SPLAT.
The sound of Tachibana Ayaka being reduced to meat paste echoed in the silent hall.
The contrast was too stark. One moment she was a beautiful, arrogant traitor; the next, she was a stain on the floor.
"Ruthless," an Elder whispered, stroking his beard. "He kills women without blinking."
"That is how a Monarch should act," another nodded in approval. "Mercy to enemies is cruelty to oneself."
Ryuu Haotian stared at the bloody mess, his golden eyes trembling.
"You... deserve to die!" Haotian roared, but his voice lacked conviction.
His arms were still shaking from the earlier clash. That single, casual punch from Ryuzaki Haruto felt like a collision with a mountain range.
'How can a human body be stronger than a Dragon's?' Haotian thought, sweat trickling down his back. 'Even the Ancient Sacred Body shouldn't be this absurd at age ten.'
The other Ancient Royal Prodigies behind him panicked. If the Dragon Prince lost face, they would all be punished by the Ancestral Nest.
"Despicable Human!" a prodigy with bull horns shouted. " attacking suddenly! You have no honor!"
"That's right! If you hadn't used a sneak attack, how could Lord Dragon Prince be pushed back?!"
They were grasping at straws, trying to salvage the situation.
"Silence!"
SHING!
A sword cry cut through the air.
Ryuzaki Kenji (Sequence 10) stepped forward, his black hair flying wild. A terrifying sword intent surged from his body.
"My Clan's Divine Son is not someone you ants can criticize!"
Kenji was filled with gratitude. Haruto had saved his reputation by killing the traitor Ayaka. Now, he would pay the debt with blood.
Ryuzaki Yukino (Sequence 7) also stepped forward. The temperature in the hall dropped to freezing.
"In the Ryuzaki Domain," Yukino said, her voice like glacial ice. "You possess no right to bark."
The atmosphere exploded.
"Let me, Ushi Dingtian, handle this!"
A towering muscular man with black bull horns stomped forward. The ground cracked under his hooves.
"That's the prodigy of Bull Demon Mountain!" a guest exclaimed. "He once fought ten human geniuses alone!"
"Die!" Ushi charged at Kenji.
"Ant."
Kenji's eyes flashed.
[Nine Swords of the Rising Sun]!
Nine beams of sword light descended like divine judgment.
SLASH!
Ushi Dingtian didn't even have time to scream. He was diced into pieces instantly.
"What?!"
The other Royal Prodigies turned pale. Sequence 10 was this strong?
"Hmph! So what if you are strong?"
A beautiful woman with white wings—the Princess of the Feathered Clan—flew into the air. "Today, we will stain this banquet with blood!"
"Try it," Yukino raised her hand.
[Ice Lotus]!
A beautiful, crystalline lotus flower bloomed in her palm. She tossed it gently.
The lotus spun, releasing a chilling mist that froze the air itself.
"AHHH!"
The Feathered Princess screamed as her wings turned to ice and shattered. She fell to the ground, shivering violently.
"The Ryuzaki Sequences are monsters!" "And these are just Number 10 and Number 7..." "Imagine the top five..."
The guests watched in awe. The foundation of the Ryuzaki Clan was terrifying. Even without Haruto, their younger generation was enough to suppress the Ancient Royal Families.
Ryuu Haotian watched his subordinates being slaughtered like cattle. His face twisted into a mask of pure rage.
He had come here to trample Haruto. Instead, he was being humiliated at every turn.
"Enough!"
Haotian roared. Golden flames erupted from his body.
He locked his gaze on Ryuzaki Yukino. Since he couldn't beat Haruto yet, he would kill his cousin to hurt him!
BOOM!
Haotian lunged. His arm transformed into a massive, golden dragon claw.
[Ancestral Art: Dragon-Slaying Hand]!
The claw tore through the void, carrying enough power to crush a mountain. It aimed straight for Yukino's heart.
"Not good! Yukino, dodge!" Kenji shouted, but he was too far away.
Yukino's eyes widened. The pressure locked her in place. She couldn't move.
'I'm going to die?'
The claw descended.
But just before it struck her chest...
WHOOSH.
A white blur flashed in front of her.
"Divine Son?!" Yukino gasped.
Haruto stood between her and the claw. He didn't block. He didn't dodge.
He took the hit with his chest.
BANG!
The massive golden claw slammed into Haruto's body.
The impact created a shockwave that shattered every window in the Golden Palace. Dust and debris filled the air.
"Brother Haruto!" Minamoto Ruri screamed.
Haotian grinned savagely. "Got you! Even the Sacred Body can't survive a direct hit to the heart!"
But as the dust settled...
Haotian's grin froze.
Haruto stood there, dusting off his chest.
There was no blood. No wound. Not even a rip in his clothes.
"Is that it?" Haruto looked at the dragon claw pressing against his chest with a bored expression.
"My turn."