the way he walks in. As if he still owns this stage.”A noblewoman hissed as she clutched her fan tightly, almost breaking it.“This proves that he is not willing to be replaced. No wonder he never really wanted to give up the seat of the God of War.”The cynical tone of an officer was so loud even though he was whispering.“All this time, he always said it was for the people. Hypocrite!”Words and insults rained down like hail as Harvey and his entourage walked through the crowd. Alex walked closest

Sir Kaelan blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. A hesitant smile formed on his lips, but his eyes were filled with resentment that he was trying to hide.He chuckled softly—a sound that sounded more like a desperate mockery.“Arden... why are you babbling such things?”His staff rose slightly, its tip pointing incredulously at the boy.“How much did Harvey pay you to lie like that? Don't tell me you think people here will swallow your nonsense hook, line, and sinker?”Whispers began to creep among the audience like sly snakes. Some of them moved closer to each other, hiding their suspicions behind hands covering their mouths.“Huh? Come to think of it... maybe the kid really was paid,” muttered someone with raised eyebrows.Other audience members nodded quickly, their eyes narrowing as they tried to remember. “Yes... every time he fought in a tournament, there was always something odd. His victories... too coincidental. Too controversial.”The suspicion spread qu

Four Years Ago...The salty wind from the Fragant Strait hit the eastern coast of Kaelvarion, carrying the thick smell of gunpowder. At the border, the night sky was no longer dark—Kaelvarion's rockets streaked across it with silvery light, chasing the deafening sound of explosions.From a distance, the Xenean fleet continued to advance. Their warships cut through the waves, while the roar of jet aircraft flew low, shaking the ground as if they were about to tear through Kaelvarion's defenses at any moment.But Xenea was not a nation to retreat just because one wave of attack had failed. They were a nation that thrived on conquest, and minor defeats only made them more ferocious.Shortly after their naval and air forces were repelled, news came from the patrol line: Xenea was deploying reinforcements—not only regular soldiers, but also mercenaries known for their cruelty and lawlessness.The land routes of Kaelvarion began to stir. Border forts were attacked from the forests and valle