As the cursed clans settled into their positions, a new energy rippled through the arena. The excitement heightened as the next group of competitors made their appearance—those who, in many ways, were the heart of the competition. The normal apelings, backed by the teachers from the academy, marched forward in disciplined rows. Their presence was a reminder that the Elemental Trials weren't just a stage for the cursed clans but an opportunity for the entire apeling race to grow stronger together.
The academy teachers, towering figures of respect, led the normal apelings with the quiet confidence of those who had honed their power through years of training and research. Among them, some had reached the fourth stage of power, and a few were even in the fifth stage—a level that could rival the natural strength of the cursed clans.
