My Soul card is a Reaper

"Chuckie, I want to play that game"

"Chuckie, carry me. I'm tired from walking"

"Chuckie, take me for a spin in the sky" "Yay"

"Chuckie, look at that… look at that… wow, those fireworks are amazing…"

5-year-old Little Affy (Affea Crescent Garcia) spent the whole evening with her dear Chuckie (Azzy), knowing very well that it would be a while before she gest to meet her brother again. Azzy had to oblige her request and gave his time to her, leaving his parents to celebrate with other relatives.

By midnight past 2 when all celebrations ended, they returned home. Little Affy was tired and asleep. After placing her on her bed and asking the servants to look after her, he left her room and made his way to one of the gardens of the palace, where he saw his father lying down on the grass and staring at the moon in silence.

Azzy walked to him and sat beside him, "Dad, what are you doing here alone?" He couldn't help but ask.

In response, Vesyrn lets out a sigh while fixing his gaze to the sky, "Nothing, son. I was just thinking about that incident."

"You mean that assassination attempt from Velez?" Azzy raised his eyebrow in displeasure. Remembering that man's face made him momentarily destroyed his mood.

"Sigh"

Vesyrn sighed once again as he nodded, "Yeah. That day, Velez accidentally revealed that he was ordered to kill Elder Pierre. I didn't reveal it to the clan because they don't even know that the clan has a hidden guardian. It has been weighing on my mind quite a lot, among other things. If not for the fact that I used an activated skill card given by Great-grandfather Qridus, I would have been dead.

Not to mention that mysterious shadowy creature saving Velez and taking him away when he was struck down. Someone is clearly targeting our clan and I worry that that person could be a demigod, or worse, other hidden clans."

Azzy fell into a bit of thinking. He already used WAMO's network to find out the past 1 year's activities of Velez Garcia, the second prince. After exile from the clan, he returned to the palace. He was supposed to ascend the throne too, but just a night before his ascension, he mysteriously disappeared. So far, he is still considered missing according to the royal family.

To find out more, Azzy wanted to go back to the past and observe the fight in person, but his dad wouldn't tell him where they fought or on what day it happened, at all. His dad left the clan and went missing for 14 days before returning home.

Hence, it became difficult for Azzy to opt for following his dad in secret. After all, there are more pressing issues at the moment. The so-called Placebo drug issue has become a headache for him.

Azzy has no alternative plans to resolve his dad's worries. As a result, he could only think of a way to reduce them. What's a better thing other than a massive distraction?

After thinking for a bit and then consulting the Reaper for a second opinion, Azzy spoke, "Dad, how about we conduct a tournament-style competition between hidden clans?"

"Tournament?" Vesyrn abruptly turned his head in surprise. Friendly spars happened between hidden clans for a long time, but there has been no tournament conducted so far. "What are you thinking?" He asked.

Azzy explained, "If it is the work of hidden clans, we can judge their motive by conducting the tournament. Not to mention, by displaying our prowess, we can also showcase that we are still the dominant force. But, to attract their strongest warriors, we have to put in lucrative rewards too. We can copy Champion League's format, a junior version, and a senior version too.

Tomorrow is New Year's Day and the day of awakening. How about you send urgent invitations to the other clans and ask them to send a representative to watch the ceremony."

"Hmm…" Vesyrn looked like he had taken Azzy's advice seriously. For half a minute, there was a silence between them. The 18-year-old also patiently waited until his father opened his mouth, "No, the time is too short. Any formal invitation to outside forces would need a clan meeting.

Before sending it, I have to get a majority from the pavilion masters, and once we send it, then, they have to review the invitation between their elders and give us a reply. Because of the fact that they too have awakening ceremonies, most of them won't probably send any representative."

Just as Azzy was about to say something in counterargument, Vesyrn stole the words from his son's mouth and continued, "However, if we conduct an intra-clan competition and send invitation to watch that, they might send representatives. After all, we have been curious about each other's strengths for ages. That won't change."

"We really think the same," thought Azzy as he nodded with a smile. "I agree with you, dad."

Vesyrn then got up to his feet and used a sound technique, speaking in a mighty tone that echoed all over the clan village, "Pavilion masters of the clan and the leader of the sub-clans, attend to the emergency assembly at once."

The announcement echoed three times in a row, instantly alerting every civilian, Arcana master, official, and the leader of the sub-clans whether they were sleeping or having a party with their friends.

It goes without saying that the sub-clans were forced to set up meetings with their respective elders to discuss who needed to be sent. After all, Vesyrn also baited them by throwing more funds into the rewards and a clan treasure as the ultimate prize.

By dawn, the news passed to every villager.

Several hours later;

Red pavilion, Death Clan village;

It was the time of New Year again and the arena filled with thousands of clan members as usual for the awakening ceremony, followed by challenge rounds.

Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, 18-year-old Azzy casually entered the arena with the elven assistant, and the entire place suddenly erupted with loud cheers; it was so high that other pavilion masters and sub-clan leaders were forced to close their ears for a moment while Vesyrn and Izora looked all happy, meaningfully staring at the pair.

Meanwhile, the representatives from all the hidden clans were busy observing the stadium, checking how many experts were in their vicinity.

As the Elven princess in servitude stayed behind him in silence, Azzy addressed the crowd as the host while taking out a list, "Welcome to another year of Awakening Ceremony. This year, we have five children who will go through their first awakening and eight Arcana masters who will attempt their second awakening. After the ceremony, the clan tournament will be started right away.

Hence, the selected participants are required to stay in the waiting area, until then.

Before we proceed with the ceremony, I would like to remind everyone that the clan will be under strict lockdown during this event in order to prevent thefts and trivial crimes. Hence, if you leave in the middle of the event, you either have to stay inside your homes or on the premises of Pavilions.

All other places, including the stores, agricultural fields, and clan institutions are closed down today.

There is a banquet area arranged nearby for everyone. You can have lunch and dinner there. Without further ado, let's give a round of applause as the upcoming generation checks their potential."

Amid claps from the audience, kids below 12 years old enter the arena and get separated into two groups, standing with their competitors.