The Psychopathic Beast Emperor-Chapter 70: Trial Results

[Meeting Room of the Elders] 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The meeting of the elders was on the verge of an uproar as they debated on the performance of the participants of the sect’s trials, especially the Trial of Survival. Heated would be an understatement to what was currently happening.

The cause of all this was to choose the overall winner, and it was between Sel and Bahamut.

"You say Bahamut should be the rightful winner, but you forget that he had two people with him!" Elder Karesh stated sarcastically.

"I thought you were better than this, Elder Karesh. Bahamut was with a little elf girl who nearly died, and his pet. Are you saying they supported him after you witnessed everything?" Elder Anutach said with a calm voice, though everyone could feel his piercing gaze through his jackal mask.

"But Sel survived all on his own. If you think about it, Bahamut was at least assisted by the elf girl. Plus, let’s not forget his pet. It is not ordinary!" Elder Frugo added, his tone firm.

"Sel is clearly stronger than Bahamut in Tier levels. He could survive on his own!" Elder Tankuht said, causing everyone to quieten down for a moment. He was right after all. In a logical sense, Sel wouldn’t need assistance considering his level. He was technically the strongest of his batch.

"And you people also seem to forget that Bahamut fought and survived against beasts higher in level than him, even a whole tier above him, and won! Why shouldn’t he be ranked as the first?" Elder Silvia stated, in a dismissive tone, her antennae glowing a bit under the room’s light.

"Sel also survived against Poison Ivies, beasts who break the natural order!" Elder Sylna countered.

"Are you seriously comparing a nobody to an Yggdrasil?" Elder Baset asked in a cold yet mocking tone.

"Comparing a barbarian to an elf of such a background shows how low you’ve regressed. It’s either that you have a grudge against the little boy or you are just blind to the truth. The Circle of Mind and the Circle of Body is a wide gap.

Bahamut may have been able to bridge the gap with his extraordinary skills and battle awareness, but Sel was clearly holding back. Don’t forget his concept, too," Elder Merit suddenly spoke.

"They both have concepts!" Elder Sylna countered.

"And so what?" Elder Iset finally spoke. As the one who controlled the Eliminator, her input was just as important.

"They both have concepts, but one is experienced in using his while the other is still new to concepts. I doubt he even knows what a concept is.

But you all seem to have forgotten one very important thing. It is a Trial of Survival, not a test of combat power. Sel survived alone because he had the power to survive alone.

Bahamut did so with assistance, however you look at it. But the main point is that Bahamut is blind.

A blind boy survived close to a month in a forest with a weak elf and a pet bunny. Even if the pet is powerful, it is still a pet. It can only do that much.

So, what is the point of this argument when the answer is right in front of us?"

"Well spoken, Iset. I thought they would realize that what they are doing is pointless, but I’m disappointed! Especially in Sylna.

Bahamut is the rightful winner of this trial and all other trials, if you’ve forgotten.

In the Combat Trial, he broke the 5th stage, surpassing the Black Fang Prodigy’s record in both time and level. He also withstood the Divine Pressure in the first test without as much as a finger movement.

Should I still open your eyes to see the truth or what?" Chief Elder Sekhem finally spoke, silencing everyone. Some of the elders who spoke against Bahamut lowered their heads in shame as the chief elder spoke.

"Finish up with the ranks and reveal them. But all of them passed and will be Outer Sect disciples. Each elder is allowed to select one disciple from this batch, with the exception of Bahamut and Sel, who will be under Silvia.

If you also like, you can choose one disciple, Silvia. That is your choice.

Meeting dismissed!"

...

The Obsidian Citadel had borne witness to countless trials, battles, harsh duels, and many more.

Life and death were common in the place. Wins and losses, bonds, even love relationships.

In the Shadow Fang Sect, the Obsidian Citadel was where everything began and ended.

And today, a new story had begun.

...

The courtyard of the Obsidian Citadel was alive with shouts, exclamations, murmurs, and debates.

Stones tiles, warm from the sun, vibrated beneath dozens of restless feet as the surviving participants were herded into formation at the center of the vast square. Towering obsidian pillars ringed the courtyard like silent sentinels, their surfaces carved with old battle scars and even older hieroglyphs.

This was the place where futures were weighed.

Bahamut stood near the front without realizing it, his old blindfold (rug) over his eyes, but his posture was relaxed to the point of carelessness. He didn’t feel the lockdown on his body, confusing him until it hit him.

He was perfectly fine! Henut had lied and used something to keep him down until this time. He didn’t know whether to lash out or what. Ren, as usual, lay on his head, playing with his hair, while Exildra, who, despite all that Bahamut said, stood just behind him, her hands clasped tightly as if afraid the ground might vanish beneath her feet. But only she knew what was going on in her mind.

Bahamut felt chills down his spine, and he could sense the danger coming from Exildra. But it was best he didn’t turn, because he would have gotten the shock of his life.

Exildra’s golden eyes were now clouded, glowing like golden black holes.

An elf in love was a dangerous one- the ancient ones had spoken of it.

Sel, calm and composed, stood several steps away, hands folded behind his back as he watched this play out. From the corner of his eyes, he viewed Lily staring daggers at Exildra. If stares could kill, Exildra would have been erased from the surface of the earth by now.

Sel’s expression was serene, but the air around him was sharp, like a sharp blade resting in its sheath. He was the strongest of his batch for a reason. Sadly, there was an anomaly like Bahamut in his batch. Not like he cared either.

The others weren’t so calm, though. Gabi was literally shaking from nervousness. Aria was feeling so devastated that the aura around her caused others to be depressed.

Aerith was seething in anger so palpable that no one dared go near him. The twins, Yuko and Yuka, released such a cold presence that the area around them was slightly frozen. Their mutations were very powerful, for that matter.

As for Lily... She stood all alone. No one dared to even look at her, as her piercing gaze was set on a certain elven girl standing behind a blindfolded boy.

In her mind, Exildra had already died 1000 times in different ways!

The murmurs and debates got louder and louder, when...

A heavy thoom echoed as a staff struck stone.

Silence slammed down.

Elder Hakar stood at the edge of the courtyard, tall and severe, his skin etched faintly with glowing hieroglyphs that crawled slowly across his arms and neck like living script. His robes were slate-grey, trimmed with gold thread that caught the light with every movement.

"The Trial of Survival," he said, voice amplified without effort, "has concluded."

With a slow, deliberate motion, he raised one hand.

The hieroglyphs along his arm flared.

Light exploded into the air above the courtyard.

A massive projection unfolded, layered symbols, shifting sand-glyphs, and floating names carved in radiant gold. The display rotated slowly, casting reflections across stunned faces.

Gasps broke out despite attempts at restraint.

Elder Hakar did not look impressed.

"We will announce the rankings," he continued, "from the bottom upward."

The lowest name burned brighter.

"Rank Eleven: Aria Ainsworth."

A brief flicker.

Aria stood stiffly, eyes unfocused, as if the words had already been carved into her bones days ago. Some pitying glances followed, but she did not return them.

"Rank Ten: Wilson Thunder."

Wilson exhaled shakily, relief and bitterness tangled together.

"Rank Nine: Nakamura Yuko."

Yuko swallowed hard, ears flattening for just a moment before he forced them upright.

"Rank Eight: Nakamura Yuka."

The twins exchanged a glance, no words, just shared understanding. Survival had cost them more than pride.

"Rank Seven: Gabi Jormu."

Gabi clenched his fists, then slowly released them. His gaze drifted, briefly, involuntarily, to Bahamut. He had surpassed four people... that was an achievement worth celebrating.

"Rank Six: Exildra Esteria."

Exildra startled, eyes widening. A soft murmur passed through the courtyard. For someone who had nearly died, sixth place felt unreal. She instinctively looked toward Bahamut.

He smiled faintly, and that made her heart flutter. It seemed she still had a chance to get him. If only he knew what she was thinking...

"Rank Five: Rex Ayoma."

A sharp nod. Acceptance.

"Rank Four: Aerith."

Aerith’s jaw tightened. His eyes flicked toward Sel... then Bahamut. Something dark churned behind them, but he quickly buried.

"Rank Three: Lily Kurama."

A low growl echoed before Lily caught herself. Her crimson eyes gleamed with conflicted emotion, pride, frustration, and hunger.

The projection shifted.

The remaining two names hovered higher than the rest, blazing like twin suns.

A hush fell so deep it felt sacred.

Elder Hakar’s voice dropped, measured.

"Rank Two: Sel."

The courtyard erupted.

Shock, disbelief, and awe.

Sel closed his eyes for a brief second, then inclined his head politely, as if accepting a courtesy rather than a declaration. Whispers tore through the crowd like wildfire.

"Second...?"

"Even after all that?"

"An elf lost first place?"

The final name rose.

Higher.

Brighter.

Until it stood alone.

"Rank One: Bahamut."

For a heartbeat...

Nothing.

Then the courtyard exploded.

Shouts. Cries. Laughter. Fear.

A blind boy. Rank one.

Bahamut tilted his head slightly, listening to the chaos with a bemused expression.

"...Huh," he muttered. "Neat."

Ren puffed his chest out proudly.

Exildra covered her mouth, eyes shining.

High above, carved into the eternal obsidian of the Citadel, the sect itself seemed to watch.

A new hierarchy had been written.

And the Shadow Fang Sect would never be the same again.