In the lingering aftermath of Nova and Calla's intense showdown, the crowd took a moment to regain their composure. Whispers filled the grand clearing, expressing their excitement for the next fight—Rayna vs. Freya.
Rayna slowly made her way into the arena. Her presence was foreboding, dark, and silent.
Even without uttering a word, the very air around her seemed to grow cold. Draped in a cloak of shadows, her eyes glinted with a deadly calmness, betraying her 6th Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm cultivation.
Her Lesser Shadow Basilisk Bloodline gave her skin a slight pale hue and the faintest trace of reptilian patterns. The Basilisk's signature abilities - petrification and potent venom - were what she had primarily honed during her time in the Secret Realm.
Her chosen weapons, a set of twin daggers, were already in her hands. As she took her stance, one could sense the deadly venom coursing through her blades.
Freya, on the other hand, seemed like a winter's spirit. Her white hair flowed gracefully like a cascade of fresh snow, complementing her icy blue eyes.
With the 5th Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm cultivation, she held a sword gleaming with frost. She had come up with a series of techniques that coincided with her Ice affinity called [Frost's Embrace]. Not to be left behind, her beast bloodline, a Frost Lynx, gave her the agility and sharpness of a lynx combined with the chilling touch of frost.
The protective barrier encapsulated the two combatants. The temperature difference between them created a thin mist, setting a perfect backdrop for their confrontation.
Freya began with her signature move, [Frostbite Blade]! Her sword gleamed with intense cold, aiming to freeze anything it touched. With her enhanced agility, she dashed towards Rayna, sword ready to strike.
But Rayna dodged, her daggers deflecting the frosty blade with ease. She retaliated swiftly. A flick of her wrist sent a barrage of needle-like projectiles toward Freya, each coated with a Basilisk's venom.
Freya, sensing the danger, jumped high into the air, dodging the needles. From above, she cast [Glacial Rain], causing sharp, minuscule shards of ice to plummet down onto Rayna.
But the assassin was prepared. Harnessing the Basilisk's power, her eyes glowed yellow momentarily, turning the falling ice shards into stone, making them fall harmlessly around her.
Freya, landing nimbly, went for another quick assault. "Frost Slash!" she cried, sending a wave of ice-cold energy from her sword toward Rayna.
Rayna countered silently. Her cloak of shadows spread out like wings, absorbing the icy wave and rendering it ineffective. With a quick dash, she closed the distance between them. Her movements were unpredictable, almost mirroring the random predatory pounces of a Basilisk.
The clash of steel echoed as Freya barely managed to keep up with Rayna's swift strikes. With each dagger swipe, a battle to the death unfolded.
Unfortunately, she couldn't quite catch up and got caught by one of the daggers. A faint scratch and Freya felt the numbing cold of Rayna's venom seeping in.
Realizing the danger she was in, Freya summoned her bloodline's power, enveloping herself in a [Lynx Frost Barrier]. The chilling cold combated the venom, slowing its progression.
But Rayna was relentless. With a swift kick, she broke Freya's defense, sending her sprawling. Seizing the opportunity, Rayna threw another set of venom-coated needles.
Freya, trying her best to react, summoned [Blizzard Veil], causing a thick snowstorm to obscure the arena, deflecting a majority of the projectiles. However, a single needle found its mark, piercing her arm.
The effects were immediate. The numbness spread rapidly, and her movements began to slow.
Rayna, sensing victory, closed in, her daggers dripping with venom. But just as she was about to land the final blow, Freya, using the last of her strength, cried out, "Frost Lynx Roar!" A deafening icy roar echoed, throwing Rayna off-balance momentarily.
It gave Freya a few precious seconds, but the venom's effects were too potent. Her vision blurred, and she collapsed, her strength fading away.
Silently, Rayna walked over and stood victorious above the fallen Freya.
"Winner – Rayna!" Aelina's voice echoed.
The crowd, once again, erupted into applause, not for the victory but for the intense and swift battle they had just witnessed. They respected Freya's tenacity and Rayna's lethality. The day was far from over, but this duel would remain in their memories for a long time.
'I shouldn't offend Rayna.' They all thought. Freya only got hit two times, but that was enough to put her, a Core Disciple, out of commission.
Mira, who was watching from the sidelines, also narrowed her eyes. 'Such deadly poison… I wonder if I can resist it.'
She had some resistance to poison, but Rayna's was incredibly potent.
'I don't know if the difference in bloodline will be able to handle it.' Mira thought as she fell into contemplation. If there was anyone she was worried about so far, it was Rayna. Nova and Seraphina would be good matches, but she was confident she could win as long as she put in some effort.
'I guess I'll just have to do my best not to get her by her poison. If I do, then I have to be sure to end the fight quickly.' She concluded before moving on. The next fight should happen soon, and she was a bit excited about it.
With the crowd still in the throes of excitement from Rayna and Freya's thrilling duel, Aelina took a moment to announce the next match. "Eden vs. Kaela!" Her voice echoed throughout the grand clearing, renewing the audience's anticipation.
Eden stepped up to the stage and was the epitome of grace and power. Her delicate, elfin features bore the mark of her Divine Elf Queen Physique, an upgrade from her Heavenly Sacred Elf Queen Physique.
Her long, green hair rippled like sunlight through tree leaves as it cascaded down her back. The light, almost ethereal green shade in her eyes and the way the wind caressed her skin hinted at her Emerald Sky Griffin Bloodline.
Clutched in her hand was a meticulously crafted bow, and behind her was a quiver full of arrows.
Kaela, in stark contrast, exuded a ferocious aura. At the 9th Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, she was a powerhouse in her own right. Her fiery red hair flowed wildly behind her, reflecting her dominant affinity for fire. Her bloodline was that of the Firebird, a lesser version of the Phoenix.
With a physique bestowed upon her by the Legendary Crimson Serpent, her skin bore intricate red scales that shimmered with a lustrous sheen.
In Kaela's hand was a spear, intricately designed with Phoenix motifs and adorned with brilliant red jewels. The Spear, "Phoenix's Cry," was legendary for its ability to call forth infernos and manipulate flames.
As the protective barrier enclosed them, the audience was divided.
On one hand, Kaela's 9th Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm should technically be no match for Eden's 6th Stage of the Soul Transformation Realm. But on the other, many had seen Kaela's prowess in the Secret Realm and knew not to underestimate her.
The battle began.
Kaela initiated the attack. With a shout, she thrust her spear forward, summoning a wave of roaring flames. "[Phoenix Fire Wave]!" she bellowed.
But Eden didn't move. She just nocked an arrow, infused it with a slight touch of wind, and released. The arrow flew, not at Kaela, but straight into the heart of the flame. Rather than piercing through, the blunt end hit the flames, creating a gust that dispersed the fiery wave effortlessly.
The crowd gasped. Such simplicity, yet such mastery.
Kaela, surprised but undeterred, decided to go all out. "[Crimson Serpent Vortex]!" she cried. From her spear, a massive whirlpool of flames spiraled toward Eden, imitating the movements of a serpent, intending to engulf and incinerate her.
Again, Eden calmly nocked an arrow, drawing the string of her bow. The air around her seemed to be still for a moment, and with a precision that was almost divine, she released.
The blunt arrow met the fiery vortex head-on. But rather than being consumed, the vortex seemed to be sucked in, redirecting its ferocity toward the very core of its creation. Kaela had just enough time to register the threat before the blunt force of the redirected vortex smashed into her, sending her careening into the barrier with a resounding crash.
The sounds of bones cracking echoed throughout the arena as Kaela could only let out a silent cry.
The arena fell silent.
Eden simply lowered her bow as if she knew she won. Kaela, on the other hand, was unconscious, her spear fallen beside her, its flames extinguished.
The disparity in their strengths had been clear, but no one had expected such an outcome. The audience, once again, erupted into applause. But this time, it was more out of disbelief than excitement.
"Winner – Eden!" Aelina's voice rang out, but it was almost drowned by the discussions and debates that had already started among the spectators.
Eden, after ensuring that Kaela was unharmed, gave a nod to the Sect Masters and gracefully left the arena.
'I need to save my strength for later.' Were her only thoughts as she walked away, her gaze locked onto Mira.
