Lana
The owl-masked overseer stepped to the edge of the stage, his cloak billowing like the night fog.
"Phase three of the trial," his voice echoed throughout the arena. "Duel."
That one word made the entire arena erupt in noise.
"Each contestant from the remaining teams will face one participant from another team. Opponents are chosen at random. The goal: assess tactics, mastery of magic, and survival instincts."
"Victory or defeat isn't determined by strength alone, but by how you think, how you move, and how you decide. Only those who endure will proceed to the final stage."
A wide screen now displayed the faces of the participants set to fight. Name. Race. Affiliation.
The first duel began.
Two contestants appeared in the arena. The moment the battle started, everything exploded in flashes of light, shattered earth, and shouted incantations.
I swallowed hard.
