Chapter 19: Clan selection trial (1)

More than a year had passed since then.

Julius never stopped honing his abilities for even one day. He had always been training his hardest with the others there, and now the day he had been preparing for had finally come.

From a balcony, Julius smiled as he saw a man on a white horse entering the castle, followed by a group of riders.

The man had long black hair and blue eyes, and Julius recognized him as his father.

'King Karim, now my father,' he thought with a smile as he stretched inside his room.

With a thought, a white mist gathered in front of him, displaying his own record.

[Name: Julius Augustine

Rank: First Echelon, Scheme 5

Attributes: The Omniscient (Mythical), The Fated Reader (Divine), Thrifter's Incarnation (Celestial)

Skills: The Omniscient Perspective, Enhanced Analysis, Future Insight, Dimensional Phantom, Light Element Manipulation (Uncommon)

Status: Fifth prince and last child of King Aman of the human kingdom, the only reader.]

He smiled as he saw this and couldn't help but want to use the Omniscient Perspective on the king.

He walked downstairs from his room, noticing all the guards heading outside as well to greet the king.

"Why are they back already?"

"He already conquered the Tier 8 gate at the Great Canyon."

"Ah, this... this early."

"Isn't a Tier 8 gate like, a thousand times more dangerous than the Tier 3 gates we're used to?"

"Haha, that's just how powerful the king and the queens are."

Julius couldn't help but smirk at the guards' little conversation.

'That's just how strong he is, huh?' He nodded, walking past all of them.

He finally got downstairs and saw the king and the queens approaching.

'Come to think of it, I haven't seen the other two queens since I came here,' Julius raised a brow as he looked at the two women beside the king.

One had curly red hair and green eyes, dressed in a black combat outfit with a red coat. Her smile seemed warm, carrying no malicious intent.

The other woman had long blue hair and beautiful brown eyes, which stared coldly at the surrounding people.

He wasn't interested in them, though. His gaze shifted to the king, and a mist formed in front of him, displaying the king's information.

[Name: Karim Veloria Augustine

Rank: Fourth Echelon, Scheme 3 (Scheme 30)

Attributes: Ice King (Legendary) Lv. Max, The Ruler of the Nile (Legendary) Lv. Max, He Who Dominates (Heaven) Lv. 9, Master Swordsman (Earth) Lv. Max, God of War (Divine) Lv. 8

Abilities: Ice Creation and Manipulation, Fire Manipulation and Creation, Frostfire Garden, Spirit of the Heavenly Sword, Space Cutting Sword Strike, Earth Splitting Strike...

Status: The king and guardian of the human kingdom, able to single-handedly make the other clans submit. Currently very curious...]

Julius couldn't help but shake his head. Compared to his father's record, his own seemed so empty.

"Hm?" Seeing the status showing as 'curious,' he dismissed the screen, only to see that the king was looking at him directly.

It was only for a brief moment, but he truly felt the king's gaze lingering on him even after he looked away.

Julius spotted his mother behind them and couldn't help but smile as she rode past.

'Hm... they're not all here.' Julius frowned, then decided to sit by the side.

Soon, the gates opened once more, and the crystals hanging on poles beside the gates brightened as two individuals walked through.

One of them had long, straight black hair and cold blue eyes, wearing black armor that covered his entire body except his head.

'The first prince, Caesar,' Julius thought as his tranquil gaze darted to the lady behind Caesar.

She had similarly long black hair that reached down to her waist, and her blue gown accentuated her curves.

Her gaze alone sent shivers down the spines of those around her, as there seemed to be a killing intent in the air.

'And finally, the firstborn of the royal family, Princess Anna,' Julius smirked as he looked at her.

'She will be such trouble in the future,' he thought, rubbing his chin.

All of the soldiers, maids, and residents in the castle cheered for the heroes who had returned from the frontlines.

'And they all seem hardened too,' Julius sighed.

The frontlines were not a place of war; it was a defense location that stopped monsters and other creatures from entering the kingdom, comparable to a war zone but far more dangerous.

After the arrival celebration, Julius walked back to his room to prepare his belongings. He knew it wouldn't be long before the instructor for the clan's children called them to deliver the news.

He pulled his hair back and tied it behind his head.

He looked in the mirror beside him and breathed steadily as he admired himself.

'I could never have dreamed of such a face before. It's exciting, really,' he thought with a smile creeping onto his face.

Soon, he was downstairs at the training grounds with the other teenagers who had been training, blending in with the crowd.

Just as he thought, a few seconds later, the instructor entered the field with a smile on his face.

"Well... bad news and good news, guys. Gather around!" the man shouted, and the teenagers moved toward him.

"First of all, the bad news. The clan selection trial will take place in a week." The instructor said, and all the kids were shocked by this development.

"I thought we were going to have at least half a dozen months to prepare!"

"Is that why all the princes and princesses came back?"

"It's too soon. I don't think I'll participate... No, I will."

All the students seemed panicked by what the instructor had just told them, but Julius only went to sit in a corner, as he had already expected this.

Julius squinted as he paid attention to the next news.

"And now for the good news: for those who do well in the trial, there will be rewards, and five epic-grade items will be distributed among the best," the instructor said with a smile. Julius seemed speechless, as he hadn't expected this part.

'Epic items are very valuable and far stronger than magic-grade items.' He smiled a bit upon hearing this and couldn't help but look forward to it.

Julius continued to sit calmly as the other teenagers discussed among themselves in excitement about the upcoming trial. His heart, however, beat steadily as he processed the news. The trial was happening sooner than expected, but Julius had trained for this moment—he was ready.

'I need to get one of those epic items,' he thought letting out a breath.

The items could provide a significant advantage in the trials and beyond. But his mind also wandered back to his family. His siblings, each with their own powerful abilities and reputations, would no doubt be competing for dominance in the upcoming trials.

He was sure that the triplet princes were going to participate as well.

'It's not just about surviving the trial,' Julius reminded himself. 'It's about making sure I stand out.' The weight of being the last prince, the one often overlooked, settled on his shoulders.

But this was his chance—his chance to prove his worth in the shadow of his powerful father and siblings.

'If I'm able to get my father's recognition, I would have no trouble growing stronger.' he thought as he put a hand on his chin.

'I'll he promoted to being an official heir and my other siblings will be out to get me cause of the throne...' He squinted his eyes as he thought about it.

'Being in a royal family has its disadvantages. After I'm recognized, I'll be able to visit the royal treasury.' He smiled.

'At least I'll be rich.'

The instructor's voice cut through his thoughts. "Prepare yourselves. The trial begins in a week. Don't waste a single moment."