Grand Ancestral Bloodlines

Arteur coughed more and more violently. He struggled to look up, but unlike Ryu, he was completely unable to withstand the aura of a World Sea Realm expert. To make matters worse, he was injured from the backlash of his own technique, one of the worst injuries one could ever face. Things were only made more horrible by the fact the technique he had used was faintly beyond his means of activating completely. 

"Flying in the skies! Fighting an unsanctioned battle outside of a designated area! Causing damage to the property of the Heaven's Dew branch!

"I will ask you once again, do you know your crimes?!"

Tybalt, who was a ways away from all the action despite knowing well that he had instigated all of these matters to happen, narrowed his gaze. After Arteur had dropped him, he had moved to a nice and high location to view the battle. The entire time, he couldn't help but be shocked by Ryu's combat prowess and he was even more shocked by Ryu's Immortal Rings. 

Even now, Ryu's Immortal Rings hung in the skies, trembling the space that hung around them. Clearly, even though Ryu was aware that he was no match for a World Sea Realm expert, that didn't mean he would keel over and allow anything that would happen to happen. As a result, he hadn't allowed his Immortal Rings to fade just yet. 

Tybalt couldn't help but replay the mantra Ryu used to summon them in his head again and again. Every time he repeated them in his mind, he felt his soul tremble uncontrollably. And, every time became more difficult than the last. 

'… Take form and conquer the world…'

Just who was this Ryu Tor? Where the hell did he come from? 

Tybalt shook his head. 'It seems that the Overseer has set his sights on this Ryu for the banquet. I know a few elder brothers who will be unhappy about this… But if he's willing to use Arteur to get to Ryu, that means that the old man doesn't care about the consequences. Let me stay as far away from this as possible…'

Ryu could only watch speechlessly as the Overseer berated and lambasted Arteur who couldn't even stand on his own two feet. As much as Ryu currently hated the Scarlet Clan, he almost felt a little bad for the guy. After all, Arteur was far too young to have partaken in the betrayal of almost a billion years ago. And, it could also be argued that it wasn't his fault that he was embroiled in this battle to begin with. 

… Not that Ryu would show him any mercy because of these things. 

"… What… What is happening right now…" Isemeine looked toward the Overseer who currently had his back to them. He continued to go at Arteur until spittle flew from his mouth. One would think that he was a normal old man at this point. 

If a World Sea Realm expert was truly angry enough to make such a scene, he would have long since waved a hand and wiped the city from existence. This was clearly nothing more than a show. 

"… Youths these days really don't respect the work of the old! You need discipline, structure! You and all those involved need a sense of duty or else you'll continue down the wrong path time and time again! I can't sit idly by and allow you all to waste all the talent and potential you have!

"You and all those responsible for this carnage will participate in the coming banquet! And no! You don't have the right to refuse. That goes for all of you! HUMPH!"

The old man clasped his hands behind he back and strolled away through the skies. From the start of his rampage against Arteur to the end, he hadn't spared Ryu another glance. In fact, Ryu couldn't even see his face. But, somehow, Ryu could tell that that old bastard was probably grinning from ear to ear. It was no wonder he didn't dare to look back, he was afraid he'd burst into a fit of laughter.

Ryu opened his mouth to speak but in the end, he sighed and shook his head. It seems that he had gotten a bit rusty after all these years. He actually let such a shameless ploy play out like this before him. 

In the end, Ryu shrugged, finally speaking to answer Isemeine's question. 

"This is just what happens when you have enough talent." Ryu said. 

The fingers of the old man twitched in plain sight of Ryu's gaze, but he continued to walk away with a steady pace as though nothing had happened. 

After a while, Ryu decided that this wasn't the worst thing that could have happened. He had managed to get out of this without putting his life on the line. And, though he hadn't achieved his ultimate goal of becoming a Throne, he had stepped one measure closer. 

Although Ryu didn't feel the need to hide the fact he wanted to become a Throne, being too forceful with his wants was also suspicious. This was a perfect middle ground that allowed him to play the part of arrogant, reckless playboy to perfection. 

And the best news? The name of Ryu Tor would begin to slowly spread. 

"When is this banquet?" Ryu asked Isemeine. 

"I… I think he's speaking about the ceremony for Princess Isemeine and Prince Galkos. Such ceremonies always have an exchange of moves between the members of the younger generation. In Martial God culture, this is even more important and there will be many valuable treasures to be gained for both the youths and the Overseers that represent them. 

"So, its date is a few months away."

Ryu nodded. "I see. A few months, huh… What can I accomplish in that time…"

Ryu was speaking to himself, so Isemeine didn't answer. To someone else at this cultivation level, a few months was nothing. But, to Ryu, who was only 21 years of age and had only been cultivating since he was 14, it was worth far more than that. 

"Is there any way for me to gain enough merits to exchange for a Mystical Grade Spiritual Herb in that time?"

Isemeine's lip twitched. "Are you insane?"

Ryu expected as much. But, he still wanted to try. If he didn't have Ailsa by his side for this banquet, it would feel as though his hands were being tied behind his back. He didn't like that. 

"Oh, wait… Now that you mention it, there's this Ice Devil Legacy World opening up tomorrow. I can't enter because my cultivation is too high. But you…"