"So, this is the reason why the ritual has to take place every 500 years, huh?" Leon said.
Millim nodded. "Yes. The safe period is between 600 to 800 years, depending on the Blood King's strength. However, it rarely lasts beyond 800 years due to the mental deterioration of the King.
"That's why the ritual is held every 500 years—to prevent an unstoppable monster from being born."
Ken, who had been silent, finally spoke. "So, to maintain balance, your family has to kill its own rulers when they go too far?"
Millim nodded grimly. "Exactly. It's why no Blood King has ruled for more than a few centuries. And it's also why my family is feared, not just by outsiders, but even by our own kind."
Leon exhaled. "And now this tournament is happening on Blood Island… I assume it's not just for fun?"
Millim shook her head. "No. The tournament is a front. In reality, it's also a test—to determine who is worthy of inheriting the Blood King's power."