Though Dalen had been defeated, his fanbase didn't seem to care. His female supporters were still going wild, chanting his name. It was a scene unlike anything the other contestants had experienced. Being good-looking definitely had its perks."Mr. Shade, are you alright?" Ruby asked with genuine concern as Dalen returned to his seat."It's just a minor injury. Nothing serious." He shook his head with a smile, though a hint of melancholy and regret lingered in his eyes.Dalen had entered the tournament to make a name for himself and prove he was as good as anyone. Finishing in the top eight was respectable, but he had aimed for more.Unfortunately, his strength had fallen short, and he stumbled at the threshold of the final four. Still, losing to Fenley was something he accepted wholeheartedly."You've done well, Mr. Shade. Many disciples from the major guilds are nowhere near your level. Don't be too hard on yourself," Crystal comforted him."Yeah. You're way better than me. I
Emeret stood in the battle ring with a sword in his hand. A faint smile crossed his face as he looked at Glenn. "I didn't expect us to face each other so soon. It seems we can't avoid this match."Glenn might have been the genius everyone raved about, but Emeret wasn't one to be underestimated. He had always kept a low profile, avoiding the spotlight and focusing on his training in silence.Emeret didn't enter the Combat Tournament for recognition. Instead, he wanted to test his strength. He knew training in isolation wouldn't help him improve, so he needed to challenge the best to test his abilities."You can't defeat me. Just surrender," Glenn said coldly. He didn't want to go all out against someone from the same guild."How can you tell who's better without a fight?" Emeret continued to smile. "Glenn, I joined the Sword Union a few years before you. You might be the Chosen One, but don't underestimate me. Defeating me won't be as easy as you think.""You're not on my level. Sa
The phoenix phantom blazed in brilliant red, which radiated like the sun. Its wings appeared almost lifelike and glowed with an otherworldly light.Then, it emitted a piercing cry as it confronted the descending golden giant sword. With a fierce flap of its wings, it shot upward and collided head-on with the sword.Under the watchful eyes of the spectators, the red light met the golden light in a spectacular clash.With a loud boom, the ground trembled, and the battle ring quaked beneath them. When the lights collided, an explosive wave of energy surged outward like a tidal wave and crashed against the protective barrier encircling the ring.The barrier's blue light flared as it trembled violently and sent out ripples in every direction. It looked like it might shatter at any moment.Upon seeing that, Oron quickly rushed toward the formation's core. He immediately channeled his energy to stabilize the protective barrier. He knew it wouldn't last long if Glenn and Emeret continued
"Phoenix Soaring!"Under immense pressure, Emeret used every ounce of his strength. His internal energy surged like a tidal wave, and he channeled it into his silver sword. It flared with a sharp glow that was nearly blinding.Then, he leaped into the air. He merged with his sword and transformed into a massive Sacred Phoenix. With a mighty cry, the phoenix flew toward the golden sword descending from above.The silver phoenix, gleaming from head to tail, flapped its wings and unleashed a wind storm. Its power was overwhelming, and it seemed like it could break through the clouds and soar into the sky. After a brief pause in midair, it turned toward the golden sword.Another loud boom resounded as the earth trembled and energy surged in every direction. The entire battle ring rumbled while the protective barrier rippled like waves. It shook violently as if it were on the verge of collapse.At the center of the explosion, the golden sword collided with the Phoenix's beak. The sword
"I lost." Emeret lowered his head and struggled to utter those words.Though reluctant, he had to admit the gap between him and Glenn was too wide to ignore. Continuing the fight wouldn't just mean defeat, but he might end up losing his life for nothing."You did well to withstand my strikes and still be standing," Glenn remarked coldly before leaving the battle ring.Emeret's skills were decent, but they barely piqued his interest."Congratulations to contestant number two, Glenn Hadley, for his victory." Oron quickly announced the results. In an instant, the spectators erupted into thunderous applause. Though the match was brief, the explosive clash had captivated everyone, especially Glenn's overwhelming strength, which left a lasting impression in their minds.If he didn't draw his sword, things would have been fine. But the impact was nothing short of earth-shattering and unmatched once he drew it."What a pity." Alloy shook his head in mock disappointment from the main sp
"For the fourth match, let's welcome contestant number four, Caleb Foyer, and contestant number five, Dustin Rhys."As Oron's voice boomed, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Dustin and Caleb stepped onto the battle ring. This last quarterfinal match was shrouded in suspense. Both contestants had emerged as underdogs in the tournament.Caleb had gained instant fame after defeating Sam, who ranked ninth on the Legendary List. In contrast, Dustin took down two powerful foreign contestants in succession, which showcased his remarkable strength. Hence, everyone eagerly anticipated their showdown."Who do you think will win this match?""It should be Caleb, right? He's a chosen apprentice of Sacred Wrym Summit. After all, he has mastered the Glow Incantation, Stormcraft, and Divine Talismans. Even Sam, with the sacred weapon of the Dawson Clan, couldn't defeat him. That shows just how powerful Caleb is.""Not so fast! I think Dustin is someone
Dustin didn't flinch as the electric serpent charged toward him. Instead, he channeled his mystical energy into a spear and thrust forward. He was eager to test the strength of Stormcraft.The true energy spear collided with the Stormcraft and unleashed a loud crack of thunder. Energy rippled outward and dispersed in every direction. Their energies collided with such force that neither gained the upper hand.Neither Dustin nor Caleb gained the upper hand in this exchange, yet neither backed down. They continued to trade blows in a fierce, close-quarters fight. Each strike resonated like a drumbeat in a relentless battle."I can't believe Dustin is holding his own against Caleb. This is unbelievable.""Dustin is pretty strong, so it's not surprising he can fight like this.""You don't get it. Dustin is renowned for his lethal sword techniques. Yet, he's standing firm against Caleb, who used Glow Incantation and Stormcraft, just with his fists. That speaks volumes about his cultivat
"Really? Since you're so confident, I'll be watching closely," Alloy replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. The chance to mess with Cyrus was too good to pass up.When Cyrus had sparred with Seth, he had been defeated by just one move. Since that day, he had lived in Seth's shadow. In other words, Seth had become the inner demon that Cyrus could never shake off—a haunting reminder of his limits.As the tension brewed between Alloy and Cyrus in the stands, the situation in the battle ring had changed.Caleb was engaged in an extended battle, and the strain on his internal energy had reached a critical point. He needed to maintain his Glow Incantation while using Stormcraft for his attacks. This combination led to a rapid depletion of his energy.In contrast, Dustin focused primarily on close-range combat. He relied on his agility and brute strength to unleash punches and kicks while creating openings. Additionally, he only used his internal energy to counter Caleb's Stor