"Class Mage, Horace from the Temple Wardens clan."
The high-ranking military officer announced the name that had been drawn. Horace, who had just fought, had been called again.
He only had three options: two mages from his own clan — whose abilities he knew well, and where his chances of winning were slim — or Veyle, from the same clan as Darian and the twins.
Veyle had two rings, just like Darian. But like him, no one really knew whether she had gone through an ancestral awakening. In the past, her talent had been recognized by the empire. But since she chose to join a small clan, her strength never had the chance to bloom.
She was only placed in this selection due to the great merits she’d earned in a special mission... but was that really all?
He didn’t hesitate: "I challenge Veyle from the Shadows of Heaven clan."
She took a deep breath from the stands.
"You got this," said Lucy’s voice, encouraging her.
"You’re stronger than you think. Just let it out," Lucius added gently.
She nodded, quietly thankful, clenched her fists, and moved — clearly nervous.
Already on the stage, she stared at Horace seriously.
Veyle moved her staff right away. There would be no talking or agreement between them — they were mages fully focused on winning.
A thick white mist spread out around Veyle.
Dozens of electric pythons began crawling out and spreading around Horace.
That same second, Veyle pulled out a small pill from her ring and crushed it.
Everyone noticed it. Instantly, a medicinal powder scattered and blended into the mist...
All the military officers and top-tier figures in the arena reacted. Darian felt it too: an intense Yang force, accompanied by a subtle primordial power, rose up.
Veyle’s mist shifted, turning wild and yellowish.
"Come on!" she shouted.
Horace’s eyes went wide. His pythons were slipping out of his control!
Everything was being pulled like a magnet toward her mist. Right away, he tried to summon more — but Veyle snorted, and her mist surged forward.
He was completely engulfed.
Five seconds later...
The sound of a body hitting the floor echoed.
It was a fast and clean win. Nayara and the younger ones didn’t get it, so they turned toward the leaders and vice-leaders of their clans.
"That had the power of a Yang pearl... she... she used the rewards from that special mission... but it was all condensed and perfectly controlled inside a pill. Who’s the terrifying alchemist that made that for her?"
Everyone came to the same conclusion, and the younger ones were stunned. That was the same as using a super high-level artifact.
First there was Darian’s pill, now this girl used another. Where did this little clan find such high-quality stuff?
Seeing that, Darian quickly spoke up: "Who’s the terrifying alchemist? No. That was something she made herself. That’s her power, not something external."
The entire arena turned toward him, listening closely. In that instant, all eyes shifted to the center of the stage.
Veyle realized it... and her face immediately turned red as she looked down at the floor.
"She started making pills a while ago and has been learning fast. She’s always been a recognized talent by the Empire. Why do you think she doesn’t have three rings like the others here? An alchemist has to study and practice, and that slowed her down a bit. But the results of her effort are right there." Darian continued, half-lying.
Everyone nodded, now looking at Veyle with new eyes. An alchemist wasn’t just rare... they basically didn’t exist on Earth, because there was no way to practice or study. The resources had to come from another universe, and the cost was insanely high. Of course, in top 50 planets, the situation was different.
That human girl had huge potential... no — she was a genius in alchemy! Everyone got excited. She was just as valuable as someone who had gone through an ancestral awakening.
The high-ranking military officer checked on Horace. But just a few seconds later, Horace opened his eyes on his own and realized he was totally fine. He stood up, gave Veyle a nod, and walked back to his seat. He was out of the selection.
Veyle took a deep breath. Now she had two options to challenge — both mages from the Temple Wardens clan, a group known for always showing up in large numbers with their magic-users.
"I challenge Thaddeus, from the Temple Wardens clan."
Another mage stepped forward and entered the stage.
Just like tanks in the empire focused on blessings with defensive elements because of their stellar physique, mages followed the same logic.
A basic elemental blessing that was easy to use and only had average power could become something above average if it matched the user’s elemental affinity brought by their physique. Why wouldn’t anyone choose something that good and efficient?
Most common humans who had connections with High Humans knew about the stellar physique and got advice on what blessings to pick right after awakening. Darian and poor humans were the only ones thrown into another universe almost completely blind.
Even Veyle had picked her blessing with that in mind. Her power used the water element to create her mist.
Because of that, now... she was a natural counter to those tanks and elemental mages.
And all of that was only possible because she spent day and night learning how to use the Yin and Yang pearls from the special mission. Darian, Matteo, and the twins had given her all their pearls without keeping a single one for themselves. They fully trusted her — and that’s why she gave everything she had to repay that.
Thanks to that dedication, she managed to make over twenty pills from a single pearl, which she named: Yin/Yang Domain Pills.
These pills could be mixed into her mist and pull in the opponent’s elemental power, completely canceling it out.
"Begin," the officer announced.
Thaddeus roared and went all out. His body was surrounded by blades of wind, which twisted and merged into a furious tornado.
He thought that would tear through Veyle’s creepy mist.
But Veyle just pulled out three pills: one Yang and two Yin — the perfect combo against wind.
And when she used them...
The fight ended just as fast as the last one.
Everyone in the arena was shocked and excited. That young woman was already a pretty advanced alchemist. Having an alchemist on Earth was like a gift from the heavens. If they could get on her good side and build a connection, they might be able to make requests directly to her in the future — and by providing the ingredients, they’d pay way, way less than dealing with those arrogant alchemists from higher-ranked planets.
Darian waved excitedly. His alchemist was finally making a name for herself — and soon she’d be producing even greater results.
Veyle got her two wins, secured her spot, and walked back to the stands under everyone’s eyes... which made her steps shaky and her face extremely red.
Darian knew it well. She wasn’t some crazy prodigy. Veyle just really liked alchemy and had a deep desire to learn. But no one on Earth had ever gotten the chance she had — to study and practice for real.
Sometimes, pure dedication and determination were enough. She might not be the number one genius, but with sweat and blood, she’d reach the top just like the best of them.
Not long after, another name was drawn by the military officer: "Fighter Bankson, Red River Pact clan."
The last one from that clan was up. Out of the original five... only one support-class woman had qualified, while three others got completely wrecked.
Bankson stepped onto the stage. He had two challenge options: Gwyneth or Nayara. But his eyes locked on one specific person... a young mystic who hadn’t fought yet.
Everyone noticed his gaze — but by the rules, he couldn’t challenge him.
Lucius let out a small breath and stood up calmly. "It’s my turn."
That man smiled. His clan had already lost everything, so even if he made it in, it wouldn’t change much. That’s why he had no hesitation... if he could beat down that young guy, things might take a different turn.
"I challenge him," Lucius said loudly, walking up to the stage.