As the battle commenced, Carl stood tall, his eyes scanning the arena for his first opponent. The air was electric with anticipation, the crowd of dragonians and nightmare creatures cheering and chanting for their favorite fighters.
The first opponent to step forward was a towering dragonian named Tharros. He was a behemoth of a creature, his scales as black as coal, and his eyes glowing with an inner fire.
Tharros charged at Carl with a deafening roar, his massive claws swiping through the air with deadly precision. Carl dodged and weaved, his agility and quick reflexes allowing him to avoid the dragonian's attacks.
As the battle raged on, Carl began to notice that Tharros's attacks were becoming slower and more labored. The dragonian's strength was waning, and Erebus saw his chance.
With a swift and deadly strike, Carl landed a critical hit on Tharros's exposed neck. The dragonian let out a pained roar as he stumbled backwards, his body crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
Carl stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion. As he caught his breath, he felt a strange sensation coursing through his veins. It was as if he was absorbing Tharros's soul energy, integrating them into his own being.
The sensation was exhilarating, and Carl felt his power growing with each passing moment. He looked down at his hands, and saw that they were glowing with a faint, dark fog.
As the battle continued, Carl faced off against a succession of formidable opponents. There was Xandros, the shadowy assassin with daggers as sharp as razors. There was Lyra, the siren-like songstress with a voice that could charm the birds from the trees. And there was Kael, the hulking giant with skin as hard as steel and fists that could crush a mountain.
Each battle was a test of Carl's skills and abilities, but he emerged victorious every time. With each victory, he felt his power growing, his skills and abilities expanding and evolving.
And with each absorption of his opponents' souls, his Skill Soul Devourer grew stronger. The pages of the tome, which had started at a mere hundred, now numbered in the thousands.
As the preliminary rounds drew to a close, Carl stood tall, his body emitting a fierce, dark fog. He had defeated countless opponents, and his power had grown exponentially.
The crowd of dragonians and nightmare creatures cheered and chanted his name, hailing him as a hero and a champion. And as Carl stood basking in the adoration of the crowd, he knew that he was ready for whatever lay ahead.
The final battle was approaching, and Carl was more determined than ever to emerge victorious. He would stop at nothing to claim the title of Monarch of the Dark Realms, and to fulfill his destiny as the ruler of the underworld.
The stage was set, the crowd was cheering, and the final battle was about to begin. Carl stood tall, his eyes blazing with determination, his heart pounding with anticipation.
The question on everyone's mind was: who would be the last one standing?.
Meanwhile
As the battles raged on, Mike found himself facing off against a series of formidable opponents. Without the luxury of a cheat skill like Carl's, Mike had to rely on his own skills and abilities to emerge victorious.
He moved with a fluidity and precision that belied his rugged exterior, his attacks striking true and finding their mark in the vital spots and openings of his opponents. His movements were a blur of speed and power, leaving his opponents reeling and stumbling in his wake.
Despite the intensity of the battles, Mike remained focused and composed, his mind clear and his thoughts sharp. He was a force to be reckoned with, and his opponents soon learned to fear and respect him.
As the battles drew to a close, Mike emerged victorious, his chest heaving with exertion and his arms trembling with fatigue. He made his way to the edge of the arena, seeking a moment of rest and respite before the next phase of the tournament.
As he sat down, Mike's eyes scanned the arena, taking in the sights and sounds of the battles that had just concluded. He noticed three beings standing tall in Carl's part of the arena, their bodies glowing with a soft, ethereal light and dark foggy smoke, as they prepared to face off against each other.
Mike's eyes narrowed, his interest piqued by the prospect of watching these three powerful opponents clash. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, as he waited for the battle to begin.
The jiangshi, with their delicate, almost translucent wings, seemed to be the epitome of elegance and refinement. But Mike knew better than to underestimate them, for he had seen their power firsthand.
The banshi, on the other hand, was a creature of darkness and shadow, its body a twisted mass of black, scaly flesh. It seemed to be a creature of pure malevolence, its very presence seeming to darken the air around it.
As the two opponents faced off, the air seemed to grow heavier, the tension building to a palpable crescendo. Mike's eyes were glued to the scene, his heart pounding with anticipation, as he waited for the battle to begin.
As the banshi emerged victorious, Carl thought he had a chance to take him down. But little did he know, he had underestimate his opponent the banshi had a hidden trump card up his sleeve.
The banshi began to chant in a low, raspy voice, and the air around him began to distort and ripple. Carl's eyes widened as he realized what was happening - the banshi was summoning a powerful attack from another realm.
The banshi's palm struck Carl's heart with incredible force, killing him instantly. The crowd gasped in shock, and the system's voice echoed through his mind.
["Forcefully activating immortality's Requiem... Granting immediate life... Four seconds remaining..."]
As the countdown began, Carl's body began to release a chaotic void ripping, dark fog, making Lilith frown she could smell him death he had just used a skill given by Hades his father. The banshi, thinking he had won, reached into Carl's chest to retrieve his heart.
But just as the banshi's hand closed around Carl's heart, the system's countdown reached zero. Carl's eyes snapped open, and he took a deep breath, his chest heaving with exertion.
With a swift and deadly motion, Carl used his katana to slash off the banshi's hands, pushing him aside and facing him with a fierce determination.
The banshi stumbled backwards, his eyes wide with shock and pain. Carl took advantage of the opening, striking the banshi with a series of swift and deadly blows.
The battle concluded, and Carl emerged victorious, his chest still heaving with exertion. He and Mike stepped out of the bloody horror of the arena, only to be greeted by Lilith's enigmatic smile.
"Well done, Carl," she said, her voice dripping with approval. "You and Mike have proven yourselves to be worthy opponents. Now, prepare yourselves, for a carriage will carry you back to the sect. The dragons will return to their own sect, where they will rejoice and celebrate for the next month."
Lilith's eyes seemed to gleam with excitement as she continued. "The semi-finals will take place in a month's time, and you will travel beyond the dark realms to participate. The journey will be treacherous, but I have no doubt that you will emerge victorious once more."
With that, Lilith turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Mike and Carl to ponder the challenges that lay ahead.