Chapter 45: Brutal and Merciless
"Give up? Why would I do that?" Priam replied to Gangrel’s provocation with a faint smile on his face.
Hearing those words, the Grand Elder could only sigh. Priam’s condition could not even be described as merely terrible.
It wasn’t just his body that was covered in mud, blood, and wounds. His life force was so weak that making any major effort would further shorten what little time he had left.
Who the hell taught a sacrificial Magic Art to a fifteen-year-old? Every Elder present was furious.
For the clan, it would not have mattered at all if Priam had not won. He was still a clan genius and would eventually have been recognized. But now, because of his youthful impulsiveness and inability to think about the future, he had ruined himself.
"The final battle will be decided in the clan’s inner arena. According to the rules, neither of you will have much time to rest," the Grand Elder said flatly before waving his hand.
Everyone present felt the space around them shift and ripple.
A few seconds later, the intense sunlight of the morning struck them.
Looking around, they found themselves standing on the steps of a circular arena with tiered seating. It was reasonably large and could probably hold several tens of thousands of people.
At that moment, several hundred figures were seated throughout the arena, staring at them. Every single one of them possessed a powerful aura. The young participants felt as though they were being pierced by countless judgmental gazes.
The Grand Elder spoke calmly, "All sixty-four... no, sixty-three Elders are present to witness this final battle. In addition, the principal members of the thirteen elite branch families who reside within the central clan have come to watch."
All the youths swallowed nervously. Normally, so many important clan figures would never gather for an event like this. After all, another coming-of-age ceremony took place every five years.
But this time, the battle was not merely to reveal the Supreme Genius of this generation. Every challenge had been more difficult than in previous years precisely because the clan leader’s three heirs were participating.
The Supreme Genius of this generation would almost certainly become the clan’s next leader in the future.
Everyone had expected Gangrel to reach the finals. But who would face him had been the subject of countless bets and heated discussions throughout the clan.
Despite being younger, Gangrel’s two younger siblings had always been regarded as unparalleled geniuses. The reason was obvious: they were the only descendants of the Quints race to inherit the physical condition of that legendary figure, the most powerful individual ever produced by the clan.
That former clan leader had been born as one with the lightning element. These two had been born the same way, but with different elements.
Gangrel was considered a more ordinary member of that race. Even so, he was astonishingly talented in controlling both the lightning and wind elements, and he had managed to learn all of the clan’s greatest and most powerful Magic Arts.
If not for his two younger siblings, there would never have been even the slightest doubt that he was the most qualified candidate to become the next clan leader. Because of that, everyone wanted to witness this battle and see who his opponent would be.
The eyes of everyone in the stands were fixed on those three heirs. In their minds, they were all asking the same question: had the explosive ice girl taken second place, or was it the calm fire boy?
At that moment, the Grand Elder received some news through a mental transmission.
His eyes narrowed, and he turned toward the six youths, letting out a heavy snort.
"Unfortunately, I have received news that three important youths, who were disqualified during the first phase of the Trial, ultimately failed to survive an extreme poison and died. As a result... there were a total of eleven deaths during the first stage, and one death during the second."
All six of them tensed up. They had not expected so many deaths.
Unfortunately, the world of Mages was a brutal and merciless jungle. If the clan wanted competent people who would grow stronger and stronger, it could not protect them forever. The younger generation had to be pushed to their limits.
Of course, they did so in the safest and most controlled manner possible to avoid meaningless losses. But even that could not prevent the unluckiest from falling.
’Three important youths?’
At that moment, Priam’s eyes changed.
It wasn’t just him. Shione and Lumiere also sensed that something was wrong.
"Sir, could it be..." Lumiere couldn’t help asking. "Were the three who died Frejan, Toean, and Rotlo?"
Upon hearing that, the Grand Elder gave a slight nod.
"They were eliminated after nearly dying from an attack by a poisonous Beast. They were already weakened for some reason, so the poison infiltrated their souls very quickly, making it impossible to save them. Unfortunately... the clan was unable to rescue them."
Lumiere and Shione were stunned. Those three dead youths were the same ones who had nearly killed them with a trap, and Priam had stayed behind with them on the mountain and most likely defeated them.
Had they fled after the fight while injured and then been poisoned by a Beast due to sheer bad luck? Or... was Priam actually far more ruthless than they had imagined?
Both of them thought of the same possibility.
Priam narrowed his eyes.
’Poison? Eliminated after nearly dying? What a joke...’
Obviously, he was the one who had defeated them, but they had been taken away after surrendering their tablets. So this entire story was clearly fabricated.
The reason was obvious. They had been erased to protect Gangrel.
Since they had failed to kill Shione and Lumiere, the best way to avoid problems with the clan leader’s two children was simply to eliminate them. After all, dead people could not talk. At least, in theory.
Without delay, the Grand Elder turned toward a spot high above the stands.
At the highest point of the inner arena stood a sealed viewing chamber, and no one could see what was inside.
The Grand Elder looked toward it with a solemn expression before bowing deeply.
"We greet the Clan Leader!"
At that instant, everyone in the arena turned in the same direction, startled. A moment later, they all bowed and shouted in unison.
The youths were stunned, but quickly followed suit, turning and bowing in the same direction. Priam simply followed the group and repeated the gesture.
Meanwhile, Shione and Lumiere’s eyes trembled with emotion.
Priam noticed this and found it rather strange.
After several seconds, the Grand Elder straightened his back and took a deep breath. Then he announced:
"The battle will begin immediately and will determine the Great Genius of the Generation of the Ylisse Clan. The two contestants are:"
*Priam and Gangrel!*
The moment those names were spoken, the eyes of everyone in the arena widened in surprise.
It took less than a second for their gazes to sweep across the six youths.
Among them were three boys and only one unfamiliar face. Their attention immediately locked onto Priam as they carefully evaluated him, examining every detail.
The order in which the names had been announced confused everyone even more.
Priam’s name had been spoken first, meaning he had ranked first.
How was that possible?
Who was this unknown young man who had surpassed Young Lady Shione and Young Master Lumiere?
Naturally, important clan figures like these had never paid attention to some mediocre and supposedly talentless youth living in one of the branch families.
The Grand Elder turned toward the two of them and gestured for them to proceed to the martial stage at the center of the arena.
Gangrel radiated immense confidence and authority. The clan leader, his mother, along with all the Elders and the clan’s most important figures, were present.
This was his moment to shine.
As for Priam...
Everyone watched him walk forward with slow and calm steps, and...
...it didn’t take long before they noticed something shocking.
"This young man... that’s impossible! Has he lost his vitality?"
