The roaring crowds in the coliseum quieted as the first event was called.
"Event One: The Gauntlet Run!"
A massive section of the arena shifted, gears turning and stone plates sliding into place. The floor opened, revealing a colossal multi-terrain obstacle course. Each section was tailored to push a Wielder's limits—raging rivers of fire, wind tunnels with slicing gales, mazes of shifting crystal walls, and corrupted beast holograms that attacked on instinct.
Kael, Hana, Tetsu, Ryuu, and dozens of others stood at the starting line, adrenaline in their veins. Towering holograms of their names floated above their lanes, each path randomized to test their unique Will usage.
A mechanical voice echoed:"You are being watched and ranked. Survive the course. Score based on time, creativity, damage taken, and power efficiency. Begin."
A blaring horn cut through the sky.
They were off.
Kael's Run
Kael launched into the course like a shadow, using Voidstep to blink past swinging axes of ice and platforms that shattered underfoot. His Will flared in pulses, dark violet rippling around him. He used brief Will Copies to mimic Ryuu's flame burst and Tetsu's air dash—just for a split second—to skip gaps and redirect falling debris.
In one section, an artificial Flame Drake roared and lunged. Kael's eyes narrowed, and he slid beneath it, launching upward and cracking it across the skull with a blackened fist, leaving a trail of shadow energy sizzling behind.
The crowd cheered at the display.
Tetsu and Ryuu
Tetsu took a more chaotic route, laughing as he practically parkoured through the maze while slicing corrupted beasts left and right. His Will danced around him like a storm of focused lightning.
"Let's gooo!" he yelled, flipping over a lava pit and hurling a spear of Will energy.
Ryuu was all precision. Calm. Deadly. His flames shifted from red to white as he scorched his path through a fog section filled with illusion traps. His eyes were locked forward—no wasted motion. He was here for the top.
Hana's Path
Hana surprised everyone.
Her movements were elegant and unyielding. She used her Will to manipulate water in the air to freeze platforms mid-step and create springboards of steam to leap forward. She wasn't the fastest, but she was smart—dodging everything with minimal energy loss.
Even the announcers took note.
Eri Watching from the Booth
Eri sat with Kaede and the rest of the support staff. She had a tight grip on the rail, watching every movement.
"Let's go, dorks," she mumbled. "Don't break my work."
Kaede, arms folded, glanced over at the section where the three dark Wielders were already breezing through the course. Each of them used frightening precision—no wasted steps, no hesitations.
One of them, the scarred one with red eyes, had already finished.
First.
Kaede narrowed his gaze.
Kael's Finish
Kael blasted through the last gate, skidding to a halt beside Ryuu and Tetsu. They were all panting, their uniforms scuffed, but their spirits were high.
"Not bad," Tetsu grinned. "That was nuts!"
Kael cracked his knuckles. "They're getting harder."
Hana landed behind them moments later, hands on her knees but smiling.
Eri's voice buzzed in through their comms:"Gear still in one piece. Miracles do exist."
The first event was over—but the scoreboard wouldn't lie.
Kael looked up.
Top 10 Finisher – Kael Renji – 7th Place.
Tetsu was 10th. Ryuu, 5th. Hana, 15th.
But it wasn't the rankings that chilled Kael.
It was seeing the scarred dark Wielder at the top.
1st Place – Veyren Kurai.
One of Kurojin's elite.Another shadow… was now in the light.