Lightning Dojo.
Ellia raised her head. Even though it was called a dojo, it actually covered an entire neighborhood.
There were houses for disciples to focus on their studies. There were all kinds of training facilities around the area.
It looked like a smaller-scale version of Grand Magica College. In fact, the place itself could rival some smaller institutions.
Still, there was one thing that stood out in this place. Most of the facilities were related to the lightning element.
That was right. True to its name, the Lightning Dojo had only one rule. It only accepted people who awakened a lightning-element avatar.
If one looked left and right, they would find people using their lightning-element abilities.
The butler who was driving the car glanced at the rearview mirror before asking carefully, "Miss, may I know why you are coming here?"
Ellia crossed her arms while looking out the window. "To slap the Lightning Emperor in the face."
"That's…" The butler smiled wryly.
"Don't you know my character already? I have never done anything meaningless."
"Indeed. However, Miss, I'm just worried that the Lightning Emperor might do something. I might be able to protect you, but if we clash directly with the Lightning Emperor, I am not sure about the damage we will have to endure this time."
"I am fully aware of the risk. However, the Lightning Emperor can grow his dojo this far due to his wisdom. If he focuses solely on the pursuit of strength, this neighborhood won't exist."
The way Ellia answered felt as though she had already simulated what would happen next.
The butler couldn't say anything back, but he was still worried about her. "Why are you doing this? I don't think the Lightning Emperor has messed with us, right?"
"I'd choose not to answer. If you want to report the matter to grandfather, do whatever you want. But know that the moment you do it, you don't have to follow me around anymore."
"I've chosen to dedicate my life to you, Miss. However, your grandfather will probably find out sooner or later."
"It doesn't matter." Ellia shrugged.
"Well…" The butler sighed. "…in that case, we've arrived."
The main Lightning Dojo had finally come into view. The first thing she saw was a big paved road with fields on both sides. Several disciples were sparring with each other.
The butler opened the car door as Ellia emerged from the car.
The disciples in the fields couldn't help but turn around to see the guests, only to be taken aback by her beauty.
Ellia's beauty could be said to be on par with Auric's appearance, but that was because of the atmosphere around her.
Grace, confidence, calm, maturity, and depth. She felt like dark water in an open sea, silent but deadly.
Suddenly, a silhouette leaped into the sky and landed in front of her.
"Are you perhaps Ellia Stroph?" The middle-aged man raised his hand, stopping her.
"I have notified you about my arrival," Ellia stated to confirm. She had to do it so that the other party wouldn't use it as a sorry excuse, such as claiming she came uninvited.
"Of course." The middle-aged man nodded calmly. "The Lightning Emperor is waiting for you. Please follow me."
The man guided her along the paved road. The Lightning Dojo was located much deeper inside.
She had to go through the small wooded area where the disciples trained before the massive dojo came into view.
The dojo itself was a grand structure. It only had one floor, but it was taller than a three-story building.
With tall windows around the entrance, the building had been renovated to match the modern design.
The man guided her to the left side of the building where the Lightning Emperor resided.
The grand hall was practically empty. There were no pillars or decorations. In fact, there were some cracks around, showing the sign that the room was frequently damaged.
On the opposite side of the hall stood the Lightning Emperor. His eyes were closed, but his lightning crackled violently around him.
A small spot on the ground was struck by lightning, leaving a crack.
As if noticing Ellia's presence, the Lightning Emperor gradually opened his eyes while suppressing his lightning.
"To think that Ellia Stroph would actually grace my dojo with her presence."
Ellia narrowed her eyes. The Lightning Emperor was a man in his forties. He had a big, muscular build. He wore long white pants and an unbuttoned shirt as if he were trying to showcase his muscles.
His long, spiky hair made his appearance even wilder.
Yet, despite such an appearance, his speech was filled with politeness.
Ellia placed one hand on her chest and bowed politely. "I am Ellia Stroph Astler. It is a pleasure to meet the Lightning Emperor. Thank you for allowing me to come here."
"It looks like my choice was right. You are someone who has a unique element. I never thought you would be able to evolve your avatar to the juvenile form so quickly."
It was normal for someone with a unique element to evolve slowly, as they had to be extra careful near the evolution phase.
Even with the S-grade affinity, she would face the same problem.
"I got lucky."
"Luck is also a part of strength." The Lightning Emperor stepped forward. "Just call me Uncle."
"I don't think that's appropriate," Ellia politely declined.
"Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. But isn't that the reason you came here? I don't think my place will be visited by someone like you unless you are here to propose an alliance or maybe a marriage?"
The Lightning Emperor couldn't think of any other reasons no matter how much he thought about it. "Have you fancied my new disciple? Simon has an S-grade lightning element, which is also an extreme variant. So, I'm sure he is worthy of you. Call Simon here so we can have a chat together."
Ellia watched the middle-aged man leave before speaking. "The reason for my visit is indeed related to the person you mentioned. However, it's not the way you think it is."
The Lightning Emperor's calm face turned serious. "What do you mean? Has my disciple troubled you in any way?"
"Not me, directly." Ellia also turned solemn. "In this era, all people have the same starting position. Only talent sets us apart from others. It's precisely because of that talent that this happens."
"You are treading on very dangerous ground. I don't take insults very kindly."
"This is not an insult. It is a reminder. Maybe a piece of advice if the elder takes a young woman like me seriously."
The Lightning Emperor narrowed his eyes. "Okay. But let me make myself clear. If it's not as you say, you know what I will do, right?"
Ellia smiled. She knew the Lightning Emperor wouldn't jump to conclusions and protect everything blindly. That was why she confidently came here.
"You should restrain your disciple a bit more. Do you know whom he has provoked?"
"He can provoke anyone." The Lightning Emperor sounded arrogant, but the meaning changed after he added, "But just because he is my disciple doesn't mean he gets a free provocation card to anyone. So, you say you've been wronged in some way?"
"Not me directly, as I said." Ellia lifted the document she had been carrying all along. She used her ability to send the document to the Lightning Emperor.
The Lightning Emperor grabbed it and saw the picture of Auric.
"Who is this Auric Elfe? A nobody?"
"That nobody is the youngest evolution master in this city. His speed? Just two days after awakening."
"!!!" The Lightning Emperor was startled. This was a piece of information he had never heard before.
"Your disciple tried to mess with his shop because of his ego—I mean, his 'strong character'." Ellia shrugged. "You can find his information pretty quickly if you put any effort into it. However, the association seems to be hiding his information. I think you know what this means, right?"
The Lightning Emperor couldn't say anything. Of course, he knew.
Ellia explained, "With that kind of talent, it won't be that hard for him to become a gold-grade, no, even diamond-grade master. If the association reveals that information to the headquarters, some elders might take a fancy to him."
The Lightning Emperor's body was trembling. Even the butler finally realized where Ellia's confidence came from. He knew nothing about Auric.
"I am reminding you because the situation hasn't reached the point of no return. At the same time, I'm also reminding you that this person is under my protection. If you touch him personally, I will take action directly."
The Lightning Emperor had a full grasp of why Ellia came here personally.
"What do you want?" The Lightning Emperor asked.
"Compensation. Not for me, but for him." Ellia smiled as if her plan had succeeded. "I'm giving you an opportunity to mend this relationship before it's too late. If I'm right about his character, he won't mind it unless your disciple crosses the line. But I can assure you that he's not a pushover."
The Lightning Emperor's body began to shake. He never thought he would be blackmailed by someone so young. And it was on a matter he knew nothing about.
"I only said this because I respect you as an elder. Anyway, I have said my piece, so I'll take my leave." Ellia didn't bother waiting for the Lightning Emperor's reaction as she walked out of the room.
The Lightning Emperor was gnashing his teeth, but at the same time, he was helpless, as if he knew what would have happened if Ellia hadn't come to warn him.
He was a brave man who had fought on countless battlefields. Yet, he was shaken because of a threat from a young girl like her. It was more than satisfying for Ellia.
But her true target was not him. The reason she waited until the middle-aged man exited the room was because she wanted him to bring Simon.
As she expected, the moment she exited the building, she saw Simon coming in.
"Oh my. Miss Ellia." Simon raised his head and bowed like a gentleman. "It is my honor to be graced with your presence. I am someone who—"
The excessive greeting from Simon just made Ellia want to cut him off. Ellia interjected, "No need to say anything. I don't like little boys like you, who flaunt every little thing you have like a baby."
Simon froze, but he hurriedly recovered. "I—"
Unfortunately for him, Ellia cut him off again. "Let me tell you something. The little thing you did. I hope it won't come back to haunt you.
"Let's see. If I want, I can disassemble the entire Lightning Dojo. Just by getting banned from the association alone can render your master unable to evolve his avatar further. And if that ban is extended to all the disciples here just because of one person, I wonder how they will feel?"
Simon's body shook.
"What? You're not going to run your mouth anymore? Well, I wonder what the Lightning Emperor will choose—the entire dojo that he has built over his entire life or a newly accepted disciple. You may be talented, but I wonder whether you're talented enough that he can abandon the entire Lightning Dojo or not."
It was not a question. It was a direct threat to Simon.
"You…"
"You what?" Ellia scoffed. "You can think people are unworthy of you, but what makes you think you're worthy of me? Your talent? I know that my talent is at least equal to, if not stronger than, yours. Your appearance? I know one person who is much more handsome than you, and I bet you know him too.
"What next? Other than your talent, what else can you show me? Attitude, none. Intellect? You don't even know what you're doing right now."
When Ellia gave that clue, he realized she had come here because of Auric. His body was shaking, and his face was red with shame.
He looked like he wanted to shout back to her, but there was nothing he could do but swallow it.
Ellia simply patted Simon on the shoulder and walked away. "Goodbye, little boy."
As she walked away, Simon dropped to his knees and coughed heavily.