The host could only swallow his pride. He himself was an Immortal Ring Expert of the Core Region, yet he actually had to swallow his pride to this extent.
In the end, he could only begin to explain the rules. There was nothing complex about it. Each of the thirty-two would battle each one of their thirty-one competitors. The top ten with the best win-loss numbers would win. As for tiebreakers, this would be up to the judges to decide.
'Mistress, it can't be that we're going to let things go like this, right?'
Edwin was completely unable to hold himself back anymore. Even if it meant he would once again be punished later, he had to ask. He couldn't stand the idea of allowing Ryu to breathe even one more breath.
Fidroha's eyes grew cold when she felt this qi message enter his mind. If it was up to her, she would begin punishing Edwin this very instant.
Did this fool already forget that they weren't meant to kill the Faerie's Life Partner? There was no way to steal a Faerie away, the only method of controlling a Faerie was to control their Life Partner.
They wanted to use Ailsa. As such, they needed to control Ryu. Yet this fool had actually tried to kill Ryu when they first met all those months ago. That alone was already enough for Fidroha to take his life. Being completely unable to understand her intentions and not having the slightest sense of propriety… Why would she bother to have such a useless subordinate by her side?
Originally, Fidroha had only wanted to intimidate Ryu a little bit, but now their relationship had fallen into the gutter. She also faintly understood that this Ryu wasn't so easily controlled…
In that case, the best choice was to capture him and have a Mental Realm Master enslave his mind, yet this fool was still talking about killing him!
Was it because his frame was so large that he no longer had the energy to spare toward his brain? She was infuriated to the point of wanting to kill him on the spot!
However, before she could say anything more, the first battle had been drawn. And, interestingly enough, this Ryu who ignored the host was one of the two first participants.
"Jonete Minn. Ryu."
The moment Ryu's name was called out, a red-haired young man abruptly stood.
"You! I'll kill you!"
His eyes reddened with a bloodied rage, flames billowing from his body.
Ancestor Ember frowned slightly at this outburst. This youth was one he was faintly familiar with. He didn't interact much with the current generation of his Clan, but he still knew tidbits, at least enough to know that this young man's name was Fuoco.
This young man wasn't exceptionally talented, he wasn't even among the twenty participants of the Core Region. But, he had a calm, intelligent mind. He was usually quite useful for handling affairs outside of normal martial world matters. This was why he was selected to represent them for the Inner Ring's Selection.
However, this same calm man had suddenly disrupted such an important affair without regard for anything. How could this Ancestor not frown, especially when Fuoco was a member of his own Clan?
"Young master, please pause your steps. Outside of the two participants and the stage judge, no one is allowed to enter this space." The stage judge sent a wave of pressure toward Fuoco that nearly collapsed him to his knees. But it was obvious this stage judge went easy.
"He's responsible for the death of my Ember Clan's Twelfth Elder! What right does he have to participate in this Final Selection Tournament?!"
The shock of the crowd was palpable. Fuoco's words were no different from a bombshell.
The Ember Clan was a prestigious hegemon that no one dared to touch. To kill one of their own, and an Elder at that… How could such a thing be allowed?!
However, at Fuoco's words, Ancestor Ember's frown only deepened. It had nothing to do with Ryu's actions and the death of his Elder, but was rather due to the rashness of Fuoco's words. His statement was tantamount to stating that the face of the Ember Clan was worth more than the rule the Apostles themselves set!
The stage judge's expression changed. "Young boy, watch your words lest you want to lose your head."
Fuoco was intelligent, he knew immediately that his words had gone too far. But, his emotions were far too agitated.
His relationship with the Twelfth Elder wasn't actually that deep, but how could no one be punished for the death of an Elder? Since Ryu wasn't around to bear the consequences, Fuoco had to bear the brunt himself.
This last year, considering his already shallow status in the Ember Clan, was nothing short of torture for him. Seeing the person who caused it all right before him, he nearly went mad.
Clenching his teeth and gripping his fists, he bowed deeply.
"I apologize for my rash words. This junior has lost himself for a moment. I only hope that you senior brothers and sisters will kill him. If you do, I, Fuoco Ember, will owe you a life."
Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately in some respects, Fuoco truly didn't need to say this. The moment everyone learned that Ryu was responsible for Twelfth Elder Ember's death, countless other stories that had been fermenting for a year bubbled forth.
The Zu Clan's two Immortal Ring Experts rage toward the death of their Grand Elder and the kidnapping of Esme. Throne Byrin's rage toward the stealing of his woman and the death of his little brother. The Ofera Clan's fury toward the death of the Second-in-Line Heir, Annbar. And…
"You killed my big brother Vygil…?" Jonete looked toward Ryu with eyes that seemed prepared to flood over at any moment. Her small frame trembled fiercely, the tiles beneath her feet shattering.
Ryu, the subject of all of this scrutiny, stood expressionless as though it had nothing to do with him at all, calmly summoning his first corpse puppet.