CHAPTER 167: SUPPRESSED PRIDE

The sun was now shining high through the dome above the fighting arena, casting soft golden rays across the stone floor.

The candidates entered slowly, guided by Elizabeth and a few guild attendants. Noah, Emily, and Lilith found seats in the gallery along with the rest of the spectators. The large seating ring wrapped around the circular arena in tiers, giving everyone a clear view of the matches.

Most of the participants sat silently, clutching their tokens. Some whispered nervously. Others fidgeted, pretending to be calm.

Elizabeth stepped into the center of the arena holding the full list of participants and a speaking crystal that projected her voice clearly across the entire space. She explained the rules like every other time.

After explaining, finally she said, "let the test begin."

She looked at the first name and spoke clearly, "Token 001."

A boy with shaky steps stood up and made his way down. He was Tier 2 and was sent toward Neil.

The duel began with basic fire and wind spells. Nothing too remarkable.

The boy passed.

The next few were a mix of Tier 1 and Tier 2. Some failed quickly. Others displayed decent control and earned passing marks. Elizabeth announced the outcome for each without emotion.

Then came a Tier 3 candidate. A water-affinity girl. She fought Medona and barely scraped through with a pass.

A few gasps went around when a Tier 4 participant stepped in and fought the A-class hunter. That fight ended in a clean knock-out. The girl couldn’t last more than a minute.

Elizabeth kept calling numbers one by one.

"Token 026."

"Token 039."

"Token 042."

Time moved forward with match after match.

A few moments of excitement sparked the gallery now and then, but overall, the crowd remained composed.

Noah sat with his arms resting casually behind his seat. Emily sipped from a small flask of lemon water. Lilith sat between them....arms folded, expression calm but impatient.

Finally, Elizabeth raised her voice again.

"Token 109. Lilith Starwind."

The murmur in the crowd was instant.

All eyes turned toward her direction.

Some people sat up straighter. Others leaned forward to get a better view.

Lilith stood up slowly. She dusted her sleeves, then descended the stairs toward the arena.

Her footsteps echoed faintly in the open space.

"She’s Tier 2, right?"

"Yes. She became runner up in last Arcadia young elite tournament?"

"Damn! For real?!"

"Yeah dude. Not only tier two but she has four fu****g affinities. Do you get it?!! Four!"

"Well, then it’s going to be a spectacle for sure.

Elizabeth didn’t repeat her name. She simply watched.

Lilith walked toward the right corner at the farthest, where Neil was already waiting.

He raised an eyebrow. "Starwind, huh?"

She didn’t respond.

"Lightning, gravity, air, and healing," Neil said, mostly to himself. "And Tier 2. Not bad."

He rolled his shoulders. "I’ve got earth and gravity. Let’s make this clean."

Lilith tilted her head, her expression unreadable. Actually she was trying to keep her mouth shut or else Emily would start lecturing her right after the duel.

Neil raised his hand and signalled her to come.

Lilith made the first move.

With a sudden rush of air, she shot forward, lightning crackling faintly across her palms.

Neil stomped the ground...stone pillars erupted upward, forcing Lilith to spin sideways mid-dash and leap over them in a single fluid motion.

As she landed, she thrust her hand forward. A focused bolt of lightning shot out, fast and sharp.

Neil raised a stone wall just in time....the bolt slammed into it, cracking its surface.

He countered with a heavy gravity pulse aimed at Lilith’s knees.

Lilith responded instantly, sending a gravity push of her own in the opposite direction to counterbalance the force.

The two pressures collided and neutralized.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Then came a flurry.

Lilith twisted her fingers in the air. Wind blades formed in a circle and launched toward Neil.

He crouched and swept his hand across the floor...spikes of jagged earth launched upward to intercept the wind blades mid-air, shattering them.

The ground cracked under their feet. Dust flew and enveloped the area.

Neil surged forward with speed, closing the gap. He clenched his fist. Stones enveloped it like a gauntlet. He threw a punch at Lilith.

She dipped to the side, air bursting from her feet as she slid away, leaving a scorched trail.

Then she spun mid-slide and launched a wide burst of gravity around her, pushing everything back.

Neil skidded slightly, surprised.

"You’re fast," he muttered.

Lilith didn’t answer. She just raised her hand ahead. And swung it with a swoosh. Multiple wind blades shot from her hand lunging at Neil.

He blocked them with a heavy slab of stone...but the sheer speed of the air strike cracked it and sent a shockwave toward his chest.

He braced and endured, feet digging into the arena floor.

For a few seconds, both paused.

Both had steady breathing. They had their eyes locked on each other.

Lilith was about to charge again but just then Elizabeth’s voice rang out.

"Match ends in a draw!"

Applause rang through the arena.

Even those who had doubted her earlier were now clapping.

Elizabeth stepped forward and raised her voice.

"Lilith Starwind. Tier 2. Both combat capability and control are excellent. D-Class Hunter."

Lilith gave a silent nod and then turned around, heading toward the gallery again.

Smirk painted her lips.

Everyone’s eyes followed her but no one noticed it.

At the same time, inside a room in the inn above Delicia.

Logan was still seated in lotus position, breathing rhythmically. With each exhale of his, faint mist continued to come through both his nose and mouth.

He had been in this position for a long time. But still only 12% of total spiritual energy that he gained from the spirit nectar was consumed by now. And he had no idea about how long it would take.

But he had no other worries. He only focused on this. Cultivation. And slowly but surely his strength continued growing.

"Next time, I won’t have to hold back any more."