Meanwhile, within the main control chamber of the Sentinel Nexus, an old figure stood in silence. A long gray beard flowed down his chest, and a majestic halo hovered steadily above his head as he observed everything unfolding across Sentinel Territory.
He slowly opened his eyes and murmured, "The Fiends are growing bolder by the day. If not for Pletzion's interference, I would never have agreed to share the Bloodline Realm without bloodshed."
If it had been entirely his decision, the Sentinel Overlord would have mobilized the main forces of the Sentinel Order and sealed the Bloodline Realm completely, ensuring it never fell into Fiend hands.
With access to such a realm, the Fiends would grow even more dangerous, perhaps to the point where they could no longer be contained before the entire Universe was dragged into their grasp.
What he hadn't expected was the awakening of the System of their Universe, Pletzion, after a deep slumber lasting three billion years.
The Sentinel Overlord had never met Pletzion personally. Back then, he had only been a Sentinel Trainee. It was his predecessor, the previous Sentinel Overlord, who had interacted with the System directly. Everything he knew about Pletzion had been passed down through records and inherited authority.
Since inheriting the mantle of Sentinel Overlord, all he had received were automated protocols and predefined instructions left behind by the System.
That was why Pletzion's actions after waking up shook him to his core. The Cybernetic Race, which governed countless universes across the OMNOS, were bound to absolute rules.
One such ironclad rule was non-interference. They were never meant to involve themselves in worldly matters, nor did they contest power or act directly, unless the complete destruction of the Universe they governed was imminent.
And yet, Pletzion had done exactly that. It had interfered in a matter concerning a single individual, one it referred to as the ORPHEUS CLAN Successor.
As the envoy of the System governing the Zion Universe, the Sentinel Overlord was privy to truths unknown to most.
He was aware of the existence of numerous other Universes, and of how their own stood at the very bottom rung when compared to the Assimilated Universes that had given rise to far more advanced civilizations and forces that surpassed anything their Law-fragmented universe could ever produce.
He gazed into the distant emptiness of space, thoughts slowly aligning as an unsettling realization took shape and murmured inwardly.
"The Universe Embryo had expended an enormous portion of its Fate Spark this cycle. Enough to produce ten Holy Children of Fate centered on a single individual.
And that same individual happened to originate from the same home planet as the Orpheus Clan Successor. This can no longer be dismissed as coincidence."
With all that considered, the Sentinel Overlord came to a single conclusion, "For Pletzion to personally intervene… and for the Universe Embryo itself to seek the favor of the Orpheus Clan Successor, this clan must hold an extraordinary standing, even on the vast scale of OMNOS."
Yet that conclusion only raised more questions.
Why would such a powerful clan send their successor to a universe like this?
And more importantly, why had Pletzion rejected his proposal to have Sentinel Trainees assist and safeguard that successor, ensuring no harm came to him and avoiding any possibility of offending the Orpheus Clan?
Too many variables were in motion. Too many layers he could not yet see through.
Now, with the Bloodline Realm opening and Fiend Race youngsters entering it, the dangers had escalated drastically. Especially for the Chosen, who were barely a month into the Trial Program.
The Sentinel Overlord let out a slow breath.
"Let's hope nothing happens to him… and this Universe does not end up as collateral to forces far beyond its reach."
Milkyway Galaxy Trial World | Day-30
A massive island floated several kilometers above the ground. At its center stood a gigantic colosseum. As soon as Day 30 officially began, Alpha Chosen started appearing one after another at the heart of the arena.
The colosseum itself was a colossal oval structure, towering 220 meters high and stretching 800 meters in length and 650 meters in width.
Its sheer scale was overwhelming, yet none of the Alpha Chosen seemed confused or uneasy. They had already been through two tournaments before.
Moreover, these were the members of the top 1,000 Trial Zone teams out of nearly a million. Their total number stood at a little over 7,000.
Soon, chatter filled the air as familiar faces found one another and groups formed.
One particular section of the colosseum was noticeably more crowded. Many Alpha Chosen stood there in neat order, their posture respectful.
At the center of that gathering stood a man in a black overcoat traced with faint golden patterns. He wasn't speaking. Instead, he was staring into the sky, his gaze fixed on a single point.
Others around followed his gaze, though they saw nothing at first. Then the air warped and three figures appeared, hovering above the colosseum.
The one on the left had pale, porcelain-like skin and sharp features. Faint veins were visible near his temples. He wore a dark robe that seemed to swallow light itself, giving off a quiet and unsettling presence.
He chuckled softly, "Hoho… looks like someone already saw through our camouflage. These Alpha Chosen are indeed promising."
The one in the middle had a broad frame and thick muscles. Coarse hair covered his arms and neck, and his rugged features gave him a stern, hardened look.
He said with clear appreciation, "What else would you expect from the Milky Way Galaxy's Chosen, the ones who set the record for the highest Performance Score?"
He then turned his head toward the third figure.
The person on the right was middle-aged, with pale red skin and sharp emerald eyes. He wore a grand robe embroidered in red and gold. His gaze was focused downward, not on the crowd as a whole, but on one specific individual.
The man in the center asked, "What is it, Felaric? Did you spot the Omega Chosen?"
Felaric snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head.
"Nothing, Malmir. I was just impressed. So many of them are already at Tier 4."
Vaelmir nodded. "And not just Tier 4. Quite a few have reached Tier 5. Only thirty days into the Trial Program. No wonder every major force is eager to recruit them."
He paused briefly, then turned his gaze toward the other two.
"I'm sure at least one Universe-level Hegemony has already reached out to each of you, hoping to recruit as many promising candidates as possible, especially the Omega Chosen. My situation is no different. The Myriad Beast Sect has recently become a branch sect of the Lumen Crest Clan."
He continued without changing his expression.
"For now, let's not rush things. We can approach the candidates during the breaks between rounds. What do you two think?"
The Bloodfang Cult Leader and the Red Elven Emperor exchanged a brief glance.
They understood immediately. Malmir wasn't merely making a suggestion. He was applying pressure.
By openly stating his sect's affiliation with the Lumen Crest Clan, he was making it clear that even if they chose not to give him face, they still had to respect the authority behind him.
After all, among Universe-level forces, the Lumen Crest Clan stood at the very top.
If this had been before, neither of them would have agreed so easily. The Myriad Beast Sect alone was not superior to their respective forces, neither in influence nor in territory.
But now, with the Lumen Crest Clan backing him, the situation was different.
Whether it was the Hex Reptilia Clan supporting the Bloodfang Cult, or House Nihareth standing behind the Red Elven Empire, neither wished to offend the Lumen Crest Clan over something like this.
In the end, both nodded in agreement.
Malmir's lips curved slightly, satisfied.
"Good. Now that that's settled, let's not delay any longer and begin the introductions."
He then hovered a bit ahead and his voice boomed across the colosseum.
"Greetings, Alpha Chosen. We are the three Managers appointed by the System to conduct this tournament. I am Malmir, Sect Master of the Myriad Beast Sect, one of the ten forces that rule over the Virgo Supercluster, of which the Milky Way Galaxy is a part."
He glanced over the vast crowd.
"Before we begin explaining the tournament rounds, I would like to congratulate each of you on your outstanding performance so far. You have exceeded expectations, and wish you success in your future endeavors."
Many of the Alpha Chosen felt a subtle pressure upon learning that the one addressing them was the leader of a powerful force that ruled over countless galaxies like their own.
Still, not everyone was affected. Quite a few, especially those who had already reached Tier-5, remained calm. They knew it was only a matter of time before they stepped into Tier-6 and stood on the same level as Malmir himself.
Among them, there was one particular individual who stood out even more. He remained completely composed, neither intimidated nor affected in the slightest.
Jay watched everything unfold in silence. He knew very well that he could take on all three Tournament Managers at any time if he wished. Their presence posed no threat to him whatsoever.
From the side, Henry leaned closer to the other Earth Alpha Chosen gathered nearby and whispered, "Is it just me, or does the one on the right look a lot like our First Tournament Manager, Felarial?"
Min-soo chimed in, "Now that you mention it, he really does. Even the face shape looks similar. Could they be related?"
He turned toward Jay, silently asking for confirmation.
Jay caught onto that and answered calmly, "That's Felarial's father. The Red Elven Emperor."
Henry's eyes widened. "I knew it. My instincts never miss. I figured he was some big shot from that flashy outfit, but I didn't expect him to be an emperor."
Gabriel scoffed lightly. "Alright, alright. Stop flexing over one lucky guess."
While they bickered quietly, Malmir continued speaking, explaining the structure of the Tournament.
"Like the previous Tournaments, this one will also have three rounds. However, aside from the first round, the format for the remaining two will be completely different. The first round will, as usual, test individual strength using Reality Emulators."
He paused, allowing the Bloodfang Cult Leader to take over.
"As for the second round, it is the most important and entirely new. It has never been used in any Trial Program before. You will be sent into a Hidden Space Realm known as the Bloodline Realm. Your performance inside will determine your individual score. Even we three were not informed of the exact scoring method. The System itself will reveal that when the time comes."
Next, the Red Elven Emperor took over.
"What we do know is that your performance in the Bloodline Realm will be counted as your individual score, which will then be added to your team's total. That combined score will determine the top teams. The final round will decide the strongest Chosen, the one who will earn the title of Alpha Prime of your galaxy."
His gaze swept across the colosseum.
"For those unaware, the title grants supreme authority over the Trial World and full management rights of your entire galaxy. I don't think I need to stress how significant that is."
He then gestured toward the arena. "Now, regarding the first round. It will proceed the same way as in the previous Tournaments. All teams have already been assigned numbers. Teams ranging from 1 to 100 may remain. Everyone else, please move to the waiting area and await your turn."
As the explanations concluded, chatter spread throughout the colosseum. Many wondered what awaited them inside the mysterious Bloodline Realm as they moved toward the seating area of the Colosseum.
From above, Felaric's gaze followed Jay as he returned with his team. His eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
'So this is the one my son spoke so highly of. The First Round should gauge his strength. If he truly is as capable as Felarial claimed, then I must recruit him before the others do.'
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