The Rise of the Black Plain

Upon an Elder's ascension to the Upper Realms or death, there would be a new vacancy in the guild's Council of Elders.

Besides this vacancy, a new General would replace the Elder or Chief Commander. A Senior Officer would become a General, which meant that an Intermediate Officer would leave their position and a Junior Officer would change ranks.

In short, every position above the rank of Recruit would become vacant because of the death or ascension of the Elder. This in itself was an opportunity for all guild members to seek advancement.

However, as much as a single position could increase the importance of the guild and provide better rights and benefits, the competition for that position could create distortions and even more opportunities.

For example, Jembei wanted to deal with Minos not only to get revenge but also to gain prestige and influence within the guild, which would bring him closer to becoming the next Chief Commander.

But Jembei's intentions had resulted in the deaths of six Senior Officers, and now six new opportunities for growth within the guild had been created for Intermediate Officers, Junior officers, Elite Soldiers, Rank-and-File Soldiers, and Recruits.

The power play that Jembei had lost had created opportunities for 30 members of the guild to advance!

But while Jembei and his five allies were already dead, General Artaud was planning to hunt down Minos, and the new leader of Jembei's faction intended to continue the opposition to Minos.

In other words, the struggle for supremacy and advancement within the guild was heating up!

It was only a matter of time before more members would die, giving growth opportunities to people like Vico and the rest of Minos' companions who had come to Zocarro with him.

"I know, I had noticed." Vico commented as he nodded to Minos. "It seems that we arrived in Armhands at a special time." "Yes, when my group first joined the guild, the strife was less. But after our decades here and then our trip to the Spiritual World, things got a bit more hectic." Minos commented as the arena began to fill with spectators watching Kendrick's deadly challenge.

"That's because of you." Sender said with a bitter smile on his face. "Sooner or later, the competition for supremacy in the guild's inner area would have intensified to the current point and even gotten worse. But with your return and the greater-than-expected power, many of them now feel threatened or forced to act sooner."

Some of Minos' enemies saw him as a stepping stone to greater fame and prestige within the guild if they could defeat him. Other rivals, however, saw him as an opponent to their intentions. Even though Minos was only a Junior Officer, several Senior Officers saw him as a direct competitor!

Minos looked at Sender, but didn't disagree. "By all means, use this to grow quickly. I hope you reach a good position before you leave for the Spiritual World with Callie." Minos said to Vico.

"Hmm, I'll do that... By the way, should I leave before or after you leave Zocarro?" Vico asked as the rest of their group entered the area and headed towards where they were.

"It won't make any difference. As soon as you two have the necessary requirements, you can leave. By the time I can leave to sort out my responsibilities, all major dangers to the group will have passed." Minos replied with a sigh.

He had intended to make a quick pass through Zocarro before going to settle his betrothal with the true seraphim, but the current problems for him and his companions were too great for him to simply drop everything and go to the world of the seraphim.

Anyway, the rest of the party soon reunited, with Minos seeing Grisdi and the level 107 Sovereign who hadn't joined his party on the trip to the Magma Barrens. With the arrival of Rhett and the supervisor of Kendrick and the others, the lights on the side of the arena would soon change as the event began.

When the two warriors appeared on the fighting platform, they both looked in the same direction, and the blacksmith who had been challenged to this duel by Kendrick realized Minos was there.

The sight of Minos sent a shiver down his spine, but he held his ground. His faction would take care of Minos, and soon, General Astaud would eliminate this fellow. 'Even if I kill Kendrick Stuart today, Minos won't be able to do anything against me, and he'll be dead soon!' The blacksmith thought to himself as he positioned himself in his corner of the platform.

With the referee's words defining the rules of the match, the silent audience would soon roar as the fight began!

As soon as the referee gave the signal for the fighters to move, Kendrick looked at the level 107 opponent standing where he was, his sword raised in the air in front of his chest.

"Fredis, we had no grudge, but you still tried to kill me during a mission you hired yourself. If it weren't for the corrupt people behind the guild's repressive forces, you would have been killed as a traitor. However, you will not escape punishment."

As he spoke, Kendrick's cultivation didn't increase. He didn't use his innate ability to become as strong or stronger than the enemy. Keeping his cultivation at the same level as before, the son of Minos let a sword aura emerge from his body, transforming the weapon in front of him.

As the audience watched Kendrick summon his supreme weapon, a sword similar to the Divine Sword of Minos, he uttered his ultimate words of this unofficial trial. "Fredis Quiphine, I, Law Enforcer Kendrick Stuart, sentence you to death for treason. Have you anything to say before you die?" "Tsk! Fuck you, brat..." As Fredis spoke and moved to attack Kendrick's neck with his giant axe, Kendrick narrowed his eyes and sliced through the space.

A portal appeared where he had slashed, with the golden blade of his supreme weapon appearing behind Fredis' body, causing the crowd that had been agitated at the start of the fight to stop talking and witness this quick battle.

After 10 seconds of talk from both sides, Kendrick decapitated his opponent with a move that lasted only half a second!