"Continental Superhuman Tournant?" A bald old man raised a brow as he put down his coffee cup. "Sounds fancy. Is it like a battle royale or sothing?"
"I have no clue," his wife replied. "The announcent said that it's open to those who are the Superhuman and Planar Traveler Realms. Today's the start of the regional registration and screening. The finals will take place in the Central Region."
"Is that so?" The bald old man sighed. He then looked around the house and asked, "Is our boy joining then?"
"Who knows?" His wife replied in a sulking tone. "Even since he hit puberty, that boy doesn't tell anything anymore."
To this, the old man just chuckled and said, "Let him be then. Little chicks will eventually grow up and leave their nests. Besides, this event doesn't sound dangerous, so it should be fine."
"I hope so too."
This kind of conversation has beco a common thing in almost every household ever since the announcents were made.
Everybody's focus was on this Continental Superhuman Tournant. It beca a trending topic online, and even the news centers were raving about it. Since the announcent, many wild rumors have begun spreading, and it has beco easier to fool people under the right circumstances.
But, of course, not all people are stupid.
A week after the announcent was made, the regional registration and screening were scheduled. Everyone who fits the criteria was allowed to register, and should they pass the initial screening, they'd be able to participate in the regional tournant bracket, which is scheduled a month later.
Since the event was hosted by the Pri Earth Federation, it was almost certain that the rewards would be rich. Under the temptation of resources and a bright future, the allure of this tournant was almost impossible to resist.
This caused hundreds of people to swarm towards the Awakening Centers and Coaching Centers since these are the locations where they can register for the regional tournant and take the initial screening.
In any of these centers, they will be interviewed and tested. The interview was easy to pass; after all, it's only an introduction to the applicant. That said, if the applicant dares to lie about their personal information or if their character is too bad, their path to the tournant will end here.
This might sound like common sense, but you'd be surprised by how many people failed at this step.
As for the initial screening, it's more of a test of the applicant's skills. The examiners were already inford about the contents of the regional tournant, so they set this up to filter out those who wouldn't pass or get far on the first stage of the tournant despite being qualified, saving everyone's ti.
But even with these asures, there were still hundreds of people who ended up on the list of participants. This shows just how large humanity's population has grown and how prosperous this new age was.
Any of the participants who ended up on the list would have been labeled as a once-in-a-lifeti genius back in the day, yet there's hundreds of them here. If this isn't a convincing fact that shows how much humans have improved over the years, then no one knows what will.
**
▪︎ Northern Region: Imperial Ice Palace Secret Realm
The Imperial Ice Palace Secret Realm of the Northern Region was a dream-like place.
Its skies were permanently stained by gorgeous aurora dotted with mikly silver stars. Amidst the seemingly endless blanket of snow, you would see mountains of varying heights, each with an infrastructure at the top. However, what truly leaves a deep impression on anyone who cos to this place is the massive Ice Palace at a distance.
This was the Imperial Ice Palace. It looked as if it's made out of pure ice crystals, whose hardness could even compete with divine steel. It's gorgeous, of course; it's as if sobody took their ti and built this entire thing brick by brick with love and adoration, making a true magnum opus.
However, despite its beauty, the ice palace emits a frighteningly low temperature that almost approaches absolute zero. Ordinary superhumans would imdiately turn into an ice sculpture before they could even co close to the entrance.
The interior of the palace is just as beautiful and deadly as it is outside. Those who manage to reach this place will face trials that guarantee rich rewards should they pass them. However, these trials also carry varying levels of danger, the worst of which is death, of course.
At the peak of the ice palace, there is a small and hidden door that leads to the 'attic'. Unbeknownst to others, this is actually the real entrance to the ultimate prize in this secret realm.
And the only one who discovered it was Isabella Frostwind. Although she did so by a fortunate coincidence, it doesn't change the fact that she did it. Now, she's beco the absolute queen of this secret realm, though not many people know this.
Currently, Isabella was peacefully drinking her iced tea as she basked in the cold comfort of this room. However, her peace was disturbed by the loud chirp of her friend.
"Bella! Bella! You saw it right? The... um...tournant thingy, what was it again?"
"You an the Continental Superhuman Tournant?" Isabella replied with a smile, adoring the cute stupidity of this friend of hers.
"Yup! That's the one!" Her friend chirped again. "It sounds super exciting and fun! Are you going to join!? I think you should join!"
"I'll...I'll think about it," Isabella replied, sounding a bit hesitant.
Of course, the news reached her. It was announced through the Acala System, and her access wasn't limited here.
She's also aware of the rumors spreading online as well as the speculations surrounding them. She wouldn't lie and say that she wasn't tempted because she truly was. Even if the majority of the rumors spreading online turn out to be false, the sheer idea of joining the festivities and competing with the rising stars of the current era sounded like a dream to her.
Isabella might look cold and detached on the outside, but she also has pride. With her achievents, nobody could deny that she's one of the future pillars of humanity as well.
"I think that joining the tournant is good for you." Her friend chirped on the side again. "Honestly, you need to go out more, Bella. You can't lock yourself up in this attic forever."
"I understand that you love the north and this secret realm a lot; I do too. But if you imprison yourself here, you'd never have a boyfriend!"
Isabella's expression darkened imdiately after hearing the last part of her friends admonishnt. She glared at her, and her friend shrunk her neck in fear.
"Okay, I went too far. Sorry." She replied, "Though my words hurt, it's because it's the truth. Bella, you can't waste your beauty like that! It's a sin! A sin, I tell you!"
"Get out!" Isabella growled at her.
"Bleh!"
Her friend stuck her tongue out at her before leaving the room in a flash. Looking at the doors that just went shut, Isabella just sighed in defeat. Honestly, that friend is just too mischievous and naughty.
Isabella ignored the 'boyfriend search' matter and focused on the pros and cons of joining the tournant.
She has reached the peak of the Planar Traveler Realm already, and she's just a shy step away from reaching the next realm, which is the Planetary Warrior Realm. Technically, this should still fit the requirents to register for the tournant.
What concerns her is that her participation might appear to be bullying the young. Because, as you see, even though Isabella remains a planar traveler, her might was actually greater than that.
In terms of the Water and Ice Laws alone, if Isabella says that she's in second place, then nobody would dare claim first place. Cedric doesn't count, of course.
What Isabella hates the most is excessive public attention. She already suffers from it because of her appearance, and it's also the reason behind her withdrawn personality. She prefers silence and peace the most, hence why she's often found in places where there is little to no public traffic. It's also the reason why she loves the north and this secret room in this secret realm so much.
That friend earlier was, in fact, not human. Her na was White Feather—a fierce beast in the shape of a snow owl who gained sentience and beca Isabella's familiar. It's only because of her connection with it that she's able to tolerate its yapping.
Isabella continued to weigh her options until she got tired of thinking. In the end, she remained undecided and left herself to think about it again tomorrow.
She made herself so food, showered, changed into a fresh set of comfortable sky blue pajamas, and went to bed. White Feather appeared out of nowhere and imdiately turned into a furry plushie that she could hug in her sleep.
As she gradually fell into a deep slumber, her last thoughts were about a certain golden-haired and golden-eyed man radiating with unparalleled brilliance that could compete with the sun itself.
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