That purple ring was a warning.

Adelina's second soul ring ignited. Lightning erupted around him, forming a crackling spherical barrier that blasted the approaching vines away. Freed, he lunged forward.

But in the next instant, one vine gleamed with gold.

Golden veins flared as it curved along the edge of the lightning field, slipping through the gaps and snapping tight around Adelina's body. The electric barrier shattered as the vine constricted, binding him in place.

At the same moment, Eustace's lightning sphere slammed into Ray.

Ray's right hand twisted, transforming into a golden dragon claw. He crushed the sphere in his grip. Sparks sprayed outward, then vanished like dying fireflies.

Boom!

The heavy silver hammer collided with Sigurd's shield.

Iron Wave Shield.

As its name suggested, the shield's surface rippled in layered waves. Sigurd's first soul skill, Iron Wave Strike, combined offense and defense, stacking three layers of power in a single charge.

But Ray's hammer was thousand-refined heavy silver, enhanced by stacked force.

Both of them shuddered from the impact.

Sigurd had always been confident in his strength. With innate heavenly power, a defensive martial soul, and a soul skill reinforcing him, he rarely lost in direct clashes.

But his opponent was Ray.

The gap between heavenly strength and divine strength was merciless.

Despite the disparity in soul power, Ray's raw physical might overwhelmed him.

Ray staggered slightly.

Sigurd was forced back a full step.

A collective gasp rippled through the spectators. One against three, and Ray had actually pushed them back.

Before Sigurd could stabilize himself, Ray's golden dragon claw tore toward the shield again. Close combat was where he thrived.

Behind Adelina, a blur of light flashed.

Raziel Phoenix appeared like a ghost, Light Dragon Dagger roaring as he unleashed Light Dragon Storm.

On the other side, a massive sphere of water crashed down onto Eustace. Just as Eustace tried to release his second soul skill, the water soaked into him, conducting his electricity and scattering it violently, draining his soul power in an instant.

Bang!

Sigurd was sent flying as Silverfalls Vine surged forward to entangle him.

Though the Iron Wave Shield wasn't shattered, deep claw marks scarred its surface. Sigurd felt as if a soul beast had trampled him. Merely keeping the shield intact consumed nearly all of his soul power.

Forced into desperation, he activated his third soul skill.

The Iron Wave Shield tripled in size and doubled in thickness, transforming into a towering wall.

But it was already too late.

Vines of Silverfalls Vine slithered around his limbs, binding him tightly.

A green glow flashed beneath Ray's feet as a cool breeze lifted him forward. More Silverfalls Vine surged toward Eustace, whose body was still soaked.

Water conducts electricity.

Eustace's soul power drained rapidly, and moments later, the water froze solid, locking him in place. Before he could react, Bind tightened around him.

Ray charged straight at Sigurd.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five consecutive strikes from the golden dragon claw.

Sigurd almost coughed up blood after the first blow. He couldn't comprehend how someone could possess such terrifying strength.

Even with his third soul skill active, he had to pour every drop of soul power into his shield just to prevent it from shattering. One claw strike pushed him back a step.

Five strikes forced him back five steps.

Fear gnawed at his chest.

The claw marks on his shield deepened, spreading like fractures through stone. It was on the verge of collapse.

"Stop!"

The referee's shout came like salvation.

Sigurd's legs went weak. He barely stayed upright by leaning on his shield.

The referee had already intercepted Raziel Phoenix's Light Dragon Storm, and Eustace was surrounded by floating icicles, frozen and restrained, completely helpless.

"The match is over," the referee announced. "Victory goes to West Ocean Academy's Class Zero."

Ray withdrew his Silverfalls Vine, his claw fading back to normal. He stepped forward and extended a hand toward Sigurd.

"Senior, thanks for letting me win."

Sigurd stared at that bright, sincere smile. His lips twitched as he grasped Ray's hand and stood up. Losing so decisively to someone with lower cultivation was hard to swallow—but a loss was still a loss.

Lily and Raziel Phoenix regrouped at Ray's side.

They had all played crucial roles, but the centerpiece of the battle was undeniable. Ray had endured the combined assault of three stronger opponents and seized control of the battlefield from start to finish.

Sigurd's arm still trembled from the aftershocks of those blows. He faintly heard Raziel Phoenix mutter, "Three rings aren't that impressive after all."

Sigurd nearly spat blood.

Ray, however, felt the same way.

Despite Sigurd's three rings, the pressure he applied didn't come close to Scarlet's. That was why Ray could dominate here.

Their opponent today was a defense-type soul master, someone who excelled in close combat.

Unfortunately for Sigurd, close combat was exactly where Ray became terrifying.

With his golden dragon claw rivaling a three-ringed power-type soul master in raw force, and with its crushing effect layered on top, Sigurd had never stood a real chance.

If all six of Ray's claw strikes had triggered that crushing effect, the battle would have ended even faster.

Round-robin tournament, first match.

Victory.

*

Inside box seven.

"They're impressive," Giselle said softly. It was her first time watching Class Zero fight, and she had deliberately enlarged their match on the screen.

Ray's performance left a deep mark on her.

"That right arm," she asked, eyes narrowing slightly, "is that the bloodline mutation you mentioned?"

Alfred nodded.

A faint smile curved Giselle's lips. "He's far from simple. It's not just his bloodline—his talent is solid too. More importantly…" She paused, watching Ray stand at the center of his team. "He has the makings of a leader."

Alfred nodded once more, his expression as still as frost.

Giselle continued, her voice thoughtful. "His first soul ring is already purple, and his physique is outstanding. Did you deliberately raise him this way? If he reaches three rings before the age of fifteen, his body will likely undergo another transformation. You really do have an eye for disciples."

Alfred replied flatly, "If you're interested, you can keep watching their matches. I'll be leaving now."

He stood up, white robes billowing softly as he strode away.

Giselle watched his departing figure, blinking once, then twice. A contemplative look slowly settled onto her face as her thoughts drifted elsewhere.

*

Inside box three.

Both Nigel and Godfrey wore expressions of astonishment.

For Nigel, this was the first time he had seen Ray fight with his own eyes. He had hurried over not long ago. Allowing Ray to compete had never been about rankings or tournament placements. Those were merely convenient disguises. What Nigel truly wanted was to observe Ray's character under pressure.

Between master and disciple, aptitude alone was never the most important thing. Character was.

If a disciple with flawed morals surpassed his master, it would only spell disaster in the end.

Ray had never hidden his love for money. Because of that, Nigel had deliberately set a tempting snare. In the end, Ray's integrity prevailed over his greed, and Nigel was deeply satisfied.

Truthfully, Nigel had never doubted Ray would pass this test. At his age, he was still easily guided, and Nigel had watched over him carefully from the start. There was little cause for concern.

What Nigel hadn't expected was just how quickly Ray would grow.

Advancing to fourth-rank blacksmith in less than a year was astonishing. The association needed to determine whether it was worth pouring even more resources into him. The Skysea Alliance Tournament became the perfect proving ground.

The results exceeded expectations.

Ray willingly ceded first place to Rachel. He refused Godfrey's lavish offer without hesitation.

And on top of that, his combat strength was terrifying.

"I didn't think this brat would be this strong in battle," Nigel said with a pleased smile. "One ring, yet he defeated a three-ringed opponent. And that ring is a thousand-year-old one. Those spirit items I helped him acquire probably all went into refining his body."

Godfrey frowned slightly after a brief silence. "And you think that's a good thing?"

Nigel froze. "Teacher, what do you mean?"

Godfrey sighed, worry surfacing in his eyes. "If his talent as a soul master is this great, will he still devote himself to blacksmithing? We want him to become a Divine Blacksmith, or at least a battle armor master."

A faint smile appeared on Nigel's lips. "I've already thought this through. I asked him long ago what his dream was. He told me he wants to become a battle armor master. I support that."

Godfrey stared at him in disbelief. "You actually agree?"

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