Epic Competition.
This was a tournament between regular humans and those with Inheritances. A handful of families and students from the Alpha Academy dominated on the human side, but historically, Akumas claimed most of the victories.
Existing on a continent where humans made up nearly 97% of the population, yet the remaining few could easily destroy them all, wasn't universally accepted.
As the dominant population, humans preferred to defend themselves. Many from particular backgrounds were trained from childhood to earn the title of Royal Knight. These guardians, unlike Inheritance users, fought both Scarlet Kins and maintained peace within human communities.
Out of fear, ordinary humans insisted that people like Scar stay in the academy, dressed in identical clothing so they could be spotted immediately.
"Epic Competition, huh? Fifty wins, maybe. And yet they keep coming back. It's not like they face the toughest of us anyway. The farthest they get is tier-6.
"But it's strange. They've been getting stronger every year. Either the world's unfair… or someone's feeding them something they shouldn't."
Julien said, his eyes on Scar, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed in meditation.
Scar shrugged.
He'd been curious about that too. Achieving fifty victories against opponents with supernatural powers wasn't exactly a small feat.
"It's not really about winning. They fail most of the time but keep coming back every year. The point is to show that humans aren't helpless. Any victory at the end is just icing on the cake."
Julien sneered, "I've never understood the hype. Humans do most of the interesting stuff. They built all those audio amplifiers, and now they use them for entertainment. They handle all the research too… so why can't they just let us live in peace?"
Ordinary humans did run this world, and the relationship was symbiotic. Humans needed Inheritances for their innovations, while Akumas needed humans for their own purposes.
Humans controlled communications, announcing Scarlet Kin invasions to the world with details on type, classification, and threat level; knowledge painstakingly gathered over centuries.
But their greatest strength was engineering: creating automobile carriages and advanced weapons, though they still needed Inheritances to make them work. Without humans, society would collapse, and both humans and Akumas understood this.
"It's pride and fear, plain and simple. They can't stand feeling inferior."
Scar responded.
He'd been working tirelessly to unlock something from his memories. His uncle Arthur Rover had saved him at yesterday's Supreme Council meeting, but if he couldn't demonstrate something meaningful from his Inheritance, death was inevitable.
He replayed the scene in his mind, examining when the dark flames emerged. Lightning was about to strike her. In terror, she'd thrown up her hands to block it, and that's when the dark flames exploded forth, attempting to devour the bolt whole. She'd still died from it.
Scar attempted to summon the dark flames through visualization, hoping they'd flow through him, but nothing ever manifested.
There were many strange aspects to his predecessors' lives, but what stood out most was what the fourth user, King, had tapped into. And Bianca's dark flames.
At present, King's discovery was useless to him. Only Bianca's flames were relevant, but he kept coming up short. He needed to try a different approach.
"Pride aside, I'm curious to see what the Zheng clan has to offer. I'd be glad to be paired with any of them. I heard they can move at lightning speed… cool for a human, huh?"
Julien said enthusiastically.
Scar often had to shift his focus from meditation to conversation with Julien. Perhaps it was for the best, since his attempts alone weren't producing anything.
"Hmph. Kugo or Amagi wouldn't be bad choices. Hajin-ga isn't a bad option either."
Julien frowned.
"Hajin-ga… aren't they a diplomatic clan? From what I know, most of their members serve in research divisions or the High Court."
Scar opened his eyes, giving up on his tries for the meantime.
"You weren't at the Epic Competition last year, were you?"
Julien motioned negatively. He'd never been there.
Scar reached for the sword at his side and pulled it free from its scabbard.
"Last year, my old man took me there. Someone from that clan carried a sword like this, but larger and wider. I remember wondering how she managed to wield it… until it stopped working after just two strikes."
Actually, Scar's dream had been to become a Royal Knight. A year ago, his desire to avenge his parents remained fierce, but he'd never expected to manifest an Inheritance. Despite Isaac's teasing insistence that he would, Scar had chosen the path that made the most sense at the time.
When given the chance to observe both Royal Knights and Akumas in action, he'd studied them intently. He could discuss them endlessly.
Their conversation continued, and as they talked, Scar came to a grim realization: even if he somehow survived the Supreme Council meeting without using his Inheritance in two weeks, his real execution would come during the tournament.
An Akuma refusing to use his Inheritance? Even his father, Isaac, might suspect ulterior motives. Worse still, he'd become a target for everyone.
"Ah, tonight's your punishment? How unfortunate. I hope your luck dies screaming, along with you, when the worst Catastrophe-level threat in history comes knocking."
Julien provided the best pep talk Scar had ever received just moments before he ventured to hell's doorstep.
And again, it might actually go terribly.