Is this really a Game?!

The spear-wielder's expression remained stoic, but a glimmer of acknowledgment flashed in his eyes. He knew Wolf wasn't bluffing. The tension in the air thickened as both fighters prepared for what they knew would be the final exchange. Their auras clashed, creating ripples of energy that made the ground tremble beneath them.

Both combatants had pushed themselves to the limit, and this was the moment that would decide who would stand victorious.

Wolf's flames flared up, the chaotic energy swirling around him like a storm. The scales covering his body shimmered with a purple hue, signaling that he was fully unleashing his mark's power. His greatsword, now blazing with Everlasting flames, radiated an intense heat that distorted the air around it. Wolf's eyes locked onto the spear-wielder, his focus razor-sharp.

The spear-wielder's grip tightened on his weapon as he summoned all his energy into a single point. The spear glowed with a bright light, condensing his power into the tip. He stood poised, ready to strike with the precision of a master. Every muscle in his body was tense, coiled like a spring ready to explode with lethal force.

For a moment, the battlefield seemed to go silent, as if time itself held its breath. Then, with a deafening roar, both fighters launched themselves at each other. Wolf's greatsword descended like a falling star, a trail of purple flames streaking behind it, while the spear-wielder thrust his weapon forward, aiming directly for Wolf's heart.

The clash of their weapons created a massive shockwave that rippled across the arena. The force of the impact was so great that the platform beneath them cracked, sending debris flying in all directions. The sound of metal grinding against metal echoed like thunder as their energies collided in a spectacular explosion of light and fire.

For a moment, neither fighter moved as they remained locked in a deadly stalemate. Sparks flew from where their weapons met, the air vibrating with raw power. Wolf gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of strength he had left into overpowering the spear-wielder. His muscles bulged as he pushed against the resistance, his flames roaring with ferocity.

But the spear-wielder wasn't giving in. His focus was absolute, his body straining as he held his ground. His spear crackled with energy, the tip vibrating with a high-pitched hum as it pressed against Wolf's greatsword. The two warriors were evenly matched, each refusing to yield.

Back at Reign's part of the battlefield, he was staring at the two men who were panting heavily, their injuries serious and none of them certain that they could survive the battle against Reign.

And then, they suddenly straightened their backs and glanced at one another before turning around and retreating, leaving their backs open to Reign, making themselves into easy targets, and yet, Reign didn't attack.

The two didn't flee for no reason, it was because two auras suddenly appeared.

No, they didn't just appear, they were present from the start, the auras were just withdrawn into the bodies of the two men so well, that they were barely able to be sensed.

Now, those two men had made a move, with immense speed, they ran toward the throne, their figures a blur as they arrived in a matter of moments.

Reign had a bad feeling about them because their auras were immense, equal, even slightly above the aura the spear-wielder who Wolf was fighting against possessed.

He knew that fighting both of those men would be immensely difficult, without his transformation, he had no confidence of emerging victorious.

He didn't think both would attack him, however.

And he was right. On top of the platform, a figure emerged—a lone warrior, his aura so dense that it sent shivers down the spines of everyone present. This was, in Reign's opinion, the most dangerous of all the fighters present in the trial, a combatant who had held back until the very end.

The other man who was with him passed like a blur, and Reign didn't try to stop him as the latter tried to attack Beast, who merely glanced at him before continuing to fight his opponent.

He had already fused with Blackie, the raw power present in his form causing his new opponent to struggle greatly as he continued barraging him with attacks. As the other man approached, he suddenly stopped and jumped to the side as the shadows on the ground moved, turning tangible and becoming spikes that nearly impaled him.

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The darkness around him intensified as a man wearing what looked like a robe made out of pure darkness stared at him from the side. His blonde hair now had touches of black on it, and his eyes seemed like two black holes that could devour a person.

"Your opponent is going to be me," Shadow said as he stared at the man.

"You seem strong, so I hope you can put up a good fight, please do start with everything you have, I would hate to have killed you before you were able to show me all your strength."

The man stared at Shadow before chuckling as he took out his weapon, a pair of tonfas.

The enemy that Reign was going up against, however, was standing straight, staring at him.

He was a tall man with a calm demeanor, his eyes glowing with a subtle, deadly light. He wielded a longsword with an aura that exuded both immense power and profound control.

"Boy," the man said with a tone that was almost polite. "I've been watching you, you fight quite well, you and your group managed to defeat so many."

Reign's grip on his swords tightened. "And you're here to finish what they started?"

The man nodded. "I am, it is time to end this, to claim this throne, I believe it suits me quite well."

The man moved, and Reign and he clashed, their speed and power seemingly an even match. Reign, however, quickly realized that his opponent was even deadlier than he anticipated.

The man's swordplay was unlike anything Reign had faced so far. His strikes were deliberate, precise, and devastatingly fast. Each movement was calculated, leaving no wasted energy. Reign quickly realized that this opponent was different from the rest. He wasn't just strong—he was a master, someone who had honed his skills to perfection over countless battles.

The swordsman's aura was calm, controlled, and unwavering, a stark contrast to the wild energy that typically surrounded Reign. Every swing of his blade was fluid, like water flowing with purpose. Reign parried the man's first few strikes with difficulty, feeling the sheer weight of skill behind each blow. The man's eyes were focused, analyzing Reign's every move with a chilling intensity.

Reign realized that this was a battle he couldn't afford to underestimate. The man before him wasn't just powerful—he was a seasoned warrior who knew exactly how to exploit weaknesses in an opponent's technique. Reign's usual mixture of light and darkness attacks, which had overwhelmed others, didn't seem to faze this man.

Instead, the swordsman adapted effortlessly, deflecting Reign's attacks with minimal effort and countering with deadly precision.

"You're holding back," the man observed as their blades locked. "I can tell. You haven't shown your true power yet."

"Is it out of fear? Or are you simply waiting for the right moment?"

Reign gritted his teeth, pushing back against the man's sword. "You'll see soon enough."

With a burst of energy, Reign disengaged and launched himself into the air, flipping over the swordsman and aiming a downward slash at his exposed back. But the man spun with lightning speed, parrying the strike and countering with a horizontal slash that forced Reign to retreat.

"You fight well," the man acknowledged, his voice still calm. "But skill alone won't be enough. Show me what you're truly capable of."

Reign's eyes narrowed. He had hoped to avoid using his transformation until the final moments, but from how things were standing, he might be forced to do just that. First, however, Reign would do everything in his power to try and defeat the enemy in front of him without resorting to such a measure.

Channeling his energy, Reign's body began to glow with a mixture of light and darkness, the dual energies swirling around him in a mesmerizing dance.

The man's expression remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. "So, that's how it is," he murmured. "Interesting."

Without warning, the swordsman's aura surged, and Reign felt an immense pressure bearing down on him. The man hadn't been fighting at full strength either—he had been holding back just as much as Reign, maybe even more. The air crackled with tension as the two combatants prepared to clash once more.

"You young bloods are quite good, but there is something that you are missing." The man said, his immense aura rising.

"Experience and patience, you don't have that, you have gone through the ranks too quickly, you cannot fully control your own power, and you didn't fight enough powerful opponents in order to hone your skills."

"Without that, you won't be able to defeat me."