Chương 74: Wrath, Gates and Tides

Joe landed with a splat onto a marbled floor, blood spraying out around him. He really needed a bath. Groaning, he pushed himself upright. His body still ached all over. He took in his surroundings. In front of him sat a familiar silver desk, but this time, behind it stood a golden-skinned man. More surprisingly, two others sat on a couch opposite the desk, staring at him. One of them waved.

"Holy smokes, old sport. You alive? Is all that your blood? Crikey," said a tall, lanky golden lizard-man with a strange accent. Joe blinked, surprised at the odd manner of speaking. He raised a bloodied hand and waved back.

"I'm alive. Sorry about the mess. I didn't have a chance to clean before I got sucked in here."

"Sucked in? Crikey. You one of those battle addicts who ignored the notification?"

"Battle addict?" Joe asked, not sure what the lizard-man meant.

"You hear that, Pablo. He don't even know what a battle addict is," the lizard man laughed, turning to the pale-skinned, large-headed fellow beside him. The second figure, Pablo, presumably, grunted but didn't speak. Joe immediately thought he resembled an incredibly rude anime character who hated monkeys.

"He doesn't talk, old sport. Not sure why. You coming over or what? Take a seat." The lizard man patted the chair next to him. Joe hesitated, glancing down at himself.

"I don't think I should sit down. I don't want to make more of a mess." He looked back at the trail of bloody footprints behind him. Why wasn't the blood drying? How much of it was even his?

"Fair enough, old sport. That golden guy looks happy about that, at least." Joe turned toward the golden-skinned man, who gave him a nod. Joe nodded back, but before he could say anything more, a door shimmered into existence at the side of the room. The golden man stood up.

"£$%"$£"$%," the golden man said, at least, that's what it sounded like to Joe. He couldn't understand a single syllable. The pale-skinned alien got up without a word and walked through the newly appeared door.

"I thought you said his name was Pablo?" Joe asked, puzzled.

"I just called him that, old sport. This place hides names, because you know. It's the hidden grade place. Also, he doesn't actually look like that. The system changes how we look to protect identities."

"Oh," Joe glanced down at himself, wondering what he looked like through the lizard-man's eyes.

"You look like a bullboogey," the lizard-man said casually, as if reading his thoughts. Joe blinked. He had absolutely no idea what a bullboogey was… and decided not to ask.

"I've been wondering… what is a hidden grade?"

"Crikey, you new or something?" the lizard-man said, aghast. Joe shrugged. He wasn't sure how, or whether, to explain.

"Nevermind. I'm pretty sure the system won't let you explain," the lizard-man went on.

"It's simple, old sport. It's the hidden grade between E and D. One only those with a bloodline can access, and even then, only the very best in the Multiverse can meet the requirements for entry." He grinned proudly, gesturing between the two of them.

"You and I? We're two of the strongest E-grades ever to live. Nice, right?" Joe was taken aback by how cheerful the lizard-man was. Still, he couldn't help but smile at the sentiment.

"Sure, I guess," he said with a tired chuckle.

"Though I don't feel that strong."

"Covered in blood like that, I doubt anyone thinks you're strong, old sport," the lizard-man said, then burst into enthusiastic laughter.

"Thanks, I think. And thanks for the info. I had no idea there was a hidden grade."

"Don't mention it, old sport. Just… if we ever meet outside. I apologize in advance for killing you," the lizard-man said with a wide grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. Joe blinked. The friendly tone was now laced with something darker. He quickly realized the cheerful demeanor had masked a far more dangerous side. He made a mental note: Don't take people or aliens at face value from now on.

Another door shimmered into existence, and the lizard-man departed with a casual wave, leaving Joe alone in the room with the silent, golden-skinned figure behind the desk. The room felt much larger now, wide, circular, and empty. With nothing better to do, Joe opened his status screen. The first thing he noticed: nearly 200 free stat points. He split them between Strength and Intellect, then moved on. He was level 99 across the board.

That alone would have been shocking enough, if not for the next notification that caught his eye. Title - Body strengthening. Your body has undergone a forced change initiated by a divine being. This is a rare feat that few are blessed by. Maybe there is something special about you… maybe not. You have a new body. + 500 Endurance. + 500 Vitality. Joe stared. Was the system mocking him with that line? Either way, a thousand bonus stat points was absurd. He shook his head. Alright…

maybe I don't hate that Dwarf quite as much… No. Scratch that. He still hated that bastard. That had been the worst thirty days of his life, and that was saying something. Add to that, however many days he'd spent running from that darkness… He groaned and checked the next title. Title - Godly Touch. A God has touched you. +10% to all stats. Wait… that Dwarf was a God? His eyelids flickered. What did I do in a past life to keep getting targeted by divine lunatics? He wondered.

"Can't I just have a quiet life? Oh, system?" he asked, looking up at the ceiling. No reply. Of course not. Though… for just a second, he thought he saw the golden-skinned man's lips twitch. Nah. He had to be imagining it. He sighed and scrolled on to the next title. Title - Beat Down. You have been beaten down for 30 days by a being more than three grades above you, and you survived. Well done. +5% all stats. That brought his total title bonus to 100%. A small (max) tag now appeared beside it.

But then he noticed something else, off to the side, in a separate bracket, was the 1% bonus he'd earned from killing a being with a higher-level bloodline. So that bonus wasn't affected by the cap, which was nice, and he also silently hoped he wouldn't be forced to add to it in the future. He moved on to the next title. Title - Temporary Immortality. For a short time, you were blessed with immortality. Even the rage of a God could not kill you in this state. Congratulations. +5 to Luck.

More luck was always a good thing. Now that his percentage bonuses were capped, these flat stat gains felt even more valuable. Still, he wasn't entirely sure what luck actually did. It was supposedly tied to Fate, but he was an anomaly, so… who knew? Maybe it did nothing at all. As he was about to check his new skills, a doorway shimmered open beside him. The golden-skinned man gestured silently for him to proceed. Joe nodded and stepped through, his blood-soaked footsteps squelching against the polished floor.

He entered a new room, which vaguely resembled the one he had just left, except for one tiny little thing. Floating before him was a… winged woman no taller than his hand. She wore a sparkling white dress, and faint stars drifted lazily in the air around her. She beamed and zoomed over to him, fluttering around his head in excited circles.

"Oh my gosh, why are you covered in blood?" she giggled.

"I have never seen anything so funny!" She tumbled through the air, laughing so hard she nearly hit the floor before catching herself and flapping back up to eye level. Joe, unsure what to make of this sudden development, took a moment to collect himself.

"Hi. I'm Joe. And you are?" he asked, trying to keep a straight face as she giggled uncontrollably.

"Hi Joe! I'm Josephine," she chirped between snorts. Joe blinked.

"Really?"

"Of course not, silly," she said, still giggling as she spun through the air again.

"You're so funny!" Joe hung his head in dismay. Great, he thought. This is exactly what I needed right now. The tiny woman suddenly zipped forward and slapped him squarely on the forehead. Blood sprayed up around her as Joe dropped like a stone, unconscious before he hit the floor.

"Night night, blood-covered funny man," she cackled, doubling over in the air as she howled with laughter. __ Rose Terravignion stepped into the grand dancehall with Corel and Daisy flanking her sides. The room was stunning, all polished marble, gilded chandeliers, and vaulted ceilings painted with scenes of Eludia's victories. But Rose's gaze was drawn not to the surroundings, but to the two striking figures beside her.

Daisy looked radiant in a sleek black and gold dress, her head adorned with an ornate tiara of pink and purple gemstones. Her hair was tied up in an elegant cascade of large, circular curls, styled in the now-iconic fashion made popular by her mother. Her skirts swayed with every step, and she moved with that graceful, seductive gait she often wore like armour. Rose smiled at the familiar rhythm of it and turned her attention to the other.

Corel, the once-frustrating Voldura, had earned more than just her respect; she was becoming a true companion. The more Rose came to know her, the more fondness bloomed within her. Their shared Bond of Fate was bringing nothing but interesting surprises so far to Rose's… boring life. She couldn't wait to see where this led her in the future. Corel wore a soft green dress adorned with frills and shimmering stars that complemented her rich, natural skin tone.

Her curled hair fell just past her shoulders, elegant and effortless. Matching Daisy's tiara, hers too gleamed with purple and pink, the symmetry drawing attention. Around her curved horns, delicate white wings had been placed with care, completing the look with both regality and charm. She looked breathtaking, and Rose gave her a subtle nod as their eyes met. As for Rose, she wore a flowing pink gown with layers that bounced lightly as she moved.

Her hair was styled in a mix of Daisy's and Corel's, curled up front and cascading down at the back in soft waves. Her wings, tipped in shades of pink and purple, shimmered as they spread slightly behind her. The dress hugged her figure, flattering her bust just enough to catch eyes, though not quite as boldly as Daisy's more daring ensemble. Still, she held her own with pride. Eyes turned to the trio as they entered, and Rose let her smile linger as she dipped her head in greeting.

All three curtsied together with practiced grace before moving to their lavishly decorated seats near the edge of the dance floor. From there, they would have a perfect view of everything that was to come. She glanced at Corel, who had a slightly flushed face and was subtly raising a hand to her shoulder.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Rose said with a soft giggle.

"Yes... Uhm, everyone is looking at us," Corel murmured, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Her gaze darted across the dancefloor, where over a hundred guests were seated, most of them watching their entrance.

"Don't let it bother you. They are just admiring Daisy's overly… revealing dress," Rose said with a teasing grin. Daisy stood up with perfect poise and gave the crowd a slow, elegant bow, one that lingered just long enough to offer a view that bordered on scandalous.

"Oh, sit down, you shameless show-off," Rose chided, though amusement danced in her eyes.

"Just giving the crowd what they want," Daisy replied, her tone dripping with allure. Corel didn't seem embarrassed by the display… in fact, she looked rather impressed. Rose had misread her entirely. That flush hadn't been from modesty. She nodded to herself, approving of the newfound camaraderie. A small droid floated toward them, extending a silver tray with three crystal goblets filled with pink-tinted wine. Rose accepted hers without taking her eyes off the crowd.

She scanned the faces with calm interest, easily recognizing several major families from across the Multiverse: Eludia's own noble lines, the Constanviro matriarchy, Vanaquase's diplomats, the Grecko Vuse mercantile clan, and the notoriously disciplined Designation 343 Empire. The only major absence was Ghost Valley. Strange, Rose thought. Her mother would no doubt find that suspicious. Setting politics aside for now, she brought the goblet to her lips and took a long sip.

The wine was perfectly chilled, its aroma familiar and comforting. It was her favourite vintage. She let the scent and flavour settle in her chest before exhaling in quiet satisfaction.

"That group is from the Designation 343 Empire," Daisy was saying, gesturing discreetly to a seated cluster across the hall.

"They are the X77ty family. That square-headed one is their son, an elite at the peak of E-grade. Rumour is, he'll be entering the Tower of Past Lives this year." Rose listened in silence as Daisy continued pointing out various dignitaries and elite scions to Corel. She smiled, pleased to see the two getting along so well. At first, she had worried that Daisy would never truly accept Corel. But now, it seemed they were learning to appreciate each other in their own way. And for once, Rose didn't need to step in.

A stir at the entryway caught Rose's eye as the first of the Integration competitors were teleported into the hall. The room quickly hushed as all eyes turned to the group of ten who appeared beneath a glowing notification. It marked them as the representatives of World 1. The Corthegians. A silver-skinned butler materialized beside them and began leading them to their designated table. Most of the group ignored the room; their attention turned inward as they chatted amongst themselves.

Only one among them looked around as they walked, tall, poised, and unmistakably calm. Rose met the blue-eyed gaze of the Corthegian female, Gale. As their eyes locked, Rose gave her a measured nod. Gale returned it in kind. None of the other Corthegians paid much attention to the crowd, save for the one sitting slightly apart from the others, Kilch'Kitz Novo'Fara, ranked number one among them. Though silent, Rose caught the small glance he cast toward Gale. A subtle nod followed. Interesting.

Rose's mind clicked into motion. Kilch may have the points and rank, but he wasn't the true power of World 1. No, that quiet nod said it all. Gale, the unranked female with zero integration points, was the one worth watching. Rose considered using Identify but refrained. Not yet. She glanced at Daisy, who returned her look. She had noticed the same thing. A slight smile tugged at the corners of Rose's lips. For the first time, this integration was starting to interest her.

Until now, she'd barely paid attention to the event, only watching when her mother danced with him. But now? Now she'd be watching more carefully. World 1 just became interesting. One after another, the top ten-ranked worlds arrived, each group teleporting into the hall and being guided to their places. Rose observed them all, her eyes sharp. There were a few strong contenders among the latest arrivals; World 2 in particular had several who caught her attention, but none stood out quite like World 1.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. She glanced again at the entryway. World 7 had yet to appear. Curious. As World 11 arrived, her interest waned. She leaned back into her seat and returned to her conversation with Daisy and Corel, her thoughts quietly simmering. __ Tevenny Justice Loquitor appeared in the dancehall alongside her world's entrants to the Tide of Movement competition.

The moment she arrived, her eyes fluttered closed as more than two hundred fate lines surged into her vision. The sheer volume overwhelmed her, and she wobbled slightly on her feet. Two sets of arms, one from her brother, the other from her sister, steadied her at once, guiding her gently as she regained her balance. They led her to her seat while she adjusted to the deluge of power and presence flooding the hall.

She took a long breath, calming herself as the dizzying tangle of fate settled into something she could manage. Slowly, she opened her eyes. A few blinks later, she could see clearly again.

"Are you okay, sister? Do you need anything?" Valeri asked softly, her voice tight with concern.

"I'm okay," Tevenny replied, offering a reassuring smile.

"I just needed a moment to adjust." Valeri nodded but continued to eye her with quiet worry. Tevenny's gaze swept across the hall. Her senses now under control, she examined the representatives of other worlds and what she assumed were the powerful Multiverse families. Her attention was quickly drawn to a striking trio seated at the head of the dancehall, undeniably the centre of attention. One of them was clearly a Voldura, which caught her curiosity immediately. That was strange.

The two others beside her were unmistakably Vries Mortifi. She studied the blonde at their centre, guessing that this was the princess her grandfather had warned her about. The second most beautiful Vries Mortifi she had ever seen, surpassed only by the God of Eludia herself. Still, there was a dangerous elegance in the princess's poise, in her smile that teased secrets and daggers. Tevenny's heart jumped as their eyes met.

A strange heat rose in her cheeks as the princess smiled, a slow, deliberate expression that struck with the force of a lightning bolt. Tevenny looked away quickly, cheeks flushed. That smile was terrifying. But not as terrifying as the fate line tied to her. It was thick, blindingly so. Just looking at it made her head throb. She rubbed at her temples, trying to shake off the lingering tension. Forcing herself to focus, she turned her attention to the one thing that mattered most.

She scanned the room carefully, her eyes flicking from table to table. Where was he? She checked again, more urgently this time, but still couldn't find the one she had most hoped to see, World Ranked 27. His name was on the entrants' list. He had to be here. But he was nowhere in sight. Confusion twisted into worry. Was he late? Had something happened? Was he… dead? Tevenny's hands tightened slightly in her lap as uncertainty took hold. She didn't know why, but her pulse began to race.

__ As the final world appeared and its entrants were guided to their seats, Rose sat with a frown etched across her face. Where was he? No one from World 27 had arrived. Not a single representative. She glanced at Corel, who mirrored her confusion. Both of them sat in silence, sharing the same unspoken thought. Rose was just about to signal one of the droids for clarification when the entryway flashed, drawing her attention away. Her mother had arrived. Immediately, Rose stood.

Corel and Daisy followed suit, curtsying low as Catalina Terravignion, God of Eludia, approached with her usual composed grace.

"Daughter," Catalina greeted with a regal nod.

"Mother," Rose replied, stepping forward to kiss her mother in greeting. Catalina took the empty seat beside her, and the others sat shortly after. Around the hall, everyone else rose from their bows and returned to their seats with respectful silence. A droid floated toward them, offering Catalina a goblet filled with deep red wine. She accepted it without so much as a glance and sipped from it, her gaze sweeping across the dancehall.

"Mother, he isn't here," Rose said quietly, her voice tight with unease. Catalina paused mid-sip, eyes narrowing as she scanned the gathered participants. Her lips parting slightly.

"So he isn't," she whispered, just loudly enough for Rose to hear.

"Maybe he was killed?"

"Mother," Rose snapped, frowning.

"Please don't joke about that." Catalina grimaced and nodded in apology.

"Don't worry, daughter. I'll send out…" She never finished the sentence. With a deafening crack like thunder, a gate split open in the air before them. And then… Joe dropped out of it like a stone, slamming face-first onto the marbled floor with a sickening splash. Blood sprayed across the pristine tiles, some of it spattering near Rose's skirts. The hall fell into stunned silence. All eyes turned to the blood-drenched figure lying motionless before the God of Eludia and her daughter.

__ Joe jolted awake as his face slammed into a cold, marbled floor. He groaned and rolled onto his side, blood splashing beneath him. Every bone in his body ached. What had he done to deserve these endless, violent teleportations? One day, he was definitely filing a complaint with someone. Anyone. Light assaulted his eyes, and he blinked rapidly. Where was he? His last memory was of that tiny, winged fairy, slapping him! His eyes snapped open wider.

"Why did you slap me!" he shouted, spinning to his feet and looking around wildly. But instead of the fairy, he found himself staring at rows of elaborately dressed figures seated at tables. Several were literal tree people. He blinked again. Was that… Tevenny? And others he recognized. Wait. Was he at the competition? His gaze scanned the wide hall until it locked on a particular group… Kilch'Kitz and the other Corthegians. Holy shit. He was. A soft cough sounded behind him. Far too close. He froze.

Slowly, carefully, he turned around, trying his best not to splash any more blood around. His soul leapt. Catalina Terravignion, God of Eludia, sat mere feet from him, her elegant slippers inches from a puddle of his blood. Her stare was enough to halt time. Oh no. He dropped to one knee.

"I am so sorry, Your Majesty," the words flooded from his mouth.

"Please excuse my unseemly appearance. I think the system is playing a joke on me." He stared at the ground, bracing for a smiting. Instead, he heard a melodic giggle. It grew into uncontrollable laughter. He didn't need to look to know who it was. He recognized that beautiful voice the instant she made a sound. Shit. Joe glanced up. Rose, Princess of Eludia, had nearly fallen from her chair, hands clutching her stomach as she laughed with wild delight. Beside her, Daisy sat with a stare sharp enough to cut steel.

And next to her… Green skin. Horns. A dress… Corel? His eyes nearly popped from his head. Corel was sitting beside a literal god and a princess… in a frilly dress. This had to be a dream. He turned back to Catalina, who, to his surprise, was suppressing a smile. It was faint. But it was there. Somehow, impossibly, he was not making a terrible impression. A sudden boldness surged through him. Joe stood, bowed, splashing more blood around him, and approached the still-laughing Rose.

Then, with exaggerated flair, he knelt before her.

"Princess, you look dazzling today," he said with a smile. Rose eventually managed to stop laughing and gave him a nod, her eyes still twinkling.

"I hate to bother you ladies, but could you point me to a place to… clean up?" Rose giggled.

"Why are you covered in blood? And… What is a lady?"

"That… is a very long story," Joe replied.

"Let's just say I was beaten up… a lot."

"Stand up," Rose said with a smirk, motioning with her hand. Joe obeyed, stepping back cautiously. Before he could brace himself, a blast of water hit him square in the chest. He staggered slightly but held his ground as a torrent poured over him, washing away the layers of wet and dried blood and grime from the past month. The force of it nearly knocked him over, but he gritted his teeth and stood firm. When the deluge finally ended, he gave himself a quick shake and spat out a mouthful of blood-tinted water.

"Thanks," he replied, wiping his face with his hand. Without another word, he turned and walked toward an empty table, eager to retreat from the centre of attention. As he sat down, he finally noticed the massive, flashing notification hovering above his head.

'Wanted! Claim this bounty!' Joe sighed loudly and buried his face in his hands.

"Why me?" he muttered, once again cursing the Gods, the system, and everything in between. He pulled up his status screen with a weary breath.

Status Name: Joseph Caldwell Age: 28 Race: High Human (Grade E+ - Rank 0) Alignment: High Human (World 43) Heritage: Path of Light Class: Absolute Farmer(Unique) Level 100, Absolute Space Farmer(Pseudogod) Level 100 Professions: Nature's Halo(Legendary) Level 100 Bloodline: Light of the Eternal Spark (Grade E+) Titles (100% Max)(1%): World 43 Progenitor; Integration Forerunner Stats Strength: 2034 (200) Agility: 3135 (620) Vitality: 3507 (520) Endurance: 3380 (200) Wisdom: 3583 (60) Intelligence: 4675 (80) Luck: 208 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 1923 Free Points: 33 System Credits: 140, 943, 210 Usually, he would've been excited to review the massive improvements he'd made during his time in that hellhole.

But today was not that day. Today, he lamented. He stared blankly as ten droids busied themselves cleaning the blood and water from the centre of the dancefloor. A silver-skinned man stood near a platform, making announcements that Joe barely heard. His head throbbed like a drum, and all he wanted was to lie down and let death take him quietly. To make matters worse, Catalina Terravignion was now occasionally glaring daggers in his direction. So was Daisy. And now, for some reason, even Rose.

The only one who didn't look like they wanted to feed him to a Beast was Corel… who, for some reason, was red in the face. He gave her a half-hearted wave.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. He had botched the whole thing. That damn system clearly hated him. Dropping him into a hall full of what looked like important dignitaries and nobles. What the hell was it thinking? His entire body ached, and his head was pounding. He leaned against the table, eyes closed. After a short while, a tap on his shoulder made him lift his head. Daisy stood there, holding out a pill. His eyes widened in disbelief, and he took it without hesitation.

"Thanks," he mumbled, swallowing the pill in a single gulp. Relief washed over him almost instantly. Before he could say another word, Daisy had already turned and flashed back to her seat, where she resumed staring daggers at him. And now, somehow, Corel had joined her. What was going on? He sighed and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. It had to be about the bond. There was definitely a long, awkward conversation in his near future.

"Now, you all will be assigned numbers and grouped accordingly," the silver-skinned man announced.

"The dancing will proceed in order. Groups one through ten. You will have ten minutes to prepare." Joe looked up just as a glowing notification appeared above his head: Group 10 - Number 12 He let out a breath of relief. He'd half expected to be dumped in group one just to suffer more. Maybe the system could show mercy now and then. He raised a hand, and a nearby droid floated down toward him.

"Your strongest beer, please. Thank you," he said. The droid zipped off, and he finally felt the oppressive weight of Catalina's glare lift from his shoulders. He risked a glance at Rose. She was deep in conversation with Daisy and Corel. The latter kept sneaking glances his way and even mouthed an apology when she thought Rose wasn't looking. She was wrong, of course. Rose saw everything. A moment later, Corel was on the receiving end of a sharp whisper and a very pointed look.

After that, Joe received nothing but expertly delivered glares from across the hall. He almost chuckled. His drink eventually arrived, served in a ridiculously ornate goblet that reminded him of something straight out of a certain red wedding scene on TV. He stared at it for a beat, then downed the whole thing in one go. Strong, smooth, and dangerously good. Five minutes before the dancing was set to begin, Joe noticed one of the Corthegians stand up and point directly at him.

He stared back at the towering birdman, puzzled. What was he doing? He wasn't about to…? Oh no, he was. Joe's entire body glowed red, and a duel-initiated message popped up in his vision. The Corthegian unsheathed a gleaming katana and shot toward him with astonishing speed. Joe leapt up, activating Mana-Coating, and to his delight, he realized his skills were no longer locked. He reached for Jingu Bang in his storage, but paused. He felt… nothing. no fear. No pressure. No sense of danger from the Corthegian.

Just an annoyance. So instead of pulling out his weapon, he simply punched. His fist crashed against the hastily raised mana barrier, shattering it instantly and slamming into the Corthegian's chest. The birdman shot backwards like a cannonball, smashing into the marbled wall with a loud crack. Joe stared at his own fist in disbelief. A moment later, the red glow faded, and a message popped into his view. Victory - Duel Complete He blinked. Did I really just win with one punch? That thought echoed through his mind.

He looked up in concern, scanning for the Corthegian. Relief washed over him as a floating message read Unconscious above the slumped body, just before it vanished, teleported out of the competition. Oh. Joe sat back down, still trying to process what had just happened. What the hell was that? What did that God do to me? His thoughts swirled as another message appeared: Duel cooldown: one hour.

"Combatants and dignitaries, please proceed to your designated tables. Group One will begin shortly." Joe stood up, trudging toward the table marked with a large, glowing 10. He took the seat closest to the wall, slouching slightly. His body was healed, thanks to the pill Daisy had given him, but mentally, he still felt wrung out. A whole damn month of torment wasn't something you just bounced back from. So he sat with a scowl, hoping no one would speak to him.

Most of the other participants in Group Ten gave him a wide berth… except for one. Tevenny. She approached, graceful and calm, with large eyes glowing faintly. She stopped before him, her posture flowing into that familiar greeting stance, as she smiled.

"Feormere," Tevenny said with a nod. Joe sighed and got to his feet. He returned the greeting stance with a polite nod before sitting back down. She took the seat beside him, seeming to relax once settled. Joe, however, remained silent, unwilling to start any kind of conversation. Tevenny had no such hesitation.

"I'm glad we're in the same group. It looks like I will have someone I know to dance with, at least," she said, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. Joe offered a small smile and nodded, then looked away. His eyes found Rose across the hall, and instantly, he regretted letting the little yellow-skinned alien sit beside him.

"Do you know the princess?" Tevenny asked, her voice light but curious. Joe raised an eyebrow at the question. Normally, he wouldn't hesitate to answer honestly. But something felt off. He didn't feel like himself; something inside was missing.

"Kinda," he replied, voice flat. Tevenny blinked at the abruptness of the answer, her cheerful tone faltering.

"Is everything fine? Would you prefer to be alone?" she asked gently.

"Look, sorry. It's not you," Joe said, sighing.

"It's just… It's been a long day. I don't think I'll be fun to talk to right now." Tevenny nodded and stood. She gave a graceful farewell stance and offered him a solemn smile.

"Do not worry; we shall speak again." She glided off towards the others at their table. Joe didn't watch her go. He just closed his eyes, wishing, more than anything, that he had never entered this competition. __ Corel frowned as she watched the Aur Garde Fern girl walk away from Joe. From the look on her face, their conversation hadn't gone well. Oddly, that made Corel happy. But the feeling vanished the moment her eyes returned to Joe. Something was clearly wrong. He looked… off. Quiet, withdrawn, weighed down.

Not at all like the man she had spent so much time with. His entrance had already raised too many questions. Why had he appeared that way? Who had he been fighting? Why was he soaked in blood? She needed to speak with him. She had to know what had happened. But Rose had forbidden it. For the first time, Corel wished Veda were here. She would know what to do. As much as it pained her to admit, Veda knew Joe far better than she did.

"Corel," Rose said, pulling her attention from the surly Joe.

"Rose," she replied with a forced smile.

"Don't worry about him. The dancing is about to start," Rose said, turning her attention to the first group entering the dance floor. She smiled with anticipation.

"I have been looking forward to this. What do you think, Mother? Do you have any favourites?" Catalina Terravignion returned the smile.

"Not from this group, daughter. But I have heard rumours about Ghj39 from group three. Apparently, she's quite the prodigy." Corel listened as the music began and the dancers took their positions, but she could barely focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Joe. As group one's performance got into full swing, Rose finally turned toward Corel with a knowing pout.

"You aren't enjoying this, are you? Go, you have ten minutes." Corel didn't need to be told twice. She darted around the edge of the hall, her dress swaying as she made a beeline for Joe. __ Joe sat up straighter as Corel landed in the seat beside him with a soft thud.

"I don't have long. What happened to you?" she asked, her voice low and urgent, concern shining in her eyes. Joe looked at her; she looked amazing in that dress, but the words of compliment didn't come. His voice was hollow.

"Just tired. I need a break."

"Weren't you prepared for the competition? I don't understand what is going on with you," Corel said, reaching out to cup his face in her hands.

"Just a series of badly timed events," he mumbled, pulling back slightly. Corel begrudgingly let go as his gaze drifted to the dancing pairs, half-watching their steps.

"Well, get it together. Do you know what dance you are going to do?"

"Yeah, I do," he replied, the words mechanical.

"Joe, look at me." Her voice sharpened slightly. Joe turned and met her eyes. Something in her gaze made him pause. He exhaled and gave a sheepish shake of his head, realizing how unfair he was being.

"Okay, okay. You're right. I need to push the madness of the last month behind me and get into gear." Corel nodded with a satisfied smile.

"Yes, we can talk about whatever it is that put you in this mood later. Now show me what you're planning to do." She pulled out a strange device, clicked it on, and two holographic figures appeared mid-pose, poised to begin a dance. Joe's eyes lit up with recognition and curiosity as he leaned forward.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, staring at the strange device.

"It's a mana projector. It's set to show dance routines. Rose forced me to practice with her. Pour your mana into it; it should be allowed by the system." Joe did as instructed, and the holograms lit up as his mana surged into the device. When he tried to move one of the figures, it responded instantly. He grinned at Corel and began guiding the pair through a routine. Ten minutes later, Corel gave Joe a quick half-hug of encouragement before hurrying back to her seat beside Rose.

Joe watched her go, then glanced over at the princess. Their eyes met. Rose gave him a half-smile and held a fist up in mock anger as she flashed her teeth. For the first time in what felt like forever, Joe laughed. __ Tevenny watched the departing Voldura with narrowed eyes. She resisted the urge to call out to her. She had been carefully observing when she sat beside Feormere. And what she had seen had been eye-opening.

The moment the Voldura had taken the seat, her fate line had reacted, swirling and curving tightly around Feormere. Tevenny had never seen anything like it. Not even her parents' lines, after decades together, were that intertwined. And Feormere… he didn't even have a fate line. Or at least, not one she could see. But she knew what that scene meant. That Voldura's fate was irrevocably bound to him. Entangled for life. Nothing would break a bond like that. Nothing short of death. She turned back to the dance floor.

Group one had just finished, and group two was beginning their routines. Tevenny sat straighter. She needed a new approach. If she wanted to get closer to Feormere, she had to find a way to bypass both the princess and the Voldura. She'd already noticed the subtle glances and hand gestures shared between him and the Eludian royal. They were communicating, clearly, openly. How was she meant to compete with that? She didn't have an answer. But she did know one thing: she wasn't about to give up.

Not when she could see into fate itself. She would find a way. __ Joe jumped to his feet the moment his one-hour duel cooldown ended, his body once again glowing red.

"Here we go again," he muttered, eyes locking onto the massive rock-like being who had issued the next challenge. Wasting no time, Joe space-jumped to the alien's side and unleashed a flurry of punches into what he hoped was its torso. His fists hammered down repeatedly until the familiar Unconscious message floated above the now-cracked heap of stone. He exhaled, jumped back to his seat, and sat down as if nothing had happened. Around him, dozens of eyes stared in silent disbelief.

A new notification blinked overhead: Duel Cooldown - 30 minutes. Joe leaned back. Closing his eyes for a moment of peace, however short-lived it might be.