Chapter 7 – The State Tournament Arc
Part A: The Child of Light Enters the Arena
Night had already settled in.
At the dinner table, only the soft clinking of cutlery and plates could be heard.
From the outside, it looked like a perfectly normal family dinner.
But for Sam, nothing was ever truly normal.
Roohani leaned forward in her chair, elbows resting near her plate, her brows slightly furrowed as she looked at her mother.
"Mama… why does Papa train me so hard?"
Then, with a small proud smile, she added,
"At school, I'm already the strongest."
Meera froze.
She forgot to take her next bite.
Slowly, her gaze shifted toward Sam—
straight, suspicious, almost accusing.
Sam calmly placed his glass down on the table.
There was no tension on his face.
No hesitation.
"It's time both of you know the truth," he said in a completely neutral tone.
Roohani's ears perked up instantly.
Sam began to explain.
The Royal Tournament of Magic Youth—
an ancient tradition held once every ten years.
An age group limited to children between six and fourteen.
And the winner didn't just earn a medal.
They were declared a pillar of the future.
"This year," Sam continued, looking directly at Roohani,
"Sacred Corp is sending a representative."
"I wasn't just protecting you," he said calmly.
"I was preparing you for what lies ahead."
A moment of silence followed.
Then—
"WAIT—!"
Roohani practically jumped out of her chair.
"You mean… I'M GOING TO THE TOURNAMENT?!"
Her eyes lit up as if someone had turned on a switch.
"Papa, THIS IS AWESOME!"
Meera immediately facepalmed.
"And you thought all of this was just a normal holiday?"
she shot Sam a sharp look.
Sam replied without blinking.
"Normal holiday?"
"There's no such thing in my life."
The Grand Arena
The Grand Colosseum of the Capital City looked like a world of its own.
Massive stone pillars rose into the sky.
Magical banners floated midair, glowing softly.
Protective runic shields shimmered above the arena.
More than ten thousand spectators filled the stands.
The Royal Council sat in their elevated gallery.
And at the highest seat of all—
the King, seated upon his golden throne, silently observing everything.
Thirty-two participants stood within the arena.
Each represented a school, a guild, or a royal house.
And among them—
Roohani.
The youngest participant sent by Sacred Corp.
She was small in height, lean in build,
yet her stance was confident and unwavering.
Her uniform was simple—
light-woven fabric traced with faintly glowing lines.
Meera sat beside Sam, but her eyes were on him more than the arena.
"If something happens to your daughter,"
she whispered dangerously,
"I won't let you live."
Without looking at her, Sam replied calmly,
"Then I'll have to be even more careful."
Round One – Light vs Shadow
Roohani's first opponent stepped forward.
A boy who controlled Shadow Chains.
The crowd reacted instantly.
"A little girl?"
"Against shadow magic?"
"This is going to be one-sided."
The match began.
Dark chains erupted from the ground, reaching for Roohani's legs.
She stepped back once.
Then calmly raised her hand.
Light Barrier.
The moment the chains touched it—
crack.
They shattered into fragments of darkness.
In the next instant—
A Light Burst exploded forward.
The opponent was thrown into the air and collapsed unconscious upon impact.
The arena erupted in cheers.
The King leaned forward slightly.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Light magic… how rare."
Sam's lips curved into the faintest smile.
Round Two – Fire Clash
Her next opponent was a noble's son.
A Dragon Fire user.
His arrogance was as high as his flames—
wild, destructive, barely controlled.
Roohani took a steady breath.
Her eyes sharpened.
Light… and Fire…
merged.
A massive Radiant Phoenix formed—
white-golden flames spreading across the arena.
The dragon fire collided with it—
and was utterly crushed.
The opponent staggered and fell.
"Impossible!" he screamed.
"Why won't this flame go out?!"
Sam clapped calmly from the stands.
"Because," he said softly,
"it isn't an ordinary flame."
Quarterfinal – The Wind Assassin
Her opponent now was a girl—
fast, precise, deadly—
a wind magic specialist.
This time, Roohani took hits.
A sharp slash cut across her shoulder.
Meera stood up instantly.
Sam spoke calmly,
"Relax. This is just the warm-up."
Sliding across the ground, Roohani recalled her training.
Mirror Illusions.
Light split—
five identical clones appeared.
The wind user hesitated.
One opening.
A Fire-Lance of Light pierced forward.
The match ended.
Semi-Final – The Lightning Prodigy
Her next opponent was a prince of the Northern Kingdom.
A Surpasser-level prodigy.
His lightning moved so fast the crowd could only see flashes.
Roohani dodged… stumbled… fell—
and stood again.
From the stands, Sam spoke softly,
"Stay calm."
Roohani closed her eyes.
Her heartbeat slowed.
Light Barrier and Fire Shield—simultaneously.
The lightning was absorbed.
Then—
Solar Flare Explosion.
Blinding light engulfed the arena.
When it faded, the prince lay unconscious.
Silence.
Then—
An explosion of cheers.
Final – The Royal Challenger
The King personally announced a final surprise.
A mystery challenger.
A prodigy sponsored by the Dark Guild.
Gravity magic.
Poison mist.
The gravity slammed Roohani into the ground.
Her pendant glowed.
The poison failed to affect her.
She stood.
"I will protect my family's name!"
The Dragon of Radiance descended.
Light-fire energy wrapped the arena, cleansing poison, pinning the opponent.
No death.
Only defeat.
Victory
The Golden Laurel Crown was placed upon Roohani's head.
The King himself stepped forward.
"Warriors like you are the future of this nation."
Tears filled Meera's eyes.
Sam smiled calmly.
The crowd chanted—
"ROOHANI! ROOHANI!"
Sam leaned forward and said softly,
"Now… you are truly my daughter."
The Royal Invitation
The morning after the tournament, an unusual silence filled the headquarters of Sacred Corp.
Beyond the glass walls, the city moved at its usual pace—
traffic flowing, people rushing, life continuing.
But inside the building, an invisible tension lingered,
like the air before an approaching storm.
Suddenly, a presence appeared in the reception hall.
A royal messenger.
Golden armor.
Perfect posture.
An expression devoid of emotion.
"By royal order," he announced, his voice flat and formal,
"the Chief Executive of Sacred Corp, Noble Sam, and the State Champion, Roohani, are to present themselves at the palace immediately."
There was no request in his tone.
Only protocol.
Meera turned toward Sam the moment the words left the messenger's mouth.
Roohani looked excited—
but Sam's face remained completely unreadable.
"Let's go," Sam said calmly.
"We shouldn't be late."
The Palace Welcome
The moment the palace gates opened, a different world unfolded.
A red carpet stretched forward.
Trumpets echoed through the halls.
Royal guards stood in perfect formation on both sides.
Courtiers bowed respectfully as Roohani stepped inside.
The King rose from his throne and walked forward himself.
"Your performance impressed the entire kingdom, child,"
he said to Roohani with a warm smile.
Roohani grew shy.
Meera's chest swelled with pride.
Then—
The King's gaze shifted to Sam.
His smile cooled, just slightly.
"Sam," he said evenly,
"I wish to speak with you in private."
⚖️ The Conversation
The private chamber was sealed with heavy runes.
The King stood near the window, gazing down at the city below.
"Your daughter is extraordinary," he said.
"But you are wasting her potential."
Sam remained silent.
"Someone like her belongs under the protection of the palace,"
the King continued,
"not inside a private structure like Sacred Corp."
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"Wasting?" he repeated.
"She is my daughter," Sam replied calmly.
"I will decide her destiny."
The King slammed his hand onto the table.
"You don't understand! Her power will draw enemies from across the continent. Your mercy will become her destruction!"
Mana pressure filled the room.
Sam's knuckles cracked—
but he made no sound.
"I understand," Sam said quietly.
And without another word, he turned and left the chamber.
🌙 The Moonlit Balcony
That night.
Moonlight washed over the palace gardens.
Sam stood alone.
For a single second, his eyes glowed blood-red.
Suppressed wrath surged within him.
He dares teach me how to protect my family?
When I could tear apart the entire multiverse for them…
The next instant—
Sam vanished.
😱 The Confrontation
The King stood on his private balcony, wine glass in hand, gazing over the kingdom.
Then—
"You warn me…"
The King froze.
Sam stood atop the balcony railing.
The wind lifted his coat.
An eerie glow burned in his eyes.
"If you ever treat my daughter like a pawn again,"
Sam said calmly—terrifyingly—
"I will remind you why the name God Slayer exists."
The wine glass slipped from the King's hand and shattered.
For the first time in his life, true fear took root in his heart.
The next second—
Sam disappeared.
As if he had never been there.
🌌 Whispers of the God Slayer
The King rushed into his private library.
With trembling hands, he pulled out a forbidden tome.
The Cosmic God Slayer.
An immortal being who shattered even the gods.
His name is not legend—it is a curse.
The King whispered to himself,
"Impossible… if he is truly that being… how does one protect a kingdom from him?"
From that day onward, Sacred Corp was treated with distance—
respectful on the surface,
but laced with fear.
🏟️ The National Youth Tournament
One month later, the capital city was engulfed in festival lights.
The National Youth Tournament had begun.
A battlefield for state champions.
This time, a colossal magical dome was erected above the arena.
The reason was simple—
the fights would be devastating.
Roohani stood beneath the Sacred Corp banner.
Meera hugged her gently.
"Win or lose," she whispered,
"you are our soul."
Sam tapped Roohani's forehead.
"Winning isn't a duty," he said quietly.
"Control is."
⚔️ Round One – The Stone Titan
Her opponent transformed his body into stone.
Each punch cracked the ground.
Roohani staggered.
Then—
She summoned a Light Construct Bow.
One Solar Arrow.
The impact shattered the stone armor.
The opponent surrendered.
The crowd roared.
🌪️ Round Two – The Wind Twins
Twin storms.
Relentless pressure.
Roohani created multiple light clones.
The twins collided with one another.
A Light Burst Dome trapped them.
Victory.
"Adaptation," Sam murmured.
"That's her edge."
🔥 Quarterfinal – The Fire Demigod
Blue flames.
Demigod bloodline.
Roohani was badly injured.
Her left arm burned.
Meera cried out.
Then Roohani screamed—
"Papa always says… there's one more step beyond the limit!"
Water–Light Fusion unlocked.
A Radiant Whirlpool Dragon extinguished the flames.
The arena erupted in cheers.
"Second path unlocked," Sam whispered.
⚡ Semi-Final – The Lightning Beast
Beast transformation.
Lightning speed.
Roohani was struck again and again.
She fell.
Then—
Light-Water Shield.
Radiant Prison.
The opponent was immobilized.
Victory.
👑 Final – The Crown's Prodigy
A masked boy entered the arena.
Space manipulation.
Portals distorted reality itself.
Roohani's attacks were redirected repeatedly.
Sam's eyes narrowed.
"So the King sent his trump card…"
Roohani sent her light clones through multiple portals.
The opponent hesitated.
Solar Dragon Spear.
Direct hit.
The masked boy dropped to one knee.
🏆 Victory
Roohani was declared the National Champion.
The crown was raised.
The crowd roared.
But Sam—
Sam knew.
This was only the beginning.
End Note – Arc Meaning
This arc was never just about a tournament.
It was the first open clash between Sam and the system.
And Roohani—
was no longer just a gifted child.
She had become
the storm of the future.