Absolute Cheater

Immediately, a wave of fire surged toward him, intense and roaring. He reacted swiftly, using his Blood Supreme ability to form a shield of hardened blood around himself, blocking the flames. The shield held, but he could feel the heat pressing through. He quickly dropped it just as a burst of water came crashing down from above, dousing the flames but nearly knocking him off balance.

Outside the chamber, students watched the scenes on a projected display, and some gasped as they saw Asher maneuver through the rapid changes. Freya from the Enrose Family smirked slightly. "He's quick on his feet," she murmured to Darren of the Dagon Family.

Inside, the air suddenly shifted, turning frigid as icy winds swept through the chamber, forming spikes that hurled themselves toward Asher. He dropped low, channeling his blood to create a quick layer of hardened armor along his arms, blocking the sharp edges as he braced against the storm.

The Elders observed from above, Elder Valen watching Asher with a look of approval. "Impressive. He's using his Blood Ruler ability in ways that I doubt even his family taught him," Elder Valen commented to Elder Seraphine.

"Perhaps," she replied, "but watch—he's also conserving his strength, waiting for the right moments."

The elemental assault grew more chaotic with each passing minute. Lightning crackled from above, streaking down toward Asher with deadly speed. Drawing on his training, he shifted his stance and raised a blood-formed lance, grounding the energy as it struck. The force nearly knocked him off his feet, but he gritted his teeth and stayed upright, his eyes narrowed as he looked for the next threat.

In the spectator area, students watched in awe as Asher withstood each wave. Even those who had been unimpressed by him before now murmured in respect.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of battling through flames, ice, winds, and lightning, the arena fell still, and the elemental chaos dissipated. Asher stood panting, his clothes singed, his body aching, but his resolve unbroken.

The chamber doors opened, and Asher walked out, receiving nods and whispers from fellow students and Elders alike.

Elder Valen addressed the crowd once more. "Asher Magnus has shown skill and adaptability. Each of you must show the same."

The next student, Evelyn of the Helion Family, stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with determination as she entered the chamber. Evelyn's Hellfire abilities blazed around her, flames consuming and countering the elemental onslaught with fierce intensity. She held her ground, but the trial forced her to the brink. After seven grueling minutes, she emerged, sweat streaming down her face, a proud but weary look in her eyes.

Others followed:

Darren of the Dagon Family relied on his Overlord abilities, summoning creatures to shield him from each element. His beasts took the brunt of the attacks, but as the trial intensified, he had to adapt, shifting to using only his raw skill and stamina to endure. He lasted five minutes before conceding.

Sylas of the Black Family, with his Necromancy abilities, animated skeletal shields and used dark energies to block and dissipate incoming attacks. The shadows moved around him like a living armor, absorbing much of the elemental chaos. He withstood for six minutes, impressing the Elders with his resourcefulness.

Freya of the Enrose Family wove her World Tree powers into a defense, growing vines and bark that absorbed some of the attacks. Her resilience shone, and she managed a respectable eight minutes before exiting the chamber.

After each trial, the Elders discussed the performance of each student, with Elder Valen offering nods of approval at notable moments. When all had faced the Trial of Elemental Chaos, he addressed them again.

"You have all faced the untamed forces of nature and come through with skill and resilience," he said. "Those who completed this trial have demonstrated adaptability and strength. Remember this feeling as you move forward."

The students, tired but emboldened, gathered their composure. With every trial, they were beginning to understand the depths of the Academy's expectations and the true power required to reach their goals.

As the students gathered once more, Elder Valen's sharp gaze swept over the remaining contestants. Each one bore signs of wear from the previous trials—scorched clothing, battered armor, and weary eyes. Yet, none dared show weakness. They knew the final test loomed large, the one trial that would determine the strongest among them.

"The last trial," Elder Valen began, his voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade, "is Trial of Dominion."

The air grew tense. Whispers rippled through the crowd. The Trial of Dominion was a test of absolute power and control, the very essence of mastery over one's abilities. Unlike the other trials, this one was direct—students would face off against one another in combat. The winner was the one who could force their opponent to submit, not through brute strength alone but through sheer dominance of power, skill, and tactics.

Elder Valen continued, "You will be paired randomly. Each match will push you to your limits. Use everything you've learned so far, and remember—your goal is not to destroy your opponent but to assert your dominion over them. Victory comes only when your opponent yields or can no longer fight."

The announcement sent a ripple of energy through the students. Some cracked their knuckles, others took deep breaths, steeling themselves for the challenge ahead.

Soon the matches were randomly assigned as coincidentally or by Elders will, Asher got himself the first match.

From the center came out an Stage as Both Asher and his opponent Climbed it.

The first match drew gasps from the spectators. Asher, whose performances had already shaken many, was paired against Evelyn, a fire-wielding prodigy of the Helion Family.

The arena was a circular field, surrounded by shimmering magical barriers that would contain their abilities. As the two stepped into the ring, Evelyn's flames already flickered around her, licking at the air like hungry serpents. Asher, calm and composed, stood with his blade of hardened blood at the ready.

"Don't hold back," Evelyn smirked, her eyes burning as fiercely as her flames.

"I never do," Asher replied, his voice cold.

The match began with an eruption of fire. Evelyn unleashed a torrent of Hellfire that surged toward Asher, the heat warping the air. Asher countered with a shield of blood, the crimson barrier sizzling under the onslaught but holding firm. He shifted quickly, breaking the shield into projectiles and launching them at Evelyn, forcing her to evade.

Evelyn retaliated with fiery explosions that shook the arena, but Asher's agility kept him one step ahead. He used his Blood Ruler ability to manipulate his blood into a series of whips, striking at her from multiple angles. Evelyn gritted her teeth, summoning a massive inferno to force Asher back, but he pushed through, his blood armor absorbing some of the heat.

Outside the arena, the Elders observed intently.

"He's remarkably adaptable," Elder Seraphine remarked. "But can he withstand the ferocity of Helion's flames for long?"

Elder Valen nodded. "His endurance will be tested here."

The fight escalated as Evelyn poured all her energy into a devastating Hellfire Nova, engulfing the entire arena in flames. For a moment, the spectators thought Asher had been consumed, but when the fire dissipated, he stood unharmed, surrounded by a crimson barrier of swirling blood.

"My turn," Asher muttered, his voice like ice. He raised his hand, and tendrils of blood erupted from the ground, ensnaring Evelyn. She struggled, her flames burning through the bindings, but Asher was relentless. He advanced, his blade glowing with dark energy, until he stood inches from her.

"Yield," he demanded, his voice commanding.

Evelyn hesitated, her flames flickering weakly. She clenched her fists but finally dropped to one knee. "I yield."

Elder snapped his finger as both Asher and Evelyn returned downstairs.

"next Pair" he said as next two contestants climbed up as they stood on the stage.

Darren Dagon vs. Freya Enrose

The arena trembled as Darren summoned his colossal beast, a scaled, six-legged titan with glowing red eyes and a roar that sent shivers through the crowd. The creature radiated raw, primal power, each step cracking the ground beneath it. Darren stood confidently behind his summon, his hands raised as streams of Overlord energy flowed into the creature, strengthening it further.

Freya, calm and composed, placed her hand on the ground, and in an instant, massive roots erupted from the earth, weaving together into a towering wall of wood and foliage. The beast charged, its claws slashing through the barrier like paper, but Freya remained unfazed, summoning even larger roots that wrapped around its limbs, pulling it back.

The crowd gasped as the battle turned into a test of endurance. Darren directed his beast to unleash a devastating energy blast from its mouth, obliterating the roots holding it down. Freya retaliated by summoning a forest of thorned vines, each one lashing out like a whip, cutting into the creature's hide and drawing dark blood. The beast roared, its rage shaking the arena, but Freya pressed on, her roots growing faster and stronger, weaving together until the beast was completely immobilized.