The next week passed by rtively uneventfully for Marcus and Mrazivy.


    Each day they would go out for several hours and explore the capital city of Aezam until the sun began to set.


    So far they had seen arge majority of the northern section surrounding Antim Lake, but the entire city was exceptionallyrge and there was still much for them to explore.


    However, on the day they were supposed to take a ferry across theke to the western shore to visit thergest menagerie in the city featuring several species of beasts native to Aezam, Akeem called them into an emergency meeting.


    When they arrived, they found that he had an uneasy expression on his face when normally he was very good at hiding his emotions.


    "Please sit down. I have some news that I must tell you. It regards the Muharib Festival." Akeem said, distress creeping into his tone.


    "Is there something wrong with our participation in the festival? Is another n trying to block our entry or something?" Marcus asked as he sat down.


    "No, it is nothing that grave, but the situation has taken an unexpected turn. The Sulb n has entered an unprecedented number of their best warriors into the same tournament that you both are going to be entrants in. Among them even being their n''s grand elder and his brother." Akeem exined.


    Of the one hundred twenty-eight pairs that would be entered into thepetition each of the six major ns received eleven spots while the rest were allocated to other ns or those that managed to secure the few open spots through preliminary matches.


    The Sulb n had apparently entered in most of their top fighters into the duo tournament and were leaving the other two tournaments to less seasonedbatants.


    "I did not foresee that they would take such an interest in the two of you. Apparently rumors of you both being incredibly powerful have gotten out, and the top fighters of the Sulb n are all chomping at the bit to fight the two of you. That old monster that is their grand elder ahs not participated in one of the tournaments in twenty years, but he suddenly hase out to fight again. If only their heads were not only filled with muscles." Akeem said, his voice filled with exasperation and annoyance.


    His initial goal by having Marcus and Mrazivy enter as representatives of his n was to have them win. But now from his perspective that seemed impossible, and it was likely the other members of his n would be knocked out of the duopetition early on since he had diverted most of the Eazim n''s best fighters to the other two tournaments.


    Yet while, Akeem seemed perturbed by this turn of events, Marcus and Mrazivy were instead excited. From their point of view this was an absolute win.


    "I am guessing that since you put an emphasis on the grand elder of the Sulb n and his brother that they are both exceptionally strong?" Mrazivy asked, a sharp gleam in her eyes.


    "Yes, as a n focused on battle prowess their grand elder is always among the strongest fighters in all of Aezam. Their current grand elder is the oldest among us and has held his position for a hundred years. Twenty years ago, when hest participated in the Muharib Festival, he was certainly the strongest fighter in the nation. Whether that is true today, I do not know. I have not seen him fight since then."


    Akeem then sighed and slumped forward. Still not having noticed that Marcus and Mrazivy were invested in the conversation out of interest rather than wariness as he thought.


    "What about his brother? I imagine he is strong as well, right." Marcus asked.


    "Yes, he is also powerful. He is actually significantly younger than his brother, the grand elder. being more than fifty years apart. And in thest Muharib Festival he took second ce in the singles tournament. Only barely losing to the strongest fight from another one of the major ns. He is surely among the top twenty strongest fighters in the nation. In fact, he beat Bashir here in the quarter finals in thest tournament." Akeem said, motioning to his head guard who was standing right behind him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    At this Bashir grimaced and he nodded his head in confirmation when Marcus and Mrazivy looked at him.


    ''Mraz, what do you think? How does Bashirpare to Knight Commander Darius?'' Marcus asked over telepathy.


    For a few moments Mrazivy intently stared at Bashir before subtly shaking her head.


    ''I think he is weaker. I feel like he is probably closer to how strong Lyra''s master Cibor was. That is my best guess at least without using my dragon eyes on him.'' Mrazivy responded.


    After hearing this, Marcus wore a pensive expression and thought back to when they had fought Lyra''s master.


    He had been a very tough opponent for them at the time and they had fought him in a six on one fight with a far strongerbatant taking the lead in the battle.


    At the point they were at now though, Marcus was confident that both he and Mrazivy were stronger than Cibor was.


    Certainly, at the time of his death he was still a higher level than they were now, but their stats are currently higher than his were and they now have more unique skills. Not to mention their supreme skills.


    ''It seems we are in for some tough fights but nothing unwinnable.'' Marcus thought gauging about how powerful he could expect their strongest opponents to be based off of Bashir.


    "It does not seem that either of you is too worried about this. You should not underestimate the gravity of this development" Akeem said, seeing the calm looks on Marcus'' and Mrazivy''s faces.


    "Oh, we are not underestimating anything. It is just that we are perfectly fine with the battles being tougher. If we beat the strongest members of the Sulb n then they will have to recognize us and let us into the Deste Desert." Mrazivy said.


    Akeem looked perturbed by theirck of apprehension. He had just informed them that they would bepeting against possibly the strongest fighters in the entire nation.


    "You two do realize that if you are matched up against the wrong opponent early on that you may lose and not be able to prove yourselves?"


    "Yes, that is possible, but unlikely. We are still aiming to take first ce. It does not matter who our opponents are, we''ll fight with our best." Marcus said, oozing with confidence.


    Afterpleting the special dungeon both of them had reached just about the absolute peak that could be achieved for their level. Even those that were more than ten levels higher than them would not be guaranteed to be stronger. As was the general notion.


    "Very well. I suppose that there is nothing to be done about it then if you two are this unfazed." Akeem said.


    Originally, he had been nning to offer to use his connection to make sure that the bracket was set up in their favor. But, seeing that neither of them looked unnerved, he decided not to do anything and let the events yout however they would.