As Evan approached the towering structure that was the Monster Tower on his hover board, his eyebrow raised at the disheartening sight that greeted him.
A group of 300 people had already assembled, each one of them vying for the chance to claim the ultimate prize in the inheritance war, but it was honestly a pitiful sight if one were to think about it.
Out of the 3000 members of the clan's youngest generation who had signed up for the inheritance war, more than two-thirds of them, over 2000, had been swiftly eliminated after the first trial of fire, and a few hundred more had quit the war after Evan's impassioned speech, despite knowing that they would be giving up their birthrights and starting from scratch if they wanted to make a name for themselves within the clan.
But amidst all the despair, there were still 600 young masters of the clan who refused to back down and dared to participate in the next trial. The second trial of fire of the inheritance war had slashed the remaining number of competitors in half in just one day. Although it might seem less perilous than the first trial, the reality was quite different. After all, the 600 young masters who had participated in it were the cream of the crop, so strong that they could make it to the Iron Ranking List of the Empire - a list of the top ten thousand soul manifestation realm cultivators in the Black Eye Galaxy. Nevertheless, the second trial had still claimed the lives of half of them!
Evan took it all in with a heart of ice, his mind calculating that with only 300 remaining, his chances of success had vastly improved. He could see the fierce determination burning in their eyes as he scanned the crowd of competitors.
They had come too far to give up now.
Evan thought: I have to be at the top of my game if I want to stand a chance against such formidable opponents.
His arrival at the gates of the monster tower caused a disturbance in the crowd. People craned their necks to get a better look at him, murmuring in low voices.
Some of the them looked at him with envy, while others regarded him with hostility. After all, they saw him as a threat to their own chances of success as he was widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders in the cut-throat struggle for the inheritance of the Imperial Frost Clan, standing on equal footing with the enigmatic Black Horse himself - Dante.
Evan ignored the murmurs of the onlookers. He was well aware that his formidable reputation had preceded him, and he had no intention of concealing his strength or his unwavering determination to secure the inheritance.
"Hey, hey, quiet down!" Keldor barked, his voice slicing through the low murmurs of the crowd. He spoke with an authoritative tone, demanding their complete attention. "The third trial of fire in the inheritance war is about to begin. Before we start, let me explain the rules. Your task is to climb the monstrous tower looming before you. Take a good look at it. It has ten daunting floors to conquer. For every floor you scale, you'll earn 100 points. The one with the most points will be declared the winner of this trial. These points are more than just numbers. They can be traded for valuable items from our clan's treasury, but more importantly, they'll determine your new rank in our clan's hierarchy. Any questions before we begin?"
One of the participants of the inheritance war spoke up, "Are you serious? The Monster Tower is one of the most dangerous places for soul manipulators. For those in the Soul Manifestation Realm, the mortality rate within the tower is the highest compared to any other restricted area. Climbing it is like asking us to commit suicide!"
In the face of the youth's desperation, Keldor's expression remained as stoic as ever.
"You're not obliged to participate. If you don't want to continue, you can leave," he said bluntly.
The discouraged teenager started to leave, but Keldor's next words made him pause in his tracks.
"Wait! Before you fuck off to who knows where, return everything the clan has given you," Keldor demanded with a cold glint in his eye. "Don't force me to take action."
The youth tossed his spatial ring at Keldor, who caught it deftly before turning to leave.
"And your clothes?" Keldor asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
The youth's eyes flickered with frustration, and he responded, "I bought these with the money I earned from my part-time job!"
"Where's your proof?" Keldor asked.
"I'll send you the receipts when I get home," the youth replied in a bitter tone, his fist clenched at his side.
As the young man left, Keldor chuckled to himself.
"What a fool," he thought with a sly grin. "He didn't need to give anything away. There's no rule stating that one must leave anything behind except their birth rights if they forfeit from the inheritance war. He could have just declined, and I wouldn't have been able to do a thing."
The remaining participants fell silent, feeling as though they had no choice but to take part in the trial if they did not want to sacrifice their dignity. Keldor savored their discomfort, knowing they had signed up for the Inheritance War without bothering to read the extensive list of rules beforehand. Otherwise, they would have known he was bluffing. If they forfeited, they would only need to surrender their birth rights and nothing else!
Jake, the young master of the Ice Household, asked a pertinent question,
"I've heard that after passing each floor of the Monster Tower, we can choose to exit. Will there be any penalties if we do?"
Keldor reassured him, "No, there won't be any penalties." Then he looked at the others with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "And passing the first floor guarantees a spot on the Bronze Ranking List."
Evan: ???
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