Statement

In a dressing room, a girl dressed in all black was being groomed by an olive-skinned girl and a fair skinned girl.

A knock came at the door, startling them all from their daze.

Akihiko walked in with a smile, but it immediately turned ugly as he noticed the color of Madeleine's dress.

"Meiying, Delia, leave us for a moment," Said Akihiko in a stern voice.

They looked towards Madeleine, but they only saw a gentle smile.

"You guys can go, I'm ready anyway. I'll have to deal with him eventually."

Madeleine's voice was shaky. It was clear that her trembling was much worse on this today. She was trying very hard to control what she was feeling, but it was becoming increasingly difficult.

The two girls walked out and Akihiko slowly walked to the door and locked it.

"Are you wearing black for him?" Akihiko said faintly.

"You already know the answer, so why do you bother asking?"

SLAP!

Madeleine tumbled across the room, her face stinging. The feeling of the rough palm rebounding against her delicate skin was seared onto her mind. It was as though she was experiencing it again and again without pause.

She made no sounds as she slowly got up and wiped the blood from her lips. There was no point in resisting, she had no access to her cultivation at the moment. All she felt was a burning sensation in her body, as though lava was being poured down her throat. Yet, her skin still felt so cold, leaving goosebumps trailing up her skin.

This was the worst she had felt in her entire life.

"To attend my wedding with a cut lip and a bruised face, how scandalous. You think I'll bother to properly cover this us? We'll let people see you for who you truly are."

Akihiko shook in anger, before grabbing Madeleine's chin and thrusting her against a wall. He forced open her mouth and shoved a medicinal pill into it. Not allowing her to breathe until she swallowed it.

After Akihiko felt that the pill had worked well enough, his gaze of anger turned to lust. He stood over her, his eyes no different from a beast's.

Madeleine clenched her jaw, but her vision was going red. Rage, humiliation, fury the likes of which she had never felt before…

Akihiko chuckled, "I don't know why you bother to fight it. Tonight, I'll take your everything. Your first kiss. Your virginity. Your will. In fact, considering the beast you'll be tonight when the moon rises, you might want to try things I've never even thought of before.

"You can have your little rebellion for now, it'll be over soon anyway."

Madeleine slumped to the floor, refusing to cry as Akihiko walked away.

After the door opened, Meiying and Delia stared coldly at Akihiko before rushing inside.

"Big sister!" They cried together.

Madeleine smiled, "I'm okay, I just got flushed thinking about the harem I'll have in a few years."

Delia and Meiying could only smile sad smiles, but they were helpless to do anything.

…

Akihiko walked towards the ceremonial set up to prepare.

'You must be thinking that after you're cured you'll be able to beat me down? Maybe even kill me and marry another man later? I'm sorry to disappoint you. But, tonight, you really will lose everything. Including all of your cultivation and potential.

'Then, I'll use that to rule the second day of the tournament and make sure the Big Sects know that it wasn't just my talent that earned me a seeded spot, it's my strength too.'

A cold smile appeared on Akihiko's face, oblivious to the disaster he had brought upon himself.

**

Music began to play. Elegant strings inlayed will of at least the 3rd level through the crowd, making them feel at peace.

Akihiko walked to a podium facing the crowd. He wore a chang poa laced with gold and whites, standing proudly. The crowd's gaze was one-part reverence and another part deep seeded hatred and jealousy. They wished with their everything that they could be Akihiko in that moment.

The wedding was actually held in a coliseum; however, the ground floor was filled with pillar family members as the competition stages had been swapped for exorbitant decorations, place tables, and what seemed like endless food and baked goods.

The geniuses of the big sects sat on the floor of the coliseum as well, gazing at Akihiko with disgust and jealousy.

"He may be talented, but he's still too weak and young to be a seeded genius. We'll beat him to a pulp during the tournament proceedings."

The other seeded geniuses nodded in heavy agreement with Lehabim. They had all had great fortuitous encounters in the Elvin Forest making their power soar. Their consolation prize would be showing off and fighting to see who was the best among them.

In the crowd, Ava, Eli and Venus looked nervous. They were the only ones who knew that Dyon was alive and they were absolutely certain that he wouldn't allow this to continue. But, no matter what they thought of, none of their ideas translated to his victory.

If he saved Madeleine, how long would it last before he was killed again? Even if he could now beat Oliver, what about Oliver's father? What about Akihiko's father? What if the other pillar families join in? And isn't Akihiko part of a Big Sect now? How could they allow him to be cuckolded in front of thousands of people, they would rather die than be shamed like that.

The lines of worry increased minute by minute as Chenglei walked up behind Akihiko and discreetly handed him a ring. It seemed as though this would be a very streamlined wedding, most likely to keep Madeleine in line.

Delicate snow continued to fall from the sky. However, by some odd magic, the ground maintained the absolute purity of the snow, without dirtying. At the same time, the tables of food maintained their heat as though the snowflakes couldn't enter a meter radius of them.

It was like a paradise of snow as the music picked up.

The crowd stood in respect as Madeleine walked into sight. However, the gasps that were heard were followed by endless whispers. This wasn't because of her beauty, but rather because of the clear statement she was making.

Whether it was her intention or not, it felt as though the faces of the Kami and Sapientia Clans were being slapped.