Mad God – Reborn

The remaining years flew by quickly, and when the names of the top 100 disciples were announced, everyone was surprised. Some were especially thrilled to see their names on the list, some were unhappy with their placement, and some just sighed, not finding their own names on it at all. What nobody was surprised about was the list of names announced to leave a few weeks later, being part of the two sects' competition.

"Who is going to stay back and guard the Sect?" Anya asked when all the elders were meeting the night before they left.

"I am going to take only a few people with me," Aerthus answered. "It would be dangerous to bring other disciples with us to spectate. So, besides those who are participating, no one else is allowed to come. They would be easy targets. Besides myself, the elders who are going to accompany me are Leinor, Ren, Zern, and Shaman."

"Me?" Shaman gasped as he almost fell asleep during the meeting, as he was used to burying himself in work and study. He was not bothering with anything else, just developing new pills and formulas, searching for the perfect weapon against the ents. The sudden inclusion jolted him awake.

"Yes. We have demons on the roster, too. I want to bring one demon elder with me. Those who are going to spectate us have to realize that we are not keeping you around to be used as mounts, pets, or slaves. But as an equal."

“Ugh… okay, okay… I got it." He nodded as he found himself unable to refuse. For the past decade, this was the first request he had made of him, yet he burned through tons and tons of resources without Aerthus complaining. Not even once.

"Are you familiar with the disciples we have chosen?" Ren smiled, but Shaman just rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

"You know that I am not! I was told that there was going to be some kind of scuffle or whatever, but I mostly ignored it."

"You…" Leinor sighed, but Aerthus just chuckled, signaling that it was not a problem.

"The rest are going to stay home until we are back and guard the Sect." He said, looking around the rest, as the number of elders had multiplied since the founding of the Sect. "The disciples, for now, are forbidden to leave for a mission, just to be safe. I don't expect another cultivator to pop up with the same strength as Zelig or me, but even if one does, the defensive formations here are not something that only one of me could break through." Aerthus smiled confidently.

"How strong is it?" Ren asked curiously after hearing him.

"It can withstand a demigod's attacks for a whole day when activated." He tapped on the table. "The placement of the main buildings was not random. Every sect must have a defensive formation against enemies, or they wouldn't last long. Still, it is best not to activate it unless necessary. It would damage the island itself, sapping the area of any and all energies if left on for that long!" Aerthus explained, shaking his head. "Okay, get ready, everyone; we leave at dawn!"

While they were meeting, the ten chosen disciples also did the same, converging at Ariana's place.

"Why are we meeting here?" Ariana asked, sighing, as her small living room was filled with people sitting around a tiny table. They were drinking tea that she had made for them in a hurry when they arrived an hour ago, totally unannounced.

"Because your master is the highest ranking amongst us," Toobu answered with a smile. "We won't be late if we stay with you."

"S-s-sorry, i-i-it w-w-was h-his i-idea!" Wyland said apologetically.

"I think this is kinda funny and cozy at the same time!" Sylvett laughed. "We should've come together and have some fun in the future, just like this."

"Yes! More! I really like this!" Kyu laughed, holding the cup in her hands and stretching it towards Ariana, as the little demon had changed nothing over the past years. She still looked like a 10-year-old, but at least her speaking had improved, even if her body hadn't.

"Me too, please." Shadow did the same. He was also amongst them, looking prim and proper, trying to look as elegant as he could be.

"I'll help, I'm used to it." Orsi stood up and patted Ariana's hand, then she looked at the teapot, letting it float up, and poured tea for the two demons.

"I'm just glad I made it to the list!" Jishan chuckled, who was sitting next to Zaphil, who also nodded vehemently.

"It just shows we didn't slack off in the past years." He added.

"I feel bad for Uzami…" The final member of the group, Tuxon, sighed.

"Don't," Toobu answered. "We were chosen because we are going to fight. Your skills are more sustainable in a tournament than hers. Simple as that."

"And it's not like anyone would be blaming us," Sylvett added. "We weren't chosen because of our position in the top 100 list but because we are better suited for prolonged battles."

"It is going to be fun!" Kyu laughed, maybe the happiest and freest of worry amongst them. "I am going to eat a lot and also beat up some bad people! This is the best! More!" She stretched her arms forward once again, asking for another cup of tea.

"Isn't it cheating, bringing you two along?" Orsi smiled, refilling her cup and looking at Kyu and Shadow.

"We are still considered disciples." Shadow smiled. "Only Lady Emi would have been… problematic."

"But it would have been funny…" Toobu murmured. "I think none of us would be able to stand up to her… Do you think anyone they are going to send out could?"

“I-i-if t-t-they h-h-have H-h-harmony E-e-experts a-as d-d-disciples.” Wyland answered. By now, he has lost a lot of weight and turned into only a slightly chubby teen instead of a snowman. Somehow, those last few parts refused to disappear from him, no matter what Leinor tried putting him through.

"They wouldn't do that! Would they?" Zaphil gulped loudly.

"Hope not! We would have no chance against one!" Jishan moaned.

"Are you sure?" Tuxon smiled, drawing eyes to himself. "Amongst us, Orsi has the lowest cultivation. On paper, of course." He added quickly. "Yet I bet you, if they throw a so-called 'Harmony Expert' at us, who took his tribulation way too early… we could beat him."

"True." Sylvett nodded after a few seconds of silence. "We are used to seeing the Harmony Realm as showcased by our Elders. Yet outside? Some cultivators are stuck at the 4th or 5th stage of Body Refinement! They take their tribulation because they are unable to advance any further... We are stronger than they are. I am sure of that!"

"It's no big deal! You just need to punch harder and more! Ahahaha!" Kyu giggled, completely ignoring their points, emptying her cup once again like taking shots at a bar, immediately asking for refills.

"She may have grown up a little but changed almost nothing," Ariana said with a smile.

"But she is right. We don't need to fear anybody." Toobu grinned, crossing his arms. "This is going to be the first showcase of our real strength. Aren't you excited about it?"

The others only exchanged smiles, unable to refute his words, as they were the truth. When they wanted to go all out in a battle, to see their own limits, it was always against one of their fellow disciples or against an Elder. This will be the first time they see how far they have truly improved.

…

….

…..

The competition was going to be held at the delta of the Shert River. At a point where it merged into the Calm Blue, separating the continent into multiple small and larger islands. They were everywhere, serving as a no-man's land between two superpowers. One of them was a clear, flat plain without life or vegetation, at least not anything higher than knee-high grass. It was the perfect place for the upcoming competition. In the past year, a 100-square-meter section was completely cleared, flattened, and overlaid with white lime-rock tiles, outlining the competition arena.

As Heaven's Gate really wanted to advertise itself, a ton of people arrived from all parts of the kingdom, and thousands of wealthy families came to spectate the event. While the Empire did not urge its own people to attend, the news still brought almost the same number of people over from there. Everyone was excited by the event, no matter where they lived. A show featuring strong cultivators entertaining the masses was something nobody wanted to miss, not to mention the possibility of making deals under the table between families living on opposite sides of the river. It was so that the previously empty, little land was now filled with tents, wooden temporary houses, and markets, providing homes for almost 200,000 people who arrived in the past year, turning it into a giant festival.

"What do you think?" Werebor asked, standing next to his father, watching the sea of people from their tents, guarded by soldiers, their flag flapping loudly in the strong wind, intensified by the arriving spring weather.

"I'm… unsure." Kaipan shook his head. "We are on thin ice, my son. Since this whole ordeal started, we have been marginalized by our neighbors."

"It's not the first time." Lulu's father shook his head. "They always do this when one Kingdom rises above the rest. Remember, my great-grandfather pressured the then-prospering Astrans."

"Yes, and he somehow died in a battle," Kaipan answered with slanted eyes. "The then King of Astran and he killed each other at the same time… Don't be this naive, my son! We are all clear about how things go, even without evidence!"

"What about the Enjins? We could work together…" Werebor asked.

"I tried to, but… they act weird. Detached from everything, I don't know if it's Naulin's doing or what, but something is going on with them. I don't know if it's good for us or not." He shook his head, sighing heavily. "Three out of five caravans of ours were ransacked in the past four years. Even if we send Harmony Realm guards, they all die the same, and the goods are gone. Everyone says it is the work of those damned Ironclaws, but I don't know what to believe anymore."

"Every lead we got was a dead end… Even when we arrested some, they knew nothing or died in their cells, committing suicide." Werebor said, rubbing his forehead.

"If something happens at this competition, it may spark something really bad. Contact your daughter." Kaipan spoke with a serious voice after thinking things through.

"Father?" Werebor asked, surprised.

"Send away those you love to her and ask Lulu to find a safe place for them in the Empire. I think they won't refuse to help one of their own. You too! Make sure you have a window of opportunity to escape with your life and with your sons if everything goes down."

"..." Werebor wanted to say something, but, seeing his father's eyes and hearing his tone, he knew this was not the time to ask questions, but to do as he was told.

"Don't worry about me. I have already lived a long life. How does the saying go? A captain goes down with his ship?" he chuckled, patting his son's shoulder. "I'm glad I have descendants to count on. Even if the Elroth Kingdom falls, one day it will arise anew."

"You think it is this bad?" Werebor sighed with a heavy heart.

"I like to prepare for the worst. We are at the forefront since we accepted deals with the Immortal Wonders Sect. I just did not expect it would snowball this quickly; I was calculating with hundreds of years, not a dozen… What is done is done; we just need to take on whatever comes next!"

"I just hope what you speak of won't arrive."

"They have arrived!" Came in a hurried pair of steps, scaring Werebor. It was his son who rushed in, gasping for air. "The flying ship of the Immortals is here!"

"Good." Werebor and Kaipan looked at each other. "Let's go; we should be there, greeting our guests, even if we are from Heaven's Gate." Kaipan smiled as he left his tent, looking confident and tall, brimming with energy.