As soon as the host spoke, Klein immediately cast several spells at the same time, shooting fireballs and water arrows simultaneously.
The crowd was astounded, as the boy was truly going all out.
Kael watched the spells approach him calmly, then whispered.
"Magic Construction—Umbrella Dome."
He did a little hand sign, forming a transparent energy shield that blocked all the attacks.
Klein's gaze hardened, and he immediately created six large fireballs.
The six constructs shot towards Kael, who easily blocked them with his transparent magic shield.
The crowd gasped once more, finding it hard to believe a young boy could weild something like that.
Seasoned mages and veterans recognized that spell—Umbrella Dome—and were surprised by how easily he used it. This thing usually required a deep understanding of the spell to use it, making it a rare Fourth Circle spell.
'He just has potential, but lacks experience.'
Kael frowned, eyes conveying disappointment. He wasn't impressed by Klein's performance, deciding to end the battle immediately.
Just as Klein was preparing another attack, the ground surrounding him lit up like runes of a magic circle.
"Whaaatttt?!"
The host screamed in shock, standing up from his seat. The other nobles were equally shocked, all rising to their feet.
On the arena floor, Klein felt gravity double, almost forcing him to his knees. A violent wind blew, exposing his taut muscles and strained expression.
"Monster…"
Someone in the crowd whispered, too shocked by Kael's power.
The boy slowly raised his hand, his purple eyes shining ominously.
Following the movement of his hand, earth chains shot out and latched onto Klein's body, trapping him on one spot and slowly forcing him to his knees.
With a look of indifference, Kael made the boy struggle for over thirty minutes until he fell unconscious.
By the time Klein was out, the arena was as silent as a graveyard.
The commoners who had come to watch stared at him with eyes full of fear, and even the nobles showed great caution.
The power and ruthless decisiveness Kael had shown was beyond what they could ever imagine.
"T-this…" the host stuttered, not knowing what to say.
Kael raised his head and looked at the man. "I, Kael Veyren, win this tournament."
He didn't shout, but the silence of the arena made it loud and clear.
'I have shown enough dominance. This would ease my journey in making loyal followers.'
Ignoring Klein who was still on the ground, Kael walked back into the waiting room.
...…
The crowd gradually recovered, and celebration came underway. All the kids who participated in the tournament were ushered to the banquet hall, categorized based on their performance.
The Veyren family was seated at the highest level of the table, closest to the City Lord.
"Young Master Kael Veyren, congratulations on winning the tournament."
The man had a calm but aged face, his gaze carrying hidden wisdom.
Kael regarded him for a few seconds, then nodded. "I appreciate, City Lord."
After that, several other noble families came to congratulate him. Most were cautious, some came to flatter him, while others simply came to build connections.
'The noble families might be a bit difficult to control at this stage. However…'
Kael looked towards the kids from normal backgrounds. Although their gazes carried traces of fear, there was also respect in those innocent eyes.
'Natalie, Evans, Miel, Camil, and Laura.'
Without saying a word, he stood up and approached those kids. Holding a cup of wine in his hand, he surprised them with a greeting.
"E-eh? S-sir Kael." Laura stuttered, fidgeting in her seat. The others were also anxious, as they never expected him to approach them.
"You can call me Kael." He said softly, though he didn't smile.
"Oh…" Camil nodded, then eyed him curiously. "How are you so strong, Kael? You… you're already a Fourth Grade mage."
Kael simply shrugged. "It happens."
His answer surprised them, but they didn't dwell much on it. Slowly, the young mages opened up to him and began chatting with him. Although he didn't express himself too much, he gave them the privilege of speaking freely with him.
"Aha! I really loved the way you made that Young Master Klein eat dust!" Evans grinned, excited that the person who defeated him also suffered a crushing defeat.
"Now, now. Careful with the way you speak."
Kael's warning was timely as Klein and his Dalem family were welcomed into the banquet hall.
The young boy had a tired expression in his face, but his eyes carried unconcealed hatred.
Kael merely glanced at him once, then turned away. He resumed speaking with the Natalie and the others, further infuriating Klein.
'How dare he ignore me for some weak commoners?!'
His father placed a hand on his shoulder, warning him to not try anything stupid.
Closing his eyes, he reigned in his anger with a harrumph. Ignoring Kael and his new group of 'friends', he took his seat close to the City Lord. His parents went to meet Kael's parents, congratulating them on winning the tournament and commending their son Kael.
'Father must be seething beneath that smile. I know how much he hates the Veyren family.'
Looking at the frail smile on his father's face, his heart grew heavy.
'Kael… I'll fight you again, and I'll defeat you.'
In his heart, he had decided to go into closed-door training for years, then emerge in his peak.
"Welcome the Presence of Jack Riley!"
A guard announced, ushering someone into the banquet hall. Everyone instinctively looked at him, eyes widened.
The man was tall, over seven feet. His body was a sculpture of muscles and veins, looking like a macho body builder. He towered above everyone like a giant, his steps making the tiled ground creak.
"Welcome, Ripper King."
The City Lord greeted him warmly, a smile on his face.
Jack turned towards him, then nodded calmly. "Thank you, Uncle."
Ignoring everyone else, he asked. "Where is this generation's strongest? I wish to meet him."
The City Lord calmly pointed at Kael, who was also staring at Jack. The two locked gazes, then Jack walked up to him. Looking at the kid whose height only reached his abdomen, Jack offered a handshake.
"Congratulations, Little King."
Kael stared at the hand, then calmly accepted it.
'…!!!'