The roar of the crowd shook the air.Dust and shimmering fragments of mana drifted across the Colosseum like stardust. The massive tree monster conjured by Sage Helmir finally collapsed, burning from within—its trunk glowing red before turning into glimmering ash that scattered into the wind.
Elara's radiant light spell slowly faded, while on the opposite side, Noah lowered his hand, the soft azure glow around him flickering like the waves of a calm sea.The two stood amidst the aftermath, surrounded by dozens of collapsed contestants—some unconscious, others on their knees, gasping for breath.
From the western stands, Sylveras leaned forward, eyes gleaming."By the gods... Elara—she actually did it," he whispered.
Beside him, Brant whistled. "And look at Rossie! My little sister's still on her feet! Hahaha, unbelievable."
"She's tough," Sylveras replied, "but what's giving me chills—look at the prince."He pointed at Noah standing motionless at the center of the field.His white-and-blue uniform was torn in several places, yet his aura remained calm, almost divine.Thousands of female spectators screamed his name.
"NOAAAH! LOOK OVER HERE!!"
Brant burst out laughing. "He's a real celebrity. But… yeah, that aura—he's not just looks."
Meanwhile, high above the arena, dozens of reporters from the Urtz Tribune were already standing by with floating crystal lenses—glowing blue as they recorded every moment. Every flash of light, every burst of flame, and every spell cast by Elara and Noah was etched into rune memory.
"Record this!" one of the reporters shouted. "Elara, the young mage from Kozto City, and Prince Noah of the Southern Seas—they've broken Helmir's trial record!"
Amid the uproar, the deep voice of the announcer thundered through the Colosseum, amplified by echo runes.
"The first trial is over! Out of more than a thousand contestants—only ten remain standing!"
The crowd erupted once again.
Elara stood in the center, breathing heavily. Her eyes lifted toward the sky, glistening faintly—memories of her lost village flickering behind them.
"By the order of the Urtz Council of Mages,"the announcer continued,"the trial will be paused for fifteen minutes!The Council will convene to determine the format for the next round—one-on-one duels!"
Healing units rushed into the field, casting restoration spells on the fallen. As the injured were carried away, ten figures remained standing amidst the ruins:Elara, Rossie, Lurk, Noah, Arven, Mirell, Kael, Lyra, Drestan, and Seryn.
They looked exhausted, yet proud.Ten different auras—each from a different element—resonated faintly together, reflecting across the marble arena like ten lights orbiting a single sun.
The Council Chamber
"Remarkable," Helmir said, reclining in his chair. "My creation fell before time ran out. That girl of light even reflected the monster's heat without injury."
Gorion smiled proudly. "That's my pupil. I told you, Helmir—the mountain spirit truly knows how to forge great mages."
Neravos chuckled from across the table. "You've trained them well, Gorion. But don't get cocky, old friend."Gorion laughed. "Hahaha, fair enough. Still—my student's impressive, isn't she?"
Helmir leaned back, glancing at the others. "To think the new generation would be this strong… Perhaps this is the start of a new era."
In the corner, Fenrath narrowed his eyes. He didn't laugh—his nostrils twitched faintly as he caught a scent."…A demon's stench?" he muttered.He turned toward the audience stands but saw nothing. "Strange. No demonic mana… yet the smell lingers."
Zorzax, slouched on his tall seat, sighed. "Let it be. The girl will win—or that handsome prince. Either way, predictable."He closed his eyes, clearly bored.Fenrath glanced at him but stayed silent.
Then Vaelion, the High Elf and chairman of the council, finally spoke."Enough. The format is set—one-on-one duels. I trust no one objects?"The rest of the council nodded in agreement. The decision was made.
Meanwhile, in the shadows beneath the arena, a cloaked spy scribbled onto a glowing rune tablet.
"The girl's impressive, Lord Numrath. She neutralized the heat with her light magic."A cold voice replied from the other end of the mirror crystal:"Good. Keep watching. And that prince from Sisillia… his spirit wavers. If he loses, bring him to me."
Back to the Arena
After fifteen minutes, the announcer returned to the center podium.
"Attention, contestants! The Council has finalized the duel format!The one-on-one matches will begin this afternoon!And here are the ten who advance to the next stage!"
One by one, names were called—each announcement greeted by deafening cheers.
"Elara, Kozto City!""Noah, Kingdom of the Southern Seas!""Rossie, Orpus!""Lurk, Sisillia!""Drestan, Earth Elf!""Lyra, Venthir Academy!""Arven, Solvere Kingdom!""Mirell, the Northern Lands!""Kael, Kozto City!""Seryn, Wraithfell Academy!"
The Colosseum shook again as the ten finalists lined up.The afternoon sun filtered through the mana dome, illuminating them like stars scattered across the heavens.
"And now—the official bracket!"A massive blue rune projection appeared above the arena, displaying the matchups:
Elara vs Arven
Lurk vs Kael
Rossie vs Lyra
Noah vs Drestan
Mirell vs Seryn
Sylveras leaned forward in excitement. "Elara and Lurk—same bracket. They'll meet in the semifinals if they both win their first rounds."Brant nodded, smirking. "And if Rossie wins, she'll face Noah. This is going to be wild."
Elara studied the glowing board for a moment, then smiled softly.
"See you soon, Noah."
The prince met her gaze and replied with a quiet nod and a faint smile.