The substitute team

Leon felt excited as they flew to the arena where the battle would be held.

"I'll be seeing Flint again. Let's see how strong he has gotten."

Oren and Irene had brought them to a gaint Colosseum. Their was a stage at the center with hundreds of rows for seats.

The Colosseum was mostly empty. At the frost few rows sat the high elders and elders of the Council of Fire. They were here for judging the Match.

Leon looked At the elders and recognized a few from his past life. He even saw elder Darius who had thought he was a demon at the Sunset Auction when he was playing around with Hans.

Leon and the team were led to the stage at the center. Leon looked at the other side and could see the Substitute team entering as well.

The ten were lined up in front of the stage. Leon stood in from if his line as that captain.

Helios appeared on the stage, "Now both teams have appeared so I'll explain the rules. Their will be eight matches. Seven one vs one and one five vs five. All the elders here will judge you on all criteria. The score will be unbiased, You have my word for that."

"I will advise you all to put your all in each fight. Even if you lose, The elders might find you more suitable for the main team. Now get ready for the first battle. Oren will act as referee."

The two teams moved to opposite sides and scrutinized each other.

Leon only recognised Flint. Flint also saw him and waved at him. Leon slightly waved back and then went back to prepare.

"Flint you know someone from that team?" A person on flaunts team said.

"He's a friend I made a while ago." Flint answered not saying much about Leon. He knew it was better keep what happened in the Lightning continent a secret.

Oren walked on stage, a person from the Substitute team walked up and Leon walked up for his team.

"Introduce yourselves."

"I'm Albert Soulflame."

"I'm Leon Flamesmith."

"Let that match begin!" Oren shouted.

Both Leon and Albert instantly manifested their soul books. Then started summoning their beasts. Albert Summoned A Ragefire Wyvern, Bloodfire Crane and a Soul fire Reaper.

Leon summoned the Dreamfire tiger. In a one vs one you could use as many beasts as you wanted. Looking at that beasts of the other team Leon was impressed. That Wyvern was one of the beasts closest to a Dragon in genetics. It would even learn Dragon magic rather then Dragon slayer magic. The Bloodfire Crane had the rare True Bloodfire. It was the purest Bloodfire discovered yet and could easily beasts by igniting their blood. Finally the Sou fire Reaper was a rare Fire beast with the soul element like the Ifrit Beast. It could directly attack the soul making it the most lethal from the three.

Albert was surprised seeing Leon summon one beast. He was going to end this quick. Just as he was about to say something he stopped.

The Chimera formed the lotus above its head. It used all the Dream energy it could muster to form it making it completely mesmerising to Albert and his beasts. It still still didn't use all its power and was only at half its actual strength.

As the lotus bloomed Leon walked towards Albert. He did it calmly and slowly. Alberta's beast were completely stuck in watching the lotus bloom that they didn't even notice Leon walking pass them and behind Albert.

Leon grabbed Albert's head from the back and smacked it down into the ground.

The Lotus disappeared and the world returned back to normal.

"Do you admit defeat?" Leon asked as he as he sat on Albert's back while holding his head to the ground.

Albert finally realised what had just happened. Just as he was about to tell his beast to attack Leon he could feel energy in Leon's hand holding his head down. He understood If he told his beast to attack his head would be blown to bits. Although killing was not allowed, if he refused to give up Leon was allowed to use force.

"I admit defeat." Albert said begrudgingly.

Leon got off him and unsummoned the tiger a she moved back to his team.

The whole colosseum was silent. Some of the elders had been effected by the Lotus as well. Others broke away. Helios and the high elders had seen the whole battle and been unaffected by the Lotus. From all of them, High Elder Harlan shook his head as he watched. "Leon has still kept the Tiger even when I warned him to release it multiple times."

Helios was impressed by the display. The technique used was of the Dream element and was a really strong one at that. He looked towards Oren for a reaction.

Oren wasn't surprised by the technique, he had seen Leon use it before. But it was clearly much stronger now. It almost paled in comparison to the ability Leon had used earlier in fights.

All of the people on Leon's team and the substitute team had been completely locked in by the Lotus.

Flint had sweat dripping from his head. He thought he had caught up to Leon after training for the half a year. But Leon was Still way ahead of him. He knew deep down inside that in such a short time he wouldn't have been able to catch up, it however stung to come to the realisation that the gap might have widened rather then shrunk.

Oren appeared on stage, "Winner Leon Flamesmith."

Leon had walked off and sat down with his teammates. They all looked at Leon like he was a monster. They didn't expect the first battle to be won so easily. The fight was still going on in their heads and they wondered how they were suppose to react. Abigail got up and went to Leon.

"Amazingly done Leon now leave the next fight to me." She then got ready to fight.

Seeing Abigail walk to the stage the others snapped out of it.

"Amazing Leon!"

"We expected no less from our captain!"

"This substitute team doesn't look as strong any more."

As the team got more motivated Leon watched the Match.

Abigail went up and fought against her opponent and won.

However from the next fight onwards things started going down hill. The substitute team had gotten over their lost to Leon.

The one vs ones continued until all seven were over. Out of the seven the Substitute team won four. As things were going the Substitute team was in the lead.

It was now time for the Five vs five. Leon got up and was ready to fight.