The journey to Rome was done through the Paragon Realm. That much made sense. The Paragon Battle Royale tournament was going to be held there, after all. There was no reason to use any other route.
A few hours later, the Wyndham family arrived.
From the Paragon Realm's side, the Colosseum looked unchanged. Time hadn't softened it. The ancient arena still stood tall, scarred and weathered, yet unbroken. Old stone. Heavy presence. It felt like history refusing to fall.
Outside the Colosseum, the place was already alive.
Clans had gathered from every direction—large ones, small ones, powerful names, forgotten bloodlines. The air buzzed with movement, voices, and pressure. Too much pressure.
The entire Wyndham family paused, caught off guard by the sight.
Alex, in particular, stood still.
He wasn't stunned by the people. Not the numbers. Not even the presence they carried.
What caught him was how they arrived.
He had expected luxury cars. Armored convoys. Maybe high-end tech transports.
Instead, he saw beasts.
Massive ones.
Creatures of all shapes and sizes lined the open grounds. Some walked. Some crawled. Some flew low before landing. Their handlers sat proudly on their backs, showing no effort in hiding their strength.
One group arrived riding scaled wolves, their claws digging into the stone. Another clan rode horned lizards that hissed at anyone who came too close.
Then Alex saw it.
A man riding a massive burg.
The creature's body was thick and muscular, its shell layered and rough. Each step shook the ground slightly as it moved forward, its rider sitting tall, fearless. It wasn't subtle. It was a statement.
Alex stared.
'So this is how they show power,' he thought.
Before he could look away, a sharp screech ripped through the air. Loud. Piercing. Like the cry of an eagle tearing the sky open.
The noise echoed.
Heads snapped upward all at once.
Not just the Wyndhams—several clans paused and looked to the sky, eyes narrowing as they searched for the source of the sound.
High above, a massive shadow crossed the sky.
It was a beast—an eagle's head and wide wings, a lion's mane flowing around its neck, and a powerful body to match. Its presence alone pressed down on the ground below.
A Griffin.
Not just one.
Several of them dove from the sky, wings beating hard as they descended. Each landing came with a violent rush of wind, dust and loose stones scattering as the beasts touched down in an open area near the Colosseum.
"The Tamers," Lucius said calmly.
"They're a clan that studies beasts and looks for ways to tame them… even turn them into companions," he added, watching closely as figures climbed down from the Griffins' backs.
The members all wore green robes, the fabric marked with intricate patterns that hinted at beast markings and old symbols.
"They're a high clan," Lucius said.
While most clans remained outside, observing and sizing one another up, four elderly men from the Tamers walked straight toward the Colosseum entrance. Their steps were steady. Their posture calm. Confidence and pride followed them like a second skin.
They were stopped at the gate.
Only for a moment.
Soon after, they were allowed in without delay. The elders didn't spare a glance for the other clans waiting outside. No greetings. No words. They simply entered.
Meanwhile, arrivals continued.
More clans came. More figures gathered. The numbers kept climbing.
"Even though this event isn't open to the public, there are more people than expected," John said, his gaze sweeping across the crowded grounds.
"I'm not the only one who can dig up hidden information," Lucius replied. "Some clans that weren't invited likely heard about this place early. They moved fast and organized themselves before anyone could stop them."
"With more uninvited guests showing up, trouble is bound to start," John said, his tone low and cautious.
"The best thing we can do now is get inside the Colosseum," he added after a brief pause.
Lucius didn't argue. He didn't even nod. His silence was agreement enough.
Just like that, the group began moving toward the Colosseum entrance.
At the front stood a massive, ornate door, polished and carefully crafted. Behind it hovered a glowing circular formation, pulsing softly with light. It was obvious what it was.
A portal.
Anyone who passed through it would be sent directly inside the Colosseum.
Two large guards stood at the checkpoint before the door. Their builds were thick and solid, their expressions hard. They didn't look like men you argued with twice.
As the Wyndhams approached, attention shifted.
Heads turned.
Whispers followed.
One reason was simple—no one else was moving toward the entrance at the moment. The second was just as obvious. Most of the clans didn't recognize them.
"Who are those people?" someone asked quietly.
"I don't know. Probably another uninvited clan," another replied.
"If they're uninvited, don't they know they're not allowed to enter?" a third voice chimed in.
A man nearby scoffed. "Yeah… it happens every year. Some clan thinks they're special, thinks the rules don't apply to them."
He shook his head slightly.
"It always ends the same way. They get beaten down. Sometimes, they don't even make it out alive."
"That's not all. These people have eight participants."
The words spread fast.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as more eyes turned toward the Wyndhams. Attention locked onto them, sharp and curious, some of it already hostile.
Even so, the Wyndhams didn't slow down. They kept moving and soon stood right in front of the two guards at the entrance.
"State your clan," one of the guards said, his voice flat and firm.
"We are the Wyndham clan," John replied, his tone steady and confident.
The guard didn't flinch. He didn't turn to any record or device. He didn't even hesitate.
"Your names are not on the invite list," the guard said at once.
'He didn't even check anything. He just said that,' Alex noticed, watching the exchange closely.
The guard wasn't finished.
"If you obtained an invitation from a fallen clan, present it now," he continued, his expression unchanged.
John froze. Words failed him. He didn't know what to say next and instinctively turned toward Lucius.
Lucius stepped forward.
"We don't have an invitation, but—"
"Step back!" the guard barked suddenly, his body tensing as killing intent leaked out, clear and direct.
The air shifted.
The moment turned sharp.
And several people in the crowd leaned forward, eager to see what would happen next.
The guard's aura burst outward.
It flared hard, sharp, and heavy, making his cultivation clear. Stage 6. No attempt to hide it anymore.
The pressure rolled across the entrance.
The crowd reacted at once. Gasps broke out. A few people took quick steps back, putting distance between themselves and the guards. No one wanted to be caught in the middle if things turned violent.
Lucius, however, smiled.
"Don't be in such a hurry to do what you want to do," he said calmly.
Something flickered in his palm.
In one smooth motion, Lucius brought it up and held it out in front of the guard.
Almost immediately, the guard's aura wavered. The pressure weakened. His eyes locked onto whatever Lucius was holding, his earlier aggression draining away.
"That… that can't be real, right?" the guard said, his voice losing its edge.
"I'm sure you have a way to verify it," Lucius replied evenly.
From the side, Alex tried to see what was in Lucius's hand. But Lucius had positioned himself well. His body blocked the view, making sure only the two guards standing before him could see the item.
'What is he holding?' Alex wondered.
'I know the Wyndhams didn't have an invitation,' he thought. 'But whatever Lucius is doing… it's working. This might actually get us into the tournament.'
Alex wasn't the only one watching closely.
The onlookers were just as curious, their attention fully locked on the scene unfolding at the gate.
One second, it looked like the guard was about to strike Lucius.
The next, his posture changed.
The aggression vanished, replaced by restraint—then respect.
Confusion spread immediately.
"What's going on over there?" someone asked aloud.
More people began drifting toward the entrance, curiosity pulling them closer. Lucius noticed it at once.
'I shouldn't use this out in the open… but this is the only way,' he thought, keeping his expression calm.
Before the crowd could close in, a sudden uproar erupted from the rear.
The shout was loud. Sharp. Impossible to ignore.
Heads turned all at once.
In the very next moment, movement followed. People started pushing toward the source of the noise, abandoning the entrance and leaving Lucius where he stood.
Lucius released a quiet, knowing sigh.
Alex caught it.
Meanwhile, the guard seemed to snap out of his stunned state. He straightened and spoke to Lucius again.
"Follow me," he said, his tone noticeably more respectful this time.
Lucius didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and followed the guard, leaving John and the others behind.
Alex's eyes tracked Lucius's hand as he moved, trying to catch even a glimpse of what he was holding. He strained, focusing hard.
Nothing.
Not even with his Gold Eyes could he see it.
---
Meanwhile, the noise that had pulled everyone's attention away from the Wyndhams came into focus.
A large crowd gathered, all staring upward.
At first, the sky was empty.
Then it wobbled.
The air rippled, and an image flickered into view. The outline sharpened, growing solid as a massive floating ship emerged above them.
It hovered silently.
Beneath the ship, bright LED panels glowed to life, displaying bold letters that pulsed with light.
Synapse Circle.
The name hung in the air.
And just like that, the atmosphere shifted again.