After Lilith's performance, a dozen more candidates were given the spotlight as they gave it their all, earning the praise of the crowd.

As the number of participants dwindled, the announcer soon stumbled upon a name that caused the crowd to fall silent.

"Calling to Samael. Please step on the stage. I repeat, Calling to participant Samael. Please step on the stage."

As Samael walked out of the benches, the viewers found themselves more curious to see.

As he reached the stage, Samael finally saw his opponent. A woman with blond hair and black eyes. Unlike the rest, she was far more composed.

"Please choose your weapons."

Without further ado, Samael grabbed the axe he used earlier, swinging it a couple times before he faced his opponent.

This time, however, his opponent wielded nothing. She simply stood there, intently watching Samael.

"Please proceed to the designated marks on the stage."

Standing there, their gazes clashed as utter silence reigned, and for a brief second, as the wind brushed aside Samael's hair, a loud bang erupted.

Without wasting another second, the girl raised her arms as the clouds gathered, slowly darkening as lightning coursed behind them.

This... the scent of rain, Samael thought as he shot a glance above.

Bringing her hands down, she roared.

"Brewing storm!"

As a streak of lightning left gashes in the sky, a dozen more came hurling down, striking the stage at random as violent torrents of wind crashed against the stage.

As Samael's face was stained by the rain, he closed his eyes, feeling the breeze of the wind in his skin.

Seeing this, the girl's brows furrowed as she casted again.

"Tornado chains!"

From the clouds above, multiple strands of wind started to branch out, forming multiple tornadoes traveling towards Samael, wreaking havoc in their wake. Yet Samael remained in his position.

As the danger neared, Samael finally opened his eyes, watching it without fear as he muttered.

"Abyss spikes."

The girl's eyes widened as her body stiffened, and inches before her neck was a single onyx black spike stemming from the ground.

Just like that, she was defeated.

The crowd fell in utter silence as their gazes landed on the spike, curiousity and confusion burning behind their pupils.

Lilith and the other Thaesir heirs themselves found themselves surprised. This was the first time they had seen such an element.

"Is it darkness?" Lee asked himself.

"No, It's too... Dark. What is it?" Another voice chimed in.

Lilith simply remained watching; questions running through her mind. The last time she saw Samael, he was powerless. But when he returned, he was different. Empowered and unyielding. But this was the first time she truly saw his power.

Desmond, on the other hand, bolted up, his eyes wide and his brows furrowed. Like earlier, he saw nothing but darkness and emptiness in Samael's aura, but when he shot that attack, he saw a movement in that darkness. As if it were obeying Samael... No, as if it were one with Samael.

As the Void spike faded into nothingness, the girl fell on her knees, her body trembling as tears welled in her eyes.

Without waiting for the announcement, Samael turned around and left. Leaving the crowd to erupt in deafening screams that shook the stadium.

"What was that?!" A man screamed in utter disbelief as they began chanting his name.

"Samael! Samael!"

"Samael! Samael!"

Ignoring the cheer of the crowd, Samael made his way back to the waiting room, where he passed by Desmond, who looked at him with interest.

"Just what are you?" he asked again.

"You wouldn't understand," Samael replied as he leaned back.

After Samael's performance, it took some time for the crowd's excitement to die down. After all, it was like the heroes of myths and legends. Taking down opponents with one move without even flinching in the face of danger.

Due to the damage done by previous battles, the announcer halted the fight for a while as they swiftly went to fix the stage.

While waiting, Samael shot a look at Desmond, who was doing the same.

Looking into the kids eyes, Samael couldn't help but be the one to be curious this time.

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"Hey," he called, prompting Desmond to flinch.

"W-what?" he asked.

"Since you're so curious, how about we do an exchange?" Samael asked.

"Exchange?" Desmond repeated, his forehead creased.

"Basically, I ask you a question, and you ask me in return," Samael replied.

Desmond fell silent as he contemplated the offer. After a few minutes, he returned his gaze to Samael as he nodded.

"Alright, let's do it."

"You start," Samael said.

Desmond held his chin for a few seconds before he spoke. "Are you human?"

Samael stared at the face of the kid with a blank expression. "...In a way, yes."

Desmond's eyes glinted for a moment before he opened his mouth.

"I'm going to stop you there. My turn," Samael told the kid.

"Fine," Desmond said.

"Your eyes—how much can they see?" Samael asked as he crossed his arms.

Desmond appeared conflicted for a moment before he hesitantly replied. "I... I can see what I call auras. Basically, I see colors around people."

Samael's head tilted as he spoke. "I'm thinking that helps you predict when the enemy attacks."

Desmond's eyes widened.

"Guess I'm right," Samael muttered.

"My turn. What's your element?" Desmond fired back.

Going straight for the neck, huh? Samael thought.

"It's nothing," Samael replied.

Desmond's face furrowed. "I thought we were being honest."

"I am being honest," Samael said.

"I clearly saw something earlier. That wasn't nothing," Desmond said.

"What I said is nothing but the truth," Samael said.

"Fine," Desmond gave up as he leaned back.

"Well, let's end it here. I have nothing else to ask you," Samael said.

On cue, a loud voice echoed over the stadium.

"Sorry for the delay, dear viewers and participants! But I am back to announce that the battle shall resume!"

"With that being said, let us not waste time!"

Soon, multiple fighters entered the stage as they exchanged blows, returning the lively mood of the observers.

Slowly, the seconds trickled away as the shadows in the stadium shifted, gradually stretching in line with the setting sun. Fighters fell one by one, marking the end of the line for them, while others triumphed in their well-earned victory.

As the battle cries of the contestants thinned, so did the dwindling numbers of fighters. In the midst of the raging roars of the viewers, the announcer cut in once more, marking the end and start of another struggle.

"With that, ladies and gentlemen, the struggles of our aspiring students have come to an end. Now, we are down to the final one hundred fighters!"

"Now this brings a question to mind: Who will be the rightful holders of the top 50 students? Who will be the lucky ones with the ability to choose their familias?!"

Under the lead of the announcer, the crowd erupted in another thunderous cheer as they screamed at the top of their lungs.

"Now! Turn on the lights!" The announcer roared as multiple torches ignited, setting the stadium alight.

"Now! Let us commence the battle for the top 50!"

Across all the waiting rooms, everyone's faces fell grim as the participants made their way towards the stages.

Surprisingly, Samael was called early, sparking the uproar of the viewers as they chanted his name in unison, shaking the bleachers as they threw their hands in the air.

"SAMAEL!"

"SAMAEL!"

"SAMAEL!"

As he made his way onto the stage, his opponent was revealed. A rather built student who wielded nothing.

However, before Samael could choose anything, the man spoke.

"May I ask for a favor?"

Samael shifted his gaze towards him, his brows raised.

"I know I won't win. But can you honor me by exchanging fists?" he asked.

Samael's gaze remained on the man for a while before he turned around empty-handed.

Seeing this, the man bowed as he took a stance.

"All fighters... BEGIN!"

Without wasting another breath, the man charged forward, sending chunks of earth back as he breezed through the air like an arrow.

Samael's gaze narrowed as he launched himself forward, meeting the man head-on. As their fists collided, an ear-shattering explosion shook the stage as cracks marred its surface. Shockwaves swept the surroundings as the watchers roared in excitement.

Taking charge, Samael went on the aggressive as he swiftly dragged his arm down along with his opponent, giving an opening as he sent a fast hook.

However, his enemy saw this as he ducked and weaved to the side, narrowly avoiding the punch as he pivoted his foot and sent his fist forward.

A small smirk made its way to Samael's face as he dragged his arm back, blocking the counterattack as he slid a few steps back.

Taking advantage of Samael's disengagement, the man lunged forward as he whipped his arm with astounding force.

"Steel knuckles!"

His skin hastily warped silver as it bulldozed towards Samael's face. Reacting fast, Samael pivoted his foot as he slipped past the attack and delivered a counter blow, striking the man straight in the face.

As he recoiled, Samael embedded his knee in the man's abdomen, forcing him to tuck as he butted him down to the ground.

Clenching his jaw, the man could feel the blood gushing out of his nose. Yet he wore a smile as he launched an uppercut.

Samael weaved back as the fist struck nothing but air. However, his opponent wasn't finished yet, as he extended his foot forward and delivered a high kick.

Samael dropped down, his foot sweeping in an arc, knocking the man down to the ground.

As Samael rose up, he raised his foot and struck down. The man slammed his fist forward, launching himself and skidding back as he watched Samael's foot crush the stage.

Although Samael was holding back a lot, he still had enough force to crush every bone in his enemy's body.

With one forceful kick, Samael jetted forward, startling the man as he hastily jumped up and jerked his arm, forming a makeshift shield as Samael's fist collided with him, sending him flying back.

Smashing his feet into the solid ground, he gritted his teeth as his face flushed red. Slowly, his momentum slowed down as he hung near the edge.

A small smile made its way to Samael's lips. What great determination!

"I'm going full power now," he said, causing the nearby watchers to gasp. The man simply smiled as he nodded.

It was a great honor to fight someone so strong. It was an even bigger honor that he was willing to go full force.

Smashing his fist together, his body formed a layer of steel, encasing his entire arms and parts of his body.

"Give me your all!" He roared as he took a stance.

Seeing this, Samael's smirk widened as he too took a stance. A rather foreign concept for him.

"Time to end this," Samael muttered as he unleashed a portion of his astral pressure, encasing the entire stage as his opponent felt a shiver run down his spine.

Shifting his glance at the man, Samael burst forward, shattering the stage as half of it sank below, pulverized.

Giving out a mighty roar, the man slammed both his feet down, digging them into the earth.

Samael's figure turned to a blur as he appeared mere inches from the man. For a few moments, time seemed to slow down as the man smiled.

Then...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!

An ear-deafening explosion rocked the entire stadium, sending ripples through its walls. A large dust cloud blew high in the air, blocking out everyone's vision as the shockwave nearly swept them away. The other participants could only brace as they watched in utter disbelief at the display of power Samael showed.

As the dust started to settle, the people found themselves asking.

"Who won?!"

"What was that?!"

"I can't see anything?! What happened?!"

However, in its midst, a voice asked.

"What's your name?"

"...Raegan."

"Rest, Raegan. You've proven enough."

"...So be it."

As the dust made way, the scene before them unfolded, taking their breaths away.

A man before a fallen foe.

One standing, one kneeling.

And there he stood.

A victor.