Akarn royal palace, the day before the subjugation.

  Since early morning numerous rune warriors had been engaged in endless sparring. Needless to say they were all masters, fighting to prove their superior might to gain the right to command those who lost.

  Why such a simple selection method, easy the fragment though possessing a will, at its core was still a beast thus there would not be a need to notably change strategies mid battle. This being the case, fighters were primary while tacticians were secondary once the subjugation begins. Coupled with their experience and battle intuition warriors would prove more useful in dictating the flow of the fight overall, but of course these warriors were not single minded brutes.

  "What took you so long it is already midday, all the remaining warriors are renowned throughout the continent. Shirley, don't tell me you don't mind missing the finale?"

  Asked Arisu turning around to look at the person behind her, a blonde with knee length hair, her skin was white as snow, lips as colorful as a ripe peach. With large blue eyes giving her a young, vibrant and innocent look. A princess of the Franz kingdom, south of Akarn and childhood friend of both Arisu and Aleus. She wore a Victorian dress that gave her an aura of elegance, naturally her features made her stand out in the palace. But in recent days as someone who stood out within the palace she was one of many.

  "You know why I took so long, you must enjoy tormenting me."

  She said while striding ahead of Arisu then stopped and showed a pouting expression. "You do that again I promise I won't let your cheeks off."

  Arisu threatened with a gentle smile.

  "Arisu, you meanie."

  She said before escaping in laughter, running across a flowery field in the garden.

  "Though you've grown older your habits haven't changed."

  Noted Arisu as she followed after Shirley at her own pace.

  "These flowers are beautiful."

  The princess exclaimed coming to a stop at a fountain and scooping some water with her hands splashing it on the nearest flowers. She did this several times but when Arisu got close Shirley changed targets, splashing Arisu with the water instead. After doing that she ran off again then looked back to inspect the damage she had caused but there was none, Arisu had used a rune to control the water, forming a blob that floated back into the fountain.

  "Clearly you are having fun, and don't mind not seeing how the spars will end. But what if I told you Aleus will be there."

  Said Arisu continuing to walk, watching the princess Shirley's expression and like she had expected the mischief was soon replaced with bashful and hopeful look.

  "Really, you aren't lying to me are you?"

  "When have I lied to you?"

  Arisu asked in return with the air of being unjustly treated.

  "But that's what you have always done."

  "Really. Sigh, you can only blame yourself for believing every little thing."

  "But we're friends, I'm supposed to believe you and you're supposed to not lie to me."

  The princess countered as Arisu finally gave in and said.

  "Fine, fine but whether it's a lie or not there's only one way to find out."

  "Fine."

  Princess Shirley also gave in and waited for Arisu to catch up before they hastily traveled together finally reaching their destination, a temporary sparring arena. With two basic features, the seating area for the audience and the fighting platform.

  "How I wish I could use a glider around the palace."

  Expressed princess Shirley, a bit short of breath, the arena was close but not so close that a normal person like her could arrive without breaking a sweat after rushing the whole way there.

  "Sorry, so used to everyone around here, otherwise I would have taken one out."

  "It's fine, just think of it as light exercise."

  She reassured as they moved up the seating area, heading to their reserved seats. There were no VIP seats, every member of the audience was a VIP here.

  Not long after they found their spots and sat comfortably there and focused on the ongoing spar. Kruger, another rune warrior argued to be number one on the continent, alongside Akarn's chief warrior, Jura, was fighting his semi last opponent. This opponent though not an inferior character was at a clear disadvantage and would soon lose, anyone could guess.

  "You lied."

  Suddenly said princess Shirley with a begrudging tone.

  "Not true, I said 'will be there' not 'is there', so until sparring concludes for the day without my brother showing up my words can't be false."

  Said Arisu plainly, her attention on the platform below ignoring Shirley beside her whose gaze had been constantly moving between the individuals on and around the sparring platform and the audience.

  "What do you like about him any way, he's such an unruly child."

  "I thought you said he has changed."

  Arisu smiled bitterly as she replied.

  "He has changed alright but not in the way you might think. Back then he was also unruly but he could still promise to make you his bride and queen. But now he has entered a different breed of rebellious phase."

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  Arisu explained her eyes reminiscent of their childhood. During their playmate years when the continent wasn't as strained as recent years.

  The three of them would always be up to no good, Aleus was the leader of their little group. But everytime they got caught, Shirley as a guest would be excused, Aleus as heir to the Akarn throne through various reasons was also excused thus she would usually take the fall. This caused Arisu to mature before the two and have a much clearer view of those around her. Lately she was beginning to see an untamed fire that was about to die out within Aleus, regain life and burned with a brilliance incomparable to before.

  "But who knows maybe all he needs is the beautiful you to shower him with love and he will be tamed."

  She continued with a grin, giving princess Shirley confidence.

  "You think so?"

  Shirley asked her mood brightening.

  "Wouldn't say think, it is more of I hope so than think so. You are his childhood friend, this is something proven to be romance blocker 101."

  "At least I don't have short blue hair, this has to count for something right."

  "Look at you, as positive as ever. Regardless of what happens I'll take your side, if you cannot have him then no one can."

  She said eliciting light laughter from princess Shirley.

  "Then you'll also help with tempering my body."

  "Don't tell me, you still remember what he said back then. Ahhh, he's so stupid saying he was young isn't even an excuse."

  Arisu complained with a tinge of annoyance.

  "We'll, he wasn't wrong."

  Princess Shirley said in Aleus's defense.

  "Shirley you should have wrung his neck, what he said can be surmised as he'll discard you in an empty palace once you grow old while he retains his youthful appearance."

  "Even if we would be the same age it would be weird if I'm by his side with the appearance of an old lady while him an energetic young man."

  Shirley said with an awkward smile.

  "I give up, not my place to meddle anyway"

  Arisu admitted defeat, her focus returning to the Kruger's spar, it was nearing its end and like everyone had expected Kruger was just one attack away from victory. But before this last attack could reach its target a noise could be heard in the air, by this point everyone had become familiar with it, a sky ship. But what drew everyone attention including Kruger and his sparring partner was that it sounded like it was heading their way, and soon this belief became fact when they could finally see it.

  "You see that sky ship, that's his. My words weren't a lie."

  Arisu reminded, but her words fell on deaf ears. Shirley was lost in her thoughts staring at the sky ship coming to a halt above the arena after which its passengers got off.

  "I guess there's one thing I forgot to mention, pray he doesn't have an interest in older women."

  Arisu continued noticing her master, Isis, among the people getting off the ship.

  "Eh..."

  Princess Shirley exclaimed.

  (Ah so you heard that did you.)

  Arisu thought her attention returning to the spar, at some point Kruger had been left alone on the platform and from the looks of it was about to issue his last challenge.

  (Will he be challenging Jura for his last match?)

  She wondered.

  As a princess and rune practitioner, she knew inside information on how the contest worked. Any warrior could walk onto the platform and issue a number of challenges that could not be refused, on the condition the challenged hadn't reached maximum sparring quota. But to her surprise and most others he called out an unexpected name.

  "I challenge Hiro!"

  The audience was stirred, everyone here had heard a thing or two about Hiro but they didn't know him let alone identifying him. Their gazes darted around the arena finally settling on Aleus's group, it was a natural conclusion. If Hiro wasn't among them with Kruger issuing a challenge it meant he had to be there thus leaving Aleus's newly arrived group.

  (Now this will be interesting.)

  Thought Arisu a faint smile flashing across her face.

  "Kruger what is the meaning of this, sir Hiro wasn't included among today's fighters!"

  Shouted Oldomus among the audience with a berating tone.

  "Hehehe. And who agreed to it, on what premise does he secure a role without fighting. Is he like the Rune King, of course not, what are his achievements, his capabilities no one knows. How can we trust a stranger with leading our charge. Because what, he defeated Jura who was at his weakest at the time. As we are now, we can all achieve this with no effort."

  He reasoned causing the crowd to cheer in support.

  Meanwhile Aleus's group had stopped and seemed to be discussing until someone, presumably Hiro, walked onto the platform deviating from everyone else who continued to move towards the audience area.

  "Kukuku, so you accept my callenge. As you should."

  Kruger said with confidence.

  "Anyone who see's the truth would agree with this decision."

  Said Hiro coming to a halt at reasonable distance before Kruger.

  "I don't bully the weak, the first move yours."

  Hiro continued. Kruger grit his teeth raising his spear as he said.

  "Very well."

  Swish swish swish!

  He began to rotate it around himself as water gathered at its tip, forming a tail in its path.

  "Don't tell me he's using his famed move, water torrent wheel."

  Oldomus said in realisation, beside him Jura, tightly clenched his fists at this realisation. He was very familiar with this attack, it had been used against him to stop his flame attacks numerous times in the past.

  "Here I come!"

  Kruger shouted as he charged while rotating his spear at times and at times coming to an abrupt stop, but each time he did ring shaped pressurized water would be shot out. He did this five times thus there were five water wheels charging with a spin towards Hiro, each exceeding the length of grown man. The audience was surprised, they didn't expect him to use one of his strongest moves so soon, but looking at Hiro they felt strange. He was calm, too calm, be it from ignorance of the move or confidence in himself, they had different feelings in response for each possibility.

  And to some he did not disappoint, when the first water ring arrived he extended his hand as though to swat a fly.

  Bam

  He slapped the first water ring into the ground, causing it to damage the platform and dug itself half way in while splashing the surroundings.

  Bam! Bam!

  The second and third were also slapped into the platform a similar manner, it all happened so fast most of the audience hadn't even reacted yet, Kruger included. As the remaining two approached the first three underwent a transformation, though still water their shapes became that of swords, Hiro touched one and it's surface rippled betraying it's solid like appearance.

  "This is good enough."

  He said before all three swords rose off the ground on their own and shot back at Kruger. The first two swords collided against the remaining water rings.

  Swoosh

  The third water sword pierced through a temporary wall of water, splashes from the earlier collision of water. It continued forward its momentum not any lower.

  Bam.

  Kruger wasn't slashed or stabbed, instead the sword hit him with its flat side, burying him into the ground. As stone slabs were broken and pushed aside making way for him.

  "Too strong, too strong. To do this to one of the top ten strongest of the continent, terrifying."

  Those with sufficient preparations had seen it all, now whispers were spreading among them.

  "Did someone not tell Kruger about the difference in speed back then?"

  "Hey are we sure it was just defeated in that fight, not a one sided beating?"

  "Oldomus, should I say thank you."

  Said Jura breaking off in a cold sweat, after adjusting to the world he had thought of challenging Hiro but seeing Kruger's state the thought vanished without a trace left.

  "No need to thank me, in the end listening or not listening that was your decision to make."

  Dismissed Oldomus with an excited expression.

  Slowly the audience was catching up to what had just happened. Too great of a shock they all had to admit, even those who expected Hiro to win. The fact was no one cared about Jura losing to Hiro, why, simple so what if Jura lost at his weakest. He was at full power now his loss could not be used to judge his current self, nor could it be reasoned that Hiro was still stronger.

  At the time even the words exchanged between Hiro and the Rune King could easily and were more or less giving each other face. Hiro won by a large margin but that put Akarn in a tough spot so his words expressing his victory did not give credit to himself making it hard to refute more so when it was a fact that Jura wasn't at his peak. But the king wasn't so shameless as to say that was the case and end the conversation there instead returning Hiro's Kindness by saying what at the time would be impossible to prove, Hiro being more than a match for Jura, at the latter's peak. Most dismissed this as an exaggeration until now, did the Rune King judge correctly back then, this was anyone's guess.