Kylen took the documents handed over by Seraphina.
Seraphina said in a deep voice, "Contract inheritance in the Arcana Empire has lasted nearly a hundred years. During this period, many powerful Contractors have emerged. With the power and contract knowledge they control, they have built a huge system of Contract Families."
"Contract Families are classified into first, second, and third tiers based on the patriarch's strength. Even the patriarch of a third-tier family must reach the Continuum Realm to qualify for the title."
The three realms of mid-tier Contractors are Rebirth, Bloom, and Continuum. Only families led by Continuum Realm Contractors can be titled "Great Families."
Seraphina continued, "Among the numerous Contract Families, nine have stood out to become the backbone of the empire. Together with the Contract Academies and the Arcana Nine Holy Knights, they form the core defense line against abyssal rifts."
"Uniting all forces capable of fighting abyssal rifts is the empire's basic policy, but this has also allowed some families to develop privileges and hidden dangers."
"The Corvus family is one of the nine top-tier Contract Families. Lysander is the most outstanding S-rank Contractor among the special recruits this year, second only to Sylvia from Imperial Contract Academy and Brandt from Riverside Beast Contract Academy."
"In my estimation, to ensure victory over you, his family will surely equip him with a second contracted creature and high-tier Abyssal Armaments that can counter Avelia's abilities."
"Nearly half of the top ten on this year's Arcana Potential Rankings come from top-tier Contract Families. Their talents and resources are far superior to freshmen of previous batches."
Seraphina glanced at Avelia beside her, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes. If Kylen had any absolute advantage to suppress Lysander, it was not only his strange talent but also Avelia as his trump card.
Avelia was casually playing with Kylen's fingers, showing no sign of nervousness on her face, as if tomorrow's duel had nothing to do with her.
Kylen quickly scanned the information. Combined with the details Isabella had observed earlier using her Star Gaze talent, he had fully grasped the essence of Lysander's Spider Web Prison talent.
It was an ability that combined control and attack, restricting the opponent's movement with sharp invisible threads while launching slashing attacks.
In others' eyes, this ability seemed particularly effective against Kylen, who relied on blood control.
But Kylen knew clearly that against a pure strength-type Contractor like Raviel, such slender threads could not block brute force impacts at all.
Seraphina asked, "Do you have confidence in defeating him?"
Kylen nodded slightly, a faint smile curving on his lips. "I'm more looking forward to whether Major Garrick can bring me those forty drops of Life Marrow."
Seraphina was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. Accepting Kylen into the Otherworldly Creatures Department was perhaps her wisest decision this year.
"Very well. We'll wait for your performance."
...
Kylen left the administration building, planning to return to the arena. He wanted to check the results of his team members' matches, and his parents and sister had also made a special trip to watch the competition, so he needed to pick them up after it ended.
On the way, Avelia sensed Kylen's silence and asked softly, "Little one, what are you thinking about? Are you worried about tomorrow's duel?"
Kylen shook his head gently. As he gained a deeper understanding of Avelia's abilities, he became more aware of the terror of the Origin Sequence and more certain of one thing.
"Avelia, the people who attacked you back then wanted to capture you alive, right?"
Avelia nodded in response. "Yes. Why, do you have any clues?"
Kylen already had a vague guess in his heart, but he still lacked evidence. "The mentor's words just now gave me inspiration. I have some ideas, but I need further confirmation."
Avelia bit her lower lip, a warm feeling surging in her heart. The past of being attacked and nearly falling into a deep sleep was a shadow in her heart.
Now, she no longer had to bear it alone; someone was willing to face all dangers with her.
Avelia stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed Kylen's cheek, her tone soft. "I'll leave the things I can't figure out to you～"
"Cough cough!"
A familiar cough came. Kylen looked up and saw a figure blocking the way. Recognizing the person, he frowned. "Didn't we agree that after you lost, you wouldn't appear in front of Avelia again?"
The figure was none other than Raviel, a sophomore. He had come to deliver information and happened to witness that scene. Although his heart ached sharply, he refused to show it.
Raviel stood with his back to them, his tone stiff. "I'm facing away from you now. It's not a 'face-to-face meeting,' so it doesn't violate our agreement."
Kylen raised an eyebrow. "That works? Are you all so lacking in dignity?"
Raviel felt a little embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "Hmph, I didn't come to argue with you. I really have something important to tell you."
He threw a metal medallion over his shoulder. "Even if... even if the captain chose you, she was once the captain of our Crimson Legion.
After fighting you three days ago, I went to a tavern to drown my sorrows. Someone tried to buy information about the captain while I was drunk.
I noticed his strange accent and perfunctorily brushed him off. Later, I tried to follow him, but I lost track of him."
"So I returned to the abyssal rift. One of our team members has a talent that can recall the sealed memories of a specific area.
We found the place where the captain was attacked. The traces there have been completely erased, but in the memory recall, we discovered a token dropped by the attacker."
"Take this as a gift."
"You... since the captain chose you, don't let her be in danger again."
Kylen took the metal medallion.
Engraved on it was a family crest — a pattern of a dark blade tearing through wings. This style of crest was very similar to the noble emblems of the Trenia Empire.
The foggy conspiracy finally revealed a glimmer of light, and the guess in his heart gradually gained confirmation.
Kylen said faintly, "I see."
"I don't owe you a favor. Your contracted creatures were only temporarily enchanted by my blood, which blocked your spiritual connection and made them obey my orders instinctively. It's not betrayal. You don't need to dwell on it."
Raviel let out a long sigh, as if lifting a weight from his chest. "Don't lose tomorrow's qualifying round, or the subsequent Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament. The captain has never lost before."
"Also, I'm not dwelling on it!"
With that, he turned around and left, his steps seemingly much lighter than when he arrived.
Avelia raised her eyebrows slightly, a disdainful smile curving on her lips. "Are all men this stubborn?"
Kylen chuckled. He knew clearly that Raviel's visit was mostly to seek an answer that it was "not betrayal." The trust between a Contractor and their contracted creature was far more important than victory or defeat.
If there was a rift in trust, they would never be able to exert their true combat power.
When Kylen and Avelia returned to the team's lounge at the arena, Elara and the others had already finished their respective duels.
"Everyone, how did the matches go?"
Elara smiled. "The list of the top sixteen has been confirmed. Four members of our team have advanced: you, me, Chloe, and Selene."
Kylen turned to Liam and Victor. Both had minor injuries and looked a little helpless.
"Wow, Liam, Victor — you two guys are really letting the team down!"
Elara explained, "Captain, their opponents were extremely strong, and their attribute compatibility was completely countered."
Kylen's expression darkened. "Is Baron up to his tricks again?"
Everyone nodded in unison. Today's draw was obviously targeted, most likely manipulated by Baron, the dean of the Practical Combat Department, who presided over the draw.
"My opponent tomorrow has already been determined," Kylen said slowly. "It's Lysander, the one who seriously injured Isabella today."
The other six people's pupils contracted sharply. Such blatant targeting had exceeded the scope of a normal competition.
Seeing everyone's solemn expressions, Kylen's tone was calm but firm. "It's okay."
"Let them come. Tomorrow, I will completely shatter all his confidence, so that the Practical Combat Department won't even dare to look us in the eye in the subsequent team battles. Crush their pride once and for all."
Raviel's visit made Kylen fully understand: his talent could create a rift of trust between Contractors and their contracted creatures. For any Contractor, this was a fatal weakness.