The next group of battles had already begun by the time Akaza returned.
Simon watched them briefly with his arms folded. On one stage, a demon was being chased by dozens of water needles. On another, two Supreme Archfiends exchanged blows so violently that blood sprayed with every collision. The officials recorded victories, injuries, and deaths with the same indifferent and cold expressions.
Simon shifted his gaze toward Akaza.
"Why didn’t you use your ability?"
Akaza looked at the shallow cuts on his arms and the blood running down his calf.
"I wanted to see how I would do without it."
Simon nodded and said nothing.
Internally, however, he thought the decision was foolish.
Akaza had won one match, but he still needed another victory to pass. His wounds were shallow and would not stop him from fighting, but they would still affect him. A slight pain when stepping on the injured leg or a delayed movement could become dangerous against the wrong opponent.
Even so, Simon understood why he had done it.
Akaza wanted to know how far his body, fists, demonic energy, and martial techniques could carry him without gravity. He probably also wanted to keep his ability hidden, just as Simon had hidden most of his affinities and true physical strength.
The decision was foolish to Simon, but not completely unreasonable.
Simon returned his attention to the stages.
The battles moved faster now. Many demons had already fought once, so there was less hesitation and almost no complaining. Those who had lost became desperate, while those with one victory fought more carefully because they did not want their qualification to depend on a third match.
A Prime Archfiend with water affinity defeated a Superior Archfiend by covering the stage in a thin layer of water and using reflections to distort the direction of his attacks. On another stage, two Supreme Archfiends fought until one tore open the other’s stomach and forced him to surrender.
The black plate lit up again before the blood had completely disappeared from the stages.
Several tokens glowed, and Ammor’s was among them.
The tall demon looked down at his token, then walked toward Stage Five. His opponent was another Supreme Archfiend, a broad-shouldered demon with reddish-brown skin and two heavy chains wrapped around his forearms.
The moment the barrier closed, the chains unwrapped and shot across the stage like metal serpents. Ammor raised one arm, and a thick wall of earth rose in front of him. The chains smashed through it, but the delay was enough for Ammor to move.
He crossed the distance and drove his fist into the demon’s chest.
The Supreme Archfiend slid backward, but one chain wrapped around Ammor’s arm before he could pull away. The demon planted his feet and pulled, trying to drag Ammor off balance.
It did not work.
Earth gathered around Ammor’s legs, and the stage beneath his feet trembled. His lower body seemed to become part of the ground as he tightened his grip around the chain.
Then he pulled once.
The chained demon flew toward him.
Ammor met him with a knee to the stomach, followed by an elbow to the back of his neck.
BAM!
BANG!
Before the demon could hit the floor, Ammor grabbed the chain and used it to slam him into the stage.
BOOM!
The first impact cracked the stone. The second broke something inside the demon’s shoulder, while the third made blood burst from his mouth.
However, the Supreme Archfiend still refused to surrender.
One chain wrapped around Ammor’s throat while the other struck the side of his head, but a brown armour spread across Ammor’s neck and skull. He endured the attack, stepped through the chains, and punched through the demon’s guard.
BANG!
The battle ended shortly afterward.
Ammor broke the demon’s left arm and crushed several ribs before planting one foot on his chest. When Ammor raised his fist again, earth chaos gathered around it like a boulder.
The Supreme Archfiend surrendered before the punch descended.
"Stage Five. Winner, Ammor." The official said.
Ammor stepped away with a satisfied expression. His victory was not as effortless as Sonya’s, but it reminded everyone that failing to form the fifth ring on the impact crystal did not make him weak.
Not long after Ammor returned, Virella’s token glowed.
Her face became pale when she saw her opponent.
The demoness facing her was a Supreme Archfiend with pale purple skin and a curved sword held loosely in one hand. She was tall and thin, but the calmness in her movements made it obvious that she knew how to use the weapon.
Virella was only a Superior Archfiend.
The difference in rank made several demons believe the result was already decided. The sword user seemed to think the same thing as she entered Stage One with a faint smile.
Virella entered with stiff steps, but she did not complain or surrender.
The moment the barrier closed, the Supreme Archfiend rushed forward and swung her sword several times.
Emerald sword arcs crossed the stage, forcing Virella to raise both hands.
Layers of dark green wood grew from the ground and overlapped in front of her.
The first two wind blades cut through the shields. The third became trapped between several layers.
Roots spread beneath the sword user’s feet before she could attack again. She jumped away, but the roots divided, curved, and moved toward the places she was trying to land.
Simon narrowed his eyes slightly.
Virella was nervous, but her control remained excellent.
The Supreme Archfiend cut through the roots and forced her way closer. Her sword passed through another wooden wall and opened a deep wound across Virella’s shoulder. Blood soaked her clothes, and panic flashed across her face.
But she did not lose control.
Virella retreated and changed her method. Instead of creating thicker defenses, she produced dozens of thin roots and branches. They were easier to cut, but they attacked from different directions and blocked the sword user’s movements.
The Supreme Archfiend destroyed several and continued advancing.
That was when she realized Virella had never intended to bind her entire body.
Roots wrapped around her sword arm, ankle, and throat at the same time. She cut through the ones around her arm, but the delay was enough for a thick root to erupt beneath her and strike her back.
Bam!
She was thrown forward.
Another root wrapped around her waist while sharpened branches stopped a few inches from her eyes and throat. More roots tightened around her legs, preventing her from gathering enough force to escape.
The Supreme Archfiend froze.
Virella stood several metres away, breathing heavily with one hand pressed against her bleeding shoulder. She looked almost as surprised as the demons watching her, but the sharpened branches remained perfectly still.
The sword user glanced at the points surrounding her face, then slowly lowered her weapon.
"I surrender."
The barrier dimmed.
"Stage One. Winner, Virella."
Only after the official announced the result did Virella’s shoulders relax.
She had not won through strength. She had survived the difference in rank, adapted after being injured, and turned the entire stage into a trap.
Many demons thought she was weak, but just like how she surprised many demons during the strength test, she once again proved her doubters wrong in this battle.
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