Draco followed the group of beastmen bigshots as he concluded that the competition wouldn't be starting anytime, seeing as they had the time to chat and even go to what he could call a fancy closed-restaurant.
Sitting around a rectangular table, Draco and Co. waited for the chefs to do their work as the Elder, who was obviously the most influential powerhouse of the bunch currently gathered around here, coughed to gain attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here. Seeing as we are all here and nobody is missing, we have an announcement to make." he said.
'seeing as we are all here, huh?' Draco, hearing that last part, thought. He already knew that this was the plan or whatever they wanted him at the center of.
Draco then concentrated on what was going to be said next.
"Some of you may have heard of the recently deceased Origin Emperor 'Azure', the architect of the 'Blue Lava' Origin Law." The elder added, and some of the beastmen sitting here nodded.
"We've recently been ordered to go on an expedition in an attempt to snatch the recently formed... Banished's tear."
Silence drowned the restaurant as the beastmen looked at the elder with red eyes, trying to confirm if what he just said was true.
Aside from those who already knew what the expedition was about and its goal.
"For those of you who don't know what a Banished's tear is, it's a white flower that appears after a Banished one reaches the end of his lifespan or suicides, and by consuming it, one has the only chance in this world to own the Origin Law formed by another Emperor." the elder explained.
Draco nodded and then looked up to see the elder gazing at him.
"Young Draco, would you like to join us on this expedition? of course, we would reward you accordingly." he asked with a smile.
"It would be an honor." Draco replied with a smile of his own.
"Very well, we shall move 3 months from now. You can come here then, and a guide will be sent over once again to transport you."
After that, the meals were brought over for the group to eat. Everybody ate silently and once they were done, they got out to see the arena full of youthful beastmen getting ready for a heart-pumping competition.
"The young ones of this generation are quite good." The elder smiled and said.
As fast as those words were said, the young beastmen got serious, and in less than a second, only two were left on the arena and all the others were in their seats.
The elders looked at this and slowly floated away to what seemed like a miniature flying island.
"Come with us, young Draco."
Draco, who was looking at the bull commander, heard the words spoken to him by the elder and floated to follow them.
The remaining 2 beastmen were the first on the list to fight.
One of them was a deerman, and the other was a horseman.
Draco watched intently, as he wanted to see just what made the deermen so superior.
"3, 2, 1. Start!" The commander, who was floating just above the arena, ordered, and the horseman attacked the deerman at a speed that surprised Draco.
The horsema representative was looking at Draco intently in an attempt to see his surprised face; however, Draco didn't show much emotion; no matter how fast the horseman went, if he wasn't at least at a King of Essense, Draco wouldn't have any problem spotting him.
However, there was one thing that made Draco cautious.
It was the deerman.
When the horseman attacked as fast as he could, the former didn't move; he remained in his place and waited calmly for the horseman.
The latter, however, knowing the deermen's bloodline power, didn't attack immediately and circled around the arena at ever-increasing speed, waiting for the right time to strike.
The second the deerman moved, the horseman changed course and went directly for his head.
However... he was blocked with a single arm as the deerman's eyes glowed silver white.
-----End-----