The Gauntlet of Trials

The next day, the arena's harsh lights blazed overhead as the tournament rounds continued. The arena's colossal, circular was filled to the brink by students, tutors and spectators alike.

The holographic screens encircled the rings, displaying live feeds, combat stats, and roiling images of victories and defeats from previous rounds. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation and tension, a charged silence punctuated by the occasional roar of the crowd and the clang of weaponry.

From one side of the arena, Seraphina and Eve shone like beacons, seated among the qualifiers for the next stage of the tournament waiting for the first stage to be over. Both had already emerged triumphant in their earlier matches. Though absent from the pit of combat today, they observed the proceedings from the sidelines.

Seraphina's piercing blue eyes, cool and calculating, betrayed a flicker of worry as she surveyed the other team members. Eve's calm yet resolute expression spoke volumes; despite her win, she carried the burden of knowing that many of her teammates were far from the same fortunate fate.

In stark contrast, the rest of the team from base 7 had not fared so well. Bryan, whose round had barely lasted more than a few moments, had been overwhelmed by a foe who exploited his overconfidence in his strength. In his match, Bryan had charged recklessly into battle against his opponent. A few brutal parries and punishing strikes later, Bryan's defenses crumbled.

His armor was battered, his face contorted in pain and humiliation, and he was forced to concede defeat in a display that left no doubt that the rest of the bases were not joking around. 

Marcus, too, had tasted bitter defeat. His match had been a fleeting affair, his every move was countered with an almost casual efficiency by his opponent. In the span of a few heartbeats, Marcus's hopes were dashed; a swift, well-aimed strike sent him sprawling, his arrogant sneer replaced by grim resignation as he lay defeated on the bloodstained floor, unable to tell what kind of attack had brought him down.

Not far behind, Aria had struggled in her bout. Despite her initial flurry of confident strikes, she was gradually worn down by an opponent who possessed not only raw strength but a tactical cunning that left little room for error. Her defenses faltered, and a series of attacks drove her to the ground, her defeat marked by a silent gasp from the onlookers. She never even got the chance to use her water ability to attack, yet she was defeated.

Jaden's match was no kinder. Entering the arena with anger of what happened to his cousin and determination to prove himself, he too soon found himself outmatched by a Pure fighter whose precision and ruthlessness he couldn't contend with. In a matter of moments, Jaden's water blade clattered from his grasp and splattered to the floor as he was forced into a defensive stance. He could not sustain the defense either, his failure was as swift as it was demoralizing for the team from base 7.

Alden, too, had been matched against an opponent who left him little chance of victory. Despite his best efforts and an impressive display of skill at the outset, Alden was gradually overpowered. His opponent had a teleportation ability that was even faster than his own. Soon, a crushing blow sent him reeling, and his final attempt to mount a counterattack fizzled out, leaving him defeated and his hopes dashed in the glare of the arena's unforgiving light.

Sylvia's round was not discussed aloud among the spectators, a quiet shadow amidst the chaos. Her performance was a mystery, known only to a few, and the silence surrounding her left an unsettling impression on those who had witnessed the relentless battles of the day.

When she was paired with an S-ranked fire elemental ability user, everyone was worried, seeing how Seraphina's flames were almost unbeatable, even Adam became worried what will happen to her. Yet, she stood confidently, looking bored and uninterested in the tournament.

The moment the referee had declared the match started, she flicked her hair backwards using one of her hands and as a gust of wind blow throughout the arena, her opponent was on the floor passed out and covered in blood.

Adam was sure that he had not taken his eyes off of her, she was standing right where she was, he only noticed a slight shift in her stance, and just like that, she had won her round.

This left the crowd confused to what was happening. It took the announcer declaring her the winner of the round before anyone cheered.

As the final minutes of the round ticked away, the arena's electronic display flickered and then settled, revealing the names of those left before the first stage of the tournament concludes.

Adam's own name was emblazoned among a scant few other students.

High above the arena, Seraphina watched with a troubled gaze. Her victory in her own round had been undeniable, yet her heart ached at the sight of losses her team had endured.

Alec, Bryan, Marcus, Aria, Jaden, and Alden. All of them defeated. It was as if it was all a calculated move by those in power, designed to keep the lower classes in perpetual subjugation. As she observed Adam's preparations from a raised platform, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of pride and anxiety. Adam was her hope, if she were to lose the tournament, her Family name will be dragged through the mud.

She already knew that for a base to qualify for Stage 2 of the military tournament, it must have at least 4 fighters left at the end of the first stage. And right now, Herself, Eve and Sylvia makes three, for them to qualify, Adam has to win.

The arena's atmosphere shifted palpably as the loudspeakers crackled to life. The announcer's voice echoed across the field, commanding attention.

"The preliminary rounds are about to conclude. Those who have lost their rounds have been given a glimpse into the harsh reality of our existence on this arc. Remember, only the strongest shall rise, and every victory is a step toward overcoming the limitations of your class."

A hush fell over the arena, and all eyes turned to the central display as the last match was announced. The holographic screen flickered, its digits and letters forming a single, stark challenge that sent ripples of apprehension through the audience.

"Next match: Adam Reed versus Lucius Draven."

For a long, suspended moment, the arena held its breath. The name Lucius Draven was synonymous with ruthlessness and brutality. A Pure whose reputation for merciless violence was the stuff of gossip among the recruits in base 1. His name carried an aura of dread, a reminder that the highest echelons of power were willing to crush any who dared to defy their order.

Commander Darius clenched his fist, knowing that the match had been unfairly set up against Adam. Lucius was a direct descendant of the Originals, not even Seraphina could beat him. But Darius could not do anything against this, it is not like they broke any fundamental rule of the tournament, gifted or not, both of them are recruits.

Adam's heart hammered in his chest as he stepped forward into the center of the arena. His mind raced with memories of every sneer, every jeer directed at him, every moment when he was forced to crawl from the gutter.

Now, before him, stood the embodiment of everything he had fought against. Lucius Draven's silhouette emerged at the far end of the arena—a figure shrouded in dark armor and an aura of cold brutality. His every movement exuded lethal precision, his eyes glinting with the promise of pain.

As the countdown began, "Five… Four… Three… Two… One…"—Adam's system interface flashed in his mind. His muscles tensed, his focus narrowed, and for the first time, the scars of his past became a distant memory—replaced by the burning desire to rewrite destiny.

The arena erupted into chaos as the match commenced. Lucius advanced with a speed and ferocity that belied his legendary status, his every step a calculated strike against the very notion of mercy, looking for opening to deal devastating blows to Adam.

Adam met his charge head-on, summoning the primordial light, he wrapped his body in the golden aura of the primordial light to reduce the chance of internal injuries and drew out the curved blade he had picked from the armory back in base 7.

Lucius wielded a large broad sword that looked heavier than he should be able to swing, yet, he waves it as if it were made of foam.

As the two clash, Lucius swung the large slab of metal he calls a sword at Adam. Knowing he cannot take the blunt of the attack, Adam instantly morphed the primordial light into a great shield as large as a car, placing it between himself and the attack just in time.

Seeing this, Lucius did not hesitate, he swung as hard as he could.

When the sword hit the shield, it broke through it as if it were made of class, shattering it to pieces. Eve was at the edge of her seat, hoping that her brother will be alright after taking such a strong attack.

But to Lucius's surprise, when his sword hit the floor, Adam was not behind the shield. From behind, in the air, Adam had molded the primordial light into a large hammer, holding on to it with both arms, he swung as hard as he could, turning as he landed a strike.

In the last second, Lucius had swung his large sword and blocked the attack. When Adam's hammer made from the primordial light hit the sword, a loud bang reverberated in the arena as the hammer smashed into pieces.

Once again, Adam's primordial light conjure-weapon was not strong enough, but this time, it had sufficient impact. Lucius's hand had gone numb from the sheer force of the strike. In those milliseconds, he knew that Adam, although an outcast, was not joking opponent, he needed to end things as fast as possible before Adam finds a way to deal damage to him.

Within before the broken shards of the hammer disappear, he swung the sword once more, clearing the obstruction of his sight and threw a punch with all his strength, but Adam was no where to be found. He had completely vanished.

In Adam's sight, the window of the primordial beast system was counting down the effect of his stealth skill. For the last two attacks, as Lucius's blinks or gets distracted for even a second, on the moment of impact, Adam activates his stealth skill and change location. But he was also being careful not to get too close to him.

Right now, as the skill counts down the last 10 seconds, Adam focused all of his energy into the tip of his nytherite blade. He was standing directly behind his opponent and had a clear shot for his back.

As the stealth skill effect came off, Adam slashed his blade and Lucius was sent flying to the wall. On the system window, Adam was not happy with what he saw.

You have exhausted your energy. Skill, primordial light had been temporarily locked.

Active skill: Stealth is now in cool down.

Time remaining before stealth could be used again: 10 hours, 11 minutes and forty seconds.

Stamina: 10/25.

By this time, the rest of the recruits in the last round for the first stage of the tournament have already finished up, and all attention had been shifted to Adam and Lucius's match.

When Lucius got up, he was covered in blood. Adam had managed to cut through his armor and deal damage in his last attack. The large sword he was holding had been flung to the top of the arena and gotten stuck on the ceiling.

"Looks like you are out of tricks" he said to Adam, noticing he is panting from where he stood and the golden light surrounding him has disappeared.

"And you seem to have lost your sword as well." Adam shot back.

In the split of a second, both of them had up made his mind to end the fight with old fashioned fist fight, rushing towards the other.