The night outside was quiet.
Only the faint crackle of a flame disturbed the stillness.
Inside a dimly lit room, two figures sat across from each other, separated by a simple wooden table.
Kilemin's sharp eyes flashed faintly in the light, his shadow stretching across the floor.
He glanced over at Arthur.
"Is the plan for tomorrow perfect?" His tone was calm, but it carried weight.
Arthur leaned back slightly, his hands fidgeting with the worn edge of his chair, almost impulsively. He adjusted his goggles, the reflection of the flame flashing in the lens.
"Mm… it should be."
He paused.
"This time, I should be able to meet her. Everything's in place. There shouldn't be any mistakes." His voice sounded steady, but the tiny quiver beneath it betrayed him.
Kilemin struggled to understand his obsession.
Arthur wasn't lying, he really wanted to believe that. But this time, his ability wouldn't work, and that made all the difference.
Kilemin folded his arms, studying the younger hero in silence.
For a long while, neither of them spoke.
Only the soft hiss of the wins filled the air.
"I hope you're right," Kilemin finally murmured.
Outside, the wind brushed past the windows, echoing faintly through the cracks. It almost sounded like doubt carried on the breeze.
Kilemin's gaze drifted toward the flame again.
"Is it necessary?" he asked roughly.
Arthur nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I'm sure it is."
Kilemin sighed and rubbed his temples. "Fine, then I'll help you, but remember this, some things can't be forced. If you push too hard… they'll bend the other way."
Arthur didn't respond.
His eyes had already wandered toward the darkened window. Beyond the glass, the faint reflection of his own face looked back at him.
He didn't blink.
He was thinking, no, remembering.
Petra only had a few portraits, but almost all of them depicted her as having a large frog. This is what he found hard to forget, as for why, it was because it matched one of the shadows from his divination.
The wind outside howled once, then fell silent again.
The lantern flickered.
Tomorrow would come soon, and he fully understood that it would be a turning point.
* * *
[Day 7]
The seventh day started with a heavy atmosphere.
The bad weather had returned, washing the city in a dense tide of grey clouds that reached all the way up to the main city
The morning streets were covered in a few centimeters of dark mist, turning the marble stone slick, and making every step match the tension in the air.
The air was chilly, and the wind was wet.
The day began with the conclusion of the Beast Master Competition.
The final winner was a middle-aged breeder, known for his expertise in mass breeding a specific type of beast. His prize beast, the Bell Bear, was a towering white monster reaching nearly four meters tall. It resembled a polar bear, but with a golden lion's mane and a bell-shaped tuft of hair at the end of its tail. It was both adorable and ferocious, a combination that thrilled and terrified the crowd. The man definitely knew that after the competition, his business would explode in popularity. This was because he took every opportunity to advertise.
Next came the final round of the Poison Master Competition. This was the only contest Petra had chosen to attend personally, at least, to view the whole thing. She observed closely, studying the state of Pillomal's poison arts.
She noticed two things immediately.
First, their techniques were archaic. Most competitors relied on simple mixtures and perfect ratios, barely advancing beyond only using mere combinations. Their skills lacked enlightenment, trapped in outdated methods that were likely the aftereffects of this unscientific world.
Second, Pillomal's approach leaned heavily on metaphysical techniques. They relied too heavily on spiritual energy and didn't branch out into other fields. It was like progressing down the "Spiritual Energy Skill Tree" instead of the 'Elemental Energy Skill Tree' like on Earth. The methods were impressive, even elegant, but limited in many ways.
With the Poison Master Competition concluded, the final event of the day arrived, the Reward Ceremony!
* * *
Petra woke up feeling slightly off, almost irritated.
She wasn't sure if it was the weather, or something else, but the feeling wouldn't leave her no matter who or where she pinched.
She stepped outside with Nebula and the twins.
The streets were slick with mist, cold and gray.
They were headed to the reward ceremony.
-
Competition venue, main stage.
"Good evening, everyone!"
The voice rang out over the competition venue, clear and deafening, loud enough to make the massive crowd turn heads.
"Today, we have gathered to celebrate the hard work and dedication that each participant has displayed over this long week!"
Wooooo!
The crowd erupted in cheers, as a wave of voices echoed off the nearby stadium.
"Each award is not just a symbol of glory, but a testament to talent, passion, and the relentless efforts that every individual has put forth! To all of you being recognized today, I congratulate you on your remarkable performance!"
Wooooo!
The cheering grew louder, mixed with claps, whistles, and the occasional stomping of feet and magic lights.
"I hope that this reminds you all that your efforts truly make a difference and inspire the many geniuses gathered here today. We encourage you to keep reaching even higher, to face the coming calamities with a firm heart and unyielding will! Remember, even in the darkest times, never give up!"
Wooooo!
The crowd roared, waving banners, hats, and hands. People from all around the continent had gathered. Children bounced on the shoulders of their parents, while merchants smiled and clapped along with their customers.
Petra arrived just in time to catch the ending of the opening speech.
She wove through the dense crowd, finding her way to one of the higher seats in the stadium.
Over the next hour, Petra and the girls watched hundreds of awards being handed out, one after another.
Medals flickered, certificates fluttered, and countless prizes were announced in quick succession.
The six main competitions, combat, magic, alchemy, forging, beasts, and poison, each had their own grand ceremonies. The minor competitions, though less flashy, were treated with the same care and fanfare.
Wooooo!
The crowd erupted again as another round of winners was announced.
Finally, the announcer called for silence.
The last of the massive cheers faded and for a moment, there was nothing but the soft rustle of clothes and the low hum of the crowd.
Then–
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
An enormous explosion ripped through the competition venue. The sound was deafening, echoing in every corner of the festival. The ground shook violently beneath ones feet. Dust and fragments of debris shot into the air, throwing everything into chaos. The spatial barrier surrounding the stadium rippled violently, bending and warping under the shockwave from an unseen attack. People screamed, stumbling in every direction, while vendors clutched their stalls to prevent them from toppling.
The real chaos was about to begin.
* * *
It was unknown what had caused the explosion, but one thing was certain, and that was that all the forces that had been waiting took it as an opportunity to 'begin'.
The instant the spatial barrier shook, the crowd erupted into mass panic. People screamed, tripped over each other, and shoved toward the exits.
And then, three different forces struck simultaneously.
Rotell was attacked first.
Hundreds of mercenaries, hidden among the crowd, surged forward like a wave. She barely had time to react before blades flashed past her by the dozens.
At the same time, the remaining demons scattered throughout the crowd leapt into action. They ran around anything and anyone in their path, splitting between scattering through the crowd and dispersing into the city.
Not long later, hundreds of unknown demons suddenly appeared all around the city.
Shouts, screams, and the scent of blood filled the air.
"Whoosh!"
A powerful radiance swept across the competition venue. Two massive male angels suddenly shot out from the crowd, their forms booming with light as they transformed into pure light elementals. Their eight wings stretched wide, forming swords and shields of blinding radiance around the central stage.
"Boom!"
Another massive explosion came from the distant sky tower. The force shook the air itself, sending dust and debris spiraling upwards like some kind of signal.
The female angel snapped her head toward the sound, her eyes widening. She shot out like a ray of light, disappearing towards the explosion and the Sky Tower.
Absolute chaos fell!
* * *
Chaos had erupted throughout the competition venue.
Elena's heart sank.
She realized Arthur and Kilemin had already disappeared, leaving her alone.
She grimaced, already drawing her daggers. Golden spiritual energy swiftly coiled around her, and she dashed forward, weaving through the unpredictable crossfire, then flashed onto the rooftops of the arena with a strong step.
Her senses screamed, a sudden and overwhelming sense of danger washing over her.
Elena's eyes snapped to a nearby roof.
Without hesitation, she flashed over, narrowly avoiding a white dagger that carved through the air.
She turned back, cold sweat running down her forehead.
The figure standing there was unmistakable, Menarose, the Seventh Star Tower Pillar. She stepped out with a white dagger in hand, her mask concealing all her emotions.
Behind her, the Sixth Pillar, Gon, slinked out. Her tall, thin, and grim figure rippled with a green spiritual energy, and her presence almost seemed to drain the light from the world around her.
Menarose was a quick sword and Gon was the slow nail.
Elena's daggers twitched in her hands as she assessed the situation.
I failed to avoid this? her mind raced. This is bad.
She had underestimated the value of three heroes.
She jumped even further back and shifted into a defensive stance, circling the roof as Menarose moved with the unseen gaze of a predator.
She exploded forward, leaving Gon alone on the roof.
White daggers whistled through the air, each one aimed to anticipate Elena's movements.
Elena blocked the first strike with her dagger, spun, and slashed at Menarose's side, but the white ghost was already gone, melting into a shadow and reappearing behind her.
Elena responded with another jump.
Gon's tall frame advanced silently, sweeping her arm to unleash a focused road-sized wave of dark green energy. Elena twisted, letting the force slam past her and into the rooftop behind, sending shards of white stone flying, narrowly avoiding being thrown off balance.
Sweat soaked her brow, and a grim smile formed despite the danger.
Elena darted between attacks, letting her spiritual energy surge.
Daggers hummed as she deflected hundreds of strikes, her movements precise and simple.
It was already a miracle that she could fight two Pillars while not yet in the third realm.
They're not holding back… Elena thought. They want me gone…?
Where did I go wrong?
Menarose lunged again, her dagger slicing through the air like a streak of moonlight. Elena barely twisted out of the way, letting the dagger graze her shoulder. She hissed, blood running down her arm, but she didn't slow.
She leapt backwards, landing on the edge of another roof.
Gon's eyes glowed faintly as she raised her hands, channeling another wave of spiritual energy. Elena braced herself, focusing all her strength, and exploded into motion.
Gon released an eclipsing cloud of black mist that Elena smashed through with her own sword light and continued into another attack, flipping toward Menarose again.
Elena knew that she couldn't keep fighting.
Winning was just another form of losing.
The best thing she could do was run away.
The fight was far from over, but Elena's eyes burned with passion. Amidst the shock of the two Pillars, Elena's speed increased again.
* * *