As Lilith walked up the stage, the watching crowd, most of which were older noble men, couldn't help but look at the way her waist swayed, an action Samael did not miss, adding more fuel to his frustration.

Not only are these nobles self-righteous cunning bastards but perverted assholes too. They're not even hiding their gazes, Samael thought, his expression dark.

Shifting his attention back at Lilith, Samael saw the girl finally make it up the stage. There waited a noble woman with brown hair and blue eyes.

Standing before the woman, Lilith could clearly feel the jealousy and hate the girl had for her. She didn't know for what reason, but it was there, and she wasn't even hiding it.

"Participants, please choose your weapons."

Deciding to ignore her glare, Lilith turned around as she examined the weapon stand.

Thinking about it, she never really bothered using or mastering any form of weaponry. She has always relied solely on her ability to manipulate chaos. However, she was indeed curious about one.

Refacing her opponent, Lilith held a scythe nearly as large as her behind her back.

The scythe. A weapon associated with death and destruction. A weapon that suited the chaotic nature of her element. Meanwhile, the girl chose to use her element alone.

Stepping onto the designated marks on the stage, a brief silence engulfed the stage before a loud, echoing bang thundered in the air.

On cue, the girl shot her arms forward as she roared.

"Magma eruption!!!"

A violent earthquake shook the stage as the ground split, revealing boiling hot magma beneath that shot dozens of hot molten rocks high in the air.

Seeing this, Lilith's gaze narrowed as she spoke.

"Such a great element wasted."

Before the girls eyes, Lilith's figure exuded a violent wave of orange matter that swiftly disposed of the incoming rocks. Before her very gaze, she saw the molten magma turn into fine dust, adding to the chaotic surge.

Like a seed watered by absolute power, fear blossomed in her heart as she stepped back involuntarily, her body trembling as the orange matter circled the demoness like a hurricane.

"Yield," Lilith said.

The girl bit her lip as her face contorted in anger and fear. However, she chose poorly.

"SHUT UP!" She roared as she raised her hands, but to no avail.

Within the blink of her eyes, a sharp, pointed edge hovered just centimeters from the flesh of her neck, and on the other side was Lilith, who had extended the scythe forward.

"Contestant Lilith Flamebright wins!" The announcer shouted, causing a wave of cheers and roars.

Pulling the scythe back, the girl fell to her knees as she stared blankly at Lilith's leaving figure.

With that, she proceeds to the next round.

A small smile made its way to Samael's lips as he watched Lilith go back to her waiting room. It seems he wasn't the only one who grew in the past eight years of their separation.

After Lilith's fight, a few more confrontations happened as the number of students whittled down slowly but surely.

After some tears and cries of joy, the final 250 students were finally decided.

"With that, ladies and gentlemen, we have our final 250 passing students of the academy! Please give them a round of applause," the announcer said, causing the viewers to release loud cheers and applause that echoed off the wide stadium.

"But fret not! The fight is only beginning! Now it is time to find out who the deserving 50 that will get the honor of choosing their familias!"

"All participants, please stand by in your designated rooms as the staff prepares the stage for the next stage."

After that announcement, there was only silence and anxiety. Although they have passed, that doesn't mean they don't want to have the ability to choose their familias. That would basically secure them in the hierarchy of aristocratic society. And for nobles? That is the only outcome they can accept.

Samael remained as nonchalant as before. These mundane things simply didn't appeal to him. If he wanted to get to the top, he would do so by proving his power and not relying on other people.

The very thought of being dependent on other parties was simply too weak for him. It was a fragile kind of power that was fueled by other people's greed and agendas.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

These people, even though they are more gifted with the resources to soar above others, took everything for granted.

They were weak, naive, and too absorbed by their reputation. They prioritize making themselves look good before actually looking at the real problems. There's a fucking war out there, for fucks sake.

The more he sees and blends with this society, the more he realizes how worthless they are in the battle against abominations. While the watchers die to keep what little remains of humanity, they hide behind their walls, cowering in fear.

After another hour or so, the announcer finally returned with news.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are happy to say that the preparations are finally complete!"

"With that being said, all participants, please prepare for the next stage," the announcer followed.

After hearing the staff's words, another wave of tension engulfed the waiting fighters. Not only are the odds of them losing higher, but their enemies are also stronger and far more experienced than the rest.

Now, there was no more luck as everyone here fought and won their own battles, prevailing against those thrown before them.

As the room doors started to open again, another batch of names were summoned on the stage.

Eventually, loud explosions shook the stage as the opposing sides exchanged heavy blows. Paired with the chaotic screams of the crowd, everything had fallen into disarray.

Soon, bodies started falling as the battle was soon decided. Some were far faster than the rest, while others were hard-fought battles that nearly ended in draws.

However, the highest and strongest cheers were mainly directed to the Thaesir heirs, who showed dominance against their opponents.

With their superior power and rarer elements, they were able to outclass their enemies in every single way.

This time, however, Lilith came first before Samael.

As she made her way to the stage, some people were chanting her name.

"Lilith! Lilith!"

"Lilith! Lilith!"

It seems her performance earlier had garnered the attention of the observers. Now, they were rooting for her to win.

"Participants Lilith Flamebright and Colt Evans, please choose your weapons."

As usual, Lilith chose the scythe. Meanwhile, Colt chose a ranged weapon, a bow.

Proceeding to the marks on the stage, the two went on a staredown.

As the loud bang reached the ears of the two, they swiftly went to work.

Thinking smart, Colt immediately distanced himself as he shot three consecutive arrows, slowing down Lilith's advance.

Having the advantage of range, he chanted.

"Stone ballistas."

Drawing his bow, Colt fired an arrow, followed by multiple large chunks of sharpened stones.

Reacting fast, Lilith weaved through the attacks as she chanted in return.

"Chaos surge."

Raising her palm forward, a violent shockwave-like surge of chaos energy plowed forward, shattering the surface of the stage as it dragged with it stone shrapnels.

Clenching his jaw, Colt spoke.

"Stone walls."

Stomping on the ground, a large block of stone rose from below, tanking the attacks sent by Lilith. However, the demoness moved fast as she took advantage of the brief moment of blindness the shield provided.

Circling around, Lilith's eyes glinted as an idea came to mind.

"Harrowing waves."

Slashing her scythe multiple times, Lilith sent forward chaos waves.

Colt's eyes widened as he hastily backed away. Unfortunately, one of the attacks landed on his arm, causing a burn-like aftereffect.

Colt hissed in pain as he felt the intense throbbing of his left arm. However, he had no time to inspect it as Lilith charged ahead relentlessly.

Seeing he had now to run, Colt chanted.

"Stone forest."

Lilith's steps were halted as she felt the violent tremors below. However, before she could even guess, her astral compass warned her of upcoming danger. Heeding its call, she propelled herself up.

On cue, the ground cracked as large pillars of stone burst from below, devouring the stage and creating a forest-like environment entirely made of stones.

Looking around, Lilith raised her guard.

Soon enough, arrows came hurling from the depths of the stone forest, all aiming for her.

Using her speed, she nimbly weaved through the rain of bolts. Unfortunately, she was unable to detect the direction of the attack as Colt kept repositioning after each shot.

Gritting her teeth, Lilith constantly dodged as she racked her brains for a counterattack.

I can't close the distance, Lilit thought.

Unfortunately, she didn't have a large area of attack abilities either. Everything was too lethal to use.

I can't use it on him, she thought when her eyes landed on the arrow piercing the earth.

But... I can use it in the environment, she thought as her eyes glew bright.

Yes! The surroundings!

Colt, keeping the barrage of arrows, formed a smirk as he saw the girl cornered. This ability is a skill he has been training for his whole life. He has thought of many possibilities for how to use it, and taking advantage of the rules made it even more powerful.

However, his smile died fast as he felt the floor buckle and sink, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.

"What have you done?!" Colt asked in bewilderment as he felt the ground start to cave in.

"While you were too busy basking in your far-fetched victory, I directed my attack below the stage, creating an empty cavern. Pair that with the heavy stone pillars, it's sure to break," she replied.

Trying to gain distance quickly, Colt casted.

"Stone piercer!"

A violent tremor can be felt below the ground as multiple stone pillars shoot out towards Lilith, forming a small mountain-like structure.

Reacting fast, she cast in return.

"Distortion."

Channeling the chaos matter to the surrounding area, Lilith managed to distort and destroy Colt's link to the earth, completely cutting off the attack.

Colt's eyes widened as he dashed back and drew his bow.

Dashing forward, Lilith made chase as she elegantly weaved through the rain of bolts.

"Dammit!" Colt roared as he spoke.

"Stone tortoise!"

Crouching down, two slabs of stone rose from the ground, putting him in a capsule-like structure.

Seeing this, Lilith uttered:.

"Chaos drill."

Raising her hand forward, a large amount of chaos matter seeped from her skin, circulating within her arm as she gathered a large amount.

Clenching her fist, the chaos matter rapidly rotated, forming a drill.

"Yield," Lilith said.

"I refuse!" Colt roared.

"So be it," she muttered.

With one step forward, Lilith slammed the drill in the middle of the shell, swiftly shattering its defense as the chaos matter ate through it.

Pushing forward, the drill hovered centimeters from Colt's head, warning him that one wrong move was all it took.

"It's over," she said.

A deafening roar shook the arena as thousands of people screamed at the top of their lungs, shaking the very earth beneath them as they hugged and raised their hands in the air.

Some people chanted Lilith's name, while others mindlessly shouted. Some threw their fists in the air with their eyes wide in disbelief. Samael himself couldn't help but smile.

"With that, Lilith Flamebright proceeds to the next round!"