No one wanted to be another's stepping stone—least of all Kael.
Frowning, he studied the crowd before him.
Zorath the Silent leaned in from behind, whispering: "Kael, I have every confidence in you, but these brats aren't pushovers. There are two or three genuine talents among them. Best tread carefully."
Kael sighed. "Naturally." He'd never underestimate an opponent—yet it seemed they were underestimating him.
"Honored guests, the challenge is about to begin! Today, we test the Sacred Council's newly appointed Five-Star Executor—Kael! Anyone who defeats him will be promoted directly to Three-Star Executor!" The announcer's voice boomed across the plaza.
Now Kael understood. Victory here meant an instant rank-up. No wonder these youngsters were sharpening their knives.
But it made sense. If any of them could defeat Kael—a peer in rank—their talent would be undeniable. Such a reward was only fitting.
After his exchange with Kael, Zorath the Silent retreated to the observation platform. As a Councilor, his presence alone commanded reverence—especially since the others had only sent projections.
The newcomers watched Kael and Zorath converse with easy familiarity, their eyes alight with envy—and fresh determination. If they could defeat Kael, they too might earn such favor.
Kael stood at the arena's center, clad in his robes, the Sacred Flame Scepter gleaming in his grip.
"Who among you dares challenge Kael?" The announcer's smile was almost teasing.
Though the crowd was vast, only a select dozen—all Seventh-Rank or higher—qualified to face him. Chaos would reign otherwise.
"I'll go first!" A figure stepped forward—a mage with sharp features, his confidence radiating as he locked eyes with Kael. Mid-tier Seventh Rank. Among these aspirants, his strength was nothing to scoff at.
Murmurs rippled through the spectators as he took his position. Even some of his peers stiffenedat his advance.
"Gareth—ranked ninth among this year's Sacred Council recruits. He's no pushover."
"Ninth? Doubtful. This year's rankings are a joke. Take Kael—he's not even on the list! Plenty of strong candidates were excluded!"
"Whatever. Let Gareth test Kael's mettle first!"
With unwavering confidence, Gareth strode forward, twirling his staff in a flashy arc before pointing it at Kael. "I, Gareth, challenge Five-Star Executor Kael!" He emphasized "Five-Star Executor" with deliberate force, drawing a frown from Kael.
Initially, Gareth's solid magical foundation and disciplined aura had given Kael a favorable impression—a mage truly devoted to his craft. But his attitude quickly soured that perception.
"Begin!" The announcer's voice rang out.
Gareth lunged, his movements blurring with unnatural speed as he chanted an incantation.
A fire mage, no less.
With a cold smirk, Gareth struck first. His steps locked Kael into position as he unleashed his spell.
"Starry Inferno!"
Flames erupted in a blazing constellation, surging from all directions, engulfing Kael in a maelstrom of fire. The very air warped under the heat.
Gareth grinned triumphantly. This was his signature spell—no matter how talented Kael was, surviving this was impossible!
Or so he thought.
A glint of frost flashed in Kael's eyes.
His staff rose—and azure flames erupted.
Icefire.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. No one had ever seen flames this color.
Kael's Icefire wasn't just purer—it was orders of magnitude stronger. In an instant, it devouredGareth's flames whole, like a monster swallowing its prey.
"This... this can't be..." Gareth stood frozen, cold sweat dripping down his back as he stared in disbelief.
His signature fire spell—the one he had mastered through years of relentless training—had been utterly devoured in an instant by those eerie, ice-blue flames. Not even a trace remained.
"How is this possible?!" Gareth stumbled back a step, his face pale with shock.
His proudest achievement, his fire magic, had been dismantled by Kael with effortless ease—just a flick of his staff.
"Gareth lost in seconds... That Kael really is a monster."
"We knew he was strong, but this is terrifying..."
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, murmurs dying into silence. Kael had overwhelmed Gareth instantly—a feat even most peak Seventh-Rank experts couldn't accomplish.
Kael remained standing, his display of power leaving everyone awestruck. He arched a brow. Surely, no one else would be foolish enough to challenge him now.
"Who else dares to step forward?" The announcer's voice carried a note of surprise.
Silence followed—until, just as Kael thought it was over, another challenger emerged.
A towering figure clad in heavy armor, muscles bulging beneath. A warrior.
"Theron! It's Theron!"
"Ranked third among this year's recruits! He might actually have a chance... Even if he can't win, he'll at least wear Kael down. Then someone else can—"
The whispers reached Kael's ears, deepening his frown.
Theron was undeniably strong—near peak Seventh-Rank, with a rock-solid foundation. Comparable to Amelia before her breakthrough, but still no match for Kael.
What irked him was the endless stream of challengers, each hoping to exhaust him through attrition.
Right now, Kael just wanted this over with—so he could return to the Ancient Ruins, break through to the Eighth Rank, and finally claim his territory.
But these people... were becoming a nuisance.
Especially since so many of them seemed convinced they could whittle him down and snatch victory from fatigue.
The thought made Kael sigh inwardly.
Human greed truly is terrifying. At this moment, Kael had become like a piece of cake—everyone scrambling to take a bite out of him.
A cold glint flashed in Kael's eyes. He was no pushover. Did they really think they could just poke at him as they pleased?
"Theron, was it?" Kael glanced at the warrior before him—a golden-haired, handsome man in his early twenties. A pity, really...
The moment the announcer signaled the start, Kael shot forward like an arrow. His domain erupted, instantly enveloping Theron.
Theron felt his body lock up completely, as if paralyzed. Sheer terror gripped him.
"A domain?!" Only now did he realize what a monstrous opponent he faced. Not only was Kael peak Seventh-Rank, but he had also mastered a domain!
Most of the newcomers had little idea of Kael's true strength. Only a handful had witnessed him strike the Veilstones.
Now, as Kael unleashed his power, disbelief flickered in their eyes.
Theron couldn't move a muscle. With a mere flick of his wrist, Kael sent Icefire surging forth, blasting Theron away. The warrior's armor disintegrated instantly under the azure flames, and he was sent tumbling over a dozen meters, howling in pain.
With Theron effortlessly dealt with, the crowd's gazes shifted to awe and wariness. Many were already reconsidering their challenge.
Yet some remained undeterred. The temptation of defeating Kael was too great—what was one fight? At worst, they'd just take a beating.
Kael's frown deepened. His eyes narrowed as he raised his staff, pointing it at the remaining challengers below.
"Enough. I won't waste any more time." His voice was icy. "All of you—come at me together!"
If they refused to back down, he'd beat the fear into them.