The Clan Gathering had officially begun, and the energy within the grand arena was palpable. Thousands of spectators from various families packed the stands, their excitement spilling into the air like an uncontrollable storm. The arena itself was vast, designed for large-scale battles, and carved with ancient runes to withstand the intensity of high-level cultivators. A stage of this magnitude was rarely seen except for the grandest events, and today, 108 families had gathered to fight for glory and honor.
In the front rows sat the Rael family members, among them Raiden, Torrin, Seren, and two other young cultivators handpicked to represent the family, each with stern faces. Torrin's usual arrogance seemed magnified by the anticipation, while Seren appeared calm, though her fingers trembled slightly. This was her first tournament, after all, and the magnitude of the event could shake anyone.
Across from them, in a similar position of prominence, sat Lillia and her fellow family members. The reclusive family commanded respect with their mere presence. Even though Lillia herself said little, her ethereal beauty and icy demeanor drew many lingering gazes. The Vidar family, not too far away, seemed restless, particularly Eirik, whose gaze flickered constantly between Lillia and Raiden. His desire to win Lillia's favor was palpable, but his disdain for Raiden was even stronger.
"Attention!" a booming voice called, drawing all eyes to the center. A master of ceremonies stood tall on a raised platform, his voice enhanced by a technique that carried his words clearly to the entire stadium. "The preliminary round of the Clan Gathering will begin. Each family's participants will face their first matches in this grand tournament. May the strongest rise to the top!"
A hush settled over the crowd, only to be replaced by murmurs of anticipation as the first combatants were called. Names echoed throughout the arena, and the first pair of fighters stepped onto the central platform. The matches began at a fierce pace, each one serving as a showcase of the various techniques and styles unique to each family.
Soon, the tension increased as one of the Rael family representatives, Kyren, a mid-level cultivator with water-based techniques, was called to the stage. His opponent was a young man from the Astoria Clan, known for their wind and ice spirit roots.
Kyren stood confidently, his stance solid as he observed his opponent. His water-based spirit root glistened as he gathered his energy. "I won't go easy on you," he muttered under his breath.
The Astoria fighter smirked, a chill breeze emanating from his body as he called upon his wind spirit root. "We'll see."
The fight began with a flash of movement. The Astoria fighter leaped into the air, his body carried by the wind, while Kyren countered with a fluid motion of his arm, sending a torrent of water spiraling toward his opponent.
The crowd gasped as the water and wind clashed mid-air, creating a vortex of elements. The Astoria fighter, nimble and quick, evaded the worst of the attack, sending shards of ice toward Kyren with a flick of his wrist. Kyren narrowly avoided the shards, his water shield forming just in time to absorb most of the impact.
"Impressive," Kyren muttered, his expression tightening.
But the Astoria fighter wasn't done. He unleashed a gale-force wind, his figure disappearing momentarily in a blur of speed. Kyren, caught off guard, staggered back as the wind slammed into him from all sides. The crowd roared, sensing the tides of the battle shifting.
With a sharp intake of breath, Kyren pushed his water techniques to their limits. A massive wave surged forward, crashing toward the Astoria fighter. Ice met water as the two clashed in a brilliant display of elemental power. The platform beneath them cracked slightly from the sheer force of their attacks.
"Come on, Kyren!" Torrin shouted from the sidelines, his voice brimming with impatience.
The battle reached its peak as Kyren summoned all his strength. His eyes glowed with determination as he raised his hands, controlling the water with precision. The wave transformed into a torrent of sharp water blades, slicing through the air with lethal intent.
The Astoria fighter's smirk faltered. He tried to counter with ice, but the relentless water blades overwhelmed him. With one final push, Kyren sent his opponent crashing into the ground, drenched and defeated.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Kyren stood victorious, panting from the exertion. He gave a respectful nod to his opponent before walking back to the Rael family's seating area, where he received congratulatory nods from his fellow family members.
As the tournament progressed, it became clear that the competition was fierce. Fighters from families like the Fenrir and Balfour clans demonstrated impressive skills, their mastery of earth and water techniques earning them victories. The Bjornson Clan, known for their beast-taming abilities, had sent a young woman who fought alongside a massive, armored beast, tearing through her opponents with brute strength and strategy.
But despite the intense competition, all eyes occasionally shifted to the Rael family's seats, where Raiden sat quietly. His presence was understated, yet it drew attention. Whispers spread through the crowd, rumors of his recent awakening and the unknown potential he harbored. Torrin, who basked in the attention of being one of the Rael family's star participants, seemed more agitated with each passing moment.
By mid-afternoon, it was Seren's turn to fight. The young girl stepped onto the platform, her nerves hidden behind a determined gaze. Her opponent was from the Vidar family, a young man who wielded lightning with deadly precision.
The clash was immediate. Lightning cracked through the air as Seren skillfully dodged, her own spirit root—a rare mutated root related to nature—springing to life. Vines erupted from the ground, twisting and coiling, aiming to trap her opponent.
The Vidar fighter sneered, his hands crackling with electricity. He moved with incredible speed, evading the vines and countering with bolts of lightning that scorched the air. Seren narrowly avoided each attack, her focus unwavering as she called upon more of her power.
Her vines grew thicker, stronger, and more relentless, their thorns gleaming as they sought to entrap the Vidar fighter. For a moment, it seemed as though the lightning user would escape, but Seren's vines closed in too quickly, wrapping around him and holding him in place.
With a triumphant cry, she summoned a final burst of power, the vines tightening and sending him crashing to the ground in defeat. The crowd roared its approval, and Seren's face lit up with a smile of victory as she returned to her family's side.
The day wore on, and though Raiden had yet to be called, the tension surrounding him only grew. His Chaos Root was stirring, he could feel it, and soon, very soon, it would be his turn to step onto the platform.