Arya opened his eyes. Slowly and silently, the seventeen-year-old boy sat up, sharpening his senses. He noticed that Ratnasari was sound asleep."Who are they?" he muttered, questioning himself. He closed his eyes, concentrating to sense the energy coming from outside the room.From what he felt, several people were approaching and had stopped in front of his room.The young man grew suspicious of their presence. He suspected their arrival might have something to do with the warning from the old servant who had urged them to leave the village.However, his suspicion dissipated when the group eventually left the area in front of his room. No more whispers could be heard.A long sigh marked Arya's relief. The handsome young man lay down again and closed his eyes. Soft snores soon escaped his lips, lulling him into the world of dreams. The drowsiness was too much for him to resist.The next morning, even before the sun had risen in the eastern sky, Ratnasari opened her eyes. Her slight m

Sumi moved in a random pattern, ending with a claw strike aimed at the handsome young man's face.The claw strike was easy to avoid, but it was followed by a lightning-fast attack from Sumi's tail.Thud!Crash!Arya failed to dodge in time, causing his body to be hurled several meters away, crashing into a massive tree."The power of her tail is incredible!" Arya felt a tightness in his chest after being struck by the tail. Although it didn’t cause severe internal injuries, the sharp pain already overwhelmed him.Before the handsome young man could recover, Sumi launched another swift attack that he couldn’t evade.Once again, Arya’s body was flung far, even farther than before. This time, not just one tree fell under his impact but several at once. Fortunately, the Fire Dragon energy within his body still managed to provide some protection.“Why do you seem so weak, Human? Where is the strength you displayed earlier with such arrogance?”Arya rose to his feet, grimacing as he endured

The demon cursed in frustration as its attack missed the target. But suddenly, a wide grin spread across its face upon seeing a beautiful girl watching their battle.A wicked intent instantly surfaced in Sumi’s mind, whose soul was now completely possessed by the Crocodile Demon. Without hesitation, she ran away from Arya and rushed toward Ratnasari, who was hiding behind a tree.Several long-range attacks launched by the Crocodile Demon shot forward with incredible speed, knocking down the tree Ratnasari had used for cover. No matter where the beautiful girl tried to escape, the demon’s energy strikes relentlessly pursued her.Arya clicked his tongue in annoyance, seeing his beloved become the target of the enemy’s attacks. He immediately darted after the Crocodile Demon, unleashing a long-range strike to divert its attention from Ratnasari’s life.A streak of red light shot out from the tip of the Fire Dragon Sword, moving so swiftly that it was invisible to the ordinary eye, aiming

Before the soldier could vent his emotions, a luxurious horse-drawn carriage, escorted by about twenty mounted soldiers, approached the city gate.The gatekeepers immediately straightened their posture, bowing their heads and keeping their gazes fixed on the ground.As the convoy stopped near the gate, a man in his forties, riding a large black horse and leading the group, steered his mount closer to the gate guards."What’s going on, soldier? I saw from afar that you were in a dispute.""My apologies, Lord Bayu Aji… but this young man insists on entering the Royal City. He claims he wants to participate in the upcoming tournament, but I have forbidden him."The man named Bayu Aji shifted his gaze toward Arya and Ratnasari. Unlike the gate guards who cowered before him, the handsome young man and the beautiful girl stood firm, showing no trace of fear."Is it true that you want to enter the tournament?" Bayu Aji asked gently."Yes, my lord. Is there a rule that prohibits someone like

Most of the inn’s visitors were also going to participate in the upcoming tournament, so unnecessary conflicts would only bring harm to themselves.After leaving the place, Arya and Ratnasari headed to another eatery not far from the palace. Though it also had three floors, the restaurant itself was larger than the inn where they were staying. People came and went, and nearly all of them were dressed like warriors.It seemed the upcoming tournament had become a magnet for warriors eager to test their fate. Of course, this was a blessing for the residents of Capital. Many homes had turned into makeshift inns since all official lodgings in the city were already full.Merchants, especially food vendors, were reaping great benefits. In fact, almost every business was flourishing thanks to the grand event hosted by the palace.Meanwhile, inside the palace, the beautiful young woman who had been in the carriage earlier and had locked eyes with Arya at the main gate was now sitting in her ch