Being of the Lord realm, Troy naturally took pride in his abilities.
Yet here he now stood defeated by Michael’s faction.
It would have been one thing if he had simply been outmatched, but Michael had completely overpowered him. The only reason Troy had managed to land a fatal blow at all was because his two companions, both from the sa realm as him, had been present.
At that mont, the broadcast abruptly cut off. There was no need for the world to witness the Emperor’s judgnt.
"I have seen enough."
The Emperor’s voice echoed in the arena, his crimson gaze settling on Troy.
"P—Please!" Troy’s knees buckled as he dropped to the ground. His forehead kissing the floor in a desperate appeal.
Those behind him followed his example.
"Give us another chance. We spent so much—"
The Emperor cut him off.
"Your troops lost to a faction with a tenth of your strength. They did not even possess a single Lord. Nobody needs an incompetent soldiers like you. Leave my sight."
After a brief pause he shifted his gaze to the Indomitable Alliance.
"You have proven your worth. Even if you fail to advance to the next rounds, your presence in the blessed lands has been rightfully earned."
Wordlessly, Michael nodded before turning to leave, the crew following after him.
’That went better than expected.’ He thought.
If his theory was correct, the tournant had never been about glory. It existed solely for the Emperor to identify who had been capable of killing Malice.
Even though Michael was only a single Grandmaster, there had always been a faint trace of suspicion. His accomplishnts were noteworthy, after all. Perhaps he was far stronger than he allowed the world to believe.
But now, that suspicion has been extinguished. It was true that Michael had managed to stand against three Lords at once, an extraordinary feat that had not been easy. Given how many injuries he accumulated in the process...
And that struggle had been more than enough to prove Michael’s innocence in the Emperor’s eyes. He simply did not possess the power required to defeat Malice.
Only Lord Julia could have had any inkling of Devil’s existence. Yet, judging by her tornted state, it was clear that much of her sanity had shattered. She couldn’t trust her own mories, nor what she had experienced.
Devil’s existence remained a secret.
Michael had avoided being branded as the culprit.
And the Indomitable Alliance erged victorious.
"We are back!" Michael’s voice rang out as the crew returned to the base.
"Michael!"
As soon as he entered, Scarlett, who had been anxiously waiting, pounced on him. Her arms wrapped around him as they embraced him tightly.
"For a second I forgot that you can’t die there!" She wept. "You can’t imagine how scared I was that I will never see you again!"
Isabella shook her head. "I tried to calm her down, but she wouldn’t listen."
Michael chuckled warmly, patting her on the head.
"There is no need to worry. As you can see, I am alive."
Eventually Scarlett cald down. Her saddened expression shifted into a cute pout.
"But this can’t go on... I’ve decided! Mom and I are joining your faction and fighting alongside you! At least this way, we can keep you safe from these dangerous situations!"
"No." Michael’s heavy declaration didn’t leave room for disobedience.
"You may join, if you insist, but you will not step into battle. Much less against dangerous cultivators that could scar you for life."
Scarlett stomped her foot.
"B–But... Why?" She whispered.
"Even if I’m still too young to decide... What if I want to fight on the frontline? It pains to know my brother is out there battling while I’m stuck here, foolishly chasing my goal of learning bioengineering!"
"Why?" Michael muttered, his cold gaze fixed on the ground.
’I already allowed you once... which only resulted in you suffering, ending in premature death.’ His fists clenched. There was no way he could allow such an outco to repeat itself.
"Now, now..." Isabella cald down her daughter, sensing that sothing was amiss. "Michael just got back, and he even let us join his faction. Let’s not push him unnecessarily, okay?"
Scarlett’s eyes narrowed. As she grasped his hand, with a nervous expression.
"I—I am sorry. I didn’t an to..."
Michael took a deep breath.
"It’s fine. There is no need to apologize."
As the crew settled around the base, so to train, others to rest their minds and bodies. Ava headed towards the top floor, which was specifically designed for cultivation.
Entering a private room with padded walls ensuring complete privacy, she took a deep breath, settled on the ground in a ditation position, and closed her eyes.
’Not useless... Not a nuisance...’ Michael’s words resounded in her mind, filling her with unwavering determination.
’I have grown tired of always being one realm behind Victoria and Claire. It’s ti to change that.’
The spiritual energy in the area surged towards her, causing energy reserves to expand.
For a cultivator to ascend to the next realm, abundant spiritual energy wasn’t the only criteria. They had to achieve enlightennt, a feat that beca progressively harder with each higher realm.
In so cases, it was an inspiration. In others, they had to live through a traumatizing experience.
Regardless of the thod, that requirent served as a great filter of sorts. Stopping vast numbers of soldiers from ascending for years, decades, or even the rest of their lives.
However, whether it was due to Michael’s plan of giving Ava a vital role in the last battle or her own sheer stubbornness... She achieved enlightennt.
Her skin beca visibly smoother, her crimson lips softer and more tempting, and her pink hair more lustrous. Her senses sharpened, and the aura she radiated began to command presence.
Eventually, her eyes fluttered open, carrying a blend of irresistible allure and a newfound power.
Taking out a mirror, she examined her reflection. In an instant, it beca apparent that her facial features had grown even more charming, making her appearance cuter.
Ava had beco a Grandmaster.
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