C10 Pinnacle

6 years ago, Cloud was in the kitchen, helping his mother to cook while laughing and discussing with her.

"You really inherited my stubbornness and determination, didn't you?" Marida asked while smiling with her eyes closed, "Well, looks like it is genetic, after all."

"It cannot be helped, mother!" Cloud said while smiling.

"So, since you so are determined about becoming the greatest; Tell me, what does it mean to become the greatest?" Marida asked.

"Being the greatest means being the strongest." Cloud said, "Isn't it how it has always been?"

"Wrong." Marida replied, "Being the greatest doesn't make you the strongest, neither does being the strongest make you the greatest; These are two different things that one has to be careful about if they are going to follow such path. Do not forget that, Cloud."

Current Cloud woke from his sleep and sat up on his mat.

"Being the greatest doesn't make you the strongest." Cloud's mother's voice replayed in his head

"What were you trying to say, mother?" Cloud asked within himself, "This life... Isn't it based on who is stronger? The founders of Agaroth, weren't they considered as greats? It was 6 years ago, you told me this but up till now, i still can't comprehend what you were talking about.."

Cloud closed his eyes and sighed.

"More importantly... What was Zotek talking about?"

A flashback occurs a few days ago, in the infirmary as Cloud sat on his bed while discussing with Zotek, who happened to be standing with his arms crossed.

"Zera said that during your 'training' with her, you were faster and stronger than a minor; It was as if you could compete with a kan user, not to mention that you were healing on your own after your little incident with Van." Zotek said, "There's been a lot of strange things going on with you, which brings me to a conclusion... The Stormwinds weren't as powerless as perceived..."

Minutes later as Cloud was washing his face in a stream, Cloud stared at the Omega marks on his palms and it began to glow.

"Do i truly posses Kan?" Cloud asked within himself " Even Sting said the same thing about me, but i dismissed it because i didn't think it was possible..."

Another flashback occurs as Zotek opens the door to walk away from the infirmary but halts as he began to face the ground.

"I know this doesn't make any sense." Zotek said, "The Stormwind were never among those that received Kan but with the current situation of Agaroth and the other races, this leaves two options:

Either the Stormwind did receive Kan but it was dormant or what's happening to you is the same situation that Agaroth and the other races are facing."

"Situation? ... What situation?" Cloud asked.

"Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough..." Zotek said, "... If you become a pilgrim, that is..."

"What was he talking about?" Cloud asked within himself after recalling the conversation, "I am aware that humans weren't the only ones that possesses kan but why did Zotek make it seem as if something was completely wrong? More importantly, were my parents aware of me possessing kan? Could it be why my hair is white? I mean, I've read about kan altering the appearance of one, such as the Ripars and the Graundars color of skin; The Tenplars pointy ears, the Dreygars eyes ... And canine teeth.. and even the blue markings on the bodies of the Kenars.

Kan really does alters a lot. It even alters the eye color of everyone that possesses it, but it was never recorded that it altered the color of hair. Maybe mine is different... But why were they trying to hide it from me and the others? Isn't this a good thing?"

"You'll find out soon enough... If you become a pilgrim, that is..." Zotek's voice replayed in Cloud's head.

"Right!" Cloud said within himself with a smile, "I need answers and if I'm going to get these answers on what is going on, then i need to succeed in the tournament and-"

Cloud suddenly halts as he noted an unusual movement in a shrub and moves towards it, out of curiosity. To his surprise, he spots two frogs hugging each other while giggling.

"I've got your nose." The female frog said as she pokes the nose of the other frog.

"No, I've got your nose." The male frog said as he pokes the female frog's nose.

Cloud stares at the frogs with a wtf face and the female frog spots Cloud and screams.

"Darling, there is a rude boy that came here to peep at us!!"

The male frog turns around and glared at Cloud.

"You there! Don't you have any manners?!" The male frog asked.

"Uh... I'm sorry, i didn't mean to-"

"You think you can just waltz in here and get a free show?!" The male frog cuts in on Cloud.

"Wait! This is a misunderstanding! I didn't mean to-"

"Well, let me tell you something, boy...!" The male frog interrupts, again.

"You're already dead..." The male frog said as he points his finger towards Cloud.

"What?" Cloud asked in shock.

The male frog began to scream as it's green skin turned yellow while transforming into an extremely muscular version of itself.

"Huh?!" Cloud said with a shocked wtf face.

The frog quickly leaps towards Cloud and hurls his fist at him which created a strong wind pressure shockwave that moved across the forest.

Meanwhile, at Leorona's tent, Zotek and Leorona were sitting on a mat while discussing with each other.

"When you went to check up on Cloud, a few days ago, i assumed that you must have learnt something from the whitehead." Leorona said, "Tell me, what did you learn?"

"Not much." Zotek replied, "As of right now, I'm still unable to tell if his tribe is a late bloomer or could it be one of the situations, we are facing in Agaroth."

"I'd go for late bloomer." Leorona said, "Think about it, if his tribe did have kan and it was dormant, it would make more sense that the enemy that wiped out the Dreygar tribe, would also wipe out the Stormwind. I mean, the Dreygar tribe is the strongest in Agaroth, why would the enemy that was powerful enough to wipe out the Dreygars, bother about wiping out a few low leveled tribes, unless..."

"Unless they detected a massive threat among the minor tribes..." Zotek said, "However, that might not be the case. Remember, Chief Akuro of the Kenar tribe, revealed that he has been having a dream for a months, concerning Agaroth being wiped out completely from the face of the earth; Both major and minor. None was spared. Perhaps they decided to make a statement that no one is safe, which could be why they chose to wipe them out.

Plus, don't forget what's going on with the other minor tribes. Cloud's situation could be the same with theirs."

"So you think the Stormwinds are-"

"I don't know." Zotek cuts in, "I'm not sure. That is why we must keep our minds open to all possibilities if we're to survive, understood?"

Leorona smiles and nods her head in agreement with Zotek.

"Cloud of the Stormwind." Zotek said within himself, " I don't know who you are or what's going on with you but what i do know is that this tournament will definitely open my eyes to your mysteries. Until then, I'll just have to wait."

Meanwhile, Van, who happened to be walking alone, halts as he spots 3 students, sitting on the ground and surrounding a firewood while roasting meat as they were discussing together.

"We only have two more days for the tournament to begin!" Idjra said, "Who do you think will come out on top, guys? My bet is on the whitehead."

"You're betting on Cloud?." A female student asked with a raised eyebrow, "Poor decision, yo."

"Huh? And do you say that, Yulin?" Idjra asked.

"It's common sense, Idjra." Yulin replied, "This is the tournament of Pilgrims. An event where those who have qualified will fight each other in a one on one battle until a winner emerges.

That whitehead might have made it this far, but you'll have to be dumb, if you truly believe that he even stands a chance against anyone.

Personally, i don't truly understand this concept of how they want to pick the junior elites, if it's just one person, they intend to take. And also, i find this tournament to be a complete waste of time."

"Waste of time?" A male student asked, "What are you talking about?"

"You really want me to spell it out for you, Hyle?" Yulin asked, "It is a waste of time. Have you forgotten that we have someone like Karma, who happens to be an S ranked Pilgrim candidate? What's the point of even trying against her? She's the strongest amongst us.

I was part of the group that banded against her, during the rumble but she defeated us with nothing but her glare! And you're telling me that they stand a chance against her?! You're trying to tell me that Cloud will come out on top?! Please, don't be ridiculous!

Have you forgotten about the list of people, she has destroyed?! She's destroyed Tan'r, Gilko, Pit, Sonia, Kein and so many other powerful students! And you're telling me that this isn't a waste of time? Gimme a break, would ya?! Oh, let's not forget about how she completely destroyed Van!"

"Yeah, you're right about those people." Hyle said, "But she hasn't beaten Onak, Dam or Govo. Plus, i still believe that even if Cloud doesn't win the tournament, he will still make it to the finals."

"Yeah, i still can't forget the Van incident." Idjra said while facing the ground, "It was so one-sided..."

A flashback occurs a few months ago as a bloodied Van was on all fours, struggling to stand; Karma walks towards Van and pushed his head to the ground with her foot while glaring coldly at the him.

After recalling that incident, Idjra clutches her arms and shudders.

"She's scary and crazy." Idjra said, "I think i agree with you, Yulin. Cloud doesn't stand a chance. Even if we remove Karma, it still won't make a difference for Cloud, because there is no way, he could defeat Dam, Pit, Govo or Onak in the semifinals... Especially Onak.

The guy is just as brutal as Karma, maybe even more brutal than her."

"This might sound stupid but i think Van might become a threat in this tournament." Hyle said, "I cannot forget how he demolished all of us, during that rumble. So much anger and bitterness..."

Hyle recalls as he opened his eyes and spots Van, whose eyes were glowing completely as he was covered in blood while standing in the midst of unconscious students.

"Even his fight between him and Raen of the Tenplar tribe was completely brutal..."

Another flashback occurs as Van was walking towards the bloodied Raen, who happened to be laying on the ground and groaning in pain.

"I-impossible..." Raen said weakly, "How can this be? I've beaten you, not once but twice; Even when your little lapdogs were-"

Van interrupts Raen with a brutal punch to her face and began to brutally pummel her with his fists until her hands began to shake severely and she loses consciousness.

"Make no mistake about it..." Hyle said after recalling that moment, "Van can be quite brutal at times but this... This was like a different version of him; A more brutal and more aggressive version."

"Wow, i wonder what could have made him like that?" Yulin asked sarcastically.

"Actually, from what I've heard, Van's friends tried to betray him, so I think that's w-" Idjra replied.

"Would you guys stop over hyping Van?!" Yulin cuts in, "Isn't he the same fool that Cloud outsmarted and won?! If they should cross paths in the tournament, Cloud will still outsmart his ass, again and win!"

"Is that so?" A masculine voice asked.

The three quickly turns around to see the person to be Van who happened to be glaring at them with his arms folded.

"Oh, Van...!" Yulin said nervously, "Uh, I'm not sure how much you heard but... Uh-".

"Oh, i heard everything." Van cuts in.

Van walks towards the group and sits in their midst.

"For those of you that are doubting my skills, let me clarify something... I'll be the one to make it to the top and become a pilgrim." Van said, "Its not a brag... It's a fact. And ever since, i got rid of those back stabbing rats, I've gotten a lot stronger than before.

I will crush them... I'll crush them all! Every last contestant! And I'll have my revenge on all those that have wronged and humiliated me! From Karma! Govo! Dam! .... Down to Cloud and Sting...!"

"You lost to a C ranked and a B+; Yet, you still have the face to talk?" Yulin asked within herself with a blank face. "This is why we should never do plants, man."

"You honestly think that you've gotten strong enough to deal with the likes of Karma, Onak and the others?" Hyle asked with a raised eyebrow.

Van extends both of his arms and engulfs them with lilac aura.

"Just Watch me." Van said as he bends his head sideways with a stoic expression.