Alfred went on, "Only the best outer court students qualify to be assessed for entry into the inner court. Those who enter must be sixteen or younger. That means none of the ones you just saw were inner court disciples."

He paused, eyes sharpening.

"The ones you should pay attention to are the two youngest. Being sent out at that age means their talent is extraordinary. They've likely already been chosen as inner court candidates. And that makes them…" His gaze swept across the four. "Your greatest rivals."

The words struck like a hammer.

"Our… rivals?" Violetta asked in disbelief.

Alfred looked at her. "Because I'm training you to enter Central Academy's inner court and fulfill a wish I never completed."

Ray hesitated. "Teacher… are you saying you couldn't graduate from the inner court?"

A faint bitterness flickered across Alfred's face. "I entered. But I didn't graduate."

Rihanna.

The name surfaced in Ray's mind like a ghost.

"These matters are far in the future," Alfred said curtly. "Focus on what's in front of you. Entering Central Academy won't be easy. I've already drawn the lots. Your matches begin tomorrow."

He offered no details about their opponents.

Both the individual and team competitions would start with knockout rounds. One loss meant elimination.

Tomorrow alone holds three events for Ray: blacksmithing, individual combat, and team combat.

He quickly scanned the schedule. Thankfully, none of them overlapped. Otherwise, he really would've been trapped between impossible choices.

The blacksmithing competition would be held first due to its limited participants and space requirements. The individual and team battles would take place across eight arenas. Ray's individual match was scheduled at Skysea Stadium, only a short walk from the blacksmith venue. Timing-wise, he could just make it.

The team battle would be in the afternoon.

Luck… seemed to be on his side.

Alfred offered no analysis, no encouragement. He simply told them to return to the hotel and prepare, then turned and left.

Raziel Phoenix muttered, "Teacher Alfred is really irresponsible…"

Lily glanced at him coolly. "Say that to his face."

Violetta smiled sweetly. "I'm telling Teacher Alfred."

Raziel Phoenix nearly choked. "What did I do to deserve this? Am I your mortal enemy?"

Violetta giggled. "Who told you not to grow up as handsome as Teacher Alfred or Ray?"

"This big brother is handsome!" Raziel Phoenix protested. "You'll understand in the future. Your eyes just aren't refined enough yet."

Ray shook his head and said calmly, "Let's go back. Teacher probably didn't give advice because it wouldn't help. Tomorrow morning is the individual competition. Do your best. We'll discuss tactics before the team match."

Tomorrow…

The real test begins.

Ray had guessed Alfred's intentions almost perfectly.

At their age, nothing nourished growth better than real combat. Not lectures. Not advice. Only experience is carved into muscle and instinct. Every battle on the Spirit Ascension Platform, every brutal sparring session under Alfred's icy gaze, had been etched deep into their bones. Those scars and defeats were the soil from which strength grew.

So what if the opponent was strong?

The Skysea Alliance's team had clearly outmatched their opponents in soul rings, yet they had still fallen in under a minute.

So what if the enemy was older? So what if their rings were better?

In the end, victory only cared about one thing: how much strength you could truly bring out at the decisive moment.

Ray believed this firmly. No matter how terrifying the opponent, as long as he fought with everything he had, Alfred would have nothing to reproach him for, even in defeat.

The Skysea Alliance Tournament had thrown the city into a frenzy.

Visitors from across the eastern coast flooded Skysea City, filling its streets and alleys. As night fell, lantern light and neon reflections danced together on wet stone roads. Restaurants overflowed with laughter, clinking glasses, and the aroma of seafood and strong liquor.

"Did you sneak out again?" Ray asked helplessly.

Jacob sat across from him, cheeks puffed as he shoveled food into his mouth without pause.

The little fatty had invited him out that afternoon, and Ray had gladly accepted. Only after meeting did he realize Jacob was wearing a hat and an oversized coat, his entire appearance screaming guilty conscience.

"Mmm! This cheesy fish is amazing!" Jacob exclaimed between bites. "Soft, fragrant, melts in your mouth! Ray, you really know how to eat!"

Ray smiled. Growing up by the sea, how could he not know good seafood? Skysea City's cuisine wasn't much different from West Ocean City's, but that only meant he knew exactly what to order.

"Why aren't you eating?" Jacob asked, pausing for breath.

Ray chuckled. "If I eat, there won't be anything left for you."

What he didn't say was that the prices here were murderous. Every bite was both pleasure and pain. Treating Jacob alone was already pushing his limits.

Jacob waved dismissively. "Eat! Eating alone isn't fun. You order, I'll pay. You're not from Skysea City anyway, so don't act like the host."

Ray burst into laughter. "You sure? I eat a lot."

"It's just money!" Jacob said grandly. "Let's talk after we're full."

"Alright then." Ray didn't hold back. "Boss, one salt-crusted baked bluefin tuna!"

The restaurant owner froze. "Do you have more guests coming?"

Ray shook his head calmly.

"Do you know how big a bluefin tuna is?"

"About fifty kilograms," Ray replied without blinking. "Better start now, it takes time. Also, fifty rose sea urchins, two baked fish heads, and—"

He kept listing dishes.

Jacob clapped enthusiastically.

Soon, the entire restaurant was drawn into their rhythm.

Though Jacob lagged slightly behind, his stamina was terrifying. The two of them, both children, turned the meal into a silent competition. Plates stacked higher. Shells piled like hills. Cheeks trembled as they chewed without rest.

The legend of Ray the glutton, once confined to West Ocean City, officially made its debut in Skysea City.

At last, Jacob leaned back, belly stretched into a perfect sphere.

"I… I can't go on," he panted, eyes shining with admiration. "This is the first time I've met someone who can eat like me. From now on, you're Big Bro."

Ray laughed. "Same here. Try this rose sea urchin. It's best fresh, but if you let it sit for two hours, the flavor changes completely. That's why coastal cities are different."

"Wow… incredible…"

Jacob was moments away from food coma when a sharp voice cut through the warmth.

"So this is where you ran off to."

Scarlet strode in, eyes blazing.

Jacob nearly jumped out of his chair. "D-don't hit me, Big Sister Scarlet! I just ate a little! If you hit me now I'll puke, and that'd be such a waste! It's really delicious, you should try—"

Her anger stalled.

Because she finally saw the table.

Two round tables buried beneath mountains of plates, shells, and bones. Ray sat calmly across from Jacob, expertly dismantling a crab leg. Bite, crack, squeeze. White meat slid cleanly into his mouth, not a shred wasted.

For some reason, watching him eat made Scarlet's stomach stir.

"You're the one who lured him out?" she demanded, recalling Ray from earlier that day.

"You hungry?" Ray asked casually, ignoring the accusation.

At that moment, the boss shouted, "Salt-crusted baked bluefin tuna!"

Scarlet turned.

Her eyes went wide.

The fish was enormous. Over a meter long, thick and solid, its salt crust is like a small mountain. A trolley was needed to push it to the table.

The boss laughed. "I'll grab a hammer. This one's special."

"No need," Ray said.

A heavy silver hammer flashed into existence in his hands.

Thump.

A crack spread across the salt crust.

Thump.

The shell split open cleanly.

He brushed away the salt, revealing tender white meat beneath. Steam and fragrance burst forth, filling the room.

Jacob shot upright. "N-no! Why didn't you tell me earlier! I'm too full! No, I refuse to accept this! I'll go exercise—don't eat it all! I'll be back!"

He staggered outside.

Ray carved himself a generous slice.

Then he paused.

Out of habit formed from caring for Vivienne, he prepared another plate and handed it to Scarlet. "You should try some."

She stared at the fish, then at the plate.

She was still just a ten-year-old girl.

"Okay." She took it without hesitation, grabbed a fork, sat down in Jacob's seat, and began eating.

Ray grinned as he moved to the tuna's head. With practiced ease, he pried apart the salt crust, exposing the pale, delicate flesh beneath. He slid his knife between the cheekbones and, with a smooth circular motion, cut out a palm-sized piece of meat. Steam rose faintly as he placed it onto a clean plate.

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