Cassia Mordren stood atop a cliff overlooking a valley thick with creatures, her silver hair catching the filtered sunlight that managed to penetrate the forest canopy. At twenty-three, she was one of the older participants, and the years of military training showed in every controlled movement as she surveyed the battlefield below.
Behind her, her team of five moved into position without needing orders. All from the same academy , all trained together for years, all understanding their roles with the kind of precision that only came from countless drills and real combat experience.
"Target assessment," Cassia said, her voice carrying quiet authority.
Thora stepped forward, her enhanced vision analyzing the valley. "Forty-seven creatures total. Thirty-two D-rank, twelve C-rank, three B-rank. All concentrated around what looks like a collapsed dungeon entrance. They're fighting each other for territory."
"Perfect," Cassia said. "Standard suppression formation. Kellen and Marris on defensive perimeter in case anything breaks containment. Thora and Javik, primary elimination on my mark. Senna, coordinate healing and buffs. Rys, crowd control when I signal."
They moved into position with practiced efficiency. No wasted motion. No hesitation. Just the smooth coordination of a well-oiled machine.
Cassia's S-rank Gravity Manipulation talent flared to life. Her eyes shifted to a deep purple as mana flooded through her channels, and she extended her will outward like an invisible net spreading across the valley below.
The air itself seemed to thicken, reality bending to her command. And then every creature in a hundred-meter radius suddenly weighed ten times their normal mass.
The effect was immediate and devastating. D-rank creatures collapsed under their own weight, their legs buckling as bones cracked from stress they weren't built to handle. C-ranks struggled, managing to stay upright but unable to move more than a crawl. Even the three B-ranks were pinned, their enhanced strength allowing resistance but not escape.
"Execute," Cassia commanded.
Thora's hands crackled with lightning as she thrust them forward. Bolts of electricity rained down from above, each one guided by her A-rank Lightning Manipulation to find vital points with surgical precision. D-ranks died instantly, their bodies unable to handle the electrical overload. C-ranks lasted slightly longer but not much. The lightning found hearts, found brains, found the clusters of nerves that controlled motor function.
Javik's bow sang as enhanced arrows flew in rapid succession, each one punching through skulls and hearts with the force of ballistic projectiles. His B-rank Enhanced Archery talent meant every shot hit exactly where he aimed, and he aimed for kills.
Rys added wind manipulation to the carnage, creating localized tornadoes that shredded anything still trying to escape. The wind carried creatures into the lightning, into the arrows, into the crushing gravity that made movement impossible.
Senna maintained her position at the rear, her healing talent on standby in case anyone took damage, her buff abilities enhancing the team's coordination and reaction speeds by fifteen percent. She wasn't flashy, but she made everyone else more effective.
The valley became a killing field. Creatures died by the dozens, unable to defend themselves, unable to flee, unable to do anything but experience their own deaths in slow motion as gravity pinned them and death rained from above.
The three B-ranks lasted longest, their enhanced durability and mana reserves letting them resist more damage. But even they couldn't withstand the focused assault. Thora's lightning eventually found the gaps in their natural armor. Javik's arrows eventually punched through their thick hides. And the gravity never relented, never gave them a chance to mount any real resistance.
When it ended, forty-seven corpses littered the valley floor.
Cassia released her gravity manipulation and checked her watch.
POINTS: 2,847
CURRENT RANK: 4
"Two minutes forty-three seconds," she said, her tone suggesting this was barely acceptable. "We can do better. Move to the next concentration. I want to break top five hundred before the day ends."
Her team fell in behind her without complaint. They'd known when they signed up that Cassia's standards were brutal. But she got results, and in a tournament where only ten thousand out of two million would advance, results were all that mattered.
...
..
At the same time , Western Mountains
Darius Kane's warhammer came down on a C-rank Stonehide's shell with enough force to create a small crater in the mountain path. The shell shattered like glass, and the creature's body pulverized under the impact. Blood and viscera exploded outward in a spray that painted the surrounding rocks red.
"YEAH!" Darius roared, spinning the massive warhammer like it weighed nothing. "That's what I'm talking about!"
At nineteen, Darius was built like a fortress given human form. Two meters tall, shoulders broad enough to block a doorway, muscles that strained against his golden armor with every movement. His talent was S-rank Enhanced Strength, but House Valorian's investment in his training had pushed that raw power to levels that bordered on absurd.
Three more Stonehides charged up the mountain path, their thick legs churning as they built momentum. Each one weighed at least a ton, all muscle and armored hide and territorial aggression.
Darius met their charge with a laugh.
His warhammer swung horizontally, lightning crackling along its length as enchantments activated. The weapon caught the first Stonehide in the ribs with a sound like thunder, and the creature's entire side caved in. It flew sideways off the mountain path, tumbling two hundred meters before hitting the forest canopy below.
The second Stonehide tried to ram him. Darius planted his feet, dropped his hammer, and caught the creature's charge with his bare hands. His muscles bulged as he stopped a ton of momentum dead, boots scraping backward through stone but holding position. Then he lifted the creature over his head and threw it into the third Stonehide like a projectile.
Both creatures tumbled down the mountain in a tangle of limbs and confused roaring.
Darius retrieved his hammer and checked his watch.
POINTS: 4,847
CURRENT RANK: 1
"Still number one!" He pumped his fist in triumph, grinning like a madman.
After looking around and spotting no other monsters nearby, he broke into a run, his massive frame moving with surprising speed as stone cracked under his boots. The mountain path trembled with each step, small rocks tumbling loose from the impacts.
Ahead, he could sense them. More creatures. More points. More opportunities to prove he was the strongest fighter in this entire tournament.
Darius grinned and picked up speed.
----------------------
Hour Three, Commentator Stations, Arena District
"And Darius Kane maintains his position at the top of the leaderboard!" Lead Commentator Theron's voice boomed across the feeds, his enthusiasm genuine and infectious. "Four thousand eight hundred forty-seven points! The raw power on display is absolutely staggering!"
His co-commentator Lyra nodded, her bright blue hair bouncing with the motion. "He's averaging over two thousand points per hour, which is an incredible pace for the elimination round. And look at his efficiency! Every kill is brutal but clean. No wasted movement, no unnecessary risks."
The feed showed Darius throwing a Stonehide off a mountain, and the arena crowd responded with appropriate cheers and gasps.
"But let's not forget about Cassia Mordren!" another commentator chimed in from a different station. "Participant 1,234 is demonstrating exactly why their sector produces the empire's finest military officers! That gravity manipulation is devastating when combined with her team's coordination!"
The feed switched to show Cassia's valley massacre, replaying it from multiple angles. The crowd made appreciative sounds as creatures were systematically eliminated with military precision.
"Currently sitting at rank four with two thousand eight hundred forty-seven points," the commentator continued. "And based on their movement patterns, they're heading toward another high-density area. We could see her break into top three within the hour!"
Across dozens of commentary booths, awakeners-turned-analysts provided running breakdowns of techniques, talent applications, and strategic decisions. Some focused on individual fighters, dissecting every move and explaining the theory behind various combat styles. Others analyzed group dynamics, discussing how teams coordinated and where their synergies created advantages. A few specialized in identifying upcoming talents before they hit mainstream feeds, trying to spot the next big prospect before everyone else.
"Keep your eyes on participant 45,677," one analyst said, highlighting a young woman with crystalline constructs. The feed showed her creating elaborate defensive structures while her companion attacked from safety. "She's only seventeen but her talent control is exceptional. A-rank Crystal Manipulation at that age is rare, and she's using it with the kind of precision you normally only see from awakeners ten years older. If she makes top thousand, every major academy will be fighting to recruit her."
"And participant 88,302!" another analyst added excitedly. "He came out of nowhere! Literally nowhere! House Mordian wasn't even expecting him to break top ten thousand, but look at him now! Rank five with two thousand seven hundred ninety-one points and climbing! His shadow manipulation is incredibly refined for someone his age!"
The rankings continued to populate across all the displays:
1. PARTICIPANT 847 - 4,847 POINTS
2. PARTICIPANT 12,094 - 3,912 POINTS
3. PARTICIPANT 7,621 - 3,701 POINTS
4. PARTICIPANT 1,234 - 2,847 POINTS
5. PARTICIPANT 88,302 - 2,791 POINTS
And thousands more below them, all climbing at various rates as two million participants scrambled for advancement slots.
"The top thousand threshold is currently at one thousand two hundred twenty-three points and climbing rapidly," Theron announced. "Which means if you're not accumulating at least five hundred points per hour, you're already falling behind! The competition is absolutely fierce!"
---
Hour Three, Arena Private Boxes
The observation boxes overlooking the main arena were filled with representatives from across the empire, all watching the feeds with professional interest and taking notes on potential recruits.
In the Silverpeak Academy box, three scouts sat around a holographic display showing multiple feeds simultaneously.
"Cassia is performing exactly as expected," one scout said, making notes on her datapad. "Military precision, excellent leadership, strong tactical awareness. She's everything we should be investing in developing."
"Agreed," another scout added. "But look at participant 45,677. That crystal manipulation is exceptional. If she survives the elimination round, we need to make an offer before House Mordian swoops in."
"They will swoop," the third scout warned. "House Mordian has been trying to expand their awakener roster for years. They'll throw money at anyone with A-rank talent or higher."
"Then we offer training and connections, not just credits. Emphasize our track record. Silverpeak graduates lead military units, command fleets, hold positions of real authority. House Mordian can offer wealth, but we offer purpose."
"Flag her file as priority recruitment. Send preliminary assessment to the board."
Similar conversations were happening in dozens of boxes throughout the arena district. The Stormbreaker Guild was watching for combat specialists, flagging anyone who demonstrated exceptional fighting instincts or unusual techniques. The Merchant Coalition was tracking participants with utility talents that could be valuable for trade and logistics. The Research Collective was noting anyone with rare or unusual abilities that warranted further study.
In one box, a representative from the Imperial Intelligence Bureau watched the feeds with particular interest, not looking for recruits but for potential threats. Awakeners with dangerous talents, participants from politically problematic families, anyone who might cause issues for imperial stability down the line.
The tournament was many things to many people. Entertainment for the masses. Opportunity for the participants. But for those watching from the private boxes, it was primarily business.
---
Hour Three, Nexarion Section
Lio checked his datapad again, pulling up Jade's participant number for what had to be the twentieth time in the past hour.
PARTICIPANT 847,392
CURRENT RANK: 1,200
"He's climbing steadily," Lio said, more to himself than Niamh.
Niamh nodded, her expression calm as she watched the main displays. No worry showed in her posture, no anxiety in her eyes. Just quiet confidence in Jade's abilities. She'd watched him train for years. She knew what he was capable of.
Around them, other Nexarion supporters were focused on the main feeds, watching Revik's group maintain their position in the top fifty thousand. The three remaining participants were working well together, their coordination solid if not spectacular.
"They're doing good," someone commented. "Might actually make top ten thousand at this rate."
"If they keep this pace and don't run into anything too dangerous," another agreed.
Lio tuned them out and returned his attention to his datapad. He pulled up the gambling interface, checking the odds on Jade's finish.
PARTICIPANT 847,392 - CURRENT ODDS: 500-TO-1 FOR TOP THOUSAND FINISH
Still five hundred to one. The bookmakers clearly hadn't noticed his climb yet, too focused on the flashy fighters dominating the feeds. Which meant the odds hadn't shifted since Lio had placed his bet.
Good. Let them sleep on Jade. Let them ignore the fighter from a backwater planet who wasn't showing up on the priority feeds.
When Jade made top thousand, those odds were going to shift dramatically. And Lio's bet was going to pay out beautifully.
He smiled and put away his datapad, settling back to watch the feeds with Niamh.
.....
Central Forest
Jade moved through the forest like a wraith, his void sense mapping everything within a kilometer radius. Creatures. Terrain. Other participants. All cataloged and analyzed as he searched for his next targets.
There. Northeast, about eight hundred meters. A mana spring similar to the last one, surrounded by creatures fighting for access to the concentrated energy. His eyes counted quickly through the darkness and distance. Twenty-three creatures total. Mix of B and C-ranks with a few D-ranks on the periphery.
He approached directly.
The creatures were too focused on each other to notice him until shadow tendrils erupted from the darkness around them. The D-ranks died first, crushed before they could even screech warnings. The C-ranks lasted slightly longer but not much. The B-ranks tried to mount a defense but were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of shadow attacking from every direction simultaneously.
Ninety seconds. Twenty-three creatures dead. Points accumulated.
[EXP +24]
[EXP +24]
[EXP +24]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +24]
[EXP +24]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
[EXP +48]
Jade tsked at the string of notification from the system then dismissed them permanently.
POINTS: 2,137
CURRENT RANK: 1,821
Jade's watch vibrated softly as his ranking jumped dramatically. He glanced at it, noted the number, and continued moving. His void sense had already identified the next target area. Four kilometers east, another dungeon remnant with multiple A-rank signatures clustered around it.
He shadow-traveled in that direction, the forest blurring past as he moved from darkness to darkness with fluid efficiency.
The elimination round had plenty of time remaining. No need to rush. Just maintain steady progress, accumulate points at a sustainable pace, stay comfortably within the advancement threshold without climbing high enough to draw attention.
Simple. Efficient. Exactly how this should be done.
....