Chapter 1696: Preparation [1]

The heir wars were actually progressing faster than anyone expected, and the reason was pretty simple.

The gap between geniuses was too pronounced.

As they'd gone so far, it looked like the noble clan geniuses weren't anything to be impressed about. They showed skills that were great and flashy, but when they were consistently defeated by commoners who were far less creative in their movesets, it was hard for them to make a case for themselves.

Even the common people could see that this competition was no longer a place for people with their mediocre skills. There were real heavenly geniuses this time. Those people were stronger than people twice or even ten times their age.

The stage they deserved to be standing on wasn't one that those regular noble geniuses could stand.

It was a place for the best of the Holy Clans...

...and the five commoners that made them appear far less impressive than they really were.

The tournament faculty also came to understand this fact after seeing how the second stage ended, but they were in a predicament that didn't allow them to easily change the format.

The noble clans were nowhere near as powerful as the Dragon Emperors own forces, but they still had a significant degree of influence. The heir wars would become difficult to run if the noble clans decided to act against the event.

However, if their geniuses were eliminated during the competition due to their own lacking skills, then their respective clans couldn't say anything.

The third stage was partially created with the intention of removing everyone unworthy from the competition once and for all.

Instead of being split into five groups, the remaining thirty-five geniuses would all participate together in a single round with massive rewards and consequences.

And, the actual contents of the challenge wouldn't be hidden.

Around two weeks before the stage began, every genius received a notification on their emblem.

'War...?'

August looked at it with raised brows.

The concept was easy to grasp.

Since the geniuses had pretty much already split themselves into two teams, the tournament administration was giving them a chance to determine which side was truly better.

The third stage would be a war. The geniuses would be given their own territories to protect while also trying to invade and seize the opposing team's territory.

Whoever had better strategy, better power, and bigger ambition would win.

Up to here, there weren't any problems. It was a relatively even playing field, especially since the event itself begot the Holy Clan geniuses dividing themselves and joining the two teams.

The problem was more in why they were notified two weeks in advance about the trial.

'We'll be given time to enlist troops from the outside to help us. The only restriction on their strength is the same as what applies to us. They just have to be under a hundred years old.'

It was likely a measure to prevent noble clan geniuses from enlisting their elders.

'But it's still an unfair advantage.'

After all, the Holy Clan geniuses could also contribute to their side's troops. In their families, geniuses under a hundred were common.

As August continued reading, he confirmed that the sides would be even.

There were an odd number of them, so one person would need to be seeded in at some point, but there would be enough Holy Clan geniuses on his side to counter those supporting Mikael.

But, who would they be more willing to support?

Would they really lend aid to August and his people despite their directly opposing ideologies?

'This is going to get messy.'

The total limit of troops on each side was 1000. It would be a proper wartime battle where many different tactics could be employed.

'And since we already know who our allies are...'

August looked at the end of the message, where the teams were clearly outlined.

'...we should meet and start planning.'

War didn't begin when the fighting did.

The first step was always taken behind closed doors when people started plotting against each other.

August's eyes were narrowed.

He stood in the midst of the ocean. His Baptism had properly ended, and he could already see the depths of his newfound power.

Hell, he didn't even need to test it.

Because of the impact that his Baptism had on the ocean and the aura he possessed for but a second after the world energy barrier receded, the water dragon clans had already started to worship him.

Even their greatest elders showed him respect.

He felt like a king.

These were people he'd been interacting with for months now. They knew who he was beforehand, and seeing their behavior change was startling for August.

Still, he didn't undermine their feelings. Rather, he understood them.

Water dragons became enemies of the kingdom the moment Qinglong died. These remote locations were the only places where his legacy could live on.

But, because of their worship, they had to stay isolated from the world.

'Their help would be great, but it would immediately reveal my identity.'

When it came to other matters, though...

The water dragon clans were August's first followers. They had pledged loyalty to the last living Azure Dragon, and they would absolutely be willing to go to war for their new emperor.

'So, when it comes down to the wire, they'll be the most helpful people in the world.'

August smiled. He was more than satisfied with what he'd accomplished in these months.

'But now it's time to get serious again.'

August clutched the emblem in his hand and sent mana into it, expressing a thought to sixteen other geniuses.

It contained two lines.

The first was a location.

And the second was just two words.

"Let's talk."

They had their differences.

No, that was a massive understatement. His original group of eleven and the five newcomers who'd be joining them were already enemies.

It was his job to find a middle ground between them before the competition started.

After all, if their team was already eyeing each other with hostility, then what would they do when another seventeen geniuses at the same level came at them with the intent to destroy?

Most kingdoms at war fell to internal conflict rather than enemy fire.

August wouldn't allow his to be the same.

So, as he waited for a response from his teammates, he asked himself but one question.

'How do I melt a Holy Clan genius?'

He couldn't entice them with benefits, since he couldn't offer them anything better than what they received easily from their clans.

Rationality was a good approach. If they didn't cooperate, then they would lose. Perhaps they wouldn't be eliminated, but they'd lose too many points for them to easily catch back up to their peers in the rankings.

The only reason August didn't want to use this approach was because it would only be valid until the end of the third stage.

He wanted to form a connection that would exist beyond the competition.

The Holy Clans were his enemies, but not every member was evil or corrupt.

The first step to being a hero was believing in the people.

So even if they were the kin of his mortal enemies, the targets of his revenge...

'...I want to give them a chance.'