Hideo and Reno were about to clash, when suddenly, a figure leaped in between them.

"Stop right there!" Kuroshi yelled. He appeared along with the king, Anis, and the other six Seven Hills.

Tetsuya noticed that Serrano, Rosa, and Kohri seemed out of it as if something were bothering them. Just what had happened during the meeting?

"Tsk," Reno said, glaring at the masked man and the knights. The flames in his hands died down. "You got lucky this time, cousin."

Hideo scoffed as his smug smile returned. "Excuse me? You are the one who is lucky that we got interrupted. Else, right now, you might be lying on the ground, crying for your mommy."

Reno stepped closer. "That would be you!"

Hideo chuckled as he turned his back to him. "Such a weak comeback."

Eiji took a deep breath. "I knew that Eiko picking Eiichi would be troublesome, but it appears my choice was no better," the raven-haired Seven-Hill knight said, shaking his head.

"Don't compare me to that half-pint!" Eiichi said, pouting.

The man sighed once more. "You're a grown man, Eiichi. You have to start acting like one."

The blond young man's face became stoic as he turned his back to his father. "Whatever, let's begin this so-called 'tournament'."

Osamu glanced at each one of the five. "We will be doing this similar to a gauntlet run. Whoever wins here will face another one of the knights and so on until there's only one left. That knight will be the leader of the group."

Eiichi smirked. "Sounds good. I'll go first!"

"Quite bold of you, son," a blond woman in silver armor said as she took a seat in the front row. "Though doing so diminishes your chances of being the last one standing."

Carlos' knight scoffed. "Please, I am not afraid of these four." His red eyes shifted toward the four and then over to the soldiers seated in the front rows. "Plus, should I defeat all four, I will unquestionably be the strongest among us five."

The King smiled. "Spoken like a true warrior." The monarch turned toward his daughter and the other knights. "Now, who will be challenging him?"

All four rose their hands at once. "Ha, so eager. Good. You all should crave to show your power. However, one of you must be chosen."

"Allow me to pick," Kuroshi said, tapping the king's shoulder. "It'll make things easier. Alright, first up will be Tetsuya, followed by Hideo, Hyosetsu, and Setsuko."

"Wait, why should I go last?" the princess asked, shaking her head at such a suggestion. "I can take all four of them!"

"I am basing this on how much respect your positions give you. As a princess, your title will make you the most attractive. While Tetsuya's only title is that of a knight. To be honest, the first match would ideally be Tetsuya versus Hideo, seeing how Hideo's father is but a minor duke. The winner of that match would then face off against Hyosetsu, and then the winner of that one going up against Eiichi, with you as the pinnacle. Though we will start off with our volunteer against Tetsuya."

"I guess that makes sense," Setsuko said, taking a deep breath.

Hyosetsu lowered his head. "Why is Eiichi higher than me under such a system? We are both the sons of Grand Duchesses."

Kuroshi leaned against the concrete wall and closed his eyes. "You truly wish for me to tell you such an obvious answer?"

The swordsman grimaced as he averted his gaze. "No, you do not. I understand."

"Good. Now, please proceed forward, Sir Eiichi, Sir Tetsuya," Kuroshi said as he jumped into one of the many empty white seats on the very first row. "Show us what you got, Agnes Knight."

Tetsuya glanced back at Kuroshi. Though the guy did things to get on his nerves, he wasn't all that bad.

Tetsuya and Eiichi stepped forward to the center of the arena and stared each other down.

"Hope that you're prepared to lose, pleb," Eiichi said, grinning as he pointed his spear at his opponent.

Tetsuya returned the smile as he raised transformed Agnes over his chest. "Back at ya, snob!"

"You may begin!" Kuroshi yelled as he swung a flag he had just formed out of thin air.

Carlos collided head-on against Agnes's center. The ground beneath the knights crumbled as the force of the collision sent them flying away from the other.

"Woah," Rosa said as she took a seat next to Kuroshi. "I know that Tetsuya has grown, but to keep up against Eiichi like this..."

Setsuko shook her head. "That attack was head-on. Eiichi is testing him, he plans to toy with him, that..." She cut herself off as she felt her father's gaze on her. "Sadistic... guy."

Serrano shook his head. "One mustn't underestimate my cousin. Come on, Tetsuya! Be on guard! Defense!"

"Aren't I always?" Tetsuya asked as he blocked an attack from the air. The tiled ring collapsed entirely into dust this time. "Come on, didn't you say that you would beat me, Snob Knight?"

Eiichi chuckled as he came back down. "You sure are Serrano's cousin." Tetsuya gasped as he vanished. "Unfortunately, you lack his power and his grace."

The blond stabbed Tetsuya from behind, but when he did, he was gone. "An afterimage?" The knight fell to the ground. Agnes had struck in the back of his head. But Carlos' knight wasn't going to allow himself to be brought down so easy. He held Carlos in a reverse grip and slammed it against Tetsuya, sending the brunette rolling to the edge of the giant white sand pile.

"Tsk," Tetsuya said as he jumped to his feet. "Your head must be as hard as a rock. I was sure that was going to cause you to fade out."

"Fade out? Ha! Like a weak hit like that can take down the amazing Eiichi!" Carlos' tip split into two. Blue sparks crackled back and forth between the once unified end of the spear. "Blue Lightning Swallow!" Eiichi remained still for a while.

"Hey, aren't you going to move?" Tetsuya asked as he held his shield in preparation. "Or have you ran out of steam?" He gasped. Shivers ran down his spine as he felt a hand on his neck.

"Not quite," Eiichi said, pointing the tip of the spear at the taller knight. He snickered and faded from sight.

"What?" Tetsuya asked, glancing around. "Why didn't he finish me off?"

The princess was right. This guy is toying with me. I need to find where he is as soon as I can. He'll regret not finishing me off.

He closed his eyes and tried to sense Eiichi's movements. Either he was moving too quickly to be detected, or he wasn't even touching the ground. He opened his golden eyes and covered himself in a dark mist.

"Think that'll stop me?" Eiichi's called out as he suddenly materialized above Tetsuya. He plunged his spear forward. Tetsu managed to block, but the force from the spear was too great that he was sent flying back

The Shield Knight shook his head as he pushed himself up. That attack had dazed him. If he didn't think up a plan in the next few seconds, he would be defeated. No, I don't have the time. I need to move.

The Spear Knight appeared behind Tetsuya once more before he could even make a single movement. This time he kicked the taller knight, sending him stumbling forward. The shield knight hit the ground face down along with his shield. The blond burst out in laughter at the sight of Tetsuya covered in white sand.

"Look at you, you look like a clown! Though, being a court jester does suit you a lot more than a knight. Perhaps you should audition for the job. The king and the princesses could use a good laugh from time to time," the blonde said, a smirk on his face before he pressed his foot against Tetsuya's head. "You aren't going to try to get up? Don't tell me that's all that the son of the great Tekeshi can do! If he were alive, he would shake his head at you in shame! Though part of me does question if he was as great as they say."

Tetsuya's hands twitched. Clumps of sand moved around the two fighters. "You dare insult my pa?" the dark-skinned knight snapped as the sand spun around him. His golden eyes seemed to glow.

Eiichi gasped as he was flung back. The dark fog around them had grown dense.

"Is this his true power?" Eiichi asked as he jumped out of the ever-expanding cloud.

Tetsuya glanced up at him, his golden eyes glowing. Something about them had changed. They had become draconic. The shadows on his lower back twisted into the shape of a spiny tail and shot out of the fog, aiming for Eiichi's head.

Eiichi slammed the tail down, causing the entire building to shake. He stabbed the thing with Carlos. Tetsuya let out a howling scream, causing everyone to gasp.

"Seems that child inherited his father's power," King Osamu said as he narrowed his eyes at the sight of Tetsuya's shadowy tail. "If only we could tap into it, he'll surely be as great an asset to us as Tekeshi was."

Kuroshi nodded. "Right..."

"I forbid ya two, don't mess with my child, or you'll have to deal with me," Anis yelled, glaring at both men.

The king scoffed. "Like you could. Either way, I'm sure he'll awaken it by himself in due time," he said, grinning.

Anis stood up from her seat and cupped her hands. "Tetsuya! Get ahold of ya-self! Don't allow ya anger possess ya so easily!"

Tetsuya's eyes widened, but it wasn't due to her words. Eiichi had appeared behind him without him, even detecting his presence. The blonde struck Tetsuya in the back using Carlos' shaft, sending him reeling.

Tetsu jumped and let out a growl and jumped into the air. He flung needle-like projectiles from his draconic tail.

Eiichi cartwheeled out of their way but was sent flying from the explosions they made.

"Tsk. It's as if he's launching bombs," Eiichi said, glaring. He studied the shield whose emerald center was glowing. "Is that the source of this power?"

He leaped into the air as Tetsu rushed at him.

Eiichi appeared behind the knight. "Nice show. Seems that you managed to entertain me more than I expected."

The blond knight discharged blue and red electricity, causing Tetsuya to let out another howling scream.

The draconic look in Tetsuya's eyes vanished, and the shadowy tail dissipated. The muscular young man then hit the ground with a ground-shaking thud.

Eiichi vanished from view and charged his spear's tip in midair.

"Come on! Get up, plebeian! I am not done having fun with you just yet!" He frowned as Tetsuya remained motionless. "Are you listening? Come on, show me more of that power of yours!" Yet again, no response. "Tsk. Guess I'll have to force you!"

"Stop!" a voice called out. Eiichi gasped as Carlos was flung over four hundred feet into the air, striking the ceiling of the arena. Standing in front of Tetsuya was his own father with a blue and gold shepherd's staff on hand.

"Why did you stop me?" Eiichi asked, glaring at Eiji.

"You know that this young man is in no state to battle. He's already lost consciousness. What do you expect to do? Kill him? You have to learn your limits!"

Eiichi raised his right hand toward the ceiling. His spear flew down like a rocket and landed in his hands. "Limits? What limits? I can do what I want when I want! It's simple as that, old man!"

Eiji closed his eyes. "You disappoint me, child."

"Stop referring to me as 'child'! I am not a little kid anymore!" Eiichi screamed.

"Then start acting like an adult! This is why I didn't want Eiko to give you that damn weapon!" Eiji yelled, causing Eiichi to wince. The Seven-Hill turned away from his eldest son. "S-sorry, Eii."

Eiichi walked away, ignoring his father. "Who's next?" Eiichi asked, a cold look in his eyes.

Hideo pointed his gun at the blonde. "I am! You're going down, blondy."

Carlos's owner gave him a slight smirk. He moved his left foot back and twirled his spear, creating a light whirlwind. "Come and get it, you low rank noble!"

Hideo jumped into the pile of white sand and pointed Donato at Eiichi's head. "Say that again, and I'll blow your brains out."

"Hey! The next match hasn't started! I need to get this one out of here!" Eiji yelled as he raised his eyes from Tetsuya, who had no visible wounds.

"Calm down," Serrano said as he jumped down to join them. "I'll take care of my cousin."

Eiji sighed. "Thanks, kid. I owe you a lot."

Serrano laughed lightheartedly. "I would say we're even, considering what you've done for me." The blue-haired knight picked up Tetsuya easily despite the latter having a similar height along with a bigger built.

"You're a good kid." He glanced up at his eldest son. "My boy could learn a lot from you..."

Serrano eyed Eiichi. As long as he had known him, Eiichi had always been this way. Even as a child, he was a troublesome person to deal with.

Eiji jumped back to the stands while Serrano took Tetsuya out of the room.

"Tetsu," Rosalba said, chasing after Serrano. "Will, will Tetsu be alright?"

"Ya don't have to worry, little Tetsu is stronger than ya think," Teresa said as she followed not too far behind. She gave the princess a reassuring smile. "My little brother has incredible endurance." She eyed her younger brother as the gates opened for Serrano. "Though I have never seen him heal this fast."

**Solar Note: What did you think of Eiichi versus Tetsuya? Think that Hideo will be able to win against the narcissistic knight?**