Chapter 663: Answer The Invitation

Hajin sat at the head of the long table, dressed in a simple tunic with his seven Rings resting dormant within his chest.

Yenna slid a stack of evaluation dossiers toward Hajin and waited until the three champions sat before she opened the first page.

Outside the grand arched windows, autumn wind rustled the golden leaves of the courtyard maples in quiet, peaceful harmony.

Across from him sat Guild Arbiter Yenna, dressed in her formal emerald robes with a stack of guild evaluation dossiers.

Beside her sat three high-ranking champions whose reputations spanned every major trading hub on the entire continent.

Darven Holt, provisional rank four with fifteen Shards, leaned back with a spear strapped across his broad shoulders.

Ilsen Vey, provisional rank six with fourteen Shards, wore light leather armor and studied Hajin with calm, calculating eyes.

Oric Dain, provisional rank nine with thirteen Shards, rested his calloused hands on the pommel of his broad arming sword.

"We reviewed your combat logs from the viaduct campaign, Lord Hajin," Yenna began, resting her hands on the table.

"The council recognizes your strategic achievements, but a rank eight provisional license requires verified proof of individual martial prowess."

"Many rankers suspect your divine summons carried the weight of those victories," Darven spoke up, his voice deep and respectful.

"I do not doubt your courage, but I want to see how you fight when standing on your own two feet."

"I am curious about your clonal coordination," Ilsen added, tilting her head with keen tactical interest.

"When your Rings divide across multiple vessels, can each body sustain independent tactical judgment under intense frontline pressure?"

"Our combat reports claim your clones act with identical reaction speed," Oric noted, leaning his elbows on the table.

"In a prolonged melee, maintaining two separate lines of sight usually causes mental exhaustion for the primary host."

"That sounds like an invitation to a test," Hajin replied with an easy, relaxed smile.

"What kind of exhibition do you propose?"

"A team exhibition," Oric suggested, nodding toward his two fellow rankers.

"The three of us against you. That way, we test your crowd control, your clonal split, and your individual dueling capability all at once."

"A three-on-one match against top-ten rankers?" Marrick stammered from the doorway, his eyes widening in shock.

"That seems excessively hazardous for a patient who just completed medical recovery!"

"I like the proposal," Hajin countered smoothly, raising a hand to calm his anxious steward.

"However, let us set the rules of engagement clearly before we step into the ring."

"My divine summons will not participate in the arena," he declared, gesturing toward the parlor doorway where his companions stood.

"I will enter the field with only one clone... two bodies against three experienced champions."

Darven laughed aloud with genuine amusement, a rich booming sound that reverberated off the high timber rafters above.

"Two bodies against the three of us?" Darven asked, grinning with palpable excitement.

"You certainly do not lack confidence, summoner!"

"Victory will be decided by surrender, disarming followed by a controlled pin, or inability to continue," Yenna stated formally, jotting down the parameters.

"No lethal techniques, no forbidden curses, and no permanent physical maiming."

"Agreed," Hajin said, shaking hands with each of the three challengers in turn.

"We will prepare the reinforced tournament grounds beyond the western gates," Yenna decided, standing up from her chair.

"The match will take place tomorrow afternoon before registered guild witnesses."

Out in the hallway, Juna was leaning against the doorframe beside Loccy and Ferra, her wolf ears twitching with amusement.

"Make sure you reserve the front balcony for the household," she told Yenna with a mischievous wink.

"We want front-row seats to watch our summoner teach the top ten how to fight."

"I will put fifty silver coins on the boss winning in under five minutes," Loccy whispered loudly to Ferra.

"Do not gamble in the hallway, you little rock!" Ferra hissed, punching Loccy’s arm with her elbow.

Darven paused beside the doorway, glancing curiously at the plain wooden practice staff resting against the umbrella stand.

"Is that the weapon intended for your clone?" Darven asked, tapping the smooth ash wood with his knuckle.

"Wait—you are giving your second body an unadorned training staff?"

"It is balanced and sturdy," Hajin answered with a faint smirk. "You will feel its reach soon enough."

"I look forward to testing it," the spearman replied, bowing respectfully before heading down the front steps with his companions.

Once the challengers departed down the gravel drive, Ferra picked up the training staff and inspected its grain.

"I plan to wrap the grip with treated cord before tomorrow," she said, giving the staff a swift twirl.

"The balance is solid, but you will need extra friction when parrying Darven’s spear."

"Three rankers working in concert will try to pin your clone first," Juna observed, crossing her arms thoughtfully.

"That is exactly what I want them to attempt," he replied, walking toward the weapons bench.

"A three-man formation requires coordination... once their lines cross, their numerical advantage collapses."

"And what about your split multiplier?" Loccy asked, leaning her shoulder against the doorpost.

"Four Rings grant a five-fold boost, and three Rings grant a three-fold boost," he explained, rolling his shoulders with calm focus.

"Neither body will have the sixteen-fold sovereign peak, but three-fold output is more than enough to deflect standard Shard strikes."

"Just remember to breathe between exchanges," Juna smiled, brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead.

"Just make sure you do not re-injure your ribs," Vella called out from the clinic archway, shaking a wooden spoon in warning.

"I will be careful, doctor," he laughed softly, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

The autumn air outside carried the crisp promise of high-stakes martial competition, stirring the dormant fire in Hajin’s spirit.

The long weeks of quiet recovery were finally drawing to a close, and the tournament grounds were prepared to test the full measure of his sovereign strength.

High above the Sixth, the celestial broadcast interface was flooded with deafening cheers and golden superchats.

[ Seoul_Tactician: "The fourth, sixth, and ninth rankers are joining forces against Hajin? I want to see the arena rules!" ]

[ StarlightScholar: "’Two bodies against three experienced champions.’ Hajin leaving his summons out of the match is pure flex!" ]

[ IronVanguard: "Darven Holt at 15 Shards, Ilsen at 14, Oric at 13... these are not arrogant cannon fodder, these are real pros!" ]

[ HearthKeeper: "Juna demanding VIP balcony seats while Loccy bets fifty silver on Hajin is peak family dynamic!" ]

[ ShadowMage44: "Four Rings with Hajin, three with the clone. Oric cannot tell which one is coming!" ]

[ TacticalNerd: "Notice how respectful the challengers are? They studied his viaduct logs and came with genuine tactical curiosity!" ]

[ NewViewer_02: "Hajin’s confidence is infectious! Man just casually agreed to a 2v3 against the continent’s elite!" ]

[ CringeSlayer91: "Loccy trying to run an illegal betting ring in the hallway while Ferra punches her! Best squad ever!" ]

Hajin picked up the ash practice staff, giving it a light test spin before setting it back against the wall.

"If the old staff cracks, I stop the match," Hajin told the envoy, refusing to turn an exhibition into a weapon test.

His meridians were healed, his rings were aligned, and tomorrow would show the world what the Seventh Ring could do.