The day of the final round arrived like the calm before a storm. The sky over the Heavenly Blade Sect was clear, but the air throbbed with tension, every disciple gathered around the colossal coliseum built into the heart of the mountain. It was said that the arena itself was forged from starlit crystal—its walls able to channel celestial energy, amplifying the duels within.
For the disciples of the sect, this was more than just the closing trial of the Celestial Resonance Ceremony. It was where reputations were born and legends began.
Instructor Liang Yuren stood on the grand stage, his robe swaying in the wind, his expression solemn. "Disciples of the Heavenly Blade Sect," he began, voice echoing like rolling thunder. "The Combat Rounds will test your strength, instinct, and mastery of your inner resonance. There will be four rounds, each more intense than the last. The final victor shall be honored as the Star Disciple of this year's ceremony."
The crowd erupted in cheers. The energy was contagious—raw excitement and fierce ambition colliding like the clash of swords.
Zeref stood among the line of participants, his gaze calm, unreadable. Chen Ruo nudged him with a grin. "You ready for this, brother?"
Zeref's lips curved slightly. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Lin Yuexin tightened the strap of her gauntlets, determination burning in her eyes. "Don't hold back, Zeref. Today's the day you show everyone who you are."
Zeref chuckled softly, but his mind was elsewhere. High in the stands, he could feel her gaze—Miss Lin, watching with silent intensity. Her expression was as calm as ever, but her eyes glimmered faintly with celestial light. It felt as though she could see straight through him.
As the first gong echoed, the arena came alive. Platforms of light rose from the ground, forming dozens of circular battlegrounds where the initial matches would take place.
"Round One!" Instructor Liang's voice rang. "Begin!"
Opponents faced off, the air crackling with energy. Zeref's first match was against Shen Wuying, a spear-wielding disciple known for his aggressive strikes and sharp precision.
The moment the signal flared, Shen lunged forward, his spear darting like lightning. But Zeref was faster—his movements fluid, almost lazy, yet perfectly timed. With a faint hum, his palm brushed the air, and a ripple of energy burst outward, redirecting Shen's strike.
"What—?" Shen gasped as his own momentum threw him off balance.
Zeref twisted, using the opening to disarm him, the spear clattering across the arena floor. The crowd gasped as Shen stumbled backward, and with a soft motion, Zeref tapped his shoulder, sending a burst of energy that gently but decisively knocked him unconscious.
The match ended in silence before applause thundered through the coliseum.
"Winner—Zeref Ying."
From the stands, Chen Ruo whistled. "That was way too smooth. He didn't even break a sweat."
Yuexin smiled faintly. "He's holding back."
Miss Lin's gaze never wavered. "Indeed," she murmured under her breath. "He's not showing his true resonance at all."
The next rounds followed swiftly. The second battle paired Zeref against Yan Qiu, a martial artist who specialized in sound-based techniques. Waves of sonic energy filled the arena, shaking the air itself, but Zeref moved through them like mist, his aura shimmering faintly.
When Yan unleashed her final technique—a thunderous burst of sound—Zeref simply raised his hand. The resonance around him rippled, bending the sound into silence. He stepped forward, calm as water, and with one precise motion, ended the match.
Two rounds, two flawless victories.
The third round, however, was different. His opponent, Li Feng, was a dual-blade specialist known for his lightning-fast attacks. The moment the match began, arcs of blue light flashed across the arena, Li Feng's blades moving in a blur.
Zeref met him head-on this time, summoning the blade he'd crafted in the second trial—the Eclipsera, a weapon forged from celestial ore, now pulsing faintly with aetherion energy.
Their swords clashed, sparks raining across the battlefield. Each strike rang with intent, the sound echoing through the mountain like the rhythm of destiny.
"You've been hiding your strength," Li Feng growled mid-strike, sweat beading on his brow. "What are you?"
Zeref's eyes glimmered faintly silver. "Someone who adapts."
He pivoted, deflecting a downward slash, and unleashed a single energy arc from his blade. It wasn't violent, nor forceful—just impossibly precise. The wave of resonance disarmed Li Feng in an instant, the twin blades scattering like petals in the wind.
When the dust settled, Zeref stood unmoving at the center, sword lowered, the crowd roaring his name.
Miss Lin's expression softened, though her thoughts were anything but calm. His control is unreal… but the mark's energy, it's responding again.
As the third round ended, Zeref took a long breath, gazing up at the clear sky. The twin stars—those same celestial twins that always seemed to glow brighter when he fought—shone faintly even in daylight.
"The heavens are watching," he murmured to himself.
The gong sounded once more, and the remaining participants stepped forward. Only eight disciples were left standing, each having carved their way through dozens of opponents. Among them were familiar faces—Chen Ruo, Lin Yuexin, Darius, and a few elite seniors whose cultivation far surpassed the lower ranks.
"Final Round," Instructor Liang declared. "The elite duels. Each of you will face an opponent determined by fate."
Spheres of light rose once again, spinning in the air before finally slowing, pairing names one by one. The air crackled with anticipation.
"Chen Ruo versus Bai Jian."
"Lin Yuexin versus Fei Yulan."
"Tao Feng versus Wei Lian."
Zeref's name glowed last, the final pair forming before the audience's eyes.
"Zeref Ying…" Liang's tone grew heavier. "…versus Darius Han."
The crowd gasped. Even those who had expected a rivalry hadn't anticipated it this soon.
Darius stepped forward, the smirk on his face sharp and cold. His crimson aura flared, resonating with the blade he carried—a heavy, double-edged greatsword etched with demonic runes. "So, we meet again, shadow boy," he sneered. "You've embarrassed me enough times already. Let's see if you can still smile when I break you."
Zeref exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable. "I don't fight to humiliate anyone, Darius. But if you come at me with hate, I'll end this quickly."
The air between them thickened, their energies clashing before their weapons even touched. The coliseum trembled under the rising pressure, waves of raw resonance rippling across the stands.
Students whispered among themselves. "That energy… it's terrifying!"
"Darius's strength is said to rival inner disciples already!"
"But Zeref—he's just… different."
From above, Miss Lin's gaze sharpened. Her fingers tightened slightly on the railing. "This match… will decide much more than a title."
Instructor Liang raised his hand. "Disciples, prepare yourselves!"
Zeref drew the Eclipsera, its blade catching the sunlight, reflecting a faint shimmer of cosmic hue. Darius' greatsword roared with fiery energy, the ground beneath him cracking from the sheer pressure.
For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Two stars—one of fire, one of shadow—stood facing each other beneath the endless sky.
And then—
The gong struck.
Both launched forward, energy erupting like thunderclaps, colliding in the center with a shockwave that sent the crowd reeling.
But before the battle could be seen clearly, a curtain of dust and light enveloped the arena, obscuring everything in blinding brilliance.
When it cleared, the two figures stood locked in place—eyes burning with power, blades raised, the fight only just beginning.
The air was electric. Every spectator knew that what was coming next would shake the entire sect.
And from the high tower, Miss Lin whispered to herself, eyes glowing faintly, "Fate has chosen its battlefield."
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To be continued...