2026-05-13 08:48:31
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The Weight of Victory
The cheers inside the Grand Venue continued long after the official announced Astral Vanguard's victory.Even as healers entered the battlefield.Even as officials guided the exhausted participants away.Even as the arena staff began preparing for the following day's matches.The discussions refused to die.Astral Vanguard had done it again.First Hollow Crest.Now Silver Thorn.Two victories.Two difficult battles.Two opponents capable of defeating most teams in the competition.And somehow, the six initiates from Astral Vanguard continued advancing.Throughout the arena, spectators discussed the battle passionately.Some talked about Andrew's Void Affinity.Others spoke about Kellan's leadership.Many praised Ronan's relentless aggression.A surprising number of people seemed fascinated by Lyra's ability to appear where nobody expected her.Yet one name kept appearing repeatedly.Eli.The earth-affinity initiate who had spent most of the battle trapped inside a thorn prison before
The Price of Victory
The moment Cael smiled, Kellan knew exactly what it meant.Something was coming.Across the battlefield, the captain of Silver Thorn slowly raised his hand.At the same time, Luther slammed both palms against the arena floor.The entire battlefield trembled.A ripple spread through the stone arena.The roots covering nearly half the battlefield suddenly came alive.Gasps erupted throughout the Grand Venue.The vines that had previously acted as obstacles began moving together.Thousands of thorn-covered tendrils twisted and merged into one enormous mass.The sight alone was enough to make several spectators stand."What is that?""How much Aether does he have left?""That's insane for an Initiate!"Green light surged across the battlefield.The roots thickened.Expanded.Interlocked.Within moments, a massive wall of living thorns rose from the arena floor.Then another.And another.The battlefield transformed into a maze.Astral Vanguard immediately found themselves separated.Andre
Roots and Lightning
The official's hand fell."Begin!"The moment the word echoed across the Grand Venue, both teams exploded into motion.Thousands of spectators leaned forward simultaneously.The final match of the day had officially begun.Astral Vanguard versus Silver Thorn.Two guilds that had already shattered expectations.Two guilds carrying momentum from impressive victories.Only one would advance.Andrew immediately noticed something different.Hollow Crest had started cautiously.Silver Thorn did not.The instant the battle began, their formation split apart like a flock of birds scattering before a storm.Cael disappeared toward the right flank.Luther moved left.The remaining members spread out across the arena.It happened so quickly that several spectators gasped."They're separating?""Already?""That's dangerous."Kellan's eyes narrowed."No."His voice remained calm."It's deliberate."Andrew saw it too.Silver Thorn wasn't breaking formation.They were creating space.A lot of space.
Round Two
The atmosphere inside Eclipse Dominion felt different that morning.The difference was subtle at first.The pathways remained crowded.Guild members still moved through the enormous grounds carrying weapons, equipment, and supplies.Merchants continued doing business near the outer districts while officials hurried between different sections of the guild in preparation for another day of competition.Yet beneath all of that activity existed something new.Expectation.Round One had ended.The weak had already begun disappearing from the tournament.Those who remained had earned the right to continue.As a result, every conversation seemed more serious than before.Every competitor appeared more focused.Every guild looked more determined.Andrew noticed it almost immediately as Astral Vanguard entered the grounds alongside Kael, Selene, and Seran.The spectators they passed no longer looked at them with curiosity.Recognition had replaced curiosity.Several people pointed discreetly.
Plans Beneath the Night
The walk back to Astral Vanguard was considerably faster than the journey that had brought them into the city earlier.Mostly because Eli had spent the final ten minutes of their conversation with Selene repeatedly reminding Andrew that Kael would personally bury them beneath the training grounds if they arrived late for the evening strategy meeting.By the time the guild walls came into view, the large earth-affinity user was practically dragging Andrew forward.“I still think we have time,” Andrew said.“We do not have time.”“We've only been gone for—”“We do not have time.”Andrew sighed.“You keep repeating the same sentence.”“Because it remains true every time I say it.”Andrew considered arguing further before deciding it was pointless.The conversation with Selene and Mira lingered in his thoughts anyway.Unexpectedly so.He had imagined the infamous daughter of Eclipse Dominion's Guild Master to be arrogant.Cold.Difficult to approach.Someone who looked down on people from
An Unexpected Conversation
For several seconds after the introduction, nobody said anything.The four simply stood there beneath the warm glow of the evening lanterns while people moved along the street around them.Andrew found the situation slightly amusing.Eli looked as though somebody had suddenly thrown him into an arena without warning.The usually talkative earth-affinity user had completely frozen.Across from them, Selene Vale remained calm as ever, while the girl beside her observed the situation with obvious curiosity.The silence stretched.Then Mira sighed dramatically."Wonderful."Everyone looked at her.She pointed at Eli."Has he always been like this?"Eli blinked."Like what?""Like someone whose brain stops working whenever he meets new people."Andrew immediately answered."Yes."Selene's lips twitched slightly.Eli looked betrayed."You answered too quickly.""Because it's true.""I am perfectly capable of speaking."Mira folded her arms."Then speak."Eli opened his mouth.Nothing came o
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