The two began analyzing the footage of the first trial, evaluating how well the newly ascended had performed. They also scrutinized the various applicants, assessing the quality of their training.

As the initial training for any individual capable of becoming an ascended was the same. As firstly an individual would have to become aware of their Conscious Mind, through mental training. This would allow them to manipulate the energy of their Soul, and nourish their vessel improving on its qualities. This would then form a cycle which would culminate in the Individual surpassing human limitations and becoming an Ascended.

The newly ascended would then go on to learn abilities which corresponded with the three elements of training. They would learn a fighting style for their Vessel. A soul incantation and a type of thought process for their Conscious Mind. These initial abilities would be common knowledge, any ascended could learn them. Their purpose would merely be to lay a foundation. A skilled Ascended would choose abilities that synergized well with one another.

While many Ascended performed well in the first trial, the two observers noticed a couple who stood out remarkably.

The holographic image zoomed in on a particular location within the coliseum. It showed a petite girl with black hair and heterochromatic eyes—one green and the other blue. She wore a green hoodie, blue shorts, and bulky black sneakers. In her arms, she held a black cat that shared her unique trait: its eyes were also green and blue.

As the first trial commenced, the girl let the cat leap from her arms. It soon transformed, growing from a pleasant house cat into a creature the size of a full-grown jaguar. The girl then dropped into a low fighting stance, mimicking the posture of the transformed beast. She underwent a slight transformation herself—her nails extended into sharp claws, her eyes became slitted like a predators, and her canines elongated, turning sharper.

The girl and the beast fought together in unison, neither making a sound as they moved.

The Ascended girl’s name was Coraline. Both Gaia and Selene were impressed by her. The fact that she had managed to tame and train alongside an Ascended Beast was no ordinary accomplishment. Coraline had even learned from the creature's natural fighting style, seamlessly incorporating it into her Vessel training.

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The holographic footage then shifted to show an unassuming Ascended male named Jackson. He appeared ordinary, even weak. The other Ascended surrounding him seemed to sense this.

A decently sized group attempted to eliminate him from the first trial, backing him into a corner. Jackson appeared nervous and even tried to negotiate for a fairer fight. The other Ascended, however, showed no interest in his proposal.

At that moment, Jackson seemed to transform into a completely different person. Like a ferocious warrior consumed by blind rage, he threw a punch that created a shockwave powerful enough to injure nearby Ascended and send them flying.

Gaia and Selene analyzed his behavior closely. Despite the wild ferocity with which he fought, they noticed that he still managed to maintain control. They speculated that his ability might involve training of his Conscious Mind.

The footage then changed again, showcasing the battle between Lioness and Alexander. The two women directed their analysis toward Lioness.

The young woman’s Vessel training appeared to focus on proficiency with various weapons, though she did not seem to be an expert in any particular one. Her Soul Incantation complemented this versatility, as her ability to reshape metal allowed her to create a wide variety of weapons. Her Conscious Mind was equally noteworthy, centered around ferocity and indomitability.

Next, they analyzed Alexander. Gaia turned to Selene and asked for her thoughts on him. Selene contemplated for a moment before answering concisely: “His swordsmanship seems rather honed through practice. His Soul Incantation adds a deceptive element to his fighting style. However, it doesn’t seem like he has much natural talent.”

The two then moved on to analyze Curie’s fight. Selene asked Gaia for her opinion about the girl. Gaia responded simply and to the point: “Her Conscious Mind and Soul Incantation are nothing short of formidable. Her intellect is very high to. However, I do notice she’s somewhat lacking in terms of her Vessel.”

The last outstanding individual they analyzed was Sandro. The two women had mixed feelings about him. While they both agreed he was naturally talented with exceptional combat abilities and skills, they also regarded him as reckless.

After his initial engagement with a large number of Ascended, Sandro continued to fight and antagonize others, taking on large groups of opponents despite sustaining injuries. This course of action allowed him to defeat the most Ascended of anyone. While this was undeniably impressive, Sandro nearly got himself eliminated from the trial due to his arrogance, a flaw that could not be overlooked.