The following morning arrived, and Emery, accompanied by Julian and Nyx, made their way back to the Alabaster faction residence where the Spirit Master competition was to be held. Upon their arrival at the gate, their identities were scrutinized, and after Emery was duly registered as a participant, both Julian and Nyx were granted access.
They reached the central plaza of the Alabaster faction's residence, where a grand stage was set up for the competition. It was adorned with intricate magical symbols, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation. Emery took a moment to absorb the grandeur of the stage and then started to observe the magus that had gathered at the place.
The event was exclusive, open only to magus-level individuals, there were over a thousand magus and a few dozen grand magus gathered. While not all of them were participating in the competition, Nyx couldn't help but notice that this year's event seemed more crowded than usual.
As Emery surveyed the expansive venue, it became evident that this gathering of magus was unlike any other. With just a cursory glance, he could discern that these were no ordinary practitioners of magus arts. His keen gaze soon settled on a distinctive group of individuals donning gold and white uniforms adorned with an emblem portraying a winged human—an emblem he recognized all too well.
"The Nephilim faction," Emery murmured to himself.
Approximately three dozen Nephilim faction members had graced the event with their presence. Emery was well aware of their reputation for excelling in spirit reading, a skill highly coveted in the competition. Nyx confirmed that the Nephilim faction's participation was not only expected but also anticipated, as they consistently ranked among the competition's top performers. They were formidable contenders who perennially challenged the Alabaster talent for supremacy in the competition.
Emery's interest in the factions deepened, and Nyx seized the opportunity to provide further insights into the other notable groups present at the event.
She began with the Proxima faction, Centauri's ruling faction, which could be easily identified by their striking white and blue uniforms. The members of this faction exuded an air of authority and regality, with their uniforms adorned with intricate patterns of celestial motifs.
Next, Nyx pointed out the Serenity monks from the Calming Waves monastery. These monks were distinguishable by their simple yet elegant attire, consisting of flowing azure robes that billowed with every movement. Their appearance was serene and unassuming, marked by a sense of inner peace and tranquility.
Then, she drew Emery's attention to the enigmatic Screaming Wraith Brotherhood. Members of this faction donned specter-like uniforms that veiled their identities in mystery. Their presence exuded an eerie aura, and their enigmatic appearance made them both intriguing and unsettling.
Lastly, Nyx mentioned the Illithid, a hybrid faction akin to her own nature. The Illithid were instantly recognizable by their distinct appearance. They possessed purple-hued skin that gave off a faint bioluminescent glow, adding an otherworldly quality to their presence. The most striking feature of an Illithid was the presence of four writhing tentacles, originating from their chins.
Emery's attention was momentarily diverted from observing the various magus factions when a familiar voice called out his name. He turned to find a young man, approaching their group with an excited expression.
"I can't believe it. Is that you, Emery?!" The voice belonged to a young man who appeared to be in his late teens. Emery and Julian both took a moment to process the recognition before realizing who stood before them.
"You... Arcana!"
Arcana, who had once looked like a twelve-year-old when Emery had last seen him, had undergone a dramatic transformation over the eight years since they had crossed paths. His youthful appearance surprised both Emery and Julian, who couldn't help but be taken aback by the change.
With a hearty laugh, Arcana commented on his changed appearance. "Haha, now I am much more handsome, am I? With this form, I am finally able to get girls."
It became apparent that not only had his appearance matured, but Arcana's demeanor had also undergone a transformation.
With a mischievous grin, Arcana turned his attention to Nyx. "Now, who is this beauty?"
Emery couldn't help but be amused. "I see you've reached the half-moon realm, Arcana. So, you're joining the Halfmoon Group for the competition then?"
The youthful magus turned to Emery with unwavering confidence. "And so are you?! I guess we will be competing once again, and this time I will not lose," he declared, exuding a newfound sense of determination. Their unexpected reunion added an element of friendly rivalry to the upcoming competition, and Emery couldn't help to see how much his old acquaintance had improved.
The event continued as the host, Duke Damien Alabaster, a highly esteemed figure in the magus universe, made his entrance into the garden. The old-looking man's arrival was met with awe and respect from the gathered participants.
Duke Damien Alabaster was a renowned peak stage three cosmos grand magus, and his specialization in the spirit domain made him one of the most formidable grand magus, ranking just below the supreme level. His presence alone commanded reverence.
He initiated the event with a heartfelt wish to discover a talented spirit master among this year's participants. He also expressed his willingness to impart the coveted Alabaster spirit magus techniques to the eventual champion, a reward that most participants had eagerly anticipated.
As the Duke concluded his opening speech, a female grand magus gracefully floated to the center of the garden. She proceeded to remove ten unique items from her storage ring, each one a 2-meter-high bronze bell and arranged them neatly in a circle around her. With a calm demeanor, she introduced herself as Grand Magus Cleste, the fifth-ranked member of the Alabaster 10 Spirit Masters.
The heavy bronze bells were specialized instruments used to gauge the capacity of a participant's mental strength. Each contestant would attempt to levitate and ring the heavy bell in the air using their spirit reading abilities. The number of bells successfully controlled and rung would determine their initial rankings.
"We have 625 participants this year," she announced, "unfortunately, we don't have the entire day to individually test each of your mental talents. Therefore, we'll begin with a preliminary test. let's start with the crescent moon magus," Grand Magus Cleste declared, signaling the beginning of the competition.
The participants eagerly stepped forward, ready to showcase their abilities and vie for a chance to prove themselves as promising spirit masters.
x x x x x x
Author Note
Approximately a year ago, I came across a reader's suggestion regarding the introduction of a spirit reader leveling system, hence the little arc, hope you enjoy it.
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