The sun hung high over Azure Blue, its light refracted through the colossal expanse of the Azure Colosseum. A structure that seemed carved from the heavens themselves, suspended platforms and tiered seats stretched endlessly, giving every observer a perfect vantage of the battlefield below. Today, the air was electric with anticipation; the first major round of the Azure Games had ended, but Round Three—the battle royal—was about to begin.
Lucien's clone sat atop the central observation platform, legs crossed, his abyssal eyes scanning the entrants with an amused glint. Beside him, Guru lounged nonchalantly, a small pot of tea balanced precariously in his palm, and Vaelion leaned against the rail, arms folded, observing with an expression of dry amusement.
"Look at them," Lucien murmured, voice calm yet carrying the weight of authority, "they think this is a game. Let's see how long that illusion lasts." His gaze flicked toward the crowd below, and for a moment, his expression softened as his eyes landed on Aelira, fidgeting beside the peak disciples from Nax Academy. "Big sisters, big brothers," she murmured, tugging gently at Hoshigami's sleeve. Lucien's clone chuckled quietly at the sight.
From the distant corners of Azure Blue, the major sects began arriving, each accompanied by their strongest disciples and candidates. The ground trembled faintly as the Azure Dragon Sect descended, their leader, Elder Ryokia, floating gracefully above the arena floor. Flames danced along Ryuketsu's fists as he landed, a roar escaping his throat that rattled the crystal windows of the Colosseum. Beside him, Misato's cloak fluttered like a streak of silver wind, and Takeshi's boots sank slightly into the earth as he gripped his massive war staff.
"Elder Ryokia," a voice called from the crowd, "your sect's candidates are bold as always."
Ryokia's lips curled into a small, proud smile. "Boldness is forged through fire, not through empty chatter."
The Moon Shadow Clan followed shortly after, their arrival as silent as a predator's glide. Matriarch Seiryo led, a shadowy aura cloaking her form. Seikatsu's eyes gleamed with malice, shadowed tendrils writhing around his body, while Ayame's blades flickered, coated in a faint green mist of venom. Hikaru, almost indistinguishable in the darkness, phased through his own shadows, letting his arrival go unnoticed by all but the sharpest observers.
"Careful, Silver Dragon Sect," whispered a spectator from the sidelines, "the Moon Shadow Clan does not forgive mistakes."
Finally, the Stellar Ascendants arrived, the very air bending slightly as their celestial energy resonated outward. Lord Kairen's signature presence was felt first, then Kaishin descended, meteoric fragments spinning around his arms like a deadly halo. Lumina's hair shimmered, bending the light into beams that cut through the arena's atmosphere, and Rento's fingers glowed as he prepared his ranged energy techniques.
Lucien's clone tilted his head, amused. "Ah… stellar ascendants. Always dramatic, yet predictable." Guru snorted. "Predictable, yes—but still dangerous. You should enjoy watching." Vaelion simply sighed. "Old men never change."
The ground rumbled again as the elite families entered. Kunihiro's heavy cloak trailed behind him, water and earth energy crackling faintly at his hands. Sayuri's eyes gleamed, her mystical seals forming intricate patterns in the air around her as she moved. They whispered to each other, sizing up the battlefield, but their hushed tones were drowned by the excited murmurs of the crowd.
"Alright," Lucien's clone announced, rising to his feet. The crowd quieted instantly, all eyes turning to him. His voice carried clearly across the arena. "Welcome, participants, to Round Three of the Azure Games. The rules are simple: survival, strategy, and skill will determine your standing. No fatalities unless accidental. No interference from outside sources. This is a battle royal—not a slaughter. Disobedience will not be tolerated."
He paused, scanning each sect and family with those abyssal eyes, letting the tension build. "Prepare yourselves. The arena is vast, the opponents many, and the outcomes… unpredictable."
As soon as he finished, the barriers that had contained the participants shimmered and dissolved, revealing the full arena. The floor of the Colosseum was no longer flat; it had shifted and warped into a multilevel landscape with cliffs, pillars, lakes, and mystical ruins. Energy flowed through the terrain like veins, each section favoring a different combat style—perfect for martial combat, ranged dueling, or large-scale metaphysical confrontations.
Hoshigami's eyes widened. "So… this is real," she whispered. Aelira tugged at her sleeve. "Papa! Look at the size!"
Lucien's clone merely smiled, eyes glinting. "It's real enough."
The signal to start came with a bell resonating throughout the Colosseum. From all corners, cultivators sprinted, flew, or teleported into position. The first clashes were explosive.
Ryuketsu of the Azure Dragon Sect met Seikatsu of the Moon Shadow Clan at the center of a wide plateau. The impact of their fists clashing sent shockwaves outward, shattering stones and sending rivers of energy cascading into the air. "Your flames are weak!" Seikatsu sneered, shadows darting like serpents around his limbs. Ryuketsu smirked. "And your shadows will die in the light!" With a flick of his wrist, a crescent of lightning-fused fire tore through the shadows, slicing cleanly as if it had severed them from reality itself.
Nearby, Takeshi lunged at Hikaru, swinging his massive staff. Hikaru phased through the attack effortlessly, materializing behind Takeshi to strike at his exposed back. The force of the blow caused Takeshi to spin midair, crashing into a pillar that collapsed under the pressure. "Not bad…" Takeshi muttered, jumping up with barely a scratch, his aura flaring red as he readied his next strike.
Across the arena, Kaishin and Misato clashed with a clash of light and wind. Misato's wind currents bent and twisted Kaishin's meteor fragments, redirecting them toward her foes. Kaishin countered, summoning more celestial energy, turning his strikes into miniature starbursts that illuminated the battlefield.
Amid the chaos, the peak disciples from Nax Academy watched from a specially prepared platform, seated beside Aelira, who clutched Lucien's clone's hand nervously. Hoshigami's eyes gleamed with determination, her aura partially resonating with the metaphysical plane. "This is going to be… intense," she whispered.
Lucien's clone observed each combatant, noting strengths, weaknesses, and fighting styles. "Ah… the diversity of skill is fascinating," he murmured. Guru chuckled. "You've been in this arena a hundred times over, and you still treat it like a show." Lucien's clone grinned. "Because every show has a story, old friend. And I love watching the story unfold."
In the distance, Sayuri unleashed a cascade of mystical bindings toward Rento, who deflected them with precise energy bolts. Ayame moved swiftly through the chaos, attempting to poison Misato, only to have her blades deflected by Takeshi, who had joined the skirmish. Every strike, every movement, was a dance of combat mastery, combining martial arts, cultivation powers, and metaphysical energy manipulation in a spectacle that lit the sky with every collision.
"Interesting…" Lucien's clone murmured, noticing the fluidity of combat between the sects. "They're all strong, but none have tasted true fear yet." Guru sipped his tea. "They will. Or they won't. Depends on how much you let them live through this."
Suddenly, a burst of wind and a shadow simultaneously collided in midair. Ryuketsu and Seikatsu were thrown back, landing with a heavy impact that shook the arena floor. Their auras flared, the first sparks of their Class S mastery manifesting. Spectators gasped as the plateau fractured beneath them.
Hoshigami, observing from her platform, clenched her fists. "This… this is more than I imagined," she muttered. Her aura flickered, resonating faintly with the metaphysical plane. She could sense Lucien's clone's observation, his presence weighing lightly on her mind, and it steadied her. "I won't fall behind… not here, not now."
Aelira, perched beside her, whispered, "Big sister… I want to be strong like them." Lucien's clone caught the comment, smiling faintly, watching his foster daughter's gaze sparkle with determination. "Patience, little one," he murmured under his breath, "all in due time."
As the first hour of combat unfolded, it became clear that this battle royal was not just a test of power—it was a test of creativity, strategy, and adaptability. Lightning clashed with shadow, fire roared against celestial energy, and every contestant pushed the boundaries of their abilities to survive.
From above, Lucien's clone observed the chaos, smiling faintly. "Round Two is shaping up nicely. Let's see who survives this, and who will rise to truly understand the game."
Guru raised an eyebrow, taking another sip of his tea. "You're enjoying this far too much."
"I always enjoy a good show," Lucien's clone replied, eyes glinting. "Especially when it's not just for power… but for character."
The camera of the narrative (if such a thing existed) would pan across the Colosseum—Ryuketsu's fire dances, Seikatsu's shadows weaving, Kaishin's celestial strikes, and Misato's wind slashes—painting a vivid spectacle of skill, strategy, and power.