Dark Magus Returns

Returning to the area they were once in, Raze couldn't stop thinking about the items he had seen. He knew there had to be a link between Alterian and the Light Faction, but for it to be such a big one...

'It doesn't make any sense. I can't be the only person from Alterian that knows about the markings of Idore. Those in Alter would be able to notice it as well. If that's the case, why hasn't Alter done anything?'

'Or is it possible that Alter are the ones supporting them in the first place?'

"This is a joke," Brack said. "All of the events are set up by the Light Faction. Doesn't that mean all of the participants would have been able to train for it and know what's coming up? They clearly have an advantage."

"Now, now, young Brack," one of the Behemoth Clan elders that had come with the young participant said. "This is simply the advantage of having won last year's competition.

"Besides, the fact that they have decided to go first is their way of playing fair, allowing all of us to see what the first event will be.

"If there is one thing I can say about the Light Faction, it is that they try to be as fair as possible."

Raze would have to disagree, knowing full well what items they had on their body. Similar to a group of Grand Magus he knew, all of it was just for show in the end.

Rumbling could be felt from underground as the event was to get underway, and immediately all of the students belonging to the Light Faction had gotten in a circle formation.

All of them had pulled out their swords and pointed them toward the center.

A small outline could be seen in the ground as something was being raised up from underneath. Large growls could be heard one after the other, and finally, coming into the center of the stage, they could see what had risen up from the ground.

A large beast stood on its two large legs like a human. It was chained by its arms and legs attached to the ground.

The chains were made of a special material, with an interlocking mechanism that twisted with the movement of the beast.

The beast was especially ferocious, covered in thick armor on its shoulders and forearms with only gaps left in between.

Everyone assumed it had to at least be a level five beast, and even the audience looked a little frightened at what had appeared.

"Do not worry, people. Stationed are those from the strongest clans in the Light Faction. They will stay around the edge. If the beast even comes close, they will be sure to protect you! Not that it will be needed," the announcer stated.

The relief on the people's faces could be seen. With just a few words, a change in atmosphere was seen, showing how much they trusted the Light Faction.

"Let the event begin!"

As soon as these words were said, the chains fell off the beast with a click. Immediately, it charged forward toward the crowd, with the Light Faction members standing in its way.

Immediately, though, the circle formation was quick to act. Three of the Light Faction students stood right in front of the beast having next to no fear.

They lifted up their swords in the air, and at the right time, they all jumped up and swung down a strike full of Qi.

It hit the beast, causing it to stumble backward, but the hard armor on its body protected it well.

At the same time, though, from behind, two of the warriors had jumped at the back and stabbed their swords between the large pieces of armor, blood squirting out from its body.

They didn't follow up with more attacks but instead jumped back and continued staying in the circle-like position.

"I suggest that you all pay attention to the Light Faction students," Lince, the leader of the Lost Clan, said. "The Light Faction has always worked well together."

"Even though these members are not from the same clan, they are still able to work with flawless teamwork to take down an enemy that they perhaps couldn't take down on their own."

"Does that matter, though?" Beret asked, a student of the Lost Clan. "If they were to come across five strong individuals from the Demonic Faction, wouldn't they still lose the fight?"

"You should know that it won't always be the case. There may be a time where you're forced to face multiple members, and fighting more than one person at once is quite tricky. There is strength in numbers, isn't that right, Sha Mo?"

Sha Mo just gave off a little grunt, knowing full well that Lince was poking fun at him for having the largest clan in the Demonic Faction.

The fight against the beast was continuing, and they could tell that it was incredibly strong. When blocking an attack, there needed to be three members from the Light Faction to block.

However, after another strike hit the gaps in its legs, the beast had slowed down, and then something amazing occurred that was mesmerizing for the crowd.

One by one, the Light Faction members were going in for the attack. They used their own special techniques of their clan as they went and struck it one after the other.

The beast looked as if it could no longer fight back. One sword skill after the other was being repeated, and it was speeding up.

As soon as one student was done with their attack, it was time for the next. This level of coordination was even unseen compared to previous years.

Then finally, the student named Hanna jumped up in the air. Placing her hand over the sword, it looked to be completely covered in white energy.

She spun herself and slashed right at the back of the beast's neck, a deep cut was made, spurting blood towards her.

She swung her sword, hitting the blood away before she could get it on her clothes and landed on the ground with the beast falling behind her.

With the beast dead, the crowd erupted into roars once again. The students elegantly looked at the crowd and waved their hands with smiles on their faces.

"Come on, is that really impressive?" Beret said. "They just killed a beast. When I shove their face into the ground, then they will see how lame that was."

"Hey!" Sha Mo interrupted. "If you talk like that, then you better be able to prove it when it's your turn."

The Light Faction students had returned to the waiting area without a single one of them getting injured. They made dealing with the powerful beast look easy.

Raze knew very well how hard it was to go up against a level 5 beast. What he had just witnessed was the power of teamwork.

"Now that we have seen what the Light Faction can do, our next group of contestants will be… the Dark Faction!"

Now, it was time for Raze to see just how much the others had grown with him away.