The arena fell into a hushed anticipation as #307 and #69 took their positions on the stage, their gazes locked in determination.
Lassim observed the competitors closely.
#307 was a young man with a confident stance. He brandished his elemental weapon—a rapier—with practiced ease as he stabbed out a few warm-up thrusts; checking his form. His hair was a short and neat blonde and he had a straight jawline that looked like it could cut a piece of paper. He looked like a typical heartthrob from any young girl’s fairytale story.
His confidence radiated outwards as he flicked his hair back and gave a smile to the crowd.
As he summoned a spherical wind being with a unique halo of leaves floating around it. Lassim noted the unique elemental manifestation, as it was clearly a wind elemental of some kind, as it moved to float directly over #307’s shoulder.
Lassim admired its ethereal form and thought it looked kind of cool. It reminded him of his own tempest that he creates when he rotates his cultivation technique [Storm Bringer], so he liked it.
On the other side stood #69, whose appearance made Lassim question how she even managed to reach the top 10.
She stood there, pale and thin, with her book clutched tightly while she silently muttered constantly under her breath. She exuded an air of an extreme introvert that was transported from her bedroom or the quiet corner of a library to this grand stage. She was kind of cute in the bookworm-y style of nerdy girls, with her small pointed nose and almond shaped eyes.
Yet, everything about her demeanor was such a sharp contrast to the young man’s outward confidence. Lassim hardly believed they belonged in the same competition.
What’s more, Lassim couldn’t help but notice her unique purple and orange hair, particularly the bangs that resembled orange-tipped tentacle blobs. It was an elemental manifestation the likes of which he hadn’t seen before in anyone else.
He knew that the elements could cause any kind of evolution or metamorphosis in the Nexarian body as spirit warriors advanced in their cultivations, but having tentacle-like hair was a first. It was strange, but the book in her hands covered in void shimmering letters easily gave away what her element was.
He wondered if he would see more strange tentacle-type mutations on others with the Night element. Then he thought back to Lustria and how her element was also the Night element.
’Uh, will she grow tentacles too? I... I don’t know if I can handle that...’ Lassim stared wide-eyed outwardly as he spaced out thinking to himself and imagined a strange scene.
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He imagined himself being enveloped by a more mature and older looking Lustria with tentacles for arms, unable to break away from her constantly kissing him on the cheek. Her tentacles were too strong and explored all over his body before he quickly shook his head and got rid of the daydreaming.
He shuddered for a moment, ’I hope that doesn’t happen,’ he thought to himself before returning his focus back to the two competitors on stage
Both competitors were like the others in the Top 10, sitting around the Spirit Growth 7 and Spirit Growth 8 levels in cultivation prowess. The girl had firmly reached the Spirit Growth 8th stage, and the boy was at Spirit Growth 7.
It was then, the announcer’s booming voice shattered the silence, "Fight!"
#307 wasted no time, his rapier gracefully pointed forward, it’s tip gleaming as he declared, "[Windswept]!" A whirlwind enveloped his legs, propelling him forward at incredible speed towards #69.
In response, #69’s quiet muttering grew in intensity as she muttered at a volume slightly above a whisper, "[N’gha Portal Mgahnnn]." A rift in the fabric of reality tore open and manifested before her, shielding her from #307’s rapid approach.
From the portal emerged thick, orange-spotted purple tentacles, writhing and squirming with unnatural vigor and creepiness.
The sight of the tentacles halted #307’s charge, his expression shifting from confidence to disgust. His face went pale as he started to make retching noises, visibly unsettled by the wiggling appendages.
He quickly backed away from the encroaching tentacles that were trying to ensnare him.
Lassim even overheard a burly man in the audience who couldn’t contain his amusement at the scene. He laughed loudly and taunted #307, "Do little worms scare ye’ too boy!? Ahahaha". Clearly this man was a tad drunk, but Lassim’s focus returned to the fight.
With the tentacles closing in, fear evident on #307’s face, he shouted desperately, "[Lingchi]!"
The wind elemental that floated by his side suddenly merged with the rapier in his hand, it glowed with a vibrant green hue and its blade shimmering slightly. It turned blurry almost like it was moving incredibly quickly, even though he held it firm and still in his hand.
In a swift motion, he stabbed forward towards the tentacles, unleashed a flurry. Each strike accompanied by a blur that tore through the tentacles like a sewing machine.
The tentacles met their match, briefly, as #307’s precise strikes severed several of them, creating a path for his continued retreat away from the writhing mass.
However, the tentacles proved resilient, wriggling and regenerating as they attempted to ensnare #307.
Suddenly, with the torn tentacles slowly regenerating and blood on the floor, the rift opened wider.
Lassim leaned forward, his eyes glued to the intense exchange unfolding on the stage as he watched something remarkable take place.
A chilling and angry presence emanated from beyond, uttering words in an ancient and otherworldly sound, "[Lloigazath nafl’fhtagn]."
The sudden invocation caused #69 to visibly falter, her expression strained as if the entirety of her pool of mana was being drained from her reserves.
Then, all of the tentacles began to exude a deep void-like glow surrounding them, this in turn caused a reaction from #69, pushing her to the brink of exhaustion. She wobbled, struggling to stand on her two feet as she firmly held her book and stared at her opponent.
That’s when it happened.
The atmosphere crackled with intensity that had no right being in this level of competition.
As if the creature beyond the rift was no mere Spirit Growth stage entity but something far more potent, reduced in power by some godly restriction only. The surge in power brought the creature to the threshold of Spirit Transformation stage potency, unleashing a wave of energy that pushed on the atmosphere as it extended its tentacles high into the air.
With a deafening and ridiculously quick impact, the tentacles descended upon the arena with a force that spoke of power beyond their current stage.
The marble floor cracked and shattered.
The protective arrays surrounding the arena flickered and glowed as they worked hard to contain the immense pressure and intensity of the attack.
#69 acted swiftly, knowingly realizing the danger posed by her own companion’s power surge if it continued. She muttered out, "[Portal Ahnnn]," and her elemental creature responded by retracting the extended tentacles back into the rift.
The fabric of reality shimmered and returned to its normal state, sealing off the otherworldly presence as it returned to her inner heart world where it resided.
Exhausted and panting heavily, #69 slumped to her knees, her book clutched tightly to her chest. She continued to mutter incomprehensibly, the strain of the battle evident.
Looking around, she noticed the absence of #307 amidst the rubble of the arena, realizing that her overwhelming attack had not only crushed her opponent but also hopefully teleported him away to the medical bay for treatment.
She knew the potential and prowess of her special elemental spirit and had issues with controlling it for now. It’s why she tried to avoid others and constantly fretted about how she could speed up her partnership with the creature to have less outbursts from it that drained her to her core.
The audience erupted into a mix of awe and astonishment at the spectacle they had just witnessed.
A competitor that had the power to cross several levels into the next tier of cultivation was remarkable! Even if her power was similar to the wind elemental warriors that used their songs and beast mastery to control beasts much higher in cultivation power than them. It was still remarkable that her very own elemental spirit had this kind of power instead.
Eventually the feedback between the two would settle and she’d quickly rise to it’s power eventually, something that the older patrons in the crowd recognized as a common possibility that occurred with summoning-type Night element spirit warriors.
The announcer’s voice cut through the tumult, "A stunning victory by #69! What an incredible display of power and strategy. With that conclusion, we have our finalists decided! Let’s give a round of applause to our top five contestants, #3, #42, #187, #16 and contestant #69!"
As #69 was escorted off the stage for much-needed rest and recovery before the next duels, everyone’s focus in the audience shifted to the announcer.
"Now, what would a martial tournament in the great Durelia Town be if there wasn’t a bit of a gamble? For the top 5, they will once again draw lots. However, this time they will question if today is their lucky day! One supremely lucky individual will get an easy bye into the grand finals, a 1v1v1 duel where they can choose to team up or fight individually. The potential for drama shall peak!
Now, we shall give the fighters another thirty minutes rest before continuing to the semi-finals. Please sit back and relax as our contestants prepare!"
With a bow, the announcer walker herself off stage as the crowd went abuzz, discussing the Top 10 fights and their results. Some individuals were extremely happy betting and winning big. Others chatted away sadly about their losses, yet promising to win it all back in the semi-finals round of betting.