Divine Beast Ascension

Chapter 426: Awards From the Quadrant

While Kartzal began the ceremony, Slazza and Narja got into position. They stood a few krin in front of the candidates and turned to face the youths.

“We’ll begin with our fourth place contestant, Belma. Approach my aides and accept your gift,” Toseko ordered.

As the large dragon bowed her head and came forward, a strange crystalline item appeared in Slazza’s hand. It looked like an uncut, unpolished crystal. However, there was a strange, dim glow coming from its core. And as she looked at the crystal from different angles, the color would constantly change, eventually showing every color possible.

All gazes locked onto that item, especially those of the prefecture lords. The lords all stared at the item with swelling curiosity and intrigue.

Kartzal smiled softly, stating, “Belma, accept this gift. It is a rare ore we have only recently discovered. We’ve given it the name ‘essence ore’. It has a natural store of essence in a raw, unknown form. That allows anyone to use it just like a mortal or divine core, regardless of their affinity or essence type. Of course, this is one of low quality, since you’ve yet to ascend into divinity, but it will be a great help in your efforts to reach the top of the mortal class before the Mortal Championship begins.”

Happily taking the ore, Belma lifted a claw to store it in her void bracelet.

Each of the prefecture lords glanced at Kartzal’s common-place grin, too excited to speak. They all wanted to disrupt the award ceremony to ask questions, but they knew it would need to wait a little longer.

.....

After Belma accepted the ore, she got back in line.

“Now, for our third place contestant, Hathal, step forward!”

Hathal did as his father ordered, shrugging at the fact they were hiding his identity and acting so formally.

Kartzal grinned and nodded. “You’ve done well, Hathal, in proving your abilities. You put forth a worthy effort and performance! For that, you’ll also receive a piece of essence ore, one slightly larger.”

Hathal nodded as the ore appeared in Slazza’s hands. Even Hathal had no clue what it was, but he happily accepted the ore and returned to his spot at the side.

“Now, for our second place winner, Vant. Come forward!” As another, even larger piece of ore appeared in Slazza’s hands, a few more items appeared in Narja’s hands. Kartzal continued, “Take this essence ore. You’ve done more than enough to deserve this! And you’ll also receive these. First, a scroll proving that you’ve earned an immediate entry into the final round of our Mortal Championship, as promised. Second, these identical swords are for you to keep. One is of regular quality, which is permitted in the Mortal Championship, and the other is peak-elder grade.”

Bowing deeply, Vant silently accepted the gifts and stored them away.

A moment of pause hung in the air as Vant returned to his spot. Everyone’s attention was on the fox girl below. They were all too curious about what her gift would be, considering what was awarded thus far.

“Netra, our first place contestant and the ultimate winner of this exhibition...” Kartzal was steady with his speech and praising with his warm tone. “Step forward.”

When the fox girl approached the aides, she was startled by what appeared in their hands.

“These half dozen essence ores are for you. Given your lower cultivation, these should allow you to reach the absolute pinnacle of the mortal class before the Mortal Championship. Only then will we be able to witness your true talent. And should there be extra, feel free to share them with other mortals, as essence ore of this quality would be wasted on divine experts,” stated Kartzal, startling the prefecture lords and filling most of them with envy.

“Also,” continued Kartzal, “since your clan is not regarded as strong, take this cultivation technique, one of peak-perennial grade. Though you’re already destined to be a king with your perfect affinity, this should allow your clan to rise and raise more candidates such as yourself. So, please, accept these.”

Netra did not hesitate but she didn’t rush either. She respectfully stored the items in her void choker and turned to walk back. But God Toseko’s voice stopped her.

“... And finally, I have an additional, personal offer for you, Netra.”

While most lords were jealous of Treeda, they quickly lost that feeling as God Toseko uttered those words. Each of them understood what he was about to do despite his pause.

Blinking, Netra waited patiently for the god to say more. But a voice suddenly reached her mind, ‘Listen to the offer, but do not accept. No matter what.’

“Netra, you’re abilities and prowess are rare, to say the least,” Kartzal stated with an amiable expression. “Though your fellow pupil has displayed similar skills, your application of invisibility would even be difficult for perennials to detect. And with your perfect affinity for dark essence, you’re destined to be a powerful king in the world of Dominus...

“That’s why I offer you this. Will you become one of my eight private candidates?” finally, Kartzal asked and showed his true intentions. “As a private candidate, you and your clan will be brought to Virulent City, my capital of the West Quadrant. Everything you and your clan could ask for shall be granted. And the quadrant will also instruct your clan in order to raise their overall cultivation, even trying to assist your mother and clan head in becoming a king cultivator. This also guarantees your future prospects and you’ll be immediately granted a region of your choice to govern the moment you become a king, and a prefecture to manage once you’re a high-king.

“... What say you, Netra?”

Speechless. Astonished. Overwhelmed. The entire crowd was frozen in place while replaying the god’s words in their minds.

The prefecture lords were the most baffled. They hardly believed that it was Kartzal standing before them, the self-interested, self-righteous ruler of the quadrant. Such an offer was only given to mortal champions. And even then, not every mortal champion was guaranteed to a prefecture to rule!

Treeda was the most shaken. She hadn’t heard anything from the mysterious man, but Treeda knew that such an offer was in direct conflict with the man’s plans.