Ryan stepped out of the training room, wiping sweat off his brow. "Alright, girls, good training."
Ryan was happy with his group's progress.
They had started with about a 70% win rate against their fellow combatants but progressed to an almost 87% win rate by the end.
While it wasn't 100%, the competition wasn't based on a single elimination.
Ryan would have preferred to keep training, but their training room informed them that it would shut down for the rest of the day.
The girls asked Ryan out for drinks, and while he usually would have accepted the invitation, the next day would be the start of the competition, and he had to meet with one of his kin before anything else.
Saying goodbye to the ladies, Ryan decided the first place to look for the man who claimed to be from the Dawn family would be in the administration building.
Starting toward the building, Ryan was about to speed up his travels by hopping on his flying sword when he spotted Leon talking with a woman.
Ryan only spotted the duo because he had activated energy vision and had noticed the aura of the one opposite Leon.
Although a veil covered her face, her aura was oddly familiar.
"The plot thickens," Ryan muttered as he realized it was Kiki, one of the Holy Phoenix Empire's princesses, talking earnestly with Leon, the man from the Dawn family.
Getting closer, Ryan injected energy into his ears so he could listen, a trick he had learned from Yoko.
"I said, I want this Ryan Smith eliminated before 20th place," Kiki said.
Leon frowned. "What is this really about? You can't possibly think he'll make it into the top 20."
Kiki laughed maniacally. "You seem to be forgetting your place. The Dawn Family are the Holy Alliance's dogs. Meaning you bark when you're told."
Leon lowered his head, clenching his fists. "Fine. But what exactly do you want me to do?"
Kiki patted Leon on the head. "Good doggy. It's not like I want you to rig the competition or anything. Just put Ryan Smith's team against the best opponents in the opening rounds. People won't know the difference since they don't have access to the sparring data."
Leon nodded and started to walk away.
Ryan decided to follow the man since that was his original target.
Leon only rounded before he started running. He ran for about a minute until he was in an alley before he started retching and throwing up.
"Despicable Holy Alliance. Velox, Velox, where are you? Are you still out there, cousin?" the man started crying.
"We've been taking this abuse for hundreds of thousands of years. But, oh Velox, why did you have to pass away."
As Ryan listened to the man sobbing, he felt a tightness in his chest.
pαпdα Й?νê|,сòМ The family that he didn't know he had was hurting.
Ryan had always wanted a family and even didn't know if this was his biological family besides Aliza. He had never had anyone to call his own.
He was starting to gather a family inside his harem, but while there was sexual love, he had never felt any familial love besides a few sparks seeing Zoey's enlarged belly.
But now, like a title wave, he was feeling emotions he didn't know he possessed wash over him.
But his aunt, who was still on the verge of death and could only be helped by Aurora, brought him back to reality.
The most familial love he had felt was toward that woman since she was closest to his mother.
Walking over to the vomit-covered man Ryan produced a napkin.
The members of the Dawn family should not be seen in such deplorable conditions.
The man, solely focused on his grief over his cousin's loss, was jarred by the unexpected voice and looked up.
"Velox?" the man gasped, seeing only the bright emerald eyes.
But as the rest of the man's face came into view, he knew it couldn't be him.
Velox had blonde hair and wouldn't have such an intimidating aura.
"Thank you Mr. Smith," Leon said.
Ryan feigned surprise. "You know me…."
"Leon, please call me Leon," the man introduced himself, taking the napkin and cleaning his face. "Yes, your results have been impressive so far. One of the most improved groups on the first day of sparring."
Ryan nodded. "But I don't think that's why you know me. Right?"
Leon smiled. "No, but before we discuss that any further, let me bring you back to a more private venue."
After a few minutes of travel, the two entered an office, which Ryan could tell was surrounded by a layer of sound barriers.
Leon excused himself to shower, which Ryan was thankful for since his cousin's smell was horrid.
Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, Ryan erected his sound barrier just in front of the one already in place. 'Who knows if this office was provided to him by the Holy Phoenix Empire or Leon erected the sound barrier himself.'
After a few minutes, Leon emerged wearing a fresh suit and looking as proper as a noble heading to a feast.
"Shall we begin?" Leon asked, sitting down at his desk.
Ryan nodded.
Leon started, "You are right, we do know of your identity… although we don't know much. If you'd please inform us-"
Ryan interrupted, "I'll have to stop you there. I came here with one purpose and it wasn't to disclose my identity."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Please, go ahead."
Ryan then sent a message to Velmuuth and had her carry his aunt out of his palace.
With a flash of light, Velmuuth appeared, holding his aunt.
"Asmaya!" Leon gasped.
"We have been trying to treat her, but the poison is not something we have the antidote for," Ryan explained. "The Master has instructed me to hand her over to you in hopes Aurora can cure her."
Ryan didn't want to blow his cover as Aurora's son, as he didn't know what kind of person she was and if she'd come running over to him.
While he would love to reconnect with his mother, he knew she wasn't strong enough to contend with the Grand Empress. The Kheaweth Military still thought he was brainwashed so exploiting that fact was most likely the best course of action.
Leon's hands shook as he rushed over to Asmaya, unconcerned about the demon cultivator holding her.
Seemingly having some medical skill, Leon felt Asmaya's pulse and frowned.
"She's weak. She can't handle teleportation, so Aurora must come here with the antidote. But she can't enter the Holy Phoenix Empire after what happened last time," Leon's mutterings were loud enough for both Ryan and Velmuuth to overhear, causing the duo to look at each other.
Leon frowned. "But if anyone finds out about Asmaya's state, they could try and exploit us, slowing down our passage out of the Holy Phoenix Empire."
[My lord,] Velmuuth said telepathically. [Would you allow me to take one of your legions and escort your aunt out of this empire?]
While everyone had been gaining strength, Velmuuth wasn't one to fall behind. She was B-Rank in cultivation which, for his troops from Ravier, was considerable, seeing as he couldn't raise her cultivation by sleeping with her.
'Not that I would,' Ryan thought, looking over at the hairy soldier.
Ryan had always wondered about the differences between other members of the same race.
For instance, there were dragons and phoenixes with fire, wind, and storm capabilities, but he had never heard that humans or demons having these powers.
But as he was looking at Velmuuth, he couldn't help comparing her frame and build to Lizzy's and Izzy's, which was a night and day difference.
Ryan shook his head. 'Now's not the time for this, Ryan.'
Ryan turned to Velmuuth. [Take Emily with you. She will be able to help with her pleasant face ability at checkpoints.]
Velmuuth nodded, then turned to Leon. "Sir, allow me and my party to escort Asmaya out of the empire and to Aurora."
Leon looked up from staring at his cousin. "While they might not target you, do you have the strength to defend yourself on the road? There are a lot of dangers when traveling between empires, and even inside the Holy Phoenix, dangers are around every corner."
While what Leon said was technically correct, he was exaggerating things to a large degree to gauge whether or not his cousin would be safe with these people.
Ryan stepped forward and placed a hand on Leon's shoulder. "We've taken care of her since her injury, and we will get her safely to the destination. But if you're not convinced…."
There was a second flash of light, and Emily appeared, exuding the aura of an A-Ranked cultivator.
Leon's body shook as he fell to one knee, unable to stand due to the pressure from Emily's aura.
"I-I think that will do," Leon chuckled from his knee.
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