The noon sun blazed in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the destroyed forest. It was a sharp contrast to the frozen wasteland Mira had created earlier.
From the distance, a figure approached. It was Aelina, wrapped in illustrious purple robes. She had sensed the tremendous shift in energy when Mira had been experimenting with her new tails.
"Mira," Aelina greeted with a hint of amusement in her voice, her eyes sweeping over the transformed terrain. "I leave you alone for a few days, and you turn our training ground into this?"
Mira nodded indifferently, "I was trying out my new abilities. Got a bit carried away."
Aelina raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Just a bit? Anyway, I came here to check on you, considering the massive fluctuation in energies I felt. So, how does it feel having ten tails instead of one?"
"Powerful, yet overwhelming," Mira admitted, flicking her tails around her. "I have so much more to discover and control. I'm just at the beginning of understanding them."
Aelina glanced at the barren land and then back at Mira. "Why don't we spar?"
Mira's eyes lit up. "You sure?"
"Of course," Aelina said confidently. "Besides, it'll give you a good measure of where you stand with your new powers."
With that, the two of them took positions at opposite ends of the clearing. Without warning, they dashed at one another.
***
Mira wasn't the only one seeking to train and control their new powers. The finale to the Prime Disciple Competition was coming up, and they needed to be in peak condition for whatever Aelina had planned.
Soon, the week-long break they were given was up, and it was time to tally the results from the Secret Realm.
The Battle Maiden Sect was abuzz with excitement. Every member of the sect, from the newest Outer Court disciples to the venerable Core Court elders, gathered in a grand clearing at the heart of the sect.
Massive jade pillars, intricately carved with runes, marked the boundaries of this grand arena. The noon sun, casting a shimmering glow, added to the awe of the spectacle.
As Aelina and the Sect Elders ascended to the grand stage at the center of the clearing, a hush fell over the crowd. The tokens that were attached to their clothes hovered in the air, emitting soft hums of energy.
Aelina, with an air of authority, addressed the sea of faces. "My disciples, the time has come to assess your results. Today, we'll determine who amongst you has shown the most skill, talent, prowess, and luck."
With a wave of her hand, the tokens started to orbit around the platform, each radiating a unique aura. A translucent screen materialized above them, displaying names and their corresponding points. The crowd watched with bated breath, trying to decipher the rapidly changing numbers and standings.
"The point system," Aelina reiterated, "was designed to encourage not just combat but strategy. It's not just about defeating opponents; it's about understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and making wise choices. Now, let's tally the results."
For the next hour, disciples watched as the screen filtered through thousands of names, ranking them according to their accrued points. Whispers spread through the crowd, speculations ran wild, and many looked on with hope, anxiety, and anticipation.
After what seemed like an eternity, the screen solidified its listings. Aelina, with a gleaming smile, announced, "Here are the top 32 disciples who have demonstrated their worth in the Secret Realm!"
The ethereal screen shimmered, and slowly, the names of the top 32 disciples appeared with their points:
[1. Mira - 1,843 points
2. Seraphina - 1,789 points
3. Nova - 1,758 points
4. Rayna - 1,730 points
5. Eden - 1,695 points
6. Everly - 1,672 points
7. Laela - 1,645 points
8. Cordelia - 1,623 points
9. Lyria - 1,610 points
10. Elara - 1,589 points
11. Ilyana - 1,575 points
12. Nylah - 1,552 points
13. Celaine - 1,531 points
14. Aria - 1,515 points
15. Freya - 1,492 points
16. Talina - 1,470 points
17. Sylra - 1,449 points
18. Asami - 1,428 points
19. Althea - 1,409 points
20. Arielle - 1,398 points
21. Tessa - 1,379 points
22. Rhea - 1,367 points
23. Melina - 1,351 points
24. Faela - 1,330 points
25. Skye - 1,324 points
26. Iris - 1,310 points
27. Luna - 1,295 points
28. Kaela - 1,273 points
29. Lyana - 1,261 points
30. Selene - 1,249 points
31. Calla - 1,230 points
32. Zaria - 1,219 points]
A chorus of gasps, murmurs, and cheers erupted as the list was finalized. Disciples congratulated each other while others looked on in awe or disappointment, but it was Mira who drew the most attention.
Aelina's eyes twinkled with pride as she met Mira's gaze. She gave the fox woman a wink, much to Mira's confusion, before turning to the rest of the disciples. "Congratulations to the top 32, especially to our 'winner', Mira."
Nova, with her fierce competitive spirit, approached Mira with a teasing grin. "You might've taken the top spot this time, but the competition isn't over yet."
Seraphina, always the gracious one, smiled warmly, "I figured it'd be like this." Though, she was a bit surprised she came in second. However, it made sense.
Nova, Rayna, Eden, and Everly all showcased extremely powerful abilities. Fighting them, for most people, was a surefire loss. But she was mostly on the defensive or was the designated tank. People thought she was an easier target. Thus, she was always approached by someone who wanted to challenge her.
Rayna nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving the scoreboard, calculating and planning for the next stage.
Meanwhile, Skye, though lower on the list, was brimming with pride. "To think I'd make it among the elites!"
Asami and Celaine exchanged glances, their competitive fire ignited. They didn't cause major waves like Mira, but they made considerable advancements in the Secret Realm, one that Mira would surely be shocked to see.
'How strong have you become, Mira?' Celaine thought, staring at the tall, strong, invincible-like figure at the front of the crowd. Her fists unknowingly clenched as she realized that the two of them had been drifting apart over the years.
She wasn't upset by this, rather, it was expected. The two have been using each other since the beginning. However, she still refused to fall behind her, not after all the training, challenges, and suffering she's gone through.
'I don't know if I'll be able to beat you, but I'm sure as hell strong enough to show you that I haven't gone anywhere! It's going to take a lot more than that to leave me behind!' Her emerald eyes shone brightly.
Other than them, there were quite a few people on the list who seemed like hidden talents. Most of them were either Core or Direct disciples, but there were quite a few Inner Disciples on the list as well, with Skye being the only Outer Disciple. Though, with her current strength, she's qualified to become an Inner Disciple.
Amidst all the chatter, Aelina clapped her hands, instantly silencing everyone. "Alright, I'm sure you all might've guessed by now what the next and final stage of the Prime Disciple Competition is. A tournament!"
"What better way to end a competition than to have a tournament?! The winner of the tournament will undoubtedly be the most suited to become this century's Prime Disciple!"
The disciples erupted in a chorus of excited whispers, conjectures, and predictions. This was an anticipated event – the zenith of the Prime Disciple Competition. It was a stage for these gifted cultivators to showcase their strengths and settle their rivalries.
Everly grinned, her eyes glittering. "A tournament! Finally, a chance to see everyone's true abilities. None of that sneaky point-gathering from the Secret Realm."
Nova chuckled, "Says the one who probably ambushed half the participants."
Everly shrugged nonchalantly. "Strategically positioned myself, thank you very much."
Aelina raised her hand, and the crowd's noise reduced instantly. "This will be a knockout tournament. The matchups will be random, so there's no predicting who you might face. While skill is essential, luck plays a role too."
Seraphina turned to Nova, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Think we'll face each other?"
Nova smirked, "I hope so. I'm interested to see who'll come out on top."
Elara, who was standing close by, overheard and interjected, "Careful what you wish for. There are many here with hidden abilities."
Skye chimed in, "I'm just glad to be part of this! It's an honor to stand with all of you."
Meanwhile, Mira knew she had a target on her back. She could feel the weight of countless gazes on her, some filled with admiration, others with envy and animosity. Although it was only out of a competitive spirit, she couldn't help but shake her head.
'There's always a tournament, huh?' She mentally commented. It seemed that every Sect, or perhaps just the Battle Maiden Sect, loved tournaments, as she'd gone through a few of them in her short time as a member.
But she merely shrugged it off. 'Well, whatever. This is fine, too. I'm interested to see everyone's progress.'
"Now, let the final stage of the Prime Disciple Competition begin!" Aelina announced as the arena erupted with a dense amount of Qi.
