Lucian groggily rubbed his eyes as he awoke from his deep sleep surprised to find himself in a bed that wasn't the cloud bed from his contest room, and surprisingly more comfortable too.
Lucian looked around the room unfamiliar with his surroundings, the room was pristine with white marble floors, and ornate golden and silver furniture.
There was a large open balcony that showed the view as if he was on top of the world.
As he towards the balcolny walked he could clearly see the planets curvature as an endless sea of clouds forest and mountain ranges came into view.
*knock knock knock*
Just as Lucian was about to step outside onto the balcolny he heard someone knocking at the door.
"Who, is it?.." he asked in a confused tone still unsure of if he should be afraid, alert or relaxed in the new environment.
"Adela Leon" a smooth feminine voice spoke causing Lucian's voice to stiffen as he rushed towards the door.
"I apologize for making you wait Ms. Light" Lucian responded as he opened the door with a slight bow, he knew it would be improper for him to let the head of the Light family open her own door when he was present.
"You don't need to use such formalities anymore." The light family head said as she entered the room with Althea and both youths parents in tow.
Lucian looked at his parents awkwardly in an asking manner to which both responded with big smiles and gestures of approval.
"Were you all just waiting out there?" Lucian couldn't help but ask, he had just woken up and somehow all of them were outside of his room door before he even got a chance to look around.
"Hahaha, you're quite the interesting youth. No I let everyone know ahead of time that once you woke up I would immediately bring them all here for us to discuss the matter at hand." The light family head spoke after a melodious bout of laughter.
"Ahh I seee.." Lucian responded still not fully understanding how the family head could have gathered them all so quickly.
"One day task like this will be less than child's play for you young Lucian, anyway you all can get comfortable while I explain things." The light family head asked.
"You can ask your questions later but for now just listen, as you all may know the light family tournament is to help youths find a suitable place amongst the peak powers to hone their strengths while their families also receive benifits from the youths performance.."
"There is also a lesser known goal of the tournament and that is to find suitable successors as the head of the light family. As you may well know I've been the head of the light family for the last 2 eras, and I think it's high time I'm step into the position of ancestor, just the current ancestors haven't believed any of the youths the past 2 eras had been up to the task."
"After watching your spectacular battle I think that you 2 youths have far exceeded any of the youths over that past 2 eras I'm afraid to say but both of you may be even more monstrous than I was at your age, I say this to say that there are certain trials and passages of rites one must accomplish to become the head of the light family." After saying this Adela paused for a moment before continuing.
"There are certain details I cannot disclose until you've agreed to take on the task but from what I've just presented what do you think?" She finished giving them time to think and answer.
"But there are two of us.." Althea spoke her voice bewitching as if she had some innate ability attached to her voice catching Lucian off guard as Althea somehow became more beautiful than she already was.
Adela face brightened as a smile spread across her face showing her perfect pearly white teeth. "Great observation, and both of you can accept this offer, and both of you can rest assured that neither of you will have to die in order to succeed but in order to gain more information you will have to agree to going through the trials."
Hearing this both Lucian and Adela began to think as they considered what all this offer could entail.
"Are there powers beyond rank 0, and is there a world or universe higher than this one?" Lucian asked his question surprising everyone in the room as their eyes darted from him to the Head of the family.
Adela's smile became even bigger hearing Lucian's question giving her insight into the type of thought pattern he had with his decision making.
"Great question, as far as universes or worlds above this one, the answer would technically be no as the hegemonic powers of this universe stand equal to the ones that have earned the title of equal to the heavens. As far as powers beyond rank 0 you're looking at one that stands far above the heavens, most places within any universe I would be deemed at the very least a God." Adela spoke with pride in her voice.
Hearing this even the parents of Althea and Lucian had the mouths ajar, while they knew the head of the light family was above rank 0. But to hold the title of a God was on an entirely different level.
People at rank 0 were already unthinkably powerful but to be so much more powerful than that level of strength to be deemed a god was simply too much to wrap their minds around.
Seeing their reactions lightly giggled to herself before speaking up "I'll answer any question you have, but don't forget I am also waiting for an answer."