Chapter 139


    "Cobalt Strike, Adirich, to battle!" Adirich boldly stepped onto the stage, eager to seize victory and


    secure a third win for Cobalt Strike.


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    But as soon as he set foot, Myke scoffed from below: "Fool!"


    Niks chuckled. "Indeed, a bit foolish."


    "What do you mean by that?" Adirich turned, his face darkening.


    "See for yourself." Niks gestured towards the opposite side of the dueling arena, where a young


    maiden in blue garb took the stage, her presence fierce. "The Ster Precepts, Inga, epts the


    challenge."


    Roald and the others nced at Adirich, exasperated. "Couldn’t he think ahead? Cobalt Strike had


    just triumphed in two consecutive battles, basking in glory; would the others stand by idly? The third


    bout was bound to bring forth top-tier heirs. It would have been wiser for us to hold back, or to send


    forth a Golden Protégé. But there he goes, showing off."


    The five Elders of Cobalt Strike frowned, questioning why Adirich was sent forth. Even if not a


    Golden Protégé, Mari should have been the choice.


    Seeing the challenger, Adirich''s expression shifted; he knew of The Ster Precepts, and Inga held


    a status equivalent to Cobalt Strike''s Golden Protégé.


    But now that he was on stage, could he retreat?


    "To arms!" Adirich charged at Inga, his Combat Magic of ‘poison’ giving him confidence in victory.


    However, within mere moments, Adirich was sted off the tform by Inga, falling unconscious. It


    was a crushing defeat, embarrassingly direct.


    The Elders of Cobalt Strike could barely watch, their faces stern and silent.


    "The third battle, The Ster Precepts, Inga, emerges victorious!" the marshal of the arena dered


    with emphasis.


    "Who''s next?" Roald asked, face grim.


    "No rush, we’ve got time." Felis and the others remainedposed.


    The atmosphere in The Arena continued to burn hot. Protégés from various Factions took turns


    entering the fray, shing with Combat Magic, testing their resolve, each striving to showcase their


    brilliance.


    Some battles were decided in an instant, others ended with a graceful surrender after a fierce duel,


    and some raged on until bothbatants were grievously wounded.


    Passion red within all the Protégés; none shrank back, and none brought shame upon their


    Factions.


    One battle, two battles… seven battles… ten battles…


    Each had its own splendor, its own unique ir. Commanders and Elders nodded frequently,


    satisfied with the Protégés'' performances, asionally offering privatementary on particrly


    spectacr bouts.


    These Protégés were the pride of their Factions, the bearers of their hopes.


    The Protégés of Cobalt Strike assessed the situation and took their turns on the stage.


    In the tenth bout, Mari took the stage, facing The Floral Enchantress Protégé, and triumphed.


    In the thirteenth bout, Myke entered the arena, battled a Starlit Echoes Protégé in a fierce fight that


    lasted nearly half an hour, and emerged victorious, though gravely injured.


    In the fifteenth bout, Niks stepped forth, only to suffer a bitter defeat at the hands of a Bloodlore


    Protégé.


    Phantom ze Felis, Snow Cloak Semar, Mirafe Abyss Admus – the three Golden Protégés took


    turns challenging the elite heirs of various Factions.


    In the end…


    Admus was fiercely blocked by The Earthbound Spirits, enduring a brutal contest thatsted the


    time of two candles, and fought with fervent zeal to the sound of thunderous apuse, until Admus,


    drained of magic, was sted from the tform by The Earthbound Spirits'' overpowering martial


    prowess.


    Semar faced the legendary young maiden of The Floral Enchantress, Lylian, who at the tender age


    of fifteen had already lingered at Stage IX for a year, the youngest Protégé in the gathering.


    Ultimately, Lylian imed victory, and Semar conceded defeat and withdrew.


    Of the three Golden Protégés, only Felis managed to ovee The Skyborne Rivers Protégé,


    Galvas.


    It wasn''t that the three weren''t strong; it was that their renown was too great, having long been


    marked by the powerful Protégés of other Factions. Their opponents were also formidable figures.


    The intense shessted from morning until evening, with thirty-four duels unfolding, yielding


    thirty-four victors. One was fortunate enough to have a bye, but another eight were too injured to


    partake in the morrow''s challenge.


    As the evening fell, the city''s administration announced the list of those qualified for the next day''s


    events. Twenty-seven Novice Mage Protégés, eleven Advanced Mage Protégés, a total of thirty-


    eightpetitors!


    The sh of Eight Orders'' first day of martial exchange came to a ceremonial close, but the fervor


    within the city''s halls did not wane for a long time.


    Today''s martial gathering disappointed no one and lived up to the reputation of the ''Nortnds'' new


    generation at its peak.''


    The splendid performances of the Protégés left the city''s guards in awe and admiration, and the


    young nobles of the city felt humbled inparison. Truly, the genius heirs of the Eight Orders lived


    up to their names. Next to this band of prodigies, they felt their own shorings keenly.