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Beyond the gaze of the spellbound spectators, Emery and the five remaining participants found themselves locked in a relentless battle within the spirit realm against the formidable one-eyed creature.

The blood eye demon loomed ominously above them, casting a malevolent shadow across the ethereal landscape. Each of the six magus stood atop their individual metaphorical mountains, their psychic defenses manifested in various forms as they confronted the relentless minions of the blood eye.

Innumerable crimson ethereal eyes swarmed through the spirit realm, converging upon Emery like a relentless storm. Contact with even a single eye brought searing agony, but he and his fellow magus were determined to withstand the onslaught.

With unwavering resolve, Emery harnessed his spirit energy to create two shimmering spirit swords, which he wielded with precision. He fought valiantly, parrying attacks and striking down approaching eyes. The occasional grazing touch of an eye served only to intensify his determination.

Elowen, the Albatross faction's talented young magus, contributed her melodious voice and the elegant notes of her stringed musical instrument. Together, they wove a harmonious melody that formed an ethereal shield against the encroaching malevolence, halting its advance.

Nimbus, the serene Calming Wave monk, remained suspended in the air, maintaining his lotus position while chanting sacred mantras. The pulses of his recitations acted as a spiritual barrier, dissolving the crimson eyes as they drew near.

Meanwhile, Hanna, the magus of the Whispering Wraith Brotherhood, and the enigmatic Illithid hybrid exhibited remarkable agility and precision in their movements. Each with their unique spirit weapons, they unleashed relentless barrages upon the approaching creatures, disintegrating them with calculated strikes.

Zephyr, the Nephilim magus with his signature golden wings, soared gracefully through the spirit realm. His divine art granted him mastery over the battlefield, and he used his powers to repel the crimson eyes with grace and finesse.

As the relentless battle raged on, a voice from the material realm called out,

"Twelve minutes!"

The voice of the grand magus resonated within the spirit realm, serving as a constant reminder of the passing time, it became clear that the Alabaster Magus, Elowen, was deeply affected by this intrusion of temporal awareness. Her once harmonious rhythm was disrupted, and this disturbance reverberated through her psychic defenses. The turmoil led to her withdrawal from the spirit realm, leaving just five participants remaining.

By this point, the spirit realm had become a chaotic battlefield, its sky teeming with thousands of relentless crimson eyes. Emery's earlier tactics were no longer as effective against the overwhelming onslaught. In response, he initiated a transformation, harnessing the power of his blade claws and space magic. This combination allowed him to nimbly evade the torrent of attacks and deliver precise counters.

Hanna, the ethereal magus from the Whispering Wraith Brotherhood, found herself overwhelmed by the sheer number of flying creatures. Despite her capability to assume an ethereal form, it proved insufficient to contend with the unrelenting swarm, leading to her eventual departure from the spirit realm.

"15 minutes"

With only four participants remaining, even the seemingly invincible Illithid hybrid struggled to maintain his composure amidst the relentless chaos. After minutes of valiant resistance, the hybrid too succumbed to the relentless assault and departed from the spirit realm.

Emery, the monk Nimbus, and the Nephilim Zephyr stood as the last three standing. Among them, only Zephyr remained on the offensive, employing his divine art to craft a hundred ethereal shuttles that served as both his offense and defense.

The Calming Wave monk Nimbus adopted a steadfast defensive stance, invoking his mantras to reinforce his psychic shield, while Emery darted and weaved through the frenetic battlefield. With each passing second, he unleashed an array of spells and techniques from his arsenal to counter the relentless crimson eyes.

"20 minutes!"

The relentless struggle continued as the three participants endured the ceaseless onslaught of the blood eye's minions.

Just seconds after the 20-minute mark, Nimbus, the steadfast Calming Wave monk, whose defense had appeared invincible for so long, began to show signs of strain. His once unassailable psychic shield developed hairline cracks and eventually succumbed, breaking apart. This sudden turn of events left Emery and the Nephilim, Zephyr, as the last two standing in the grueling battle within the spirit realm.

However, by this juncture, the spirit realm had become inundated with the relentless crimson-eye creatures, leaving Emery with no viable escape route. He had been relying entirely on his wolf's innate regeneration to endure the excruciating pain inflicted upon him.

With a final surge of determination, Emery harnessed the entirety of his pent-up spirit energy, channeling it into a deafening and earth-shaking roar.

"HOWWLLLL!"

This sonic explosion unleashed a cataclysmic wave of energy that momentarily cleared a path through the encroaching crimson eyes, affording Emery a fleeting moment of respite. In that brief respite, he cast his gaze toward the other side of the spirit realm, hoping to see Zephyr Nephilim in a similar state of struggle.

However, what he witnessed left him awestruck. Zephyr Nephilim had ascended to the sky with magnificent golden wings adorning his back, while hundreds of ethereal weapons transformed into resplendent swords. With a divine grace reminiscent of a winged god, Zephyr effortlessly dismantled the crimson eye creatures, rendering them powerless.

That was when Emery realized he was defeated,

After enduring the relentless mental assault within the spirit realm for a grueling 24 minutes, Emery eventually made the decision to surrender the round, acknowledging the overwhelming power and resilience displayed by the Nephilim. With his withdrawal, Zephyr Nephilim emerged as the sole victor of this harrowing mental battle.

As Emery returned from the spirit realm, Grand Magus Celeste acted swiftly to cover the ancient painting, thereby ceasing the mental onslaught from the soul of the Ancient One. Her declaration of congratulations was met with enthusiastic applause from the spectators, who recognized the incredible fortitude displayed by all six participants.

In recognition of their unwavering determination to continue the challenge, the six finalists were granted a 30-minute respite for recovery. During this interlude, Emery couldn't help but dwell on the immense strength exhibited by Zephyr Nephilim.

Julian, perceptive as ever, offered words of encouragement, assuring Emery that he had already performed admirably. Julian also shared some insights he had heard about Zephyr during his time in the Nephilim world, describing him as a prodigious talent akin to Eeshoo, albeit in his prime and 20 years older.

Despite the daunting challenge and Zephyr's formidable abilities, Emery felt a spark of excitement. He was reminded that there was still room for him to grow.

Once the allotted 30 minutes had elapsed, Grand Magus Celeste announced, "Alright, let's commence the final round."

To be continued