Everyone felt the tremendous aura and presence rushing toward their location, making it nearly impossible to breathe freely. Everyone except Artos and Finn.
"That presence… Could it be…?" Artos muttered under his breath, astonished.
A figure flickered in his mind as he carefully sensed the approaching energy. Even so, it had been far too long since he'd last seen that person, and he couldn't be certain it was really him.
Finn glanced briefly at Artos before shifting his attention back to the place where the overwhelming aura of a 9th Level Profound Rank was emanating.
After a few tense moments, an old man suddenly appeared, clad in the blue robes of an elder—though his garment was so ancient and filthy it seemed it would disintegrate with a touch.
His disheveled hair, stark white, drew even more attention. Beyond that, the years were etched deep in his face, the skin lined with wrinkles and the shadows beneath his eyes nearly black.
"Grand Elder!" Artos exclaimed the moment he laid eyes on the old man.
All those present turned to look at the newcomer, their expressions shifting to relief and excitement. They knew this Grand Elder well.
'Grand Elder…?' Finn's thoughts stirred. 'So this 9th Level Profound Rank is their Grand Elder… I didn't expect the Nine Ice Family to still harbor such an old expert besides Artos.'
Indeed, this elder was none other than the long-retired Grand Elder who had secluded himself in a remote cave within Nine Ice Family territory.
He had distanced himself from all worldly matters, devoting himself entirely to decades of meditation in hopes of reaching the Sky Rank.
Eleven years had passed since then, and he'd never interfered in the leadership of Artos.
However, when it came to true authority within the Nine Ice Family, this Grand Elder still stood above Artos. His decisions commanded respect not merely because of his age, but because he had long been entrusted by the late Family Head of their clan.
The moment he sensed a fierce clash between a 9th Level Profound Rank and some unknown force, he had left his cave without hesitation, heading straight for the source of the explosions. As the Grand Elder and the guardian of the Nine Ice Family, the safety of his clan was still his foremost priority.
"Grand Elder Theo! Thank the heavens you arrived!" Artos said eagerly, stepping forward to bow deeply at Theo's side. A trace of relief and a furtive smile flitted across his face.
"Family Head Artos? Your level…" Theo's voice trailed off in shock as he examined Artos from head to toe.
Only a little over a decade had passed, yet the man who was once merely a 7th Level Profound Rank now stood as a peer, a 9th Level Profound Rank. Theo could hardly comprehend how such progress was possible, but what puzzled him more were the countless scratches and the layer of dust caked on Artos's body.
His gaze shifted to the wreckage—the collapsed buildings, the strewn limbs, the Nine Ice Family members gathered as if watching some brutal contest.
"What happened here? I leave for a few years, and this is what becomes of our clan? What manner of leadership have you practiced, Artos?!" Theo demanded, his voice quivering with contained fury.
Never, in all his more than a hundred years serving the Nine Ice Family, had he seen their lands in such ruin. The ground was cracked apart, structures reduced to rubble—a far cry from the serene and noble clan he remembered.
Artos turned pale under Theo's accusing stare. Words failed him. In desperation, he thrust out an arm, pointing straight at Finn.
"Grand Elder, that young man…that young man is the cause of all this! Please, help us eradicate him!"
Shock rippled across Theo's worn features. He turned slowly to face the young man Artos was indicting, his spiritual sense sweeping out in earnest—but he sensed nothing at all.
"That boy? The cause of all this? I can feel no energy from him whatsoever. How could he possibly be what you claim?" Theo asked, bewildered.
"He wears a Concealing Armament that masks his true level and rank! He's a 9th Level Profound Rank, Grand Elder—his artifact is so potent even you cannot sense his real power!" Artos spat, hatred twisting his face.
No ordinary grudge could compare to what he felt toward Finn. The boy had trampled his authority and reputation as the patriarch of a noble house, and he loathed him beyond all reason. Once word spread among the other clans, he would be a laughingstock.
"A youth of the 9th Level Profound Rank…with a Concealing Armament? How could such a rarity even exist?" Theo murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. He fixed Finn with a solemn stare. "Speak. What is your name, and why have you come to bring chaos to the Nine Ice Family?"
His voice held no arrogance, no contempt—only caution. He chose his words with care. This youth was his equal in rank, after all. Recklessly attacking someone so formidable, without knowing the truth, could cost him his life.
Finn met Theo's eyes with the same calm composure. He could tell the old man had no idea what was truly happening. There was no need to be abrasive.
"My name is Finn Doria," he said coldly. "And I'm not here to sow chaos. I'm here to collect a debt."
Theo's confusion only deepened. He racked his memory for any mention of the name Doria—and then, in a sudden flash of recollection, it came to him.
"Doria? You mean the clan of the man who once saved Cleo Frois? Wait—Finn Doria… If I recall correctly, you are the son of Creed Doria—the child betrothed to Tiffanya Frois!" Theo blurted, astonished.
Of course he knew of such things. He had been among those who fetched Cleo when Creed rescued him, among those who witnessed the agreement that would bind the two families by marriage.
But what he could not understand was how this youth, from a humble clan, had reached the 9th Level Profound Rank. Even among royal families, it was a miracle for anyone to stand at the pinnacle of the Profound Rank—much less a child of ordinary blood.
And yet, another thought came unbidden—if this was truly the boy destined to marry Tiffanya, then he was a boon beyond measure for their clan.
Finn smiled faintly. "It seems you still don't know, Elder Theo. Yes, I am Creed Doria's son—but that engagement was annulled over a year ago."
Theo's face went slack with shock. He turned to Artos, who still refused to meet his gaze.
"Artos! What is this boy saying? Where is your son, Cleo Frois? Bring him to me at once to explain himself!"
His anger surged. The thought that the promised alliance between the Nine Ice Family and Azure Wood Family had been casually discarded made his blood boil.
"Grand Elder… When you withdrew from worldly affairs, my son left as well. He set out to roam the Ancestral Continent and has yet to return," Artos said haltingly. He hesitated but went on, "As for annulling the engagement…that decision was mine—and Sect Mistress Sheeha's."
"Sect Mistress Sheeha? The current master of the Ice Feather Sect? If that is true, why would the leader of a great faction meddle in an agreement between Cleo and Creed Doria?" Theo demanded in growing confusion.
He could not fathom how this could be. If a faction leader had involved herself, then something vast must be hidden behind it all.
"Grand Elder… We never told you, but after you and Cleo left, we discovered Tiffanya possessed the Ice Sky Pathway. And when Sect Mistress Sheeha learned of this, she proposed a new alliance—my granddaughter was to wed her personal student, Hyon Pierceval," Artos explained.
Theo heard every word, momentarily stunned. He recovered swiftly, mind racing.
Of course he knew what the Ice Sky Pathway was—but…was it truly worth making enemies of the Azure Wood Family, especially when their scion now stood on the cusp of the Sky Rank?
"Grand Elder Theo! Please, we must have justice! That vile boy has slain hundreds of our kin—his crimes are unforgivable!" Artos cried, his voice cracking with desperation.
He meant to use Theo's strength combined with his own. If one 9th Level Profound Rank could not prevail, perhaps two together would stand a chance.
Theo looked steadily at Finn, voice low and respectful. "Tell me, boy. Are all these accusations true—?"
But before he could finish, Finn's laughter rang out, cold and mocking.
"Yes," Finn declared, voice thunderous. "I won't deny that I killed them—but tell me, Artos Frois…how many of my clansmen have your Nine Ice Family murdered over the years? Can you even count them anymore? You mourn your dead—yet do you spare a thought for all the lives you crushed in your greed? My clan has suffered under your hand for too long. If I remained weak, would you not have already finished erasing us from the Sacred Dragon Kingdom?!"
His terrifying aura erupted like a storm, sweeping across the battlefield. Even seasoned adventurers felt their hearts seize in dread.
Artos himself trembled uncontrollably, unable to withstand the oppressive rage.
Finn's eyes blazed with fury. None of this was for his sake. He did it for the family and clan who raised him.
Theo too felt the suffocating energy and widened his eyes at its strength. He fixed Artos with a hard stare, waiting for an answer.
"Grand Elder Theo…I beg your forgiveness. I never imagined it would come to this. I thought…they would never have the power to resist our clan," Artos confessed bitterly.
Theo closed his eyes and let out a long, weary sigh. "Artos, as Family Head, you should have weighed every action carefully. You are responsible for this tragedy—responsible to your people. And as an Adventurer, a pact is a pact! You had no right to annul another's agreement. For this, even as Family Head, you must face judgment. Now, we must humble ourselves before this young man and the Azure Wood Family. That is the only way to end this."
As Grand Elder and guardian, he had the authority to mete out punishment.
"You misunderstand, Elder Theo," Finn said coldly. "What I—and my clan—seek is justice, not your apologies. I will take that wretched old man and every conspirator back to my people. Their fate will be decided by those whose lives they shattered—and no one will stop me. Not you, not the Ice Feather Sect, not even the Royal Clan!"
Theo reeled as if struck. He could not comprehend the depth of Finn's hatred. To so brazenly challenge the authority of a noble clan, a great faction—and the royal house itself…this was madness.
"Young one of the Azure Wood Family… Will you not relent? Will you not be persuaded to resolve this peacefully?" he asked solemnly.
Finn did not answer. Instead, his aura continued to rise, growing darker and more suffocating.
Theo closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath. He had received his answer.
He opened his eyes and regarded Finn with quiet gravity as he summoned the full power of his 9th Level Profound Rank.
"Forgive me, but I cannot yield to your demand. As Grand Elder of the Nine Ice Family, it is my duty to safeguard our clan's legacy. I will not cast aside a thousand years of history at your command. So forgive me…for what I must do."
He turned to Artos with a grim nod. "Artos. We must subdue this boy. Do not inflict mortal wounds if you can help it."
Artos flinched, unhappy with the order to spare Finn's life—but he had no choice.
He gathered his aura once more, power coursing through him as he gripped his spear.
With a roar, he charged straight for Finn.
"One against two? Hmph! Even if your entire Nine Ice Family came at me, the outcome would be the same!" Finn bellowed, lunging to meet Artos head-on.
He seized Artos's spear and hurled it like a javelin into a crumbling building.
BANG!
Theo's eyes widened, but he swiftly recovered, manifesting his high-tier armament—a massive axe. He rushed at Finn, swinging with all his strength.
Finn did not dodge. He caught the axe in his bare hands, stopping it cold inches from his flesh.
"H-How…?" Theo gasped.
BANG!
BANG!!
BANG!!!
The clash erupted with renewed fury. Finn fought unarmed, relying only on his energy and physical might to meet the onslaught of two elders.
In all his life, Theo had never heard of an Adventurer who could match armed foes barehanded.
As Finn traded blows, he observed the vast difference in power and skill between Theo and Artos. Theo's strikes were refined and relentless; Artos's, by comparison, were wild and unbalanced.
But thanks to Sierra—and the grueling training he'd endured in the Mystic Treasure Realm—three months of relentless practice had tempered both his cultivation and his body into unshakable steel.
He deliberately held back, prolonging the battle rather than overwhelming them.
"Is this all your clan can muster? How pitiful!" Finn shouted, intercepting another blow from Artos.
The territory of the Nine Ice Family lay in ruin—half of it crushed under the force of three 9th Level Profound Ranks.
Dread slowly spread across the faces of the two elders. They could feel it: this youth's strength was not merely peerless—he was already brushing the threshold of the Sky Rank.
As the fighting paused and the three drew apart, Theo turned to the gathered elders and roared:
"Elders of the Nine Ice Family! Why are you standing there gawking? Prepare the Suppressing Ice Formation—now!"