The Colosseum's golden aura slowly dimmed, leaving faint traces of celestial light rippling across the floating platforms. The crowds—sect disciples, families, and elite candidates—were dispersing, buzzing with excitement and chatter about the feats they had witnessed. The air was electric with energy, the aftermath of a phenomenon that had imprinted the Dao directly into the minds of all who had participated.
Yet, amid the departing masses, six figures lingered: Hoshigami, Hayato, Rei, Akemi, Shunji, and Kojiro. The peak disciples from Nax Academy had refrained from participating in Round Three, yet they had felt the enlightenment wash over them, like a wave of knowledge that tickled the edges of their comprehension. They looked at Lucien's clone, waiting patiently for answers.
Hoshigami stepped forward first, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Teacher… you said something about the Dao just now. What exactly did you mean? And… how did all of us feel it?"
Lucien's clone, seated casually atop the central observation platform, smiled faintly. He extended a hand, his gaze sweeping over each of them. "The Dao is not something you can hold, nor is it a single path. It is the flow—the rhythm—of existence itself. Strength, knowledge, balance, intention… they are all parts of the Dao. To follow it is to see the world as it truly is, beyond divisions of good or evil, past or future, even beyond life and death."
Kojiro tilted his head, analytical as always. "So… it's like a framework for understanding everything? But how could just your words impart this understanding? Surely that wasn't simple teaching…"
Lucien's clone chuckled softly. "It wasn't just words. It was resonance. When one's mind, body, and spirit are aligned, even a fraction of the Dao's frequency can awaken comprehension. I merely projected it outward, weaving it into the battlefield, into the motions of combat, into the very energies you witnessed. What you felt as enlightenment… was the Dao itself brushing against your consciousness."
Rei furrowed his brow, eager for clarity. "So the fight itself was part of the teaching?"
"Exactly," Lucien's clone replied, his smile widening slightly. "Combat isn't only about destruction or victory. It is observation, adaptability, and understanding. Every strike, every defense, every feint, every strategy—they are all expressions of the Dao in motion. By experiencing it directly, you internalized its rhythm. The Dao does not teach passively. It is learned by doing, by engaging, and by reflecting."
Hayato, ever tactical, narrowed his eyes. "So the Dao is… more than techniques? More than power?"
"Much more," Lucien's clone said, nodding. "Power is fleeting. Techniques can be learned and mastered. The Dao… it is the alignment of all things: perception, timing, intention, consequence, even existence itself. Understanding it allows one to act with clarity, to anticipate outcomes without forcing them, to bend circumstances without breaking the natural flow."
Akemi tilted her head. "But… you said all of us felt it, even those who didn't fight?"
"Yes," Lucien's clone said softly. "Even observing, even being part of the energy, even being touched by the waves of consequence—it all counts. The Dao is impartial. It reaches those who are prepared, those whose minds are open, and those willing to see beyond the self."
Shunji, ever the precise strategist, exhaled slowly. "So what we felt… this enlightenment… it's just the beginning?"
Lucien's clone's eyes gleamed with a quiet, teasing intensity. "Exactly. It's a doorway, not a destination. What you experienced is a taste, a seed planted within your mind and soul. How you cultivate it, how you allow it to grow, is up to you. That seed will grow stronger with observation, action, reflection… and above all, humility. Remember, the Dao cannot be forced. It cannot be controlled. Only aligned with."
Hoshigami's gaze softened, a rare smile flickering on her lips. "So… the battle, the celestial phenomenon, the Colosseum… it was all a teaching method."
Lucien's clone gave a faint nod. "Yes. A lesson in reality, in strategy, in consequence, and in perception. You will leave here stronger—not just in power, but in understanding. Never forget that the greatest victories come from seeing the world as it truly is, not as you wish it to be."
Kojiro, analytical as ever, let out a low whistle. "This… this is beyond anything the academy could teach. Even the masters…"
"Then remember this moment," Lucien's clone said, standing and extending a hand toward them. "Keep it with you, carry it with your actions, let it resonate in every choice, every battle, every encounter. You have been awakened, but that awakening is only a start."
Aelira, sitting nearby, tugged at Hoshigami's sleeve. "Big sister… are we going back to Nax now?"
Hoshigami nodded, turning toward Lucien's clone. "We understand, teacher. Thank you… for this."
Lucien's clone crouched slightly, placing a hand on Aelira's shoulder. "Go. Learn. Grow. Teach others if you must—but remember, the Dao flows through all things. Misuse it, and it will correct you harshly." He gave her a soft smile. "And call me Papa when you want. I don't mind."
Aelira's eyes lit up as she hugged him briefly. "Yes, Papa!"
The six peak disciples shared a final glance, a mix of awe and excitement, before stepping toward the edge of the Colosseum. Lucien's clone extended his arm, forming a subtle vortex of void energy.
"Through this," he said, "the void will guide you home."
In a blink, the six of them were whisked through the cosmic currents of the metaphysical plane. Stars and worlds stretched and warped around them, yet the ride was smooth, guided by the alignment of Lucien's clone's control over the void. Within moments, the familiar environment of Planet Nax appeared before them.
They landed softly near the Nax Academy, the sprawling towers and floating platforms welcoming them back. Though the Azure Games had ended, their minds still hummed with the Dao, their consciousness sharpened, their awareness of the metaphysical and strategic layers of combat now expanded exponentially.
Hoshigami, looking up at the academy towers, whispered, "We're… stronger now, not just in skill, but in understanding."
Hayato smirked, flexing his hands. "And I can't wait to put this into practice."
Rei, ever the daring one, let out a low chuckle. "This is only the beginning. The Azure Games showed us what's possible… now, we show the academy what we've learned."
Akemi, Shunji, and Kojiro nodded in agreement. The six of them, still buzzing with the aftereffects of Lucien's enlightenment wave, walked toward the main hall of Nax Academy, ready to integrate the lessons, share their insights, and continue their cultivation journey.
High above in the void, Lucien's clone watched the six peak disciples return, a subtle smirk forming on his face. Guru and Vaelion sat nearby, sipping their tea.
"Looks like the lesson stuck," Guru said casually, smirking.
Vaelion raised an eyebrow. "For now. Let's see how long before their arrogance grows to match their knowledge."
Lucien's clone chuckled softly, watching the Nax Academy gleam in the distance. "Let them learn… the Dao is patient. And so am I."
The Azure Games had ended, but the ripples of its teachings, of the Dao, and of Lucien's presence would continue to resonate through the universe—through Nax, Azure Blue, and beyond.