"Fuego, is that you talking?"
Atractivo shielded his eyes with his hand and swept his gaze around the table as if trying to swat someone away.
"It really is you. My bad, I couldn't spot you at first glance. Are you still stuck at the same level? Your fire energy can't even light up the area around you, I feel so sorry for you!"
When the handsome man finished his sentence, the flames wreathing the red-clad woman's body turned a deep crimson.
"Are you pissed at me or something! Ask Oje if you want, even with those massive eyes, he probably can't see you!"
The hooded man sitting across from the Holy Bone Sect pulled back his cowl when his name dropped. His pitch-black eyes, taking up half his face, were revealed. The structure of the eyes, resembling two round orbs, was as bizarre as their shape. Unlike normal humans, Oje's eyes were made up of tiny segments, almost like a honeycomb.
"Cut the clown act, Atractivo! Answer the damn question!"
The Holy Eye Sect Sheikh's voice, grating against his throat as it came out, was dry and grating. Waving him off with the back of his hand as if to say 'get outta here', Atractivo turned to the Holy Ice Sect Sheikh.
"Hielo, why aren't you joining the chat? Look, if you give me the cold shoulder like this, you'll break my heart!"
The skin of the man dressed in white from head to toe was frosted over. Neither Eyshan's fire-based technique, nor the flames surging with Fuego's anger, nor the hot air blowing in from the balcony seemed to faze him.
"Atractivo, are you high?"
When the only name at the table who had stayed quiet chimed in, the Sheikhs of the Six sects turned to each other. The Holy Bone Sect Sheikh, Hueso, quietly sidled up next to Atractivo. The battle lines were drawn; it was the Holy Blood and Bone alliance against the Holy Fire, Ice, Earth, and Eye Sects.
"Don't even ask, I guess I had a few too many! I can barely stand, but don't sweat it, even in this state, I can kick all four of your asses!"
As the handsome man's eyes gleamed, his fine, long hair suddenly whipped up out of nowhere, and the blood energy that erupted from his body filled the room.
"Atractivo, get a grip!"
Eyshan unleashed her fire energy; blood-red and fire-red clashed. The other Sheikhs also unleashed their energies, standing their ground against Atractivo's expansion with the five youths they brought tucked behind them. The Holy Bone Sect Sheikh was chuckling with delight, while the others ground their teeth in frustration. They couldn't push back Atractivo's seemingly bottomless energy.
"Oh, oh, oh, what am I doing!"
Reeling in his energy, Sheikh Atractivo covered his face with both hands and slowly shook his head from side to side.
"I am so sorry. You gotta excuse a drunk, my energy just slipped right out of my body!"
Everyone caught the real intent hiding underneath the nonsensical words layered with terrible acting. Atractivo was firing back at the 'you' emphasis in the Holy Fire Sect Sheikh's words. In a real throwdown, who knows what his odds against all of them would be, but the outcome of the energy duel was crystal clear.
"You kiddos didn't get scared, did you? Uncle here didn't mean you any harm!"
It looked like it was time for the second part of the problem. The handsome Sheikh was picking on the young disciples of the other sects; it was time for the hot-blooded prodigies to step up and show off.
"You've gone blind because your sect hasn't produced anyone worthwhile in ages. Our young disciples don't know the meaning of fear!"
The Holy Fire Sect Sheikh, Fuego, spoke as she sized up the youths appearing next to her. The pecking order within the five-person teams was obvious, and the top two always stood ahead of the pack.
"Chispa and Lava, the finest talents the Holy Fire Sect has nurtured this century. Both are at the Essence Shaping stage, and have been for a good while too!"
The duo stepping away from Fuego's side strutted right up to the Queen of Hell and bowed respectfully. If the woman in red started showing off, would the others just stand by? They were here to flaunt themselves before the Queen of Hell, Eyshan.
"Desierto, Arcille, step up and salute your queen!"
When the two hulking men took a massive stride and slammed one knee to the ground, a deafening crash rang out. The milk-white marble on the floor couldn't take the impact and cracked; the young men, at least as imposing as Jashua, were flexing their muscles.
"There goes my beautiful floor, if it were me, I'd be pissed!"
Atractivo, swaying on his feet, had his mind on completely different things, but the eyes of the Young Count right behind him were shining.
"The Twin Mountains of the Holy Earth Sect, they're at the Essence Shaping Stage too!"
The man, who practically cranked up the gravity with the pressure he emitted around him, swept his cape cascading off his broad shoulders and gave his salute. Every move he made was grand, every move was majestic.
"Vista and Golpe. The shining stars of the Holy Eye Sect, salute your queen!"
Unlike the previous disciples, the girls, who looked like a stiff breeze could knock them over, took a couple of steps, placed their right hands over their hearts, and bowed their heads. Since the masks on their faces hid their expressions, it was tough to get a read on what they were thinking, but the energy rolling off them said they were not to be messed with.
When it was Holy Ice's turn, the two disciples stepping up without their Sheikh saying a word crossed their arms over their chests and gave their salute.
"Nieve, Tipo!"
The hair of the duo stating their names was cropped short and snow-white. The layer of frost coating their skin was a dead ringer for their Sheikh. They had opened their mouths to say just one word, and the breath they exhaled was enough to crystallize the air.
"Muslo, Muneca, salute the Queen!"
The bald-headed man called out the names of two people, but no one moved a muscle.
"Muslo, Muneca, step up!"
The second time was sharp; the girl walking while grinding her teeth was muttering non-stop.
"Your Majesty the Queen, I haven't been able to oversee my granddaughter's upbringing. I hope you'll excuse her manners!"
When the Holy Bone Sect Sheikh spoke, it was possible to see his jawbones through the massive gash on his cheek. The Queen of Hell, Eyshan, eyed the duo who gave a quick nod and cut in, exhaling a sharp breath through her nose.
"Crawl out of the hole you're in every once in a while and teach your family how to greet their rulers. Next time, I might not be so forgiving!"
The Queen of Hell, shooing them away from her presence with the back of her hand, turned her gaze to the Holy Blood Sect Sheikh who was smacking his lips and watching the outside. Even though she didn't part her lips to say a single word, what she wanted was obvious, but Atractivo persistently played dumb.
"Filthy Drunk, why don't you introduce the losers you brought with you. Or are they so pathetic that even you're embarrassed to introduce them?"
Eyshan and the Fiends kept their mouths shut; the Holy Fire Sect Sheikh, Fuego, was acting as their mouthpiece. When the red-clad woman hollered, Atractivo dragged his attention back to the dining hall, scratching his neck with his hand at the same time.
"Hueso, is that little one your granddaughter? She's grown into quite a young lady; if you're looking for a groom from our sect, my door is always open to you!"
While everyone was waiting for him to introduce the disciples he brought for the banquet, Atractivo sparked up a conversation about the most random topic imaginable.
"Atractivo, know your place! This is the Hell Palace, introduce your warriors right this second and pay your respects to the Queen!"
One of the Fiends, unable to stomach the whole circus anymore, raised his voice and his energy. Flames tearing away from his body were advancing toward the Holy Blood Sect disciples.
"You couldn't even let me talk to my buddy for two minutes. Fine, let's play it your way!"
When the handsome Sheikh swiped his hand toward the flames, a blood-colored shield materializing out of thin air was going to stop the blazing fire dead in its tracks.
"First, let's kick things off with the one lying on the floor. I can't remember his name, hope he doesn't get disqualified because of his age!"
Ralf, paralyzed from head to toe, got hyped when the gazes zeroed in on him. He wanted to spring to his feet, but his battered body wouldn't let him.
"Lareina, the other piece of our team. Haven't seen her fight much, but she's a good kid. Quiet and peaceful!"
"And this handsome devil is Alis. Hueso, look, don't let this kid slip away. I vouch for him, he'll give you litters of grandkids to bounce on your knee!"
Unlike the other Sheikhs, the Holy Blood Sect's Sheikh was introducing the disciples he brought to fight in the festivities one by one. Throwing his arm around Alis's neck, he pushed him forward so everyone could get a good look. The only thing not red on the young man, whose white clothes were drenched in blood from head to toe, was his eyes.
"My apologies, since I don't really concern myself with those matters, I have zero clue about how the kids are progressing. If I have to say something about Alis, I can tell you I saw him shatter the secret technique formed by the five clans with my own two eyes before coming here!"
The demeanor of the Sheikh, who had been slurring his words until that moment, underwent an unbelievable shift; while talking about Alis, he was looking dead into the eyes of his listeners.
"Next up are numbers one and two of the team! Jashua, show yourself!"