Menlin Island.
Various elementals could be seen around the island and the least powerful was at early stage Grand Saint level. That was already considered a powerhouse in some continent. All the participants were in groups with the most powerful leading them.
Merchants had already set up their stalls and various schools have brought their disciples to watch the battle, that included Dryad's school, Greenwood, that she had been running for ten years. All of the students were wood elementals and their principal was an early stage divine level elemental. He had a Jade embedded in his forehead.
Other wood elementals were present too as spectators but they all wore black cloaks. Only Dryad's team were participating but they were also wearing cloaks. They had a stall to themselves where all wood elementals stayed.
The competition was divided into elements and groups. There were forty participants from each group and the best forty in their elementals passed to the next round. Since Dryad only had a team for her elements, she did not have to participate in that round.
The first round concluded and the best forty in their elements were chosen. They were divided into Light, Darkness, Water, Earth, Air, Fire, Demons, Animal(They are tamer elementals) and Wood.
When their element was called and the crowd was shocked, all the wood elementals removed their cloaks. The whole island was silent was silent as they all stared at the green skinned elementals. The participants and the principal had precious stones in their foreheads while the rest didn't. Even Ilerisa raised a brow.
The one who caught most attention was Dryad. She chuckled and raised a pillar that was higher than the one Ilerisa sat on. Most people recovered from their shock and called her out for blasphemy but she stared straight at Ilerisa.
He waved his hand and everyone went silent again.
"Goddess Dryad, I don't expect you to come. I would've been the one to welcome you" Ilerisa said with an embarrassed smile. The people who shouted at her felt their heart grow cold.
"Ilerisa, I'm only the first to arrive. The dozens of gods and goddess you have offended would be arriving soon to spectate this event. You're not the only one giving blessings today, I'm afraid" she replied with a smile. It was a smile that made anyone's heart who saw it grow colder.
"Don't kid with me goddess. None of the gods except the Head gods come to any planet without an invitation. It's against the laws the laws of the heavens. I didn't invite anybody"
"You seem to forget this is my planet and I invited a few gods. You are a vagabond god, you can't invite anybody" she sneered. Both gods glared at each other till a sweet voice made them break their gazes.
"Dryad is right. You don't have a life seed so you can't own a planet. I haven't forgotten the issue of my Jasmine pearl, Ilerisa" A beautiful woman with a sapphire crown and a blue gown created a water throne and sat gracefully on it.
"Jaseria, you came" Dryad said with a warm smile. Jaseria was the goddess of water.
"Of course I would honey. You're the most favourite goddess now. I'm honoured to be in the planet of a star like you"
"Oh, you flatter me" Dryad said, bashful. Ilerisa grit his teeth and planned his escape.
"Don't forget about us. We wouldn't miss this for the world" Two red haired gods with silver crowns came and formed a fiery throne where both of them sat.
"Hades, Csetor. Lords of Fire, it's an honour"
"No, no. We love a good conflict" Hades said, waving his hand.
The crowd has long gone still because they felt the pressure from all four gods . They knew that even on3 could wipe them out with a finger snap. After that, about a hundred gods could be seen on the island including the spouses of the earlier arrived gods. They all set up their thrones as their crowns shone in the sunlight.
Ilerisa knew he could no longer escape. Since it was Dryad's world, she could lock the same entrance she opened to let all these gods in.
"You, how did you do it?"
"Let's just say I'm popular in the high heavens. They have a really interesting reality show where they broadcast life seeds. The ones that are most intriguing get the most views and likes. I've been on top of the chart for the past twenty years now.
Not to forget, Lord Ariama was my guide and he taught me that if I had enough worship energy, I could open and shut the entrance of this world. Since gods need an invitation to visit other worlds, that invitation is the key to opening the door. Oh, just so you know, anyone that sneaks into the planet without an invitation cannot leave without my permission " Dryad replied and Ilerisa almost fainted.
"You're forgetting about me" A young voice came from behind them. Both Dryad and Ilerisa had sour looks on their face as they stared at the incoming goddess. It was no surprise that both of them hated her as she was a mischievous god and she liked the appearance of a young girl. It was Amphia, goddess of beauty.
"Even though I invited you to spite Ilerisa, I feel like I'm going to end up regretting this" Dryad mumbled. Amphia gave her a smug look and created her throne. Ilerisa realised he was in front if the people and conducted himself. He was confident in his escape skills as he had escaped from a head god before.
"Welcome, various gods. I am honoured to see everyone of you spectating this event...."
"Shut up or I'll burn you to crisps right there" Hades said, annoyed. Ilerisa immediately shut his trap.
"Why aren't we starting?" Amphia whined. Dryad glared at her but did not reply. She was nervous about the final guests.
"Wife, it truly pains me that you won't escort me to this event or even wait for me" Bolsa said pouting. Everyone looked in their direction to see the three head gods. Simour had on a green robe with a golden crown shinning brightly on his head. He looked like the young king of the universe.
Bolsa had on a brown robe with a simple but elegant crown on his head. He looked like a proud young prince.
Ariama had on a white robe and a crystal crown. While the other two brothers were smiling, he had no expression and his eyes portrayed the depths of the universe. He looked like an aloof and cold young Lord that had the whole universe in his hands and he could do and undo.
It is said that one molds, one fills and one gives life. The three pillars of creation; Body, Soul and Spirit. All gods bowed in front of the three as they were the most powerful gods in existence. Even the gods of time, space, death and the fallen gods gave them respect. The three of them elegantly created their thrones and sat on it.
"You didn't think you can start the fun without us, did you? It's a tournament of gods, how would we miss it?" Simour asked glancing at Amphia. The latter shrunk in her seat and pouted like a little girl. Everyone who saw her felt weird because they knew she was more than a billion years old.
"No milords, you're most welcome" Dryad said with an amiable smile. Simour and Bolsa returned her smile while Ariama just looked at her. The depths of his eyes pulled her in but she knew she couldn't keep staring at him for long so she looked away.
"Lord Simour, would you please open this even for us?"
"Gladly. By the power invested in me by The Creator, I announce this event open" Simour declared in a voice of thunder and all the humans jolted awake.
"Gesdor, god of order, if you don't mind" Dryad said politely.
"Of course not" A young man in a cream robe and a simple silver crown replied and laughed. He made a scroll appear and took the position of a MC.
"Alright mortals listen up. I would be taking over this competition and I will dictate the rules. First rule is no killing. If you do that, your soul will be erased from existence. The only one exempt from this rule is Dryad. That bastard stole my staff so I hope Dryad kills him in the most excruciating way" Gesdor boomed, making the humans scared and Dryad lick her lips.
"Second rule is no death match is allowed. Third rule is to impress the gods here. If your fight is too boring, some might kill you for fun. If you catch their eyes, they might give you their blessings. You guys are quite underdeveloped for a Upper Tier World.
The fight arrangement is as follows. The strongest to the weakest in each teams will group themselves into four groups of ten members. Each group will fight with the other groups from weakest to strongest till someone emerges victorious.
The top four from each elements will fight and the final winner will receive a blessing from their patron god. Let the tournament of the gods begin" Gesdor announced and the crowd cheered. It was kind of hard not to.
Dryad appointed Ditoria and Eldor as team leader and assistant before leaving. Their first group was ten head priest who were in early stage Grand Saint to Peak stage Grand saint level. The first groups walked into the large arena and Gesdor blew a trumpet to announce the start of the fight.
The wood elementals worked together to have flawless defense and offence. They formed a huge wall made of sturdy trunks after using a level five curse seed for their foundation. The other gods were shocked when they saw the seed the size of a fist sinking into the ground.
The fight went on for an hour until one wood elemental was left standing. The Jade in his forehead shone brightly as drops of sweat and blood rolled from his body and hit the ground. He was breathing heavily and staggering but still stood his ground. The rest of his team were sprawled on the floor, unable to rise for a while. The other elementals however, were all knocked unconscious.
"The first round is completed and the winning group is the wood elementals. The fourth on the list is Liou Ventaga" Gesdor announced with excitement. The gods naturally did not expect great fighting from mortals but Dryad's team fighting strategy shocked them. After creating a base for their seeds to grow, they created a sturdy wall of protection with small holes to let some attack pass through. That alone knocked out 10% of the field.
When the others started attacking their wall, the wall emitted a paralyzing poison that got 50% as many lay down and twitched uncontrollably before going still. The remaining 40% joined their attacks into one giant attack that demolished the wall. The shock waves sent two elementals who were mainly maintaining the wall, flying. They crashed to the ground, spat out blood and remained immobile as they broke their spine.
The remaining eight started throwing powerful attacks that got 20% of their enemies with Liou being the main contributor. The remaining 20% were more powerful than the rest and they were all water elementals. They took out the remaining seven but Liou managed to protect himself knowing his friends won't die. Liou nodded when he heard Gesdor and Dryad sent giant leaves to retrieve them from the arena and heal them.
The next group was comprised of those who were in early stage Divine level. When one gets to divine level, there is a manifestation of divinity that takes over the mortals's spirit. Some can be a fountain of water, a pillar of fire, a huge tree, a demon, an animal, a light star, a dark entity, a hurricane or a mountain.
Dryad's team also won this round and four wood elemental made it out. Two were unscathed while the rest were covered in light bruises.
"Wood elementals win again. Third on the list is Ferif Doler, fifth on the list is Carran Midgl, nineth on the list is Hustav Andante and tenth on the list is Merif Doler" Gesdor announced and the four bowed to the gods. Dryad retracted them and healed them too.
In the next group, three wood elementals in mid stage Divine level came out victorious while one water elemental made it out.
"Wood elementals win again. Dina Veria is second, Minni Varma is sixth, Jandu Ilesan, the water elemental is seventh and Gande Sol is eight" Gendor announced. "Once the final battle is concluded, the rankings will be shifted again. Please let the final groups fill the arena" his voice boomed as the former group were extracted from the arena.
Among the final group of Peak stage Divine level elementals, Ditoria's heavenly aura and Eldor's otherworldly charm stood out. The two of them held hands as they stepped into the arena. The emerald and Jade in their foreheads shone even in the evening sun. Together they released their divinities. Eldor's divinity was like a wooden pole with a small branch of leaves while Ditoria's was a small flower with rainbow colored stalk and white petals. Their divinities were strange to mortals but the gods recognized them with a gasp. They looked at Dryad with horrified expression.
Even their fellow teammates were surprised because the two of them had never shown with their divinities before.
"The staff of Aspep seeds and The Ambrosia leaf" Bolsa said in shock. The staff of Aspep seeds belonged to Simour, the creator of life seeds. Eldor's was different because it couldn't create life seeds. But if Simour wanted an apprentice, Eldor was the right choice. The Ambrosia leaf on the other hand was a dangerous flower that could kill both mortals and gods with the scent it emitted. It was created by Simour as a precaution against rogue gods. Dryad of course knew what they were and was proud of her two high priests.
What most didn't know was that it was Dryad that created Ditoria's divinity by making her nurture the daughter tree. Dryad could freely create Ambrosia leaves whenever she wanted. The opponents underestimated them and thought they were the weakest in the group and decided to eliminate them first. It was the worst kind of misunderstanding because the two of them cleared 80% of the arena while only one wooden elemental was left standing with the remaining 20%.
While battling, their hands never left each other's. They walked through the arena like they were strolling in a park. While Eldor waved the staff, producing seeds that were demonic in nature, Ditoria's flower produced a pinkish fog that paralyzed whosoever it hit. When they were done, they both kissed in front of the whole arena. Dryad just shook her head in amusement as she already knew about the dramatic couple. Ariama however, turned his head away.
"The rankings have been decided.
1st on the list is Ditoria
2nd is Eldor
3rd is Frevir
4th is Dina
5th is Ferif
6th is Liou
7th is Minni
8th is Carran
9th is Jandu
10th is Gande.
The next item on our list is a duel between Ilerisa and Dryad to determine the fate of this world. That fight will start in one hour as I want everyone to relax and eat. The packs appearing on your laps now is all you need" Gesdor announced and withdrew from the stand he occupied.
Everyone examined their packs to find food, a pair of glasses, a talisman and a small vial. The gods all chatted excitedly for the incoming battle.