Domain.
It was a single word, one many normal individuals would utter in their everyday life. It had different meanings, especially for the unknowledgeable.
To them, it was a simple word.
But to the knowledgeable, in the world of the elites, the weight of the word "domain" was immeasurable.
To grandmasters, a single utterance of that "simple" word was akin to a descending apocalypse.
No one had the time to react. No one had the time to even blink.
There was only one entity in the area apart from Mortrex who knew the significance of that word and the devastation of what was coming.
But despite being a tier 7 spirit, not even she could protect Zoey due to her inability to withstand and utilize her full potential.
A subtle and swift wave emanated from Mortrex, spreading out in every direction.
The earth beneath their feet quaked, tremors spreading like a heartbeat through the ground. The atmosphere itself seemed to tremble, the very air shivering as though dreading what was to come.
As the aura spread, the heartbeat of every being in the vicinity, even that of Atticus, synchronized with the rhythmic pulse.
The world itself seemed to pause; not a single soul moved.
In that instant, time itself felt as if it had come to a halt, holding its breath in reverence to the power unfolding.
The subtle wave of energy suddenly converged around Mortrex, swirling and coalescing before erupting with a force that shook the heavens.
A surge of energy burst forth, painting the sky with a stark, white hue, blinding in its brilliance.
From this explosion of light, a frigid cocoon, vast and all-encompassing, unfurled.
It swept across the landscape, its brilliant tendrils reaching out and ensnaring Atticus within its grip.
Simultaneously, a multitude of golden light ignited, engulfing Zoey, Ember, Aurora, Kael, Orion, Zezazeus, and Gerald within them. In the next second, they each disappeared from the area.
The screen on which the millions of spectating students and instructors alike were watching the unfolding scene suddenly blackened for a second before flashing and changing the view.
Loud murmurs echoed across the whole coliseum as each of the students stared at the new live footage on the screen.
Instead of the figures of Atticus and Mortrex being shown or at the very least the area they had been in, the screen was instead showing a bird's eye view of a vast region.
For more than five hundred meters, in the middle of the forest was the form of an expansive, pristine white, smooth cocoon.
"What is that?" a random student asked.
"I have no idea. I heard 'domain' before everything turned to shit," another replied.
"Look, the rest of the participants are appearing!"
Many students turned towards the direction the student had just pointed to, their confused gazes landing on the figures that were suddenly appearing at the top of the platform.
Zoey, Ember, Aurora, Kael, Orion, Zezazeus, and Gerald suddenly found themselves on a platform surrounded by millions of murmuring students.
Zezazeus and Gerald landed with brutal thuds on the floor, the former still limbless and the latter severely injured.
The artifact would protect the students from death but wouldn't heal their injuries.
Luckily for Gerald, the restrictions on his powers had been lifted, and the sun was shining in the sky. He healed at a visible rate but, even after healing, he didn't get up. He simply stared at the sky blankly without saying anything.
Zezazeus mirrored the same action, with Sonorous instead frantically touching his face as though scared he would lose it. Seraphin was sprawled on the ground, his body completely battered and covered in crimson blood while clutching his neck.
But Gerald didn't even seem to notice; he was far too lost in his thoughts to care.
'Just one knee.' Those words resounded in his head constantly.
And lastly was the deformed figure of Dante Starhaven sitting quietly on one side.
Aside from the newcomers, the rest of the participating students had all appeared on the platforms, including the rest of the first through third years.
The Alverians hadn't joined Zezazeus because of Lila's warning, but they had already been eliminated before the showdown; fighting wasn't really their forte. The same was the case for the Nebulon family too.
And yet, Zoey and Aurora quickly noticed an oddity. Atticus wasn't amongst them!
They each instinctively turned their gazes towards the large screen at the top, and upon seeing the large pristine white cocoon, their expressions turned worried in an instant.
'Lumi, what happened?'
'Calm down, Zoey. His life isn't in danger; those artifacts are more powerful than you give them credit for,' Lumindra suddenly responded in a calming tone.
'So what ha-'
'It's simple; you were all too weak,' Lumindra suddenly interrupted Zoey's words. 'What you see on that screen is the peak power of a Grandmaster, a power you need to achieve before you can enter the ranks of a privileged few: a domain,' Lumindra explained.
'The simple activation of a domain is enough to end the lives of a bunch of Advanced ranks. Your lover boy not being here must mean he was the only one who withstood it and is currently inside it.'
Lumindra allowed Zoey to absorb her words, not saying anything.
'Why can't we see what is happening inside?' Zoey asked after a second.
'A domain is the world of the Grandmaster who unleashed it, so you really think your measly recording artifact would be able to bypass that?'
Lumindra's words made Zoey shut up, her worried gaze not changing one bit. She clutched her hands together on her chest, focusing on the screen. 'It should be fine; he still has his artifact,' she reassured herself.
But Zoey was far from being the only one who was worried. Aurora's heart was beating fast, the feeling of uselessness engulfing her once again.
Aurora had wanted to help out in the battle with the army of students, but she knew inwardly that it was better she stayed out of it. Even during the escape from the Bone City, she did nothing, only allowing herself to be saved and carried along.
Many might be okay with it, claiming that Atticus was just too powerful, but Aurora didn't feel okay one bit. She couldn't.
That wasn't the kind of companion she wanted to be. She didn't want to feel useless!
'Things will have to change.' Aurora's gaze suddenly turned fierce.