When Aren and the guard appeared, they were inside another small room with a magical formation below. There was only one door there. The guard stepped back.

"Inside, there is a place where you chosen will be staying for the tournament. Most of the unemployed have already arrived there," he explained.

"Is this inside the tower?" Aren asked, simply curious.

"No, this is one of the floating constructs of the castle. You must have seen them," he stated.

"Oh, I see. Thank you," Aren said and then walked forward. He grabbed the handle of the door, pulling it down. The door clicked and opened.

He walked out, and there was immediately a hallway, the walls made of marble, crystal torches lighting the way for him. The guard closed the door behind Aren, leaving him there.

The hallway had a soft flowery scent, and somehow the air was cool, like there was some hidden AC in the walls. Aren took a very deep breath and walked ahead. He had to say, he was somewhat eager to see the genius awakened that were here.

He had already met that white-haired girl, and he couldn't lie, her power was great. It showed him a little of what to expect from the rest.

There was another door at the end of the hallway, and when he got there and opened it, a massive lounge opened to him.

It was a very large space inside, fitted with the most comfortable-looking couches, bean bags, and everything that one could possibly need to relax, even swing chairs. There was a massive kitchen in sight.

Without even a window, this entire place was well illuminated, and the air inside was far more fresh than what was outside. It was incredibly stunning.

There was also a massive screen implanted on a wall, covering ninety percent of it. It used magic somehow to relay what was happening inside the tower right now, showing different angles of the people that were gathered for the tournament.

This place was the definition of stunning, but what Aren was interested in was the people inside, because as of now, there were about ten people in this room.

Three ladies and seven boys.

There was something Aren noticed about each one right off the bat. They gave off a unique air. Something about each of them instantly set them apart.

Everyone here was in casual clothes, relaxed and watching the screen, but yet they were all unique in their own way. Aren couldn't help but smile. He didn't need to be told. He was standing in a room filled with the greatest powerhouses of the young awakened.

The moment he entered the room, every head snapped to look at him, each one carrying a tired and unbothered expression. They all scanned Aren with their eyes and then proceeded to watch the screen again.

Only one dude, a blonde-haired guy who sat on the backrest of a couch in a loose T-shirt and black trousers, talked to Aren.

"Heyo," he said. "Welcome. I'm guessing you are a chosen too." He then got off the chair back, but his feet didn't touch the ground. Aren noticed it. It was like he was standing on an inch-high invisible platform. It was only after a few seconds that he dropped to the ground and then walked toward Aren.

"Welcome," he said and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

Aren moved to shake, but then he realized his palm couldn't touch the hand of the dude. It was as if there was some force stopping his hand entirely.

"Sorry, I forgot to turn that off. After getting attacked many times, having my defense on has become second nature," he said with a chuckle.

That didn't feel like some space defense, but my hand wasn't suspended in space or stopped by space. It was as if there was a wall between us, Aren thought.

"My name is Luka," he said with a smile.

"Aren," he replied and properly shook his hand.

"Don't mind everyone here. They have all taken up the belief that we are enemies," Luka said.

"That's because we are," a lady responded. She had blood-red hair, pale skin, and wore a casual sweater and shorts. She had a lollipop inside her mouth. She tilted her head upward and looked at the two.

"Everyone inside this room is a threat to me becoming one of the winners of the War God Tournament. That makes you my enemy," she stated clearly and then pulled the lollipop from her mouth. It then changed shape into a star lollipop before she stuck it back in her mouth, turning her head to look at the screen.

"Don't be worried about her. I've known her for a long time now. She might act that way, but she is pretty nice when you get to know h-"

SWOOSH

Before Luka could finish the sentence, she threw the lollipop through the air. It changed shape into a sharp dagger, while its density was also changed to make it similar to that of metal.

Luka didn't move. The lollipop hit the invisible wall that protected him, causing a small boom before it was knocked back, flipping through the air. She caught it and then stuck it into her mouth.

"You'll have to try better to kill me," Luka said.

"Soon, Luka. Soon. I'll see what an ultimate defense does against an unpredictable attack," she stated.

"You two should cut it out. You'll get your chance to fight in the tournament. Do it there," a black-haired dude that was sprawled out on a couch said. He was staring at the ceiling above. His hair was very long, similar to the dude that had come during Aren's fight, but it wasn't the same person.

"What are you saying? You attacked me yesterday. Now you are feeling all righteous?" Luka asked.

"You took my stuff," the dude replied.

"It was a cookie," Luka argued.

"I've killed for less," the dude said.

Aren watched their interaction and couldn't help but find it funny.

"Why are you smiling, pretty boy?"

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