The blast was right in Aoi's face, metal spikes exploding in every direction. The man had blasted his own arm to ensure that the spell landed, all that was left was a messed up stump of blood.

He fell to the ground, thinking that he had escaped. He crawled back to his feet, ignoring the massive pain that he was feeling right now, and attempted to run away, only to see Aoi standing right in front of him, acting like she had not just taken that attack to the face.

There was not even a single wound on her face, no emotion as well. She simply stared at him and grabbed him right by the throat.

He panicked, thrusting his hand forward to make the same attack he had just done, but she swatted the hand away. It exploded, but this time none of the attacks reached him. Then she pulled him forward, headbutting him right in the face so hard that she shattered his nose and sent him to the ground.

Two hands gone, no nose, and a battered body, there was nothing that he could do now.

"Arghhhhhh!" He cried in pain, tossing on the ground. Aoi lifted her foot and stomped right into his chest, stopping his movement..

"Aaaaaaaaaa!"

"You stupid rat." She spat, her tone more disappointed than angry.

"Now tell me, what did you do?" She asked for a confession. She already had an image of what happened in her mind, but she wanted to be sure.

He looked at her in horror, the fear in him was real and heavy. He opened his mouth to speak, but the words choked him.

"I said talk." She twisted her heel in his chest so hard that blood gushed out.

"Arghhhhh!" He grimaced, the pain was deadly.

"I-I'm sorry," he managed to speak. "It was the White family, they sent us." He managed to say. When she heard the name, she frowned slightly.

"I see, that's fine then, your use is over." She said, and then grabbed him by his face, lifting him off the ground. He instantly started struggling, kicking his legs all around to try and escape.

"Please, please no, please no." He yelled until his voice got guttural and started cracking.

She didn't care though. With one hand alone, she began doing something to him. His body started getting dry with every second as she pulled all the energy from him, including his life force.

"Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!" He screamed like a wild animal while everyone watched, until he became a husk. She tossed his body to the ground, and then pulled out a sword, walking to the second and stabbing right through the heart.

She pulled out the blade and followed up by decapitating him.

She looked up at all her men standing there. "If any of you had any secret mission to sabotage my mission here, you better run away or forget about it. Because if I get you, you along with everyone that you know will suffer for what you did." Her voice was stern. She walked back to her tent and then paused at the entrance. She turned to look at Aren.

"Come," she said.

Aren quietly followed. He got into the tent. It was much larger than the others and even had two seats beside the sleeping mat.

"Take a seat." She said.

He nodded and sat down. She sat opposite him.

"How did you know?" She asked, looking him right in the eye.

"Know what?" Aren asked.

"Not the time to play around, just tell me how you knew they wanted to kill you." She asked.

"I overheard them, well, my summon did." He said, pointing to Flo, who was sleeping on his head.

"I see. It's fascinating that you managed to scare and defeat two above rank fifty men, who were in my ranks, but I won't dig. After all, it's my men that attacked you. I should show some courtesy and not try to drag the information from you." She said, then leaned back into the chair, folding her arms.

"I'm sure you are wondering why those two tried to kill you. Sigh, I wasn't meant to tell you this until you made it to the city, but seeing the situation, it's only right that I tell you.

"There is something that happens every first year of awakening of every decade, and it's called the War God Tournament, where a certain few are chosen to become the bearers of the will of the War God at the end.

"The city is constantly watching, and everyone that shows potential is asked to come and participate." Aoi explained.

"You didn't ask me, you kidnapped me." Aren reminded her.

"Well, whatever you call it, your information reached us, and you have been selected as one of the first to go there before the competition even starts, as you are seen as one of the favored to win.

"That's a prestige that very few receive, and those that do are from powerful and well known families, so take advantage of this and create a road for yourself.

"Now that I have told you what's to come, you can leave, and no word about what happened here today. I'll deal with the White family myself. You just forget that you were ever attacked."

Aren stared at her after she said that last line. "Hmm, fine." He said and got up, walking out of the tent.

'Something definitely does not line up in these stories. Choosing me? How did they watch me, and what information do they have on me? None of it makes sense.

There is something deeper for sure, more secrets than I can see, and one day I'll get to the bottom of it. No one is going to use me for their games.' Aren thought as he left.

'The kid is definitely suspicious. There is more to this kid than was told. Hmm, this might be a very interesting tournament. Hopefully, the third trial doesn't come and ruin everything.' Aoi thought as she watched him leave.

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