Ascension of the Forsaken Genius

The coliseum buzzed with anticipation as the next battle of the second round commenced. The twenty remaining competitors stepped into the arena, each one exuding confidence, determination, or sheer bloodlust. Among them was Caelum Nightshade, his expression unreadable beneath his hooded cloak. He stood near the edge, his stance relaxed, but his sharp gaze flickered across the battlefield, already calculating his next moves.

The floating screens overhead shimmered to life, displaying the names of the contenders. The audience roared, eager to witness another thrilling battle. Some of the fighters had already gained reputations from previous rounds, but Caelum remained an enigma. He had neither boasted nor displayed excessive strength before. Yet, those who had studied his movements knew—he was not an opponent to underestimate.

As the countdown to the battle began, Caelum took a deep breath.

"Twenty opponents. Three will move on. The rest... eliminated."

The moment the announcer’s voice signaled the start, chaos erupted.

---

Just as expected, temporary alliances formed instantly. Four fighters rushed together to eliminate the largest threats first, while others engaged in quick, brutal skirmishes to establish dominance. Caelum did neither.

Instead, he melted into the chaos, observing.

His movements were subtle, his presence almost nonexistent. He weaved through the battlefield with minimal effort, dodging unnecessary confrontations while gauging the flow of the fight.

"Let them burn their strength first," he mused. "Then I'll strike when the moment is right."

A massive explosion of fire and lightning erupted to his right. A hulking brute of a fighter, Garric the Warhammer, sent an opponent flying with a single swing. Meanwhile, a sword-wielding woman named Selene Varrow was locked in a fierce duel against a twin-dagger user, her blade moving like a silver serpent.

Caelum’s eyes narrowed as he watched their engagements. Both of them were dangerous.

Yet the real threat emerged seconds later.

A speed-type cultivator, Orion Duskfang, moved like a shadow through the battlefield, eliminating two weaker competitors in a blur of motion. His daggers were coated in a faint glow, laced with paralytic energy, ensuring that even a minor cut would cripple his foes.

"A fast one," Caelum noted. "But reckless."

Orion's next target was Caelum himself.

The assassin lunged, his daggers slicing through the air with lethal precision. Most would have barely seen the attack coming.

But Caelum?

He was already moving.

---

Instead of blocking, Caelum shifted his body just enough for the daggers to miss by mere millimeters. He countered with a flick of his wrist, redirecting Orion’s momentum just enough to send him stumbling forward.

Orion's eyes widened. "What—?"

Caelum struck.

A single, precise palm to the ribs. Not enough to break them—just enough to send a controlled shockwave through his opponent’s body.

Orion staggered, his legs momentarily numb.

Caelum didn’t finish him off immediately. Instead, he stepped back into the chaos of battle, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

"Let the others do the hard work."

---

Minutes passed, and the battlefield was reduced to six fighters. The weak had been eliminated, leaving only those with the skill and endurance to stand at the top.

Among them were:

Caelum Nightshade, the phantom strategist.

Selene Varrow, the elegant swordswoman.

Garric the Warhammer, the powerhouse.

Orion Duskfang, despite his earlier stumble, still standing.

Reyna Frostvale, an ice-element warrior with deadly precision.

Darian Rooke, a spear user with explosive strength.

It was now a free-for-all.

Orion, enraged by his earlier humiliation, targeted Caelum once more. But this time, Caelum did not evade.

The assassin moved like a storm—daggers flashing in relentless attacks.

Clang!

Caelum deflected one strike with a dagger of his own, their weapons clashing in a burst of sparks.

"You won't slip away this time!" Orion hissed.

But Caelum only smirked. "You’re already finished."

Orion's movements suddenly slowed. His vision blurred.

A second later, his knees buckled.

The strike to his ribs from earlier—it hadn't just been a simple hit.

Caelum had targeted a precise meridian point, subtly disrupting his internal energy flow. Orion had kept fighting without realizing it, but now, at the crucial moment, his body betrayed him.

With a swift motion, Caelum struck again—this time knocking him unconscious.

Orion Duskfang was eliminated.

Three Left Standing

On the opposite end of the battlefield, Selene and Garric had been locked in a fierce duel. The swordswoman’s blade danced like liquid silver, but the brute’s sheer force was overwhelming.

A final clash. A decisive strike.

And Selene emerged victorious, though barely standing.

Only three fighters remained.

Caelum. Selene. And Reyna Frostvale.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the coliseum.

"AND THERE WE HAVE IT! These three warriors will move on to the NEXT ROUND!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. The intense battle had left the spectators on the edge of their seats, and now, the victors stood triumphant.

Caelum exhaled, his stance still poised, his gaze flickering to Selene and Reyna. They exchanged nods—a silent acknowledgment of each other’s skill.

For now, the battle was over. But the competition was far from finished.