Announcer:
"Now… we begin the Water Stone Tournament! However, Kuarasi Raizen—since he obtained the Lightning Stone—will not participate in this challenge."
Raizen whispers to the hero:
"Good luck."
Announcer:
"To win the Water Stone, you must complete three trials. Now… let the curtain rise."
---
First Trial: The Blessing Waterfall
"Whoever can pass through the waterfall… wins the first trial."
The contestants stood before the roaring cascade, its water as heavy as a beast's breath.
Announcer:
"To begin the challenge, shout with me! One! Two! Three!"
Ten contestants stepped forward.
Flipping through the registry, the announcer exclaimed:
"What?! They're all from the same family?"
He then raised his voice:
"The runner-up of the Lightning Stone trial… Valen! Step forward!"
Valen:
"It's just a waterfall… but I feel like there might be a cave behind it."
(The moment Valen passes beneath the waterfall)
Valen (thinking):
What?! Every drop of this waterfall holds a terrifying amount of aura… It feels like an elephant is stomping on my back!
Announcer:
"Valen has passed the waterfall! The first trial ends with twenty-one winners!"
---
Second Trial: The Ten-Kilometer Swim
Announcer:
"To win, you must swim ten kilometers and raise your flag! The time limit is twenty minutes!
Let's count! One! Two! Three!"
The swimmers launched forward, slicing into the water.
Valen:
"What?! That means I have to swim a kilometer every two minutes!"
Announcer:
"No more details! One! Two! Three! Swim!"
All surged ahead with explosive speed.
Valen (thinking):
For now… I only need to reach fourth place.
Then he noticed:
What?! They're all swimming at the same speed? I know they're from one family… but matching strength like that is impossible!
---
The Brothers' Conspiracy
Eldest Brother:
"I have an idea… what if we hold hands and block the remaining swimmers?"
Others:
"Yes!"
Valen:
"Is that allowed, announcer?"
The announcer thought:
The rules never said it's forbidden…
"Alloweeeed!"
Valen (thinking):
The water itself contains powerful aura, and they're blocking the path… I need greater aura control.
Valen:
"Focus aura into my hands and feet only!"
But instead, the aura spread through his entire body—leaving only his hands and feet untouched.
Valen (thinking):
I must reverse my thinking… In one minute, I'll dive beneath them at full speed.
Valen:
"Not yet… not yet… Now!"
Announcer:
"Where did Valen go?!"
Barinta:
"He's moving almost as fast as me… and I wield the Light Stone!"
Announcer:
"What?! He woooon!"
---
The Brothers' Last Push
Eldest Brother:
"I saw him! He moved like light! But listen—we can still win together! Let go of each other and match my movements!"
Announcer:
"Only ten contestants will pass this trial!"
Valen (thinking):
What a rush… but I felt a strong aura earlier. Where is it now?
Announcer:
"The ten brothers are nearing the finish! If they grab the flags at the same time, the winners will be eleven!"
Eldest Brother:
"Focus! Don't let Valen reach the end!"
Announcer:
"Five seconds to the finish line!"
Eldest Brother:
"Synchronize! One! Two! Three!"
Announcer:
"They all grabbed their flags… except the eldest brother!"
Meanwhile at the back—
Late contestants:
"We're the last nine… we can't win anymore. Let's grab one of them and make him lose!"
Announcer:
"The second trial ends with ten winners: Valen and the nine brothers!"
The nine brothers cried—their eldest had been eliminated.
Then…
A strange man stepped forward, whispering:
"Hmmmm… that's the heroine's cabin."