The man had skin painted in red, elevated lines that looked almost like refined and carefully excavated scars lining his body-across his shoulders, his arms, his torso, even his face. Rather than the often unappealing lines formed by scars, these were low-profile elevations that looked more like tattoos… And they all radiated with gold.

Other than his mustache, the man had not a single note of hair on his body at all. His eyes were abyssal depths of black, and when he saw Sylas appearance, his first reaction was that of rage.

He had just been about to begin, and he was pretty sure that this Sylas was the very same young man the receptionist had contacted him about just moments earlier.

But soon after, he noticed Leias small frame behind Sylas, and his rage could only become a frown. He was well aware of how things worked in this world, and he had a guess as to what had happened.

However, he wasnt a receptionist. In fact, the standout features of his crimson skin and golden etchings were signs of one of the seven Clans of the Guild.

The Rizen Clan.

The Guild was well aware that though not every youthful participant was a member of the seven Clans, enough of them were that they couldnt be careless with who they chose to oversee things.

If it was a nameless individual, these children would walk all over them. He didnt have to care about Sylas face in the slightest.

Leave, he said.

No.

Sylas reply wasnt something the man expected at all. Even Leia found herself blinking.

She had seen enough of the interaction downstairs to know that Sylas hadnt planned on doing anything then. Was he planning on relying on her now?

She sneered. Maybe she should just not do anything at all, then. Did she look like someone easy to take advantage of?

It took the Rizen a small while to recover. The children had all basically had the same reaction when they saw Sylas, but suddenly they were intrigued.

Of course, this was intrigue about whether Sylas would die by splattering his blood everywhereor if there would be any blood left over at all.

The Rizen didnt even look at Leia, though. He didnt feel a need to. Did he need the approval of a child?

Maybe if he realized exactly which Analei Leia was, instead of just assuming she was any other Analei, he would react differently. But it was already too late for all of that.

Sylas ignored the changed expression of the Rizen, looking up as though he was staring into space.

Do you see now why I rejected your offer? This is a complete waste of my time. I would rather just go and kill my target.

But then how would you get home? an amused voice replied.

Im sure your granddaughter could provide me an option.

When Sylas met Leia, she wasnt all that old to begin with. In her early twenties at most, and she had probably been with the 002 Sanctum for a while by that point.

Somehow, she had managed to make it there in a reasonable amount of time, and it was obvious she wouldnt have left when she was a baby. In fact, considering she had been chasing skirts, she might have aged herself up to her twenties immediately.

From Leias perspective, this probably made sense. Maybe the most annoying thing was to have the mentality of an adu in the body of a child. Sylas could even understand it somewhat.

But the choice she made was also almost obnoxiously privileged. To waste such a good opportunity to grow stronger on nonsense…

She was just yet another person swayed too easily by their baser instincts.

Leia didnt say a word despite Sylas mention of her. It seemed that whenever her grandmother was around, she was incredibly muted, but the killing intent in her heart only deepened.

Cute answer, but Im also just like my granddaughter-I dont like to be used. Since youve called me out on this, Ill bite. General, mind your manners and follow the rules. I dont remember anyone giving you unilateral rights to decide who can and cannot participate.

The Rizen was frozen in place and could only salute in return.

However, double the standards he needs to reach. If he cant meet them, kill him. Or let my granddaughter do it. I dont really care either way.

Then the voice vanished.

The Rizens gaze was practically spitting fire, but he still only saluted in return and only slightly relaxed when he fe the aura fade away. However, even though he had been given free license to make Sylas life a living hell, his gaze when he looked at him was very different.

After giving him one more glance, he pointed.

Step into the circle.

The current room was just an expanse of black slab tiles that looked carved from graphite. They were at least three by three meters, large constructs that were actually much larger than they seemed.

A single step by Sylas made him realize that these werent tiles, but instead enormous cubes embedded into the ground. They were three by three meters, but instead three by three by three meters.

The ceilings were nine meters tall, and the circle the Rizen was pointing toward was one that looked almost like a wrestling ring. All of the children were within it.

Sylas and Leia stepped into it.

The first process is as you all know. Your Seed Age will be tested, and your difficuy will be adjusted accordingly. And yours will be doubled, the man said, looking at Sylas.

Sylas didnt react very much to this, he was still thinking about Seed Age. What did that mean? He had never heard of a concept like this before.

The Rizens Will pulsed and something activated. Sylas watched as the ring of white lit up, and then a miniature circle of light appeared beneath him.

A surge of energy ran right through him.