"Hahaha, great work, sister Shiromi." The four brothers spoke and cheered.

Athan nodded at her with a smile that caused Shiromi to blush slightly, but she hurriedly looked at Tiana and others before sitting with them.

Sen elbowed her with a smile and said, "Congrats, you fought greatly."

"Thanks," Shiromi nodded with a smile.

As the girls talked, Tiana's gaze landed on Linci and Sen, 'These two are clearly in love with Athan. It's clear from how they behaved and their actions in the last couple of years. Shiromi is behaving reservedly, but I guess she is also attracted to Athan. Hmmm...who among them will make the first move?'

'Hmm...How will Athan respond? Those girls possess true feelings, but...I don't know how the current Athan will respond to them.'

Five minutes passed quickly before the next battle's numbers were revealed on the screens.

Black screen-[ 2]

White screen-[11]

A man sitting beside Illias stood up and started talking to the battleground.

"It's fine if he dies, but go all out," Illias spoke with a deadpan expression.

The man didn't pause but just nodded his head. He was at 2nd order of Zen order Grandmaster realm. He had two horns on his head and a hood that covered his head with two holes in the hood for the horns.

He wore a black robe with red and gold patterns that covered his whole body. His hands were in his sleeves, while he also covered his legs in the wide bottom part of the robe.

On the other hand, Arcued's eyes burned with excitement and determination as he shouted loudly and flew into the battleground before anyone could say anything.

However, his voice reverberated, "EMPEROR! I'll show him that they are not even worth the dust under your feet! They should be glad that they will have the opportunity to see your glory."

"Nyahahaha!! Well said, very well said! Nyhaha," Primo flew around in excitement before he sat on Athan's shoulder and spoke with gusto, "Master, I like this guy!"

Athan and others were speechless hearing that and thought, 'Why wouldn't you like him? You both are literally the same species with a different outer shell.'

...

Arcued activated all of his powers as his body shined with a black and white aura.

A reaper's scythe appeared in his hand that oozed out dangerous soul vibes.

The hooded man also pulsed with power, and he was prepared against any type of soul attack while also pointing his hands forward as tremendous fire-power gathered in dark orange flame with red sparks.

Arcued madly dashed forward and waved his scythe as an arc blade pulsing with black and aura with soul energy shot forward.

The hooded man also released his super-fast laser attack from his joint hands.

Arcued continued to dash forward in an attempt to dodge instead of stopping and defending.

On the other hand, The hood man's eyes turned blank for a moment before he regained his senses, 'WHAT! How can his soul attack be so powerful? Phew, fortunately, I fully prepared against it by overlapping my soul energy and my chaotic spirit's soul energy for defense.'

Arcued dodged the beam, but he lost his leg in an attempt to dodge.

"Aaaarghhhh...," Arcued cried in pain, but he didn't stop and gritted his teeth as he continued moving forward at full speed.

The hooded man tsked as his body glowed with purple and black sparks before forming three laser cannons.

"NOT SO FAST!" Arcued shouted as he pointed his scythe forward as a tremendous soul power burst out from it.

A soul wave in the form of a scythe materialized right from the chest of the hooded man, startling him, 'HOW? Wait...the previous soul attack acted as a conjuring point? BU-Arrghhhhhhhhhhhh...'

Arcued consumed all of his soul energy as the scythe slashed in an arc motion, cleaning, cutting the hooded man's soul defense, and...slashing his soul.

Suddenly, an Evagon-realm powerhouse appeared as he waved his hand and nullified Arcued's soul attack before it could fully pierce and cut the hooded man's soul.

"BATTLE OVER! One point goes to the challengers."

Everyone was impressed with Arcued, and the audience practically went bonkers!

They even gave him a title as they cheered for him.

"DEMUREL SOUL REAPER!"

Demurel means death caller.

...

Athan first recovered Arcued leg to peak condition with his void pulse before his patting him and saying with a grin, "Great job, Arcued."

"Damn, man! That was some sick soul attack," Theo punched Arcued's shoulder.

"You little, see how powerful you became since we first met," Tealery said with a joyful smile.

Arcued rubbed his nose as he said with a wide smile, "It's all because of Emperor."

Tiana, Avelia, and others were also surprised since Arcued didn't display that technique when they fought in the first trial.

Shiromi smiled wryly and said, "His soul strength is more powerful than me."

"It's actually just a bit less powerful than Tiana and I's soul strength," Avelia spoke in a surprised tone.

Athan nodded with a smile and said, "The benefit he received from my Touch of Transcendence is higher than all of you, and his growth is also fast."

"No wonder," Tiana nodded as she remembered a fact about Arcued she heard from Athan.

...

On the other hand, The atmosphere among Illias and others was dire.

Their zen order grandmaster LOST! This was a shock to them.

"Don't worry. That guy may be an exception. His soul was the strangest of all previous members of their group, and its power was also higher than the previous three," Illias spoke to diffuse the tension.

"Anyway, I don't want another loss," Illias spoke with a dark face, "There would be no face left for us if we lose against a bunch of Zen order elites."

...

The next battle was decided on the screen.

Black Screen-[13]

White Screen-[1]

Seeing the number, Athan and others looked at Sen, who stood up and took a deep breath.

"Sen, you can do it!" Shiromi said with a smile.

Sen looked at Athan for a moment before she silently flew towards the battleground, not responding to anyone.

Athan was a bit startled seeing her gaze as he felt it familiar. Looking at Sen's back, he opened his mouth to say something but thinking that it might have a reverse effect; he didn't say anything because...her opponent was none other than, Illias.

Others became silent, but Avelia shouted, "SEN! Leave no regret when you leave that battleground!"

Sen slowly flew forward as her body started producing dark red, bright orange, and crimson wisps. A zither appeared in her hand as well.

Her eyes burned the brightest flame of determination and...desire.