The arena was alive.
Spectators filled every seat in the towering stands, their voices blending into one massive wave of anticipation. Participants sat closer to the battleground, some calm, some tense, all waiting for their names to be called.
Vyvian, Rem, and Faye sat side by side.
The circular battleground below was open earth, packed soil smoothed flat for combat.
As they scanned the arena, a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Thought you three would be sitting together."
They turned.
Will stood there, hands on his hips, wearing that easy grin.
Vyvian smirked. "Took you long enough."
Will shrugged. "Had to finish stretching. I don't want to embarrass myself out there."
Faye smiled gently.
Rem gave a calm nod. "You'll do fine."
Will looked at Rem "I will do my best,Thank you.I hope i get matched with you guys."
Vyvian grinned. "If that happens, don't hold back."
Will's expression sharpened slightly. "Wouldn't dream of it."
For a brief moment, the four of them stood in comfortable silence, watching the arena fill with tension and noise.
Then they noticed a familiar figure across the participant section.
Buck.
He spotted them too and gave an awkward but genuine smile.
Vyvian raised his hand. "Hey!"
Buck waved back.
Faye offered a polite nod.
Moments later, the host stepped into the center of the arena, voice echoing across the stadium.
"First battle! Rem from Sereneth versus Buck from Luxen. Both of you, step forward!"
A ripple moved through the crowd.
Vyvian leaned toward Rem. "Good luck."
Faye smiled softly. "Do your best."
They looked at Buck as well.
"Good luck!" Vyvian called.
Buck grinned nervously. "You too… I mean… thanks!"
Rem stood up calmly and walked toward the battleground.
Each step steady.
Each breath controlled.
Buck followed, shoulders slightly stiff, anxiety visible despite the smile on his face.
They took their positions opposite each other on the open ground.
The signal was given.
Buck inhaled deeply and began channeling his Qi.
Light shimmered around him.
His body transformed into a swan hybrid.
A sharp beak formed from his face. Elegant white and silver patterns spread across his skin. Large, majestic wings unfolded from his back, feathers glistening under sunlight. His legs reshaped into padded feet suited for water. Long, beautiful feathers extended behind him, flowing with graceful movement.
The crowd gasped.
It was beautiful.
Even some participants stared in awe.
Vyvian's eyes widened. "Whoa…"
Faye whispered, "That's stunning."
Rem stood still.
No dramatic buildup.
No visible strain.
He transformed as if he had already prepared for this long ago.
His body shifted into a crocodile hybrid.
A massive crocodilian tail slammed against the packed earth, kicking up dust. Reptilian eyes gleamed darkly. Jagged spikes rose along his back. His body swelled with brute power. His hands and feet hardened into deadly claws. Even with his mouth closed, uneven, monstrous teeth protruded outward.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Some gasped.
Others leaned back instinctively.
A child somewhere in the stands started crying.
The contrast was overwhelming.
Grace versus terror.
Swan versus crocodile.
Beauty versus brutality.
The battle began.
Buck wasted no time.
He spread his wings and channeled Qi into the air.
A veil of mist rapidly covered the entire battleground.
The crowd murmured in confusion as their vision blurred.
Within the mist, Buck gathered water around him, compressing it into a dense projectile.
He thrust his arm forward.
The water shot toward Rem with incredible force.
It struck.
Rem blocked with his arms, but the impact pushed him back several steps, claws scraping against stone.
Buck didn't hesitate.
Inside the mist, he prepared another attack.
Rem's reptilian eyes narrowed.
He channeled Qi into his fist and punched forward into empty air.
A massive shockwave exploded outward.
The mist was torn apart instantly.
The sound thundered across the arena.
Spectators covered their ears as the force rippled through the battlefield.
Buck froze for a split second.
That ability… it wasn't normal.
Anxiety crept back into his chest.
But he clenched his jaw.
He refused to falter.
Water gathered again, swirling rapidly around him in a sharp rotating stream.
"Aqua Blade!"
He dashed forward, the spinning water forming a cutting edge around his arm.
Rem raised his guard, but the speed and precision caught him off balance.
The strike hit.
Rem fell onto his back.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Buck felt it.
Hope.
The fear began to fade from his eyes.
Rem rose slowly.
Calm.
Cold.
Without warning, he created a shockwave beneath his feet and launched forward.
The ground cracked where he stood.
Buck couldn't track the movement.
Before he could blink
Rem was in front of him.
Those reptilian eyes inches away.
Buck's breath stopped.
Another shockwave detonated at point-blank range.
Buck was slammed into the ground.
Rem clenched his fist.
A second shockwave burst from it, driving Buck deeper into the arena ground.
Silence.
Buck's body went still.
The host quickly raised his hand.
"Stop! Winner of the first round… Rem from Sereneth!"
The crowd erupted.
Some cheered in awe.
Some in fear.
Rem slowly detransformed and walked back toward his seat as if nothing extraordinary had happened.
Vyvian and Faye stared at him.
Wide-eyed.
Vyvian leaned back slightly. "ARE YOU A MONSTER?"
Rem giggled lightly.
Faye sighed in relief. "Congratulations… but that was honestly terrifying."
Rem scratched the back of his head modestly. "Was it?".
Will let out a low whistle.
"That shockwave at the end… you didn't even give him time to breathe."
Rem looked at him. "I just didn't want to drag it out."
Will smiled and lightly tapped Rem's shoulder. "Seriously though, that was impressive."
Rem gave a small nod. "Thank you."
Before they could continue
A calm voice spoke from behind them.
"That was quite amazing."
They turned.
The silver-haired man stood there.
His presence quiet yet noticeable.
Rem nodded respectfully. "Thank you."
Vyvian remained silent.
Something about the man unsettled him.
He couldn't explain it.
Faye noticed Vyvian's slight stiffness but chose not to comment.
Rem looked at the man curiously. "What's your name? You're participating too, right?"
The silver-haired man smiled gently.
"I'm Chris. From a small village called Willow."
Rem tilted his head. "Willow? Never heard of it. One of the smaller villages, huh?"
Chris nodded calmly.
Rem smiled. "Hope we get to fight. Best of luck."
Chris returned the smile and went back to his seat.
Vyvian's eyes followed him for a moment longer.
Something felt… off.
The tournament had only just begun.
And already, the atmosphere was shifting.
Soon after, the host's voice echoed through the arena once more.
"Next battle! Sable from Glutaria versus Linnea from Avaron!"
A wave of murmurs rolled through the stands.
Two major towns.
Expectations were instantly higher.
Rem leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as he watched the two stand.
"Dang… two major towns. Brings back memories."
Vyvian glanced at him. "You've been there?"
Faye leaned in curiously.
Rem nodded, gaze distant. "Yeah. When I was traveling with my parents, we visited most of the major towns. Glutaria… Avaron… I remember the size. The strength. But not much else."
There was a faint nostalgia in his tone.
On the battlefield, Sable stood straight, already focused.
Short spiky black hair. Brown eyes sharp and observant. His black cotte moved lightly in the wind. He didn't look nervous.
He looked calculating.
Linnea stepped forward next.
Her presence felt different.
Warm.
Gentle.
Medium wavy brown hair rested over her shoulders, a pink flower tucked behind her ear. Her soft pink lipstick complemented her bright smile. Her floral-patterned clothes fluttered slightly as she stepped into position.
She bowed her head slightly. "Good luck."
Sable gave a half-smirk. "Hope you don't regret stepping in."
The signal was given.
Sable transformed first.
Dark chitin began forming over his skin like layered armor. It spread across his arms, shoulders, and chest. His fingers sharpened into thick, clawed pincers. From his lower spine, a long segmented tail extended outward, rising above him before curving forward. The stinger at its tip gleamed with a venomous sheen.
His eyes narrowed, gaining an insect-like precision.
Predatory.
Controlled.
Linnea closed her eyes gently.
Her transformation was far softer.
Cat ears rose atop her head, covered in smooth brown fur. Her pupils narrowed into elegant feline slits. A sleek tail swayed behind her, balanced and relaxed. Light fur dusted her arms and legs, and her posture shifted into something agile and fluid.
The battle began.
Sable didn't hesitate.
He spread his hands and released thick smoke from his palms. It rolled outward in heavy waves, swallowing the battlefield in seconds.
The crowd leaned forward.
Linnea coughed, eyes watering as her vision blurred.
In that brief confusion, Sable's tail shot forward.
The stinger pierced her arm.
She gasped sharply.
The venom spread fast. Her arm swelled, muscles weakening instantly.
She stumbled backward.
Sable's voice echoed through the smoke.
"What happened to that smile?"
He circled her slowly.
"Major town fighters are supposed to be impressive. You're barely standing."
A few people in the crowd murmured.
Linnea gritted her teeth, retreating from the densest part of the smoke.
She inhaled slowly and placed her hand over the wound.
"Genesis."
A warm green glow surrounded her arm.
Small flowers began blooming over the swelling, wrapping around it in layers. Petals unfolded rapidly, glowing faintly as they absorbed the venom's effect.
Within seconds, the swelling vanished.
Her arm returned to normal.
The crowd erupted in astonishment.
Gasps. Applause. Whispers.
Linnea looked at Sable and smiled softly. "You talk too much."
Sable's eyes darkened.
He extended both arms and began producing thicker smoke, darker and heavier than before.
This time it shimmered faintly.
Intoxicating.
Linnea inhaled it before she could react.
Her balance faltered instantly.
Her vision tilted.
Sable appeared through the smoke and struck her with rapid punches and kicks, each one precise.
She fell to one knee.
Vyvian leaned forward. "That smoke's different."
Rem nodded. "He's manipulating the nature of his Qi element. That's not just normal smoke."
"What does that mean?" Vyvian asked.
Faye nodded. "Yeah, explain."
Before Rem could answer
Cherri spoke.
Her eyes were fixed on the battlefield.
"Qi elements can be shaped into order or chaos forms. The effect changes depending on how they're used."
She paused slightly.
"He's using chaos form. It increases the volatility of his ability. Stronger, but unstable. If he pushes too far, he could lose control."
Rem gave a quiet nod. "Exactly."
Vyvian and Faye exchanged stunned glances.
They had never heard this before.
On the battlefield, Linnea slowly rose.
Her breathing steadied.
Her eyes sharpened.
"GENESIS: CHAOS!"
The energy around her shifted.
Deep purple flowers erupted across her body, covering her arms, shoulders, and torso. The petals pulsed with intense, concentrated energy.
The atmosphere changed.
The air felt heavier.
Sable stepped back instinctively.
Linnea's voice rang out clearly across the arena.
"These purple flowers can release concentrated bursts of life energy from my body."
The petals glowed brighter.
She extended her arm toward Sable.
A barrage of purple beams exploded outward, slamming into him with overwhelming force.
Each impact shook the ground.
He was thrown across the battlefield violently.
Dust rose.
Silence followed.
Sable did not move.
Slowly, he detransformed.
The host raised his hand.
"Winner of this round, Linnea from Avaron!"
This time, the crowd erupted properly.
Linnea detransformed gracefully.
She adjusted her hair, flicking it back lightly, and returned to her seat without arrogance.
But her presence lingered.
Terrifyingly beautiful.
Soon, the host called again.
"Next round! Chris from Willow versus Aurelio from Kindra!"
A different tension filled the arena.
Chris stood calmly.
Aurelio rose with visible confidence.
Medium red-dyed hair. Bright red cotte. Loose red half-pants. Long black boots. His posture radiated strength.
As they faced each other, Aurelio gave a confident grin.
"Good luck. You'll need it."
Chris smiled softly. "Good luck to you as well."
The signal was given.
Aurelio transformed first.
Golden fur spread rapidly across his body. Muscles expanded. A thick crimson mane formed around his head and shoulders. His jaw elongated slightly, revealing powerful fangs. Massive clawed paws replaced his hands. His frame radiated dominance and brute power.
The crowd roared in excitement.
Chris did not move immediately.
Instead, he slowly knelt.
He curled into himself.
A glowing chrysalis formed around him.
The arena quieted.
The chrysalis shimmered.
Then cracked.
Large silver butterfly wings unfolded, radiant and luminous. Tiny glimmers of light scattered as they expanded.
Chris rose into the air.
Fully transformed.
Aurelio charged immediately.
He threw a heavy punch.
Chris floated aside effortlessly.
Punch after punch missed.
Aurelio channeled his Qi outward.
The air around Chris trembled.
A rock pillar suddenly erupted upward beneath him, formed from compressed earth drawn together by Aurelio's will.
Chris struck it mid-rise.
The pillar shattered.
Gasps echoed.
Aurelio formed a massive boulder and hurled it.
Chris blocked, but the impact knocked him back through the air.
He steadied himself.
"Chrysalis Wish."
Another glowing cocoon formed briefly.
Then he detransformed.
The crowd murmured in confusion.
"My power allows me to gain any two abilities I wish for," Chris said calmly. "But in return, I must detransform."
Flames ignited in one hand.
Lightning crackled in the other.
He surged forward.
Aurelio created a stone pillar to block.
Flame struck first.
Lightning followed.
The rock shattered.
Aurelio was blasted backward.
He rose again, covering his arms in stone, and charged.
Lightning struck his chest.
Flame followed through with a devastating punch.
Aurelio collapsed.
He detransformed.
Silence.
Then
"Winner of this round, Chris from Willow!"
The crowd erupted, louder than before.
Chris walked back calmly.
Rem nodded. "That was a nice battle."
Chris smiled faintly. "Thank you."
Vyvian remained silent.
His eyes lingered.
That uneasy feeling hadn't disappeared.
It had grown.
The tournament was no longer just exciting.
It was becoming dangerous.
The tournament grounds slowly settled, though the energy in the air refused to fade.
Spectators continued whispering among themselves, replaying moments from the battles they had just witnessed. Shockwaves. Purple blossoms. Silver wings. Fire and lightning colliding against stone.
The next battles would not simply test power.
They would test resolve.