Chapter 129: Lilith’s Battle

The second match of the Seventh group commenced. It was between someone from the titan race and someone from the demon race.

Even though it wasn’t as shocking as Seraphina’s match, both fighters unleashed their strength without holding back. The titan was massive, towering over his opponent, his skin like weathered stone, thick and tough. Every step he took made the ground tremble slightly, and the air around him felt heavier, denser. The demon was sleek and fast, his movements sharp and precise, his dark eyes glowing with a cold, calculating light.

The titan raised his hand, and a circular rune appeared in front of his palm, glowing with a dull, earthy brown light. The rune pulsed, and a layer of stone-like armor formed over his already tough skin, adding to his already huge defense. The demon responded in kind, summoning his own rune, a dark crimson circle that spun rapidly before him. Black flames licked around its edges, and his speed increased, his body becoming a blur.

Taking advantage of his huge defense and physical strength, the titan had a slight edge, even though his agility was a bit weak. But this was an enclosed space, so that weakness was somewhat nullified. There wasn’t much room for the demon to run circles around him.

The fight dragged on. Blows were exchanged, each one landing with a heavy thud that echoed through the arena. The demon darted in and out, his claws wreathed in dark fire, landing quick strikes. But the titan’s rune-enhanced defense held firm. The demon’s attacks barely left a scratch on the stone-like armor.

Then the titan set a bait. He stumbled, feigning weakness, letting his rune flicker as if it was running out of power. The demon took it. He lunged in for what he thought was an opening, his crimson rune flaring bright as he poured everything into one final strike.

The titan’s massive fist swung around, a new rune forming over his knuckles, glowing with a deep, molten orange. It connected square with the demon’s chest, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena. The demon crashed to the ground, his rune shattering into fading embers.

With that bait in attack, the guy from the titan race claimed his victory, even though it came in the later minutes of the match. The demon stayed down, groaning, unable to continue.

The eighth group was almost the same, with a Volkins and surprisingly a Volkoid in human form. The Volkoid looked ordinary at first glance, just a tall figure in plain clothes, but there was something off about him. His presence felt different, heavier, like the air around him was holding its breath. It showed that his race wasn’t ordinary.

A Volkoid that could take human form easily and attend the academy was rare. Only those with high bloodline, almost on par with dragons and phoenixes, could do it.

The battle was hard, but in terms of bloodline, the Volkoid had a huge advantage. The Volkins could only blame the fact that he met him in his first battle.

The battle continued with the second match of the eighth group, which ended in a draw. Both fighters collapsed at the same time, too exhausted to continue. The healers rushed in, and the crowd murmured, still buzzing from the Volkoid’s easy victory.

Now it was the Ninth group match, and the first battle was:

"Lilith Veyn Vs Andros Grainfield."

The screen flickered to life, displaying their names in bold, glowing letters. The students leaned forward, whispers spreading through the stands. Lilith’s name drew extra attention after the scene she had caused earlier. A few glanced toward where she had been standing, wondering what kind of fighter she was.

Lilith stepped into the arena. She was small, petite, like a child in size. Her silver-white hair cascaded down her back, flowing like moonlight, shimmering faintly as if alive. Large crimson eyes gleamed with an ancient, otherworldly light, holding centuries of secrets behind them. Her skin was pale as snow, smooth and flawless. A small, blood-red ribbon was tied neatly in her silver-white hair.

She wore the academy’s Honor uniform, looking elegant and completely out of place in the brutal arena, like a porcelain doll dropped into a war zone.

Andros Grainfield walked in from the opposite side. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a lean, powerful build that moved with quiet confidence. His hair was what caught everyone’s attention first. It was a rare shade, a deep silvery-blue that shimmered under the arena lights, like moonlight on water. It was tied back in a short, neat ponytail, with a few loose strands framing his sharp jaw.

His eyes were a pale, icy blue, calm and steady. There was no arrogance in them, no fear. Just focus. His skin was fair, his features clean and well-defined. A thin scar ran along his left cheek, faint but noticeable, adding a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise refined appearance.

Before Lilith entered the arena, she turned to Lucien and said, "Darling, don’t forget my pat."

Nobody reacted. They were used to her behavior and confidence by now. But they still anticipated how this battle would turn out.

Lucien and Seraphina had surprised them. Now they were waiting to see what kind of surprise Lilith would give them.

She proceeded to enter the arena, facing her opponent. The rune barrier hummed as it sealed behind her. She looked at Andros and said, "We will have to end this match quickly. My darling is waiting for me."

Her voice was light, almost playful, but there was a sharp edge underneath it. She wasn’t joking.

Andros heard her words and kept thinking of how he would defeat her. In his mind, he had already put her on the same level as Seraphina and Lucien. He wasn’t about to take her lightly.

The instant Sylas signaled the start of the match, Lilith didn’t even wait for Andros to summon his Armament. She made her move.

She circulated her Originat, and a large blood-red circular rune, twice her size, appeared before her. The rune pulsed with a dark, eerie light, throbbing like a heartbeat. The air around it grew cold and heavy, carrying a bloody smell.

Her ears, which had been human-like, elongated into sharp points. Her pale skin shone like moonlight, glowing faintly under the arena lights. Some of the students gasped, realizing what she was.

She was from the Vampire Race.

The circular bloody rune emitted an eerie aura that made the nearest students shiver. The pressure coming off it was cold and suffocating, like being buried alive.

Then the rune burst open.

Numerous blood tentacles shot out from it, dark crimson and glistening, each one tipped with a sharp, needle-like point. They lashed through the air, fast and relentless, aimed straight at Andros. The tentacles left faint red trails behind them, and the sound they made was wet and sharp, like meat being sliced.

Andros’s eyes widened. He barely had time to react.

He somersaulted back, narrowly dodging the first blood tentacles. The tentacles sliced through the air where he had been standing, their tips scraping against the stone floor with a sharp, wet sound. He landed on his feet, but another tentacle came for him mid-air, forcing him to move again.

He twisted his body, ducking under the tentacle as it whistled past his ear. The wind from it carried a bloody smell. He stumbled back a few steps, his boots skidding on the stone.

He had no choice. He summoned his Armament.

A faint light gathered in his palm, flickering like a dying candle. It grew brighter, then solidified into a sword. The blade was simple, almost ordinary at first glance. It was a lightsword, its edge glowing with a soft, pale radiance, like moonlight trapped in glass. The handle was smooth, unadorned, wrapped in dark leather. There were no visible runes etched into the blade, no fancy designs.

Everyone who laid their eyes on the sword Armament knew that was just a facade. There was something underneath, something hidden beneath that plain exterior.

Lucien’s expression turned serious as he laid his eyes on the Armament. He could see beyond what the students could. His eyes narrowed, studying the blade, the way the light bent around it, the faint distortion in the air near its edge.

The Armament was strong. Even the restriction wouldn’t have had any effect if not for Andros’s will. He was holding it back, keeping it suppressed. That took control. That took skill.

Lucien immediately scanned Andros for his information. A faint glow appeared in his eyes as the system fed him the details. When he saw the information, he set his gaze on him, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

It seemed this battle was going to be entertaining.

Andros slashed mid-air at the blood tentacle that was aiming for him. The lightsword cut through it cleanly, cleaving it into two. The severed pieces dissolved into red mist, hissing as they hit the ground. He landed, his boots hitting the stone with a soft thud.

But Lilith wasn’t done.

As his feet touched the ground, a large bloody circular rune appeared on the ground around him. It spread out from beneath his feet, glowing with a dark, pulsing red light. The air grew cold and thick, and a bloody smell filled his nose.

Blood tentacles burst out from the circular rune, erupting from the ground like a nest of serpents. They shot upward, surrounding him, closing in from all sides. They engulfed him in a cocoon of writhing, crimson limbs.