The massive arena buzzed with anticipation as the floating screens displayed the upcoming group battles. The next trial was simple yet brutal—twenty participants per group, only three would advance.
This was a test of survival, adaptability, and raw skill. No alliances mattered here. Only the strong would move forward.
The first matches had already begun, with roars of battle filling the air as the fights unfolded.
On one of the massive stone platforms, the first group of twenty stepped forward, each standing apart as the runes around the arena flared to life. So fighters stretched, others remained still, and a few exchanged wary glances.
Among them were several notable figures, each with their own reputation or ambition.
Garrik Thornfist – A towering warrior wielding a pair of massive gauntlets, known for his brutal close-combat style.
Elaine Verris – A graceful dual-wielding swordswoman with a reputation for counterattacks.
Orion Cailus – A spear-wielding prodigy with unmatched agility.
Bastiel Raine – A cold, calculating fighter with ice-based techniques.
Raika Ferros – A beast-tar who had brought a shadow panther as her bonded companion.
Dain Varrow – A rugged brawler with the ability to absorb kinetic energy and release it explosively.
Masked Cultivator – A mysterious figure who had remained silent throughout the competition, their abilities still unknown.
The floating screens zood in, highlighting each participant as the announcer’s voice bood across the arena.
"Begin!"
The mont the battle started, the arena erupted into chaos.
So combatants imdiately clashed, while others hung back, gauging the battlefield.
Garrik Thornfist charged forward like an unstoppable force, his gauntlets glowing with energy as he delivered devastating punches that shattered the stone beneath him.
Elaine Verris sidestepped a reckless attack, smoothly slicing across her opponent’s arm before whirling into another strike. Her movents were sharp, efficient—each step calculated to conserve energy.
Orion Cailus twirled his spear, keeping multiple enemies at bay, striking with pinpoint accuracy. He knew stamina was key—wasting energy early would be a mistake.
Bastiel Raine remained calm at the edge of the battlefield. With a flick of his wrist, icy spears shot forward, forcing reckless opponents to slow their movents. "You move too fast, you die." His voice was cold.
Dain Varrow took blows intentionally, his body absorbing the force. The mont soone thought they had overpowered him, he released all the stored energy at once, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Survival of the Fittest
As the battle progressed, the weaker participants were picked off. So underestimated their foes and paid the price.
Raika Ferros commanded her shadow panther to weave through the chaos, striking from unexpected angles before vanishing into the shadows. She worked in sync with her beast, overwhelming distracted enemies.
The Masked Cultivator remained elusive, dodging instead of engaging, letting others exhaust themselves before striking with minimal effort.
Garrik’s relentless offense finally t resistance when he charged at Orion Cailus, who used precise spear thrusts to deflect the massive gauntlets before countering with a spinning kick to the jaw.
Bastiel Raine coated the ground in a thin layer of ice, making movent treacherous. He smirked as his enemies slipped, his cold precision picking them off one by one.
Dain Varrow faced off against Raika Ferros and her panther, taking its powerful strikes head-on. He grinned, absorbing the impact before slamming his fist into the ground, unleashing an explosive shockwave. The panther barely dodged, but the force knocked Raika off balance.
Elaine Verris was relentless, parrying a blade strike before twisting her body, slicing her opponent’s leg and forcing them to forfeit.
One by one, fighters fell, either unconscious or yielding.
The Final Contenders
By the final stretch, only five remained:
Orion Cailus, still holding his spear, though his breathing was heavier.
Bastiel Raine, standing amidst the frozen battlefield, his eyes calculating.
Dain Varrow, his body radiating built-up energy.
Raika Ferros, bloodied but standing firm.
Masked Cultivator, still unreadable.
They all knew—only three would advance.
Without hesitation, Bastiel made his move. A freezing mist spread across the arena, lowering visibility while sharpening his attacks.
Dain countered by slamming his foot into the ground, sending a kinetic wave that shattered the ice and forced Bastiel back.
Raika, despite her injuries, moved swiftly, using her panther as a distraction to land a precise strike on Orion—only for Orion to spin and knock her out cold with the blunt end of his spear.
Raika Ferros eliminated.
Dain grinned, launching his full-powered strike at Bastiel, aiming to end it in one blow.
But Bastiel had anticipated it. Just before impact, he froze the very air between them, causing Dain’s energy to explode prematurely. The resulting backlash sent Dain flying.
Dain Varrow eliminated.
Now, only three remained—Orion Cailus, Bastiel Raine, and the Masked Cultivator.
Seeing the outco, Orion exhaled and lowered his spear slightly, while Bastiel simply gave a knowing smirk.
The Masked Cultivator, as before, said nothing.
Winners Declared
The arena fell silent as the final results were displayed.
"Orion Cailus, Bastiel Raine, and...... the Masked Cultivator—advance to the next round!"
The crowd erupted into cheers as the victors stood amidst the battlefield, each of them aware that the real challenge was still ahead.
This was only the beginning.
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