As the dust settled in the arena, the Sect buzzed with chatter and speculation. Mira's astonishing streak of victories had set a standard that seemed insurmountable, but the subsequent bouts had been battles of will, strategy, and raw power, each unique in their approach.
Nova lay in the infirmary, her body knitting itself back together after the mauling it had taken. The black dragon scales that had once armored her had faded away, revealing the toll the fight had taken.
However, she wasn't confident that she would advance to the next round. From a purely statistical point of view, there were others who had done better than her.
Seraphina, on the other hand, wasn't worried at all. Other than Mira and Rayna, she was confident she did the 3rd best. However, Celaine's performance was definitely praiseworthy.
