Chapter 78: Trial of Sequences – Root and Storm Spear vs. Living Root
I. The Whisper Among the Roots
The midday light fell obliquely upon the Pavilion of the Five Paths, bathing the platforms in a golden and green glow. Following the symphony of mist and light from Lyra and Lys, the atmosphere was permeated with hope… and expectation. This would not be a duel of legendary figures or monstrous auras, but of two young women forged in humility, the earth, and sisterhood.
The System vibrated:
[Next Duel:
Aylin, Root and Storm Spear (Transcendence Stage 9, Morningstar lineage, Earth/Wind/Spear)
vs.
Elowen, Living Root (Transcendence Stage 9, Wood/Life, Morningstar minor branch)]
Both ascended the platform together, their eyes shining with a mix of excitement and nerves. Aylin carried her spear engraved with green runes, her posture firm; Elowen, her hair tied in a braid, was dressed in green and brown, wearing a belt adorned with seeds and fresh leaves.
Violeta, from the edge of the plaza, whispered to Eris: —"This will be a combat of deep roots. Both are fighting for more than just a rank." Kael, his voice raspy, added: —"It will be a lesson that the clan grows from the ground up."
II. Greeting of Sisterhood
Aylin and Elowen looked at each other, smiling nervously. —"I never thought I'd actually have to fight you for real," Elowen whispered. Aylin nodded. —"You taught me how to plant the first root. Today, you'll see if I have bloomed."
Both planted their ceremonial spears into the center of the platform, bowing their heads in a silent oath. From the air, Samael proclaimed: —"The Morningstar clan grows with roots and storms. Show us how the earth can challenge the sky."
The gong resonated. The dance of life and struggle began.
III. First Bout: Storm over the Earth
Aylin was the first to move, her spear tracing an arc. —"Spear Art: Cyclone of a Thousand Roots."
The ground shook. From the tip of her spear, living roots erupted, coiling in spirals and then rising, merging into a whirlwind of leaves and earth. The wind howled, kicking up dust and petals. Elowen smiled, her Wood Qi vibrating. —"Life Art: Rebirthing Forest."
With a clap of her hands, seeds from her belt shot out, growing into branches and flowers at an impossible speed. The young trees blocked the cyclone, their leaves absorbing part of the wind's energy as their roots sank deep into the platform. For an instant, the techniques balanced each other: the raw force of the storm against the resilience of the forest. The crowd chanted their names.
Aylin spun, tossing her spear into the sky. The weapon rotated in the air and descended like a green bolt, splitting one of the tree barriers. Elowen raised a hand, invoking a wall of ivy that absorbed the impact. Both retreated, smiling and panting.
IV. Second Bout: Strategy and Resilience
Elowen shifted her tactics. —"Life Art: Aurora Net."
Dozens of thick roots surged from the edge of the platform, growing like serpents seeking to trap Aylin's feet. Each root bore golden thorns, and every time one was severed by Aylin's spear, two more sprouted in its place. Aylin retreated, her breathing quickening. —"You won't catch me that easily…"
She raised her spear and spun on one heel. —"Gale Spear." The wind condensed around the weapon, and with a rotation, Aylin created a ring of pressure that uprooted several of the traps. She lunged forward, launching zigzagging thrusts—a dance that blended the lightness of air with the solidity of earth. Elowen, remaining calm, centered her Qi. —"Forced Growth."
The entire platform was covered in sprouts and flowers, and suddenly Aylin felt the ground give way beneath her feet. A thick root caught her by the ankle. Elowen stepped forward and touched the ground: —"Life Flame!"
From the root, a small red flower bloomed, exploding into a cloud of pollen. Trapped, Aylin breathed in the pollen and felt her body grow numb. Both stopped, measuring each other. For the first time, the audience saw the possibility of defeat for the favorite.
V. Third Bout: The Limit of Sisterhood
Cornered, Aylin closed her eyes. She remembered the days of training in the forest with Elowen—the laughter, the failures, the words of encouragement. "If you fall, the root will lift you."
She opened her eyes and smiled. —"Forbidden Art: Emerald Storm Spear." The pollen swirled around her, but Aylin channeled her Qi into the center of her chest, dispelling the paralysis with pure willpower. The spear vibrated and became coated in green lightning. Aylin spun in the air, cutting the root that bound her and releasing a discharge that swept the pollen away.
Elowen, surprised, retreated. Aylin landed, spear held high, and for a moment the platform was covered in rain and wind. Elowen, far from surrendering, used her final technique: —"Heart Root."
She slammed both hands into the ground. From the cracks emerged a white root whose Qi was so pure that the rain turned into luminous droplets. The root sought Aylin's heart—not to wound, but to measure her will. Aylin felt the pressure, but she did not reject it. —"The root and the storm can coexist," she whispered.
Both techniques collided in a burst of green and white light. The audience shielded their eyes from the glare.
VI. Climax: The Sprout and the Bolt
In the center of the glow, Aylin and Elowen met, hand against hand. The spear trembled, the root pulsed. Neither could advance. The platform creaked beneath their feet. Aylin, gasping, looked her friend in the eyes. —"I don't want to beat you. I want to grow with you."
Elowen smiled, tears in her eyes. —"I have always been by your side, even if the clan did not see my roots." Both released their techniques at the same time. The wind whirled the flowers, the roots entwined with the spear, and for an instant, nature celebrated their sisterhood.
The System shone:
[Result: Draw Declared.
Aylin retains Rank 8 (Root and Storm Spear). Elowen rises to Rank 13 (Living Root).
Joint Unlock: "Storm Root"—a group defense and healing technique.
Both advance to Origin Realm, Stage 1.****]
VII. Epilogue: The Promise of the Roots
The mist dissipated. Aylin and Elowen embraced in the center of the platform, exhausted and smiling. The crowd broke into applause. Sela, her voice soft, murmured: —"Today, the minor branches have bloomed." Kael and Cedric applauded, and Violeta nodded proudly.
Aylin, still hugging Elowen, whispered: —"Do you promise never to leave me behind?" Elowen laughed, wiping away a tear. —"Do you promise not to fly so high that I can't reach you?"
Both sealed their promise with a drop of blood on a fresh leaf, which they planted in a crack in the platform. Samael, from above, offered a faint smile. —"This is how legends grow: from root to root, from storm to storm, until no shadow remains that is not a home."
VIII. Meanwhile: The Coming Storm
In the shadow of the wall, the spy from the Sect of the Purple Light clenched his fists. —"They are not only powerful," he muttered. "They are unbreakable."
The wind carried the echoes of laughter and celebration. The plaza was a forest, and every disciple was a root made stronger by every trial. At the top of the citadel, Samael looked toward the horizon. The sun was setting, the storm of destiny was approaching… but for now, the Morningstar clan celebrated the victory of life and sisterhood.