Preliminary Round

A nervous hum vibrated through the grand hall, a stark contrast to the cold marble floor and imposing stone pillars. Elian, along with hundreds of other aspiring mages from across the Ten Kingdoms, stood shoulder to shoulder, their gazes fixed on the imposing figures at the front of the room. These were the representatives from each kingdom, powerful Archmages and Guild Leaders responsible for overseeing the Grand Arcana Tournament.

Among them stood Archmage Esmeralda, high guild master of the Azure Kingdom and a mysterious woman whose sharp green eyes seemed to pierce through everyone in the room. Her voice, when she spoke, carried a quiet authority.

"Welcome, young mages," she boomed, her voice echoing through the hall. "You stand before the gateway to greatness, the proving ground for the most talented mages across the Ten Kingdoms. This tournament will test your skills, your mettle, and your very being. Only the most exceptional will advance."

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Elian, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs, couldn't help but steal a glance at some of the other competitors. There were seasoned mages with an air of quiet confidence, young prodigies with a fiery determination in their eyes, and even a handful of nobles, their faces etched with arrogance rather than skill.

Archmage Esmeralda continued, gesturing towards a shimmering portal that had materialized at the far end of the hall. "Beyond that portal lies a challenge unlike any you have faced before. A creature of immense power, an S+ ranked monster."

A gasp rippled through the crowd. S+ ranked monsters were rare and terrifying creatures, capable of leveling entire towns. The idea of one being used for a screening process was both exhilarating and terrifying.

"Do not be dismayed, young mages," Esmeralda's voice soothed the rising panic. "You are not expected to slay this beast. Your task is to demonstrate your abilities, to inflict enough damage to prove your worth."

With a wave of her hand, the Archmage activated the portal. A wave of heat shimmered through the air, followed by a low growl that reverberated through the hall, sending shivers down Elian's spine.

A monstrous claw, covered in thick, obsidian scales, emerged from the portal first. It was followed by a massive reptilian head, its eyes glowing with an eerie emerald fire. The creature, a monstrous Wyvern, lumbered partially through the portal, filling the hall with its putrid stench and deafening roar.

Panic threatened to consume Elian, but he forced himself to breathe, to focus. He may not have years of experience like some of the other competitors, but he had raw talent, a sliver of darkness at his disposal, and the unwavering support of his friends. He wouldn't let his fear get the better of him. This was just the beginning.

One by one, competitors were called forward, their names echoing through the vast hall. They would enter the portal, face the Wyvern for a brief moment, and then return, their faces etched with a mix of terror and exhilaration.

Finally, his name was called. His heart hammered in his chest as he stepped forward, the oppressive weight of hundreds of eyes suddenly upon him. Taking a deep breath, he walked towards the shimmering gateway, his mind already formulating a plan. The Grand Arcana Tournament had begun, and Elian was ready to prove himself.

Elian stepped through the shimmering portal, the familiar hum replaced by a desolate silence. He found himself in a ruined cityscape, skeletal buildings reaching for a bruised, orange sky. The air hung thick with dust and the stench of decay.

"The test begins now," boomed a disembodied voice, seemingly emanating from everywhere and nowhere at once.

A metallic clang echoed as a timer materialized on his wrist, a stark reminder of the ticking clock.

A low growl broke the silence, sending a jolt of adrenaline through Elian. He whirled around, his eyes widening at the sight before him. The monstrous Wyvern, even larger than it appeared in the hall, stood a few dozen meters away, its emerald eyes locked on him. Razor-sharp talons scraped against the cracked pavement, and its fetid breath clouded the air.

Elian swallowed the lump in his throat. This wasn't a practice dummy. This was the real deal, a creature capable of ripping him to shreds in a heartbeat. He unsheathed his sword, the familiar weight a source of comfort in this desolate landscape.

"Ready when you are, beast," Elian muttered, his voice barely a whisper above the wind whistling through the ruins.

The Wyvern didn't waste time with theatrics. With a thunderous roar, it launched itself towards him, its massive wings churning the dusty air. Elian reacted on pure instinct, activating Endless Stride. The world seemed to slow down, the Wyvern's movements becoming sluggish and predictable. He rolled to the side just as its razor-sharp claws slammed into the ground where he had been standing a moment ago, sending a shower of debris flying.

The timer on his wrist clicked down – 2:47. Time was already ticking away.

Elian couldn't afford to be defensive. He needed to attack, to inflict enough damage to impress the judges. He channeled a surge of magical energy, his palm glowing with a white light. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a light beam, aiming for the Wyvern's exposed flank.

The spell struck true, sending a jolt of pain through the beast. It screeched in fury, momentarily stunned. Elian seized his opportunity. He sprinted forward, fueled by Endless Stride, his legs blurring as he closed the distance.

He leaped, his body a blur, aiming for the Wyvern's neck. However, the beast was quicker than it appeared. It whipped its head around with surprising speed, its massive jaw snapping shut where Elian's head had been a fraction of a second ago. The close call sent a surge of fear through him, a reminder that even slowed down, the Wyvern was still a deadly foe.

He landed on the ruined roof of a nearby building, panting heavily. The timer on his wrist mocked him – 1:52. He had inflicted some damage, but was it enough?

He glanced at the Wyvern, who was now shaking its head, fury burning in its emerald eyes. It let out another earth-shattering roar, charging towards the building Elian stood on.

There was no time for hesitation. Elian drew upon the darkest corners of his power, the echo of his demonic alter ego whispering in his mind. A dark energy, tinged with an ominous purple, coursed through his veins.

His eyes flashed an unnatural purple for a brief moment, and then he launched himself into the air. This time, Endless Stride felt different, more powerful, almost… predatory. He moved with a grace and efficiency he'd never experienced before, leaving a faint trail of dark energy in his wake.

The Wyvern swiped at him with its claws, but Elian dodged with an impossible agility, feeling more like a shadow dancing on the wind than a human being. He landed on the Wyvern's back, his entire body vibrating with dark power.

"Now!" he roared, channeling his magic into his sword. The blade pulsed with an ominous purple light before he plunged it into the beast's neck.

The Wyvern shrieked in a sound that tore through the ruined city. It convulsed, its wings thrashing wildly before it collapsed to the ground with a deafening thud. The earth trembled at the impact.

Elian stumbled back, his vision swimming with the aftereffects of using such potent dark magic. He had done it. He had inflicted significant damage. But at what cost?

The timer on his wrist buzzed one last time, displaying 0:00. A moment later, the shimmering portal reappeared before him. Elian stared at it, his heart pounding, a mixture of exhilaration and unease churning within him.

He had passed the first test. But the real battle – the battle against his own darkness – had just begun. With a shaky breath, Elian stepped back through the portal, leaving the ruined city and the fallen Wyvern.

Elian emerged from the portal, a wave of nausea washing over him. The stench of dust and decay that had permeated the ruined city lingered faintly in his nostrils. He stumbled back, the weight of the fight settling in his muscles like a lead blanket.

The roar of the crowd was a distant thrum in his ears. Glancing at his wrist, he saw the timer displayed a measly 47 seconds. Not exactly a stellar performance, but enough to qualify, he hoped.

The taste of ash lingered on his tongue, a grim reminder of the dark magic he'd unleashed. It had felt seductive – a potent surge of power that allowed him to move with impossible speed and strike with unnatural force. Yet, a sliver of fear gnawed at him. It had felt… alien, almost sentient, whispering promises of power in exchange for control.

He caught a glimpse of Rylan, her usual carefree demeanor replaced by a frown of concern. She pushed through the crowd, her brow furrowing as she reached him.

"Rough in there?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.

Elian forced a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just… intense," he mumbled, the memory of the Wyvern's emerald eyes flashing in his mind.

Rylan's gaze flicked to his wrist. "Short time," she observed, her voice neutral.

Elian shrugged, avoiding her eyes. "Guess I just didn't find the weak spot."

He knew it was a lie, but he wasn't ready to share the truth about the dark magic. Not yet. Rylan was a pragmatist, a believer in hard work and disciplined training. The darkness within him was a chaotic anomaly, something he barely understood, let alone controlled.

"Well," Rylan said, a hint of disappointment in her voice, "at least you made it. That's all that matters for now."

Elian nodded, the weight of her unspoken question hanging heavy in the air. They watched as the remaining competitors emerged from the portal, their faces etched with a range of emotions: relief, exhaustion, even a flicker of terror.

Finally, a hush fell over the crowd as Archmage Esmeralda approached the podium. Her sharp gaze swept across the room before she spoke.

"The preliminary round is complete," she declared, her voice echoing through the vast hall. "Those who have demonstrated sufficient combat prowess will be notified for the next stage of the tournament. The results will be posted within the hour."

A wave of nervous murmurs rippled through the crowd. Elian's stomach churned. He had faced the Wyvern, pushed himself beyond his limits, but would it be enough?

His gaze darted towards the massive screen at the front of the hall. Names began to appear one by one, a slow torture of anticipation. Disappointment gnawed at him as he saw familiar faces from Arcana Academia flash on the screen, followed by students from other prestigious academies.

Just as despair threatened to consume him, a flicker of movement at the bottom of the list caught his eye. There, nestled amongst the established names, was "Elian Aetheris." Relief washed over him, so intense it almost made his legs buckle.

He had passed. He had taken a crucial step towards becoming the powerful Battle Mage he dreamt of being. But the victory felt tinged with a bitter aftertaste. The darkness within him was a powerful tool, but a dangerous one. He needed to control it, to understand it, before it began to control him.

Sharing a triumphant glance with Rylan, Elian knew the real challenge had just begun. The Grand Arcana Tournament was one thing, but mastering the darkness within him was a battle he would have to fight alone.