Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 928: Anya Romanoff

As the Crownstar Life Rankers from various Empires walked in, people held their breaths and simply watched. The commoners who had been talking happily and dancing as they ate food they could never afford also stopped in their tracks as the atmosphere became somewhat overbearing for everyone.

The Crownstar Life Rankers weren’t purposely unleashing any form of presence or aura; their mere existence simply announced itself, and that was all. Nothing more, nothing less.

They scattered themselves in various directions, some stopping to talk to their descendants, some stopping to speak with their subordinates, while others simply stood at random corners as they silently observed everything around them.

The Overlord continued walking, her steps calm and light as she made her way towards an elevated platform within the same hall that hadn’t yet been used.

Eyes remained fixed on her as she walked. Although she wasn’t as beautiful as Cindralis, she was still a breathtaking beauty nonetheless. Too bad the husband of this beauty had been suffering for the past two days, not merely the nights, but the entire two days, as Cynthia wasn’t going to stop until she became pregnant.

One could only imagine how Azaron and Lily had managed to give birth to ten children. Truly, they were more like rabbits than humans.

Cynthia climbed the elevated platform with calm, graceful strides as all eyes had already left the other Life Rankers. Coming to a stop, she faced the crowd before her with a composed expression as she began to speak.

“I welcome everyone to the gala that marks the end of the four hundred and fifth Inter-Empire Tournament,” she said, her tone calm, as the Inter-Empire Tournament had indeed been held for such a long span of time.

“Some of us are already familiar with scenes like these, as some have attended previous Inter-Empire Tournaments and their ending galas, while for others among us, this is a completely new experience,” she continued. “But regardless, I welcome everyone to the gala,” she stated.

The first part of her statement referred to the Crownstar Life Rankers and those who possessed enough lifespan to have witnessed multiple Inter-Empire Tournaments, while the second part referred to most of the commoners who had watched this tournament for the first time and were also attending the gala.

“But of all the Inter-Empire Tournaments we’ve witnessed, even I, alongside many Crownstar Life Rankers and those throughout history, dare to say that this is the greatest Inter-Empire Tournament. A stage where talents beyond most limits have been displayed. A stage where children and students possess power that even adults wish for,” she continued, her beautiful eyes fixed upon the crowd.

She didn’t need a speaker or anything of the sort; her voice reached everyone regardless of the size of the hall.

“And in this competition, we have children who have all made their parents, grandparents, families, friends, Empires, and Academies proud,” she continued with a smile appearing on her lips. “Honorable mentions amongst these talents are my own son, Isaac Wrath Chillstorm, Finch Whale, Acker Holloway, Arianna Haellight, and the winner, Asher Wargrave.” She paused for a brief moment before continuing. “These five have shown us what it means to reap the fruits of our own labor, and we hope they continue to progress throughout their lives under the eyes of the Star.”

As Asher’s name and the others were called, countless gazes turned in their direction. Asher and Arianna, who had been sitting together, received the most attention. The moment someone began clapping, the rest of the crowd quickly joined in, offering thunderous applause for the names that had just been mentioned.

“And just like you all chanted yesterday, after the display we witnessed two days ago between Arianna Haellight and Asher Wargrave, perhaps we really should scrap the Inter-Empire Tournament, right?” the Overlord continued, her tone making it obvious that she was joking.

She shook her head before continuing. “But this is a gala, where we’re meant to enjoy ourselves and have fun as we present the award to the winner, and for that reason, I won’t bore you all with lengthy speeches and will simply get right to it,” she stated.

With that, everyone’s attention sharpened as they were simply too eager to discover what the rewards were. There were already rumors that the prize was something truly outrageous, hence the secrecy, so that no form of mishap would occur.

“And for that, we will now call the presenter of the award to the stage,” the Overlord continued. “Anya Romanoff, the winner of the four hundred and fourth Inter-Empire Tournament, please give her a round of applause as we welcome her to the stage.”

At the Overlord’s words, a spotlight immediately shone upon the head of a random woman standing in a distant corner of the hall. She appeared stunned, as though she hadn’t known she was going to be called. In her hand was a glass of wine from which she had just taken a sip. She possessed wavy blue hair and pink eyes, while her face and figure were perfectly proportioned. She was a remarkable beauty as well.

Anya Romanoff, the winner of the previous Inter-Empire Tournament from the Thalvorn Empire.

Anya placed the drink in her hand upon a nearby table and walked towards the stage with calm, composed strides as every gaze shifted towards her. After all, as the winner of the previous Inter-Empire Tournament, she was naturally bound to possess exceptional talent and immense backing.

Noticing the attention, Anya simply allowed the Life Rank she had been suppressing to reveal itself. She was at the Pulse Voidstar Life Rank, and she was forty-two years old.

By every standard, she was monstrously talented.

Not everyone was Asher, or Malrik, or even the Wargraves, who could simply ascend to the Crownstar Life Rank with ridiculous speed. Anya was what monstrous talent was truly supposed to look like, not whatever absurdity the Wargraves had going on within their bloodline.

Anya had no backing. She was a commoner who had risen to this point in life with her own two hands, much like Teo Swig. She was living proof that the Inter-Empire Tournament couldn’t always be dominated by nobles, and powerful bloodlines, as she had defeated every single one of them during her own era.

Although Anya didn’t outwardly show any reaction, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The Overlord had invited her numerous times ever since she had won the previous Inter-Empire Tournament, hoping she would come and serve under her. But she, Anya, had declined every single invitation. As a commoner, she had been treated horribly by a few nobles when she was little, so she had never wished to serve beneath any of them.

Of course, she didn’t automatically place all nobles under the same umbrella, but she still had no intention of serving one.

But… if one truly thought about it, Overlord Cynthia Wrath Chillstorm didn’t officially possess any Noble title.

Yes, she was the Overlord, but the Overlord wasn’t an Emperor, as she had given herself the title of Overlord and not one bestowed by an Empire. Meaning… if the Overlord were to die, then legally, Isaac Wrath Chillstorm wouldn’t inherit his mother’s position.

And of course, Overlord Cynthia knew this, yet she couldn’t care less. She had carved her own path to this position with her own two hands. And with her son being even more talented than she was, even if she died in the future, her son wouldn’t need some meaningless Noble position to become someone of immense power.

Power was simply power.