Old Rivalries and the Royal Challenge

  Sometimes, famous people in this world cannot live in peace. There might not be a concrete reason for it, but some issue or conflict always seems to arise.

  I, Albert, want to give my grandson every happiness in the world. In this life, Catherine's family is my everything. Isabella and our daughter, Sylvie, are precious gems to me, treasures I want to cherish for the rest of my life. With these thoughts in mind, I took out my mobile phone and contacted an old, close friend.

  "Hello! Well, which shameless old man is remembering me today?" a voice crackled from the other side.

  I coughed and said, "You are still the same old rascal. Even after becoming such a major personality, your behavior is still like a common thug."

  "Hey Albert, don't give me too much wisdom! Ever since the day you stole my crush, Isabella, from me, I have felt like beating you up," he retorted.

  Hearing my wife's name made my throat tighten. In reality, we were very close friends, but we had both fallen in love with the same girl. At that time, neither of us knew this.

  Isabella was incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and virtuous; the line of her admirers was very long. We had never shared this secret with each other, so we both thought the other was a carefree soul who hadn't fallen into the trap of love.

  One day, both of us gathered our courage and set out to express our love to Isabella. But on that day, our worldviews were shattered. Just as Isabella was leaving the college, we both jumped into her path, taking advantage of the moment, each holding a different bouquet of flowers.

  Seeing us together, Isabella was left stunned. My friend and I were also deeply embarrassed to see each other there, but neither of us wanted to leave empty-handed. We were desperate to confess our love. So, regardless of the situation, we both knelt down and confessed our love at the same time. Isabella was paralyzed by our actions; she didn't understand how to react. We were truly shameless—after all, who proposes to someone at the exact same time?

  Then, Isabella pretended to take a call and ran away.

  Later, I didn't want to lose to my friend, so I sought help from my family. Visiting her house and winning Isabella's heart became my primary objective. In this way, I removed my friend and love rival from the picture. Since then, my friend has been resentful toward me. He looks down on me, thinking I didn't play by the rules, and is always eager for a chance to thrash me.

  The family conversation continued until it grew dark. Today was a very happy day, so I gave everyone permission to relax and granted some freedoms so the family could eat and drink openly. Since the younger generation usually feared the elders, today was special.

  A joint dinner had been arranged. The aromas wafting from the kitchen were enough to delight everyone. These dishes were rare and expensive—delicacies that ordinary people would never even get to see.

  I noticed Arthur and Lucky talking about the Royal Academy.

  "Lucky, have you really become a Two-Star Warrior Evolver?" Arthur asked without any hesitation.

  I (Arthur) felt a bit of doubt in my mind because Lucky's power seemed much lower than what his words suggested. I don't know why, but it just felt that way.

  Lucky replied quickly, "Brother Arthur, it's not that we can evolve in an advanced way directly. The aliens there are very dangerous; we can only evolve by forming a team. Our strength is weak compared to theirs. However, there are some single players here who can kill aliens in the battleground. Those people are far more talented than us and their physical stature is also special, which gives them many advantages. I absolutely cannot compare myself with them."

  I (Albert) took a long breath and smiled at my old friend's words. "Forget the old days, friend. Today I have come to ask you for a favor. My grandson, Arthur... I want him to be admitted to the 'Royal Academy.' I know you are the Dean there, the one known as 'Dr. Doom' who makes the entire academy tremble."

  This was the same Dr. Doom who had given a stern warning to Cassie's mother on the phone a few days ago. He became a bit serious and said, "Arthur? Hmm, do you even have a grandson named Arthur? I have absolutely no information about this. Where have you been hiding him all these years, you old man!"

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  "Look Albert," he continued, "friendship has its place, but the academy's rules have theirs. Only if he has the capability will the doors of Dr. Doom open for him. He will have to take the entrance exam. If he passes, only then will he get admission. I cannot help more than this."

  Albert quickly said, "Don't worry about that. I guarantee he will definitely succeed. Don't you know whose grandson Arthur is?"

  Hearing this, Dr. Doom faced great frustration and muttered to himself, "Why do these people always succeed? If this boy is truly capable, then he can handle my granddaughter." Thinking this, a devilish smile appeared on his face.

  "Hey, don't smile like that! If someone sees you, they might have a heart attack," Dr. Doom's wife warned him.

  In response, Doom said, "Did I really let out such a hideous smile just now?"

  His wife scolded him, saying, "Come on, let's go quickly! I have to go to a meeting now. Don't just stand there like a stone."

  "Wife, I love you very much," he said.

  "Look at this, love is erupting even in old age, you shameless old husband!" his wife replied. Even in her scolding, love was hidden, which showed that the two of them shared a deep relationship.

  I (Albert) put the phone down, but a spark of hope had ignited in my heart.

  The time for the Royal Dinner had arrived. Before the meal, the entire hall was filled with a magical glow. The table was decorated with rare delicacies from around the world—sweet fruits from 'Other Planets' that gave off a distinct, sweet fragrance, and 'Energy-Nourished' tea that radiated a rich aroma. The chefs had worked day and night to prepare a feast that even the wealthiest of people would rarely encounter. Servants were running quickly, but there was a heaviness in the air. Everyone was dressed up, but the real game was playing out in people's minds. Arthur sat quietly, watching everything as if this were all just a show.

  As everyone began to eat, Erathen's wife looked at her children with great pride and said, "By the way, since we are talking about the Royal Academy, let me say that my children are the pride of that place. Even great masters are stunned to see their evolution. They are extraordinary; the blood of true warriors flows in their veins."

  Erathen also supported his wife's words, saying, "Absolutely right. Their hard work and talent are what make them stand out. I am proud of them."

  Then Isabella stroked Arthur's head and gave her opinion with great love, "I don't think my dear Arthur is weaker than anyone. No matter what people say, my heart tells me that he will not just go to the Royal Academy, but he will make a name for himself there. His brilliance will be visible to everyone."

  But these words did not sit well with Mony's brothers. Their way of speaking was, as always, rude and piercing. The younger brother laughed and said, "The words are very big, but does Brother Arthur really have that spark? If Arthur defeats us in a real challenge, only then will we believe that he is truly special. Otherwise, anyone can become a king through mere words."

  Albert's brother, Edward, slammed his spoon onto his plate and silenced them, saying, "There is no need for this. Arthur is fully capable and he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. As for strength, we will see in a year's time who is truly talented."

  Mony, who had been silent until now, said somewhat resentfully, "Grandfather, you always take Arthur's side. If Arthur really wants to become strong, he must face challenges. Stepping back is a sign of a coward."

  Mony's gaze was full of contempt; she wanted to show Arthur his place.

  Catherine felt very sad hearing these things. She felt bad that her own family was bent on belittling Arthur. Silence fell over the entire room.

  Then Arthur stood up. There was a strange depth and a cold spark in his eyes. He looked directly into the eyes of Mony and her brothers and said in a calm voice:

  "I am not afraid of a challenge. If this is your stubbornness, then fine. But remember one thing—when you lose, do not repent later that you challenged someone you couldn't even understand."

  A hidden smile played on Arthur's face. He wanted to teach his brothers a little lesson so they would realize that there is always a sky above the sky. As he spoke, his Universal Pulse activated.

  There was a slight echo of the 'Universal Pulse' in Arthur's voice, which for a moment shook everyone to the core. On the dinner table, more than the aroma of food, there was now the sound of a coming storm.