Celestial Bloodline

A hearty laughter filled the air as a young man with black hair paused among the numerous people floating in the air. The horns atop his head and his black wings with golden edges and silver patterns glistened in the daylight.

Sinon paid no mind to the onlookers giving him side eyes and flashed a grin at the three men floating across from him.

"You all lost! I won this race, haha. That means I'm the fastest in agility!"

He ran his hand through his hair with a haughty expression. Finally, he defeated the trio in something... if only he hadn't started gathering so many water type skills because of Kyle, he would have been a lot stronger in that aspect as well. But well, it was already in the past, and now he was proficient with all his water type skills.

Carcel gave him a thumbs up with a nod, but the words that came out of the golden-haired man's mouth were anything but complimentary.

"It's because you have wings."

Sinon's smile faltered, and he clutched his wings with a wronged expression.

"Why? Just why? Just accept that I am the fastest among you all! You all excel in one thing or another!"

Regius's brown eyes glistened with a mischievous glint and he joined Carcel with a solemn expression.

"If you hadn't used your wings... you know you wouldn't have won."

Alec glanced at the duo and suppressed a chuckle when Sinon glared at him with dark eyes, almost as if daring him to join the duo and he would make him regret it.

The trio looked behind Sinon at the towering walls. Then they glanced at the massive gate leading to the Gladiator Arena, and their smiles faded. It had been months since they had been staying inside a hidden underground chamber, and finally, the Arena was open, so they came out to join it. Their faces turned sour as they all looked at the extensive queues of people in front of the massive gate.

Regius furrowed his brows.

"Just how are we going to secure a nameplate in such a massive crowd...?"

Sinon glanced back and cursed.

"Damn, it's going to take many hours or maybe a day or two before it's our turn..."

As the four men gazed at the massive gate, Zron, Yon, Susan, Mia and Lara also arrived beside them. Zron grabbed his back with a pained expression.

"Who suggested we race mid-air?? I sprained my back! My old muscles are all aching because of you young people."

Susan shot the old dwarf a deadpan look. Being at a transcendent rank, his body was already strong enough to overcome numerous powerful hurdles, and his back was sprained just because he floated for a while? What a liar... Just admit you lost and stop making excuses.

He looked away when Zron whipped his head toward him. Yon chuckled at their interaction and gazed at the massive gate before them with a calm expression.

"Finally, it's time... So, we are all going to participate except Zron, right?"

The people around him all nodded, and they quickly joined one of the queues without any delay. Sinon glanced around in hope of finding a familiar face but sighed when he didn't. Alec patted his shoulder when he noticed his expression.

"Don't worry, if Jian and the others are here, we would know immediately because you know their battles would surely attract the most attention."

Sinon nodded as he adjusted his wings behind his back.

"Exactly, especially Bia... Haha, her true appearance is distinctive enough for us to spot her... but only if they are here and join the Gladiator Arena."

His expression turned gloomy, but he blinked when a beautiful woman clad in a grey dress standing in the queue across from him winked at him.

"Huh?? Hey, Alec, are you seeing what I am seeing!? Did a lady just try to flirt with me in the presence of your and Carcel's otherworldly visages?"

Alec's eyebrow twitched violently as he followed Sinon's gaze and noticed the woman with doe eyes staring at their group. He had already noticed that many people were secretly looking towards them. Well, this wasn't new because except for the old trio in their group, all the young ones were handsome and beautiful, especially Mia. Not to mention, all of them were wearing matching blue outfits, so they stood out a bit from the rest of the crowd.

However, they were here to participate in the Gladiator Arena, not to flirt. So, he cleared his throat to tell Sinon to stay away from everyone they don't know, but before he could even speak, the winged man had already left his side and entered the queue across from them to talk with the woman.

Alec's eyes widened with disbelief, and he opened his mouth to call Sinon back, but Zron beat him to it. The old dwarf moved swiftly and grabbed Sinon's ear before dragging the winged man back.

Sinon rubbed his ear and glared at the old dwarf before quietly waving goodbye to the woman with doe eyes who chuckled at him and pointed towards the massive gate. She was clearly indicating they should get a nameplate first. So he sighed and stood in the line that moved at a snail's pace quietly.

The bright sky above them had already darkened by the time they all received a nameplate from an illusionary figure and entered the massive gate. However, it seemed like the space inside the gate was distinct from the outside because unlike the dark clouds outside, the area within the towering walls was as bright as day.

The group quickly found some empty seats within the large walls and settled together amidst the noise. They gazed at the nameplates in their hands and got ready to inscribe their names. But in that moment, Sinon pointed his finger above at the numerous projections floating in the sky.

"Wait, why do the names on the projections sound more like titles people would choose for themselves rather than actual names?"

They arrived a day later than Nine, so it was expected that within just a day, many others would have written down powerful titles on the nameplates they received instead of names following Nine's example. Or maybe just to hide their names.