I. The Roar of the Coliseum
The aurora was still fading when the arena vibrated with the herald's voice: —"Let the next round begin! Today, seats eleven through twenty shall be claimed with blood and glory!"
The spectators chanted names. The Qi swirled as the prodigies lined up. The Top 10 Sequence watched from the stands, evaluating their future comrades and rivals.
II. First Duel: Tamsin vs. Draven
(Wood/Shadow vs. Pure Ice) Tamsin advanced swiftly, the ground sprouting roots covered in poisonous mist. Draven, with a cold smile, stepped onto the earth and froze it beneath his boots, invoking a wall of bluish crystals.
Tamsin launched "Mist of the Silent Penumbra": shadows covered the arena as green and black flashes sought to weaken the opponent's defense. Draven responded with "Fang of the Glacial Dragon," firing exploding ice stalactites.
A clean strike followed: Tamsin seemed to be on the run, but suddenly her roots surged from beneath Draven, trapping his ankles. The ice shattered with a bang; Draven froze the poison, but Tamsin appeared behind him, dagger in hand! Draven forced his Qi to summon a blizzard, but Tamsin's shadow split and surrounded him. A direct blow to the torso took him out of the fight.
Winner: Tamsin.
III. Second Duel: Elowen vs. Lys
(Wood/Life vs. Light/Healing) The arena bloomed under Elowen's presence; every step she took sprouted golden roots and flowers. Lys responded with a clear light, "Burst of Dawn," which purified the mist and repelled the darkness.
The two prodigies crossed paths, their techniques intertwining. Elowen created the "Rebirthing Forest," a prison of roots that absorbed Qi and healed her own wounds. Lys countered with the "Shield of Daybreak," making hope flourish and even healing Elowen's wounds in the process.
For a moment, the battle was pure beauty: roots, petals, light, and life. Lys, overcoming her exhaustion, invoked the "Radiant Lotus," reflecting vital energy and blinding her opponent. Elowen, however, was tenacious: she released the "Root of Eternity," a bond of energy that exhausted Lys and forced her to surrender.
Winner: Elowen.
IV. Third Duel: Rowan vs. Maren
(Wind vs. Thunder) Both lunged toward the center, their speed so great that only high-ranking cultivators could follow their movements. Rowan initiated with "Gale Slash," creating a dance of air blades. Maren wrapped himself in lightning, "Lightning Body," and tore through the attacks like a blue flash.
Sparks and gusts crossed the arena. Maren launched a "Lightning Net" to trap Rowan, but Rowan responded with the "Step of a Thousand Wings," vanishing and reappearing, the wind howling in every flash. The battle reached its climax when Maren, cornered, invoked "Heart of the Storm" and unleashed a massive discharge. Rowan, unyielding, used the "Celestial Gale," harnessing the thunder's own energy to propel himself and land a strike on Maren's shoulder.
Both fell, panting, but the referee declared Rowan the victor based on endurance and technique.
Winner: Rowan.
III. Fourth Duel: Sela vs. Torian
(Shadow vs. Metal/Forge) The combat was one of pure strategy and contrasts. Sela glided through the shadows, barely visible, each of her attacks aiming for Torian's blind spots. Torian, solid as a fortress wall, raised the "Living Iron Temple," a dome of moving plates that rejected the darkness.
Sela appeared and disappeared, her shadow blades tearing the air. Torian invoked the "Hammer of the Supreme Smith," each strike making the arena vibrate. In a critical moment, Sela managed to infiltrate her shadow inside Torian's armor, but he smiled: he invoked a secret rune and turned the shadow into a filament of pure silver, trapping Sela.
With a bow, Sela yielded, her mission accomplished by demonstrating her cunning and respect for the art of the forge.
Winner: Torian.
VI. Fifth Duel: Aylin vs. Elian
(Earth/Wind Spear vs. Water) The crowd held its breath, for Aylin carries the Morningstar lineage in her veins. Elian, calm and fluid, controlled invisible currents of water beneath the arena.
Aylin took the initiative: "Spear of a Thousand Roots," each thrust generating roots that sought to trap the flow of water. Elian responded with "Surge of the Hidden River," sliding like a liquid shadow, dodging every attack and counterattacking with cutting jets.
Aylin closed her eyes and listened to the wind: she invoked the "High-Altitude Cyclone," a tornado that absorbed the moisture and launched Elian into the air. Elian, however, invoked the "Mantle of Perpetual Rain," cushioning his fall and counterattacking with a wave. In the end, Aylin, exhausted but determined, planted her spear in the ground and unleashed "Primordial Root," a pillar that rose beneath Elian, knocking him out of the arena.
Winner: Aylin.
VII. Rematch Duel and Team Combat
Seeing the excitement, the elders announced a special team match: Tamsin, Elowen, and Lys vs. Draven, Maren, and Elian.
It was a display of strategy: poisons and roots, light and healing, forming alliances with wind, thunder, ice, and water. The duel was chaotic, each technique chained to the next. Highlighting the match were combos like "Lightning Forest" (Elowen and Maren), "Frozen Lotus" (Lys and Draven), and "Hidden Shadow Surge" (Tamsin and Elian).
The battle ended with Tamsin trapping Draven in a prison of roots, while Elowen and Lys sealed Maren and Elian with light and essences.
Winner: Tamsin, Elowen, and Lys.
VIII. Final Trial: The Top 20 Challenge
Before the closing, Samael summoned all the remaining aspirants to the arena. —"Today, each of you has shown not only power, but ingenuity and bonds. The Morningstar clan rewards not just victory, but the spirit of self-improvement." —"From this moment, the 20 seats are consecrated. But remember: every position can be challenged, and every defeat is a lesson."
The crowd erupted in roars and applause. The names were engraved into the stone of the coliseum, and the Top 20 sequences knelt before the Star Tree, sealing with blood and promise the pact to protect the clan and the family.
End of Chapter 65.