Acquiring the Title!

After the Third Prince nodded, Adrian stepped away from everyone else and flared his Signiums. One by one, all three of them appeared. The first one was a cheetah with the darkness element. The second one was the humanoid with horns, goat hooves, and a snake tail with green-dark fire around it. The third one…

Ezio looked at the signum in disbelief. Not because it was something dark and nefarious. On the contrary, it was something sparky. The element wasn't important but the Signium itself was. He wasn't sure if he was right, but if he was, that was something amazing and scary at the same time.

He looked at the humanoid creature sitting on his throne. The man's silhouette was purple and the crown he was wearing had a different shade of purple embedded in it. Lightning was cracking all around it, while its eyes were looking at everyone in disdain. He was holding an orb, again purple in color. But the lightning swimming inside the orb looked majestic. It felt different. He didn't know what it was, but Ezio was sure it wasn't normal lightning. It was probably something special like fires and golden wind he had.

"Is this?" Ezio asked in disbelief.

"Yeah." The Third Prince nodded grimly. "The Ruler of the Purple Lands."

Ezio looked at them in shock. Although he somehow guessed it, he wished it wasn't true, because it meant, everything he planned was for naught.

"I didn't get the full title yet," Adrian said with a frown. "I must fulfill a condition before."

"What is the condition?" Lu Ru asked. She was looking at the humanoid figure in awe. Her knees were wobbling as if she was about to kneel down in front of the King.

"I need to kill the other candidate." Adrian looked at the three of them with killing intent. Only Prince was saved from the pressure. Although Ezio wasn't as affected because he had a Signium from the higher Curtain, others were sweating heavily.

"How did you get the inheritance without getting the five keys?" Ezio asked in disbelief. Others didn't care, but he needed to know. The reason he threw himself out was to prevent Xiao Chen from getting the inheritance. How did Adrian get it? It didn't make any sense. The legend said only one with the five keys could get the title and the Signium. Since Adrian could get it, what was stopping Xiao Chen?

"I don't know," Adrian said with a hateful look. "I wanted to break through to the Qi Crystallization Realm so I could have more chances, but I felt this Signium was summoning me. It was deep in the Fifth Curtain, and I felt my soul-crushing every second. Then, this message appeared before me. It said, 'I need to kill the other candidate to fully awaken the Signium but I will have the Quasi-Signium for the time being."

"You got the inheritance just like that?" Ezio asked again.

"Yeah," Adrian smirked. "Wanna fight?"

"No, thanks." Ezio shook his head. "So, is this domain under your control now?"

"It would have been if I had the full title, but I cannot have it until I fulfill the condition," Adrian explained. Ezio heaved a sigh of relief. It would be troublesome if he had full control.

"What now?" Lu Ru asked.

"Let's find others, and assemble. We cannot let Xiao Chen kill them all." Prince said with a worried look on his face.

"I will take my leave then. I don't want to be dragged into this." Ezio said with a sigh. "Since you are already stronger than their party now."

"Are you sure? You have a higher chance with us." Prince asked.

"I came to acquire some valuable stuff. I don't want to hunt down Prince Consort and his men." Ezio shook his head. He still wanted to tame some beasts before leaving the domain. After all, this place was created thousands of years ago. The fauna was a lot different than outside. Maybe he could find a rare creature.

"Okay, if that's what you want," Prince said.

"So, you don't want me to seal your keys? Will you use them to lure the Prince Consort?" He asked.

"Yeah, don't worry about it. Take care." Prince smiled and then waved. Ezio copied his motion and left the cave. He didn't leave the mountain range though, there were many different creatures living there.

"Is it wise to let him go?" Adrian asked after Ezio left.

"It is fine. I feel like he isn't interested in heritage. Since it is so, we can just let him do whatever he wants. After all, he is strong, having him on the opposite side would make things harder." Prince answered.

"As you wish, brother," Adrian said with a salute. He was feeling conflicted. After all, he had the chance to become the Ruler of the Purple Lands. The fief included the Azure Kingdom. If he rightfully claimed his lands, Prince would be his underling, yet he was Prince's brother in all but blood. Would he become his superior? How would that affect their relationship? Would the Prince get upset when he became the true ruler? For the first time ever, Adrian didn't want to obtain this heritage. When grandma used to tell him that he was destined to rule the world, he would get excited. He lost his parents at a young age, and always felt incomplete.

If it wasn't for his brother, he would have given up on life. But they prevailed together, but now that the status quo changed, he didn't know how to act. But something inside him wanted him to take control. He didn't know what it was, as if something was whispering in his ears. He wanted to shut this voice off, but it was getting stronger the more he denied it.

"Let's go!" He said with an authoritative voice as he took the lead. Others didn't mind, but Prince looked at his back with a sigh, then he too, followed them.