As the thunderous applause filled the stadium, Azmodeus and Anna stepped onto the arena floor, their eyes scanning the formidable pair before them. The tall warrior with the massive hammer flexed his muscles, while his partner, a lithe woman with twin daggers, eyed them with the cunning focus of a predator. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd leaned forward, eager for the clash that was about to unfold.
High above the arena, in the prestigious VIP stands, a refined beauty watched the scene with an icy detachment. Her gaze, sharp and calculating, swept over the participants below, lingering briefly on Azmodeus and Anna before moving to the rest of the arena. This was Lady Ming Chao, younger sister of the eldest sect disciple of the Eternal Jade Sect, and also the overseer of the tournament and stand-in head of the Eternal Jade Academy. Draped in elegant robes that reflected the colors of the academy, she sat with an air of cool authority, her expression unreadable.
"Such a splendid display of power, wouldn't you agree, Lady Ming?" murmured one of the distinguished figures seated nearby. He was Lord Yen, a high-ranking elder of the Eternal Jade Sect and notorious for his frequent, lingering glances at Ling Chao. His gaze, discreetly admiring, traced the elegant lines that connected the hem of her dress to the supple thighs that lay beneath as he continued, "Your academy cultivates talent like no other."
Ming Chao merely inclined her head slightly, her tone flat as she responded, "Power alone is not a measure of one's worth. Only those who can maintain their composure in battle truly belong here."
Another elder, Elder Shun, chuckled lightly, a forced sound that sought her approval. "Quite right, Lady Ming. And yet, there are those few who manage to balance power with precision. Such individuals are rare jewels indeed."
Lady Ling's expression did not change, but her gaze flicked back to the arena as the signal to start was given. Her attention returned to Azmodeus and Anna as they prepared to face their opponents. Her voice, colder than the winter wind, cut through the murmurs of the other elders. "Let us see if they can demonstrate something more than brute strength." 'One, the daughter of an Emperor and disciple of my elder brother. And the other a transfer student that got in through purely his own efforts... I hope this will be interesting.'
The battle began with an eruption of movement. The hulking warrior, wielding his hammer like an extension of his own body, charged forward with a ground-shaking roar. His partner darted in beside him, her twin daggers gleaming with lethal intent. They were both within the top 25 on the Academy's student ranking and possessed might that astounded many of the spectating students.
Beside her, another elder, a portly man named Lord Han, leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of intrigue and something less honorable. "Still, Lady Ming, their coordination is impressive and just your presence alone is worth enough guidance to last them a lifetime! Perhaps they may yet prove worthy of the academy's legacy."
Lady Ming allowed a slight nod, her gaze never leaving the fight. Her expression betrayed no pride, no satisfaction. Only that calculating, detached interest as she continued to observe. Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|-novelhall.net
In the arena, Anna's confidence grew as she deftly dodged another blow from the hammer-wielding warrior. She darted around him, aiming a quick kick to his knee that forced him to stagger. Just as she was about to follow up with a finishing blow, she sensed a shift in his aura. With a burst of energy, he spun around, his hammer sweeping through the air in a deadly arc. Anna's eyes widened, but her reflexes kicked in. She ducked under the hammer, rolling to the side just in time to avoid the powerful swing.
'Although he's in the Grade 4 Immortal King Realm, one level below me, he's still formidable... A difference in physique's maybe?' Anna's thoughts lingered as she moved proactively, trying to find any openings.
"Close one," Azmodeus murmured, glancing in her direction. The brief distraction allowed the dagger-wielding woman to get close, her daggers slicing toward him. But Azmodeus reacted instantly, catching her wrist with a firm grip. With a twist, he disarmed her, her dagger clattering to the ground as she struggled against his hold.
"What a show off!" Anna called out, flashing him a displeased frown as she resumed her own fight.
........