"He is the guardian of this sea. He has stood watch for the last four thousand years. There is no way anyone can defeat him.. So yeah passing and all." Neptunia said

Razeal watched the battle below for a few more seconds as listening before finally speaking again

"Hmmm… I see," he said slowly. "So they aren't really going serious here."

Neptunia glanced at him from the side, but he continued before she could respond.

"If that's the case, then this whole thing feels… simple. Almost like they want someone to win." His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked back at the arena. "Very desperately."

He turned toward her then, studying her expression. "I wonder what do they want from the winners?"

Neptunia stiffened at the question.

"No," she said immediately, her tone firm. "It's not like that. And don't start thinking nonsense. There's nothing harmful waiting for the winners.. I can see you are already thinking some bad."

Razeal raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"How am I not supposed to think that?" he replied flatly. "They don't even announce the first prize. No explanation. No conditions. No details you yourself told me that." He scoffed quietly. "That's suspicious by default."

Neptunia frowned, but he continued, his voice gaining a sharper edge.

"I've seen how rulers operate. Kings, nobles, councils call them whatever you want. They're all the same." His gaze hardened. "They wrap problems in pretty words and hand them off as 'rewards.' Dangerous territories. Cursed responsibilities. Nightmares disguised as honors. And once you accept, you can't refuse."

He turned fully toward her now.

"I've heard of kingdoms dumping their worst burdens on 'champions' just to wash their hands clean. Sounds exactly like that kind of setup." He shrugged. "So yeah, if you ask me, this reeks of an evil plan. High-ranking people are never generous for free. They're always selfish.. So don't be too naive in here.. Am just giving you an advice since you with for me so long... And its free."

Neptunia's expression darkened as her lips suddenly twitched on this bastards words.

A vein visibly bulged at her temple.

"There is nothing like that," she snapped. "And the king is not that kind of person."

Her voice sharpened, carrying irritation she clearly struggled to suppress.

"Maybe the prize is priceless, so it doesn't need to be announced. Or maybe he wants it to remain a surprise. Ever thought of that?" She crossed her arms tightly. "And why do you even care? You're aiming for second place, remember? Whatever the prize is, good or bad, it won't concern you."

She shot him an annoyed glance. "So stop overthinking.. And trying to think first prize is set-up or a problem.. Itss nottt."

Razeal watched her quietly for a moment.

"You know something," he said calmly.

"No, I don't," Neptunia barked back instantly.

Her tone was sharp... The kind that came from someone holding something back rather than ignorance.

Razeal exhaled softly and looked away.

"Yeah. Alright. Whatever."

He didn't push further. Experience had taught him something important about women especially after spending days with Maria and her.

When they didn't want to talk, they wouldn't. Pressing only made things worse.

And more often than not, their bad moods came without explanation and stayed that way.

So he chose the smarter option: ignore it.. who cares.. he doesn't.

"Yeah alright.. tell me the rules," he said instead, his voice neutral. "Of this competition ofcourse."

Neptunia glanced at him again, then answered more controlled this time.

"You can only fight using physical strength. Nothing else."

Razeal turned toward her.

"No relics. No divine weapons. No artifacts. Nothing like that is allowed."

She paused, then leaned closer to him, lowering her voice.

"And since you're human… whatever strange abilities you people have magic, skills, bloodline powers or whatever i really dont know.. just don't use them." Her lips were close to his ear now. "It'll cause problems."

Razeal blinked, slightly surprised.

"Only physical strength?" he repeated.

She nodded.

"Huh," he murmured. "That explains why it feels not so flashy... but again doesn't really concern me."

Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "Seems like the whole purpose of this competition is to find someone with overwhelming physical power."

Neptunia studied him for a second.

"You're quick to catch on," she admitted. "I'll give you that.. But again it was just too obvious." She added.

"Is that really all?" he asked again. "Only physical strength? You sure about that?"

To him, the rules felt almost… too open and simple. And that was just too sup

suspicious as after all his Knowledge of reading novels.. Competitions backed by royalty were never straightforward. There was always something hidden beneath the surface.

Neptunia looked at him as clearly realizing that indeed she should tell him the Obious too.. or he makes mistakes. She let out a slow breath, crossing her arms before answering.

"No, no. Of course not," she said, shaking her head. "There are many rules. I just summarized the most important part."

She began counting them off calmly, her tone firm and practiced.

"First, interference from outsiders is strictly forbidden. Anyone who tries to help you from outside the arena.. directly or indirectly will be executed on the spot."

"Second, borrowed power is prohibited. Drugs, elixirs, forbidden enhancements anything that artificially increases strength beyond your natural limits is considered cheating.. Ofcourse physical skills or arts are allowed"

"You also can't bribe examiners or participants," Neptunia went on. "No buying passes. No manipulating matches. No underhanded deals.. Not that one can but still its a rile."

"And you are absolutely forbidden from harming competitors outside the arena. No ambushes before matches. No crippling someone so they can't participate. No poison, curses, or 'accidents' before their turn."

Her gaze sharpened as she looked at him as if sure he would do something like that.

"There are many smaller regulations too, but it all comes down to this.. just go and fight honestly. Step into the arena, face your opponent directly, and win with your own strength. That's all you need to know."

Razeal nodded slowly. None of it sounded restrictive to him. In fact, it sounded… comfortable.

"Oh, and one more thing," Neptunia added, almost casually. "Killing is permitted."

"Examiners can kill you if they want to," Neptunia continued bluntly. "If you signal surrender beforehand, they are required to stop. But if an examiner really decides you don't deserve that mercy… well."

She shrugged.

"Don't expect them to hold back. Still, don't worry too much. It's not easy to anger either of the examiners."

"Hm."

Razeal absorbed the information quietly. To him, the rules weren't harsh. If anything, they were refreshingly direct. No politics inside the arena. No tricks. No illusions.

Just combat.

That suited him perfectly... As for killing him? Sure..

His gaze drifted downward again, and for a moment his thoughts shifted inward.

Strength: SS Rank.

He exhaled softly through his nose.. As shaking his head.. Seems like like bullying kids now.

"So," he said calmly, "what's the age limit again?"

Neptunia answered immediately. "Anyone under thirty."

That was all she needed to say.

Razeal didn't react outwardly, but internally, the conclusion formed instantly.

No one under thirty should be capable of matching me in raw physical strength anyways.

The thought wasn't arrogance it was simply calculation.

"Then how do I participate?" he asked.

Neptunia opened her mouth to answer, then… stopped.

She blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Razeal looked at her speachlessly.

"You don't know?" he asked flatly as if he had taken her as omnipotent being afterall she seems to know everything about Atlantis.

"No no, I do. I mean just wait. I'll ask. There are officials here. Obviously."

She turned her head slowly here and there as scanning the area before spotting one of the water guards stationed nearby. Without another word, she walked over and spoke to it in a low voice.

After a short exchange, the humanoid water guard nodded and gestured toward a passageway leading deeper into the colosseum. Neptunia motioned for Razeal to stay put, raising her hand slightly before following the guard.

Razeal didn't argue. He simply waited.

His attention shifted back to his team.

Aurora and Levy stood a short distance away, both wide-eyed, clearly more interested in the spectacle than the competition itself. Levy pointed at the arena excitedly while whispering something to Aurora, who covered her mouth as she laughed softly, her eyes sparkling.

Maria, on the other hand, stood rigid.

Her arms were crossed tightly, and her gaze wasn't focused on the arena. Instead, her eyes kept moving scanning faces, entrances, exits. Watching.

Razeal noticed it.

But again be didn't comment anything.

Instead, he turned back toward the arena just as the bald man from earlier was finally defeated. His massive body hit the ground with a dull thud, and the crowd erupted into cheers as another challenger stepped forward.

Razeal watched silently, his expression unreadable.

Time passed slowly.

Then

Suddenly, Maria grabbed his arm.

Her grip was tight.

"Hey," she said urgently, her voice low but sharp. "We should run."

Razeal startled as turned his head toward her.

"…Huh?"

Razeal saw her weird expressions.. as she seems to be looking somewhere.. so he just simply followed Maria's gaze as Askin gonna take too much time.

At first, he saw nothing unusual just the endless tiers of the colosseum rising higher and higher, packed with spectators, noise, color, and motion. But then his eyes adjusted, sharpening as his focus pushed farther than what ordinary vision could reach.

At the very top of the colosseum, high above even the uppermost stands, he noticed it.

An open chamber.

Unlike the rest of the structure, which was crowded and chaotic, that chamber stood alone isolated, elevated and very deliberate. Obvious that it wasn't made for spectators or challengers.

It was made for authority.

Must be king's chamber, Razeal realized instantly.

His gaze slipped into it effortlessly, as though distance itself meant nothing to him.

The first figure he noticed was a man.

Huge easily seven feet tall, with a body built like a living fortress. His shoulders were broad enough to make the massive throne beneath him look almost proportional. Long royal-blue hair flowed freely down his back, thick and heavy, matching the equally dense beard framing his face. Even his mustache was groomed into a bold, rounded shape that somehow made him look both regal and terrifying.

He sat there calmly, watching the arena below.

And yet, despite the stillness of his posture, Razeal could feel it.

An overwhelming presence.

Not violent. Not oppressive.

Just… absolute.

The man didn't even need to assert dominance. The world around him already feel to acknowledged it.

Razeal felt a flicker of surprise.

So that's the King of the Sea…

There was a natural authority radiating from him an aura that didn't demand obedience but made rebellion feel pointless. Even from this distance, Razeal could sense how deeply rooted that power was. It wasn't borrowed or forced.

It was earned...

For a brief moment, Razeal almost admired him a little afterall before he only thought that dude might only be ruling because of some stupid trident but seems like that wasn't the only thing now.. He definitely looked majestic.

Then his gaze shifted.

Just beside the king's throne placed another equal in size and presence was another throne.. Just little distance from him though.

It was Occupied too.

A woman sat there with one leg crossed over the other, her posture relaxed to the point of looking careless. Long, heavy hair the color of deep royal purple cascaded down her back, gleaming faintly under the light like polished amethyst.

And she wasn't even watching the arena.

She was looking to his direction.

Her elbow rested lazily on her knee as her chin propped against her palm, deep purple eyes locked onto his.. Very deeply as not even blinking.. as if she been looking at him since he came here.

And then she smiled.

Not wide. Not sharp.

Just… knowing.

A smile that Seems to say.. See i found you.

No… Just How? Razeal was taken back as mood changing to bad very quickly.

Razeal mind raced, calculations forming and shattering almost instantly. He had changed his appearance. His aura was restrained Even his presence diluted among millions. Even divine perception should have struggled to pinpoint him here... If not knowing he's gonna come there.

And yet

She was looking directly at him.

Not searching. Not guessing.

Certainly as if she was waiting in there.

He frowned but then.. his eyes dropped just a fraction lower.

And suddenly..

That was when he saw him.

Kneeling beside her throne, both knees pressed to the floor, head bowed so low his face was hidden completely..

Yograj.

His shoulders were stiff, his posture rigid, radiating guilt and shame even without seeing his expression. He looked smaller than Razeal remembered. Not physically but spiritually. Reduced.

Razeal exhaled slowly through his nose.

"That dumbass…" Razeal cursed under his breath, venom laced into every syllable.

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Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me, guys. It truly means a lot.

A special shoutout to our kind reader ym3274 for the castle ❣️🥺

Thank you brother 🫂. This poor author appreciates it very much.. Love ya ❣️❣️ I was honestly feeling really depressed these days

So thank you for lifting it up and helping me up🤣🦥.

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