36 Beginning Tournament

The next day.

A crowd of tamed specks was stationed in the town square waiting to hear the rules. In front was four clay stages. Surrounding the area was people waiting to see a good show.

Those who were in charge of administrating the test was already on the four stages and preparing the needed material to help the selection.

In the group of tamed specks was Key watching and waiting. He had arrived early to get a glimpse of what to expect since there was no information on how the testing would be done besides being a tournament style test at the end.

The participants he saw was more than he had expected to be taking the test. Either their owners enjoyed these type of events, or they really wanted to join the Fang family.

The whole purpose of the tournament was to help in establishing a greater army against the royal family that was the true rulers of the country.

But the Fang family wouldn't accept just anyone. By seeing the power of a tamed speck and knowing that they were still forced to be tamed, this aspect alone would prove the owner's capabilities. It would be a win-win for the Fang family. Not only would a powerful speck be under their control, but a strong owner Adapter would also join them.

Key then thought back to after the restaurant incident. He and Ethia ended up getting themselves two separate rooms before deciding their next actions. What she had explained and given him to prepare for the tournament left him solemn.

He already understood that Green Grass Field was too rudimentary. They lacked even a true place to call home at first. Now, he truly realized how far behind the place was.

For places that could consider themselves kingdoms, a Title Adapter was only standard. Ethia hadn't told him around the crowd of people, but once that had got more privacy, she had let him know that the chances of there even being a group below Title Adapter in the tournament was doubtful.

Only savage settlements would find becoming titled hard. Once more, they somehow usually didn't have the ability to become titled after ranking up to a five-star Adapter.

The kingdoms didn't do the same things like the tribes. Kingdoms used evolution stones to cause a reaction to the body's ambition force. There were also different levels to the stones' quality.

The lowest being a one-star evolution stone, and the highest being a five-star evolution stone. If there were higher qualities, they weren't known to her.

Each evolution stone was like gold. They could be mined or traded for money. However, most wouldn't accept this kind of trade because it was better to use them to help evolve.

Just like in his world's old times, the currency was coins of bronze, silver, and gold. A thousand bronze coins were equal to one silver coin, and one hundred silver coins were equal to one gold coin.

If the currency was changed to evolution stones, one to ten gold coins could trade for one one-star evolution stone. Evolution stone qualities would then be traded a thousand for its higher quality counterpart.

These stones had a better boost to the body's adaptability compared to absorbing residue ambition force. But it also had its downsides. Absorbing residue ambition force gave a chance to establish abilities of what it used to have. The more absorbed, the better.

Still, this possibility could only be achieved if the person had a compatibility with the abilities hidden inside. For evolution stones, there was no chance of acquiring new abilities. But there was also no risk in being possessed or comatose either.

Then was the other downside. The more it was used, the lesser its reaction to the ambition force would be since they were Adapters after all.

During that night of preparing, he had already used the evolution stones Ethia gave him. When seeing the effects, he thought it was a miracle treasure she gave away. In the end, she said it was the lowest of the lowest, and only being one-star evolution stones.

It was a small price she paid to make him think about spending his life with her. Or so she said. She didn't stop at this explanation either. She even explained how to become a titled Adapter.

The fifth-star adaption was forming a presence. This meant making the ambition force visible or substantial. Then was a Title Adapter. Gaining individuality.

It was to adapt the ambition force into becoming the Adapter's characteristics. A feeling and title that expressed the true core of their being. With this, one could farther evolve by developing attributes that expressed their title.

A small smile graced Key's face as he clenched his right hand into a fist. The world he lived in now, was full of monsters. Despite his current strength, there was still so many people out there with greater power.

"Attention! Listen up all participants! The tournament preliminary rounds are divided into four sections to cut the numbers down to eight specks." This was said by an old man that wore black robes and looked to resemble a tiger animal.

His appearance also suggested that he lived a luxurious life. There was no mistake that he shared some connections to the Fang family. And it wasn't superficial either.

"These sections are Adaption Intuition, Adaption Crisis, Adaption Development, and then the tournament style elimination." Glaring at all the tamed specks to make sure they got the message, he gave a 'humph' before continuing.

"The first test will be Adaption Intuition. Take a look!" There on one of the stages was a stone tablet that had a claw mark imprint. "The requirement to passing is to replicate this mark on the clay walls erected on the stage. Don't think we are gullible to how this mark came to be. If you don't take this serious and fail, you and your owner will no longer qualify to enter my Fang family. We don't accept wastes!"

Watching the dread spread around their faces, the old man stopped glaring. Now, he had a wide smile. His fang gleam in the sunlight shining down. Scaring and breaking wastes was always a fun pass time.