My SSS-Rank Innate skill: Infinite Adaptation core

Around eighty, however, were pushed back or delayed by stronger opponents and were immediately disqualified.

Looking around, Nova quickly confirmed the positions of his people.

Rieka had been assigned to Platform 5. Asia was on Platform 1.Bai Chen stood on Platform 2. And he himself remained on Platform 4.

[Alright... now we will finally begin the first round. Those of you who failed to reach the platforms, leave the arena and take your seats among the audience. You can only blame yourselves for not being strong enough.]

The failed contestants wore gloomy and dejected expressions as they made their way toward the audience seats. Most of them were only low-level Grandmasters.

High above, Vaorak Tigrath spoke with clear interest.

”Quite a nice buildup... Let’s see how interesting these younglings will make this first round.”

Draeven Rhaevoryn gave a slight nod.

”Indeed. Let’s see just how capable the youths of the human continent truly are.”

A little lower among the royal seats, Lucien Kalemoris turned toward Leonis.

”Leonis... are you certain the security outside is fully secured?”

Leonis glanced at him and replied evenly.

”What do you think I’ve been doing these past few weeks? I’ve made certain everything is in place.

With so many powerhouses present — and even the Beast-Folk Emperor himself here — no one would dare try anything.”

Gareth Varkhess, however, spoke with a more solemn expression.

”And what if one of the Demon Lords themselves decides to attack?”

Leonis’s smile remained polite, though a flicker of irritation passed through his eyes as he answered carefully in front of so many people.

”You... shouldn’t jinx it, King Gareth.”

Down below, the contestants stood ready, many already drawing their weapons.

Nova casually observed his surroundings. Most of those near him were only Grandmasters, and they carefully kept their distance.

The Level 1500 King Realm aura he was deliberately leaking was more than enough to make them think twice about approaching him.

[On the ring of the bell, you may all make your move. The second bell will ring only when the final twenty remain on each platform.]

[And one more thing — the most important rule of this round.]

[To qualify as one of the twenty victors, a contestant must personally eliminate at least five opponents and remain standing until the battle concludes. Those with zero kills will be eliminated... even if they are among the final twenty still standing.]

A wave of shock swept through the arena.

”What the hell...?”

”Why hadn’t this been announced from the beginning?”

But the moment the rule sank in, everyone understood why this tournament was known as the most difficult and ruthless competition in the entire empire.

High in the VIP section, Jenna covered her mouth in concern.

”Why would they make a rule like that...?”

Her thoughts immediately went to Nova, Asia, and Rieka. She knew they had hunted Demonic Beasts before... but forcing them to eliminate fellow contestants — even if no one would truly die — still felt cruel.

She was especially worried about Asia and Rieka, who had never taken a human life. From Jenna’s right side, Nyxara spoke calmly.

”It’s understandable that they would set such a rule.”

Both Jenna and Edward turned toward her as she continued.

”If no such condition existed, most contestants would simply focus on surviving and avoid fighting altogether. The round would never properly end.”

”But now, everyone is forced to secure at least five kills. Some will even try to take more than five simply to prevent others from meeting the requirement.

That will naturally increase the brutality of the round... and such intensity is only to be expected in a tournament of this level.”

Velena, seated beside her, nodded in quiet agreement.

Jenna’s eyes widened slightly. She sometimes forgot that the woman beside her was a Demon Princess.

Edward, however, fully understood her reasoning. His gaze returned to the platforms below, focusing on Nova and the others.

Sigh... so they really had to set a rule like that.

Nova had already sensed that something was off about the round. Still, his thoughts quickly turned to Asia and Rieka.

He couldn’t help but wonder if they would be alright... though in the end, this would also serve as valuable training to further harden their hearts.

He calmly took out a peak King-level sword he had obtained from the storage ring of the dragon he previously killed. There was no need to reveal Rouve here.

Completely relaxed, he was confident he would pass the round with ease — while the contestants around him were already sweating heavily under the pressure of his aura.

[Alright... best of luck to everyone. With this, the first round of this year’s Empire’s Grand Youth Tournament... officially begins!]

Dong!!!

The bell rang.

In the next instant, shouts erupted across all five platforms as the contestants launched into action.

”Haaa!!”

”Arrgghhh!!!”

Those with prior experience in killing struck without hesitation, cleanly severing heads and ending fights in a single blow.

Contestants who had brought shields were especially pleased — the added defense allowed them to fight more aggressively while staying protected.

Nova simply stood in place, calm and unmoving, carefully observing the chaos as he decided who would become his prey.

On Platform 5...

Rieka found herself in a rather unlucky situation. Her group contained a large number of King Realm experts. Realizing this, she decided not to waste time and began securing her kills early.

Even so, she had her own standards. She would only eliminate those who harbored clear hostility or ill intentions toward her. More than anything, she wanted her darling to see just how strong she had become.

All around her, the battle had already turned chaotic. Many contestants formed temporary groups to target weaker opponents and secure their five kills.

However, it didn’t take long for several of them to be stabbed in the back by their own so-called allies.

Rieka, however, held a unique advantage.

She activated her skill — Heartseeker.

The same skill that allowed her to see through a person’s character, motives, and intentions when she focused properly. After extensive training, the skill had grown significantly stronger.

Expanding her perception outward, she could now sense anyone within a ten-meter radius who intended to attack her, as well as the general method they planned to use.

That range was currently her limit. Without her bloodline fully awakened, she couldn’t extend it any further.

Several meters away from her, a group of male contestants — all around level 1200, the same as Rieka — had already finished eliminating several weaker opponents. Their eyes soon landed on her.

One of them smirked and spoke.

”Hey, look! There’s a beast-folk woman over there!”

”Damn... she’s hot as hell!”

”What the fuck? She’s participating in the human continent’s tournament?”

”She must be an immigrant.”

”Let’s make her our target.”

There were five of them in total. Without hesitation, they began moving toward Rieka, their hostility and impure intentions completely undisguised.

Along the way, they continued cutting down the Grandmasters who stood in their path. Rieka calmly watched the group approach.

All of them looked to be over twenty-five. The moment they stepped within the range of her perception, she clearly sensed their intentions. Without any change in expression, she drew a sword into her hand.

She made no move to retreat.

Instead, she allowed them to come closer.

It would be more efficient to finish them all at once.

Although their levels were in the 1200s — the same as hers — she could already tell from the weak killing intent leaking from their auras that they severely lacked real battle experience.

**

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[A/N]

Heartseeker is the name of Rieka’s skill that we’ve been referring to since the beginning of the novel. If you come across any other name for the skill in the earlier Chapters, I’ve already changed it to Heartseeker, so please don’t get confused.

Thanks for reading...