In every clan, there is always something kept in reserve. An item. A beast weapon. Sometimes a special spell with a long cooldown. Other times, something stranger. Something dangerous.
The type you don't bring out unless things have gone bad.
One rule is always the same.
When such items are used, it means the clan is no longer holding back. It means they are committing fully to the situation in front of them.
The five rings resting inside the box Lucius held were exactly that kind of item.
They were magical tools. Old ones. Special rings the Wyndhams had obtained long ago. Over the years, these same rings had been used in several dangerous missions, each time tipping the scales just enough to secure success and keep the clan standing.
Each ring had a small gem set neatly at the top. Three of the rings carried green gems. The remaining two bore deep purple ones, darker and heavier in presence.
"These are magical items, and I will be handing them over to you," Lucius said, his voice steady.
There were only five rings. Not nearly enough for everyone present. But Lucius had already made his decision long before opening the box.
"Zephyr. Isla. Lennox."
The moment the names were called, Alex understood the outcome.
He was part of the core Wyndham group. He stood among them. Yet his name wasn't spoken.
A purple ring was passed to Zephyr first. The gem caught the light briefly as it changed hands. Then Lucius handed a green ring to Isla, followed by another green ring to Lennox.
Alex watched quietly, his expression unchanged.
Inside the box, only two rings remained now.
One green and the other purple.
They rested there in silence, waiting for their next owner.
"Gavalich. Clifford!" Lucius called.
Both men stepped forward without hesitation.
Clifford reached the box first. Lucius placed the green ring into his palm. The gem gave off a faint glow as it settled. Then Lucius turned and handed the purple ring to Gavalich.
The exchange was quick. Clean. No ceremony.
Alex narrowed his eyes and activated his inspection skill, his focus locking onto the rings.
[Pain Killer (Stage 5)
Effect: The wearer does not feel pain. No limit.
Additional Effect: Heals injuries sustained while wearing the ring up to three times per day before entering cooldown.
Note: This item does not grant invincibility.]
Alex blinked.
That stage was higher than he expected. Much higher. And the effect of the green ring was… dangerous in the right hands.
He glanced at Lucius's missing arm for just a second.
'It only heals injuries sustained while wearing it,' Alex thought.
'So even if Lucius had worn it back then… it wouldn't have helped.'
The thought passed quickly, but it lingered longer than Alex liked.
He shifted his focus and inspected the other rings one by one. The pattern became clear fast.
All the green rings carried the same effect.
All the purple rings shared another.
[Shape Shifting Stone (Stage 5)
Effect: Allows the wearer to transform into a beast whose blood is stored in the ring.
Cost: Continuously drains the wearer's qi while active.
Note: The strength of the transformation depends on the original beast's power.]
Alex inhaled slowly.
Stage five. Again.
These weren't backup tools. These were trump cards. The kind you only use when retreat is no longer an option.
And now, they were in play.
'This reminds me of that pig guy,' Alex thought, the memory flashing through his mind for a brief second. Remembering that kill left a strange weight in his chest, but he pushed it aside.
Lucius closed the chest and straightened up.
"Now that you have these, here is a list of troublesome clans you should avoid," he said, his tone firm.
He began to name them one after another.
Some of the names were unfamiliar to Alex. Others carried weight the moment they were spoken. One name, in particular, made Alex focus.
The Synapse Circle.
That one stood out immediately.
Alex had already decided, long before this moment, that staying far away from them was the smart move. Hearing their name now only confirmed it.
Most of the clans listed were higher-ranked clans. The kind you don't challenge unless you're ready to lose people.
After that, Lucius went over the plan again. This time, slower. Clearer.
"Remember this," Lucius said. "The moment the tournament begins, look for each other. The rings you have will help you locate one another."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"Once you regroup, you fight together. Take down as many clan members as you can before things get messy."
Alex lifted his hand slightly.
Lucius noticed and looked at him for a moment before giving a short nod.
"Isn't that against the rules?" Alex asked.
Lucius didn't hesitate.
"There is no rule against it," he said calmly. "In this tournament, there is only one rule. Each participating clan must have four members. All must be stage four or below on the paragon path. That's it. No age limits. Nothing else."
He continued without breaking eye contact.
"As for what we're about to do, it doesn't break any rules. The Sub-Wyndham will enter the tournament as an independent clan. They won't be tied to us officially."
Lucius exhaled slowly.
"That's how we survive this."
Alex wasn't fully sure about what Lucius was planning to do.
He understood the idea behind it. Lucius was trying to use a trick. Not a dirty one, but a smart one. Something to boost their odds of surviving the tournament, or at least performing well enough to matter.
The plan itself was simple.
The moment the tournament began, the core Wyndhams and the Sub-Wyndham would regroup. Eight people. One moving unit. With that number, any clan they ran into would have a hard time standing their ground.
Still, Alex wasn't convinced.
If they moved like that, people would notice. Others might look down on them for it. Some might even target them harder.
But once again, there was nothing he could do about it.
Lucius had already decided.
And there was one more thing that bothered Alex.
'That Dragon Roar member I saw,' he thought. 'I hope I won't end up interfering with any of his missions.'
What worried him most wasn't just the connection. It was the strength he had felt. That pressure hadn't been normal.
Lucius also hadn't added the Khyphon Clan to the list of clans they should avoid.
That alone said a lot.
'He would be expecting us to clash with them,' Alex thought. 'And I'm not sure I want that fight.'
Before anyone could speak again, a loud gong echoed through the room.
The sound rang out from hidden speakers, heavy and unavoidable.
"The tournament is about to begin. All clan participants should head to the colosseum arena and prepare," the mechanical voice announced.
The moment the sound faded, a cold feeling ran through every member of the Wyndhams.
They had trained for this. Prepared for it.
Still, nerves crept in.
No matter how ready they thought they were, this was the real thing.
Alex, on the other hand, felt none of that tension.
Instead, there was a quiet spark inside him. Not fear. Not doubt. Just a faint edge of excitement that he couldn't fully explain yet.
Right then, the wall of the room slid open with a soft mechanical sound. A guard stood at the newly formed entrance, posture straight and eyes sharp.
"All participants should head outside," the guard said flatly.
No one replied.
The Sub-Wyndham moved first. Clean and quick. They broke away from the core Wyndhams and headed out without hesitation.
As the rest began to follow, Lucius and the Triple J's took a step forward—
And the guard raised a hand, stopping them.
"I have been instructed to lead you to another area," the guard said, his tone firm.
Lucius paused.
So did the others.
For a brief moment, confusion crossed their faces. They were supposed to head to the colosseum too. Find seats. Watch the battle royale unfold from the stands like the rest of the clan heads.
Still, Lucius said nothing.
He turned and followed.
The guard led them through several long passages. Turns after turns. Then into an elevator waiting at the end of the corridor.
The doors closed.
As the elevator moved, one thing became clear.
The deeper they went, the more refined the place became.
Clean floors. Smooth walls. Subtle patterns etched into the metal. Everything looked expensive. Carefully designed.
The elevator continued downward for a long stretch, long enough for it to feel like they were being taken underground.
When it finally stopped, the doors slid open.
The first thing they saw was a massive display screen at the front of the room. It covered almost the entire wall, glowing softly in the dim space.
The room itself was wide, but not crowded. Fewer seats. Fewer tables. And fewer people, all already seated and silent.
The only real light came from the large screen, casting shadows across the room.
Then there was a table that stood out above the rest.
At that table sat three figures.
Jovisrax.
And his two divine guards.
Just as Lucius and the Triple J's were processing where they had been brought to, a sharp voice cut through the room.
"You—what are you doing here?!" Draven shouted.
He pointed at Lucius, his hand visibly shaking.