The Astral Dogma

"So who are you" Cole inquired, his gaze piercing as he looked at the angel standing before him.

"I apologize, sir. I am First Lieutenant Himmel Müller from the Geister Division, I came here in place of my general," the angel responded with a measured tone, maintaining a respectful posture.

Cole's mind churned with skepticism, thinking to himself, "So that bastard angel is too scared to come by himself."

"So where is he now?" Cole pressed further, his curiosity not easily sated.

"I apologize, Mr. Blackburn. I cannot disclose that information with you," Himmel Müller replied, his demeanor unwavering.

Although unsatisfied with the answer, Cole waved off his hand in a dismissive gesture, signaling the angel to stand at ease.

Three luminescent birds soared gracefully towards the stadium, each claiming a side of the stands. As they descended, a radiant energy enveloped them, and they projected screens that displayed the unfolding battle in the heart of umbrage Forest.

Jin's eyes narrowed as he observed the spectacle. "Oh? Since when did you have a Dragonborn in your ranks?" he inquired, his gaze shifting between the screens.

Cole, standing beside Jin, followed his gaze, a hint of pride touching his voice. "A few months ago. She came with that purple-haired kid." He gestured towards the screen, revealing a glimpse of the action below.

Jin's interest was piqued, his analytical mind absorbing the details. "He has potential, so maybe..." Cole's voice trailed off.

A luminous blue light enveloped the dark surroundings, and Belial found himself standing somewhere deep within the mysterious forest. As he emerged from the thick bushes, the ethereal glow revealed a large screen in the sky. It displayed the three countries—Slyvanya, Fociline, and Fummon—each with its contingent of candidates and their current point standings.

In Slyvanya, Troxl and the others had already begun accumulating points:

Troxl: 1500

Raven: 1400

Pacey: 950

Xin: 800

Belial: 500

Belial's gaze shifted to the Fociline group, where a fierce competition was underway:

Craver: 1500

Gael: 1400

Mark: 900

Camille: 900

Benedict: 650

Craver stood at the top, asserting dominance, but a peculiar discrepancy caught Belial's attention in the country of Fummon. They were lagging behind:

Marielle: 1200

?: 500

?: 500

?: 500

?: 500

He pondered for a moment, questioning the mystery candidates marked by '?'. Monsters began to approach, snapping him out of his thoughts. Discarding his musings, Belial's focus shifted to the hilt of his newly forged sword.

Drawing the blade, he examined it closely. It wasn't exactly what he had envisioned, but its form resembled that of a katana. "It's close to a katana, so it'll work," Belial muttered, determination flashing in his eyes.

{Alert: The individual Serah Sanem is requesting a thoughtlink.}

"Serah? Accept," Belial responded

{Processing thoughtlink...}

[BN: You actually came here?]

[SS: I only came here to see how well that sword works.]

[BN: Aww, you missed me.]

[SS: Shut it, Goldie. Try to pour some of your ether on the sword.]

[BN: Why?]

[SS: Just do it.]

Belial sighed inwardly but gave in. Pausing, he used his other hand and applied his ether on the sword. Almost immediately, the blade started to undergo a transformation. It turned from its original state to a pristine white, and then a soft light blue emanated from its surface.

[SS: At the moment, the blade is circulating your ether, like an extension of your body. You have to maintain a certain amount of energy for it to deal a whole lot of damage. The sword can take it, but if the sword starts to change color, it means you're putting too much ether in it, so it'll malfunction.]

[BN: Ah, so that's the surprise..it's pretty good!]

[SS: Oh, and one more thing.]

[BN: What's that?]

"You break my blade and I break you." Serah declared out loud with a threatening tone. The weight of her words hung in the air, and a hushed tension settled around her.

Serah stood tall, positioned right next to Jia, who was seated and visibly shaken. Jia's uncontrollable trembling nearly pushed her to the brink of passing out. The surrounding crowd, catching wind of Serah's intimidating presence, slowly backed away, creating a small circle around the duo

A low growl echoed through the dense forest as a colossal monster emerged, its monstrous form casting a shadow over Belial. The creature, a grotesque amalgamation of scales and claws, lumbered toward him with an ominous intent. Its eyes glowed with a malevolent light, and a guttural roar signaled the beginning of the confrontation.

Belial tightened his grip on the newly transformed sword, the ethereal energy coursing through it as Serah had instructed. As the monster lunged forward, Belial seamlessly evaded its attack, the sword an extension of his every movement. He could feel the resonance between his own energy and that of the blade, creating a harmonious synergy.

[SS: Keep it steady. Remember, it's an extension of your body.]

Belial nodded in acknowledgment, his focus unwavering as he danced around the monster, testing the limits of the newly enhanced sword. With each swing, the blade cut through the air with a precision that bordered on artistry. The light blue glow intensified, indicating the controlled flow of ether.

A surge of exhilaration coursed through Belial's veins. The sword felt like an unstoppable force, responding to his will with a symbiotic fluidity. The monster, now realizing the threat it faced, retaliated with a thunderous roar, but Belial remained composed, his movements a graceful dance of offense and defense.

"This feels like it's a high C-rank monster," Belial remarked, a sense of satisfaction evident in his tone.

{Answer: It is a Clawbrute, a C-rank monster. It uses its claws and horns mainly to attack. Although not very fast, its strength makes up for it.}

Belial couldn't help but smirk at the confirmation from Oracle. "You could've just said I was right," he mused, his gaze focused on the looming Clawbrute before him.

{...}

The Clawbrute lunged forward, its massive claws slashing through the air with a deafening swoosh. Belial reacted with swift precision, evading the deadly arc of the creature's attack. He could feel the ethereal hum of the sword, a silent assurance of the symbiotic connection he shared with the weapon.

The forest echoed with the clash of steel against scales as Belial countered, delivering a calculated strike to the Clawbrute's flank. The light blue glow intensified, signaling the infusion of ether into the blade. The monster recoiled, emitting a guttural roar that reverberated through the dense foliage.

The battle unfolded in a mesmerizing dance between predator and prey. The Clawbrute, undeterred by its wound, charged again, this time utilizing its formidable horns. Belial sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the deadly thrust. As the monster passed, Belial seized the opportunity, slashing his sword across its exposed side. Ether surged through the blade, leaving a luminous trail in its wake.

The Clawbrute, enraged and wounded, unleashed a flurry of attacks. Belial weaved around each assault, his movements a seamless blend of agility and precision. The ethereal blade met the creature's onslaught with a resounding clash, creating sparks that illuminated the darkened forest.

{ALERT: Watch out for its tail!}

Oracle's warning echoed in Belial's mind just in time. The Clawbrute's tail swung like a battering ram, aiming to catch Belial off guard. He somersaulted backward, narrowly escaping the powerful sweep. The ethereal sword responded to his every movement, carving arcs of light through the air.

As the defeated Clawbrute faded into the shadows, the forest floor trembled with the arrival of reinforcements. Two more Clawbrutes emerged from the dense foliage, their eyes fixated on Belial with a predatory glint.

Undeterred by the prospect of a double threat, Belial assumed a defensive stance, the ethereal sword at the ready. The first Clawbrute lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Belial danced nimbly, sidestepping the attack and retaliating with a swift counterstrike. The ethereal blade cut through scales, leaving a luminous trail in its wake.

The second Clawbrute circled, biding its time before launching a dual assault. Belial's reflexes were put to the test as he seamlessly switched between evading and parrying. The sword became an extension of his will, a fluid dance of offense and defense against the relentless onslaught.

The forest echoed with the sounds of battle—roars of the Clawbrutes, the clash of steel, and Belial's controlled breaths. As the ethereal blade glowed brighter with each successful strike, the Clawbrutes grew more frenzied, determined to overwhelm their agile adversary.

In a daring move, Belial engaged both monsters simultaneously. His movements were a blur as he dodged and countered, the ethereal blade weaving arcs of light through the chaotic dance. The Clawbrutes, unable to anticipate his maneuvers, found themselves on the defensive.

In a breathtaking sequence, Belial unleashed a whirlwind of strikes. The ethereal sword carved through scales and sinew, leaving both Clawbrutes incapacitated in its wake. The forest fell into an eerie silence as the defeated monsters crumbled, their once formidable presence reduced to mere remnants.

Belial stood amidst the aftermath, his breath heavy, and the sword dimming. The audience, whether in the stands or through the screens, watched in awe at the spectacle.

Belial:600 points

"That kid sure knows how to put on a show. He didn't even use his hax,I guess it makes sense that he has a low amount of ether to begin with" Cole mused to himself. 

Xin stood amidst a group of menacing hobgoblins, his familiar battle axe replaced by a colossal hammer that he wielded with practiced ease. The hobgoblins, drawn by the clash of battle, circled around him with snarls of anticipation.

With a sudden burst of energy, Xin unleashed his sound ability, a sonic wave that rippled through the air. The force of the sound acted as both a boost and a direct attack, propelling Xin forward with enhanced speed and stunning the hobgoblins in its wake.

The hammer, now an extension of Xin's swift movements, descended upon the hobgoblins with relentless force. The sheer impact sent shockwaves through their ranks, disrupting their coordinated assault. Xin's sound-enhanced strikes shattered their formations, creating a chaotic dance of disoriented foes.

As Xin continued his assault, he seamlessly weaved between the hobgoblins, the hammer's rhythmic strikes. The concussive force of each blow reverberated through the forest, a testament to the synergy between Xin's physical prowess and his hax .

A particularly formidable hobgoblin attempted to retaliate, but Xin anticipated its move. With a calculated swing, he directed a focused sonic burst, disorienting the creature and leaving it vulnerable to a powerful follow-up strike from the giant hammer.

The battlefield echoed with the cacophony of battle—clashing weapons, roars of hobgoblins, and the resonating pulses of Xin's sound-enhanced attacks. As the last hobgoblin fell, Xin stood amidst the aftermath, his breath steady and the giant hammer at his side.

 As Xin finished collecting the crystals, a sense of satisfaction mingled with the echoes of battle still resonating in the forest. However, his moment of respite was abruptly shattered when he reached a clearing, finding himself surrounded by both members of his guild and the enigmatic competitors.

A palpable tension hung in the air as the two groups locked eyes, a momentary ceasefire before the impending clash. The anticipation was thick, and the silence seemed to stretch, each participant gauging the other's intent.

In a sudden and coordinated move, the four cloaked figures launched an attack simultaneously, converging on Xin with calculated precision. The thrill of the unexpected assault surged through the clearing as Xin, caught off guard, was sent flying back into the dense forest.

"Xin!" Belial called out, the urgency in his voice echoing through the forest as he tried to reach his friend.

"Focus your eyes on me, boy," Gael declared. With an unexpected force, he delivered a powerful punch, sending Belial hurtling into the depths of the forest. 

Raven darted through the forest in pursuit of Belial, a quick glance backward revealed Mark, Benedict, and Camille hot on his heels. The three moved in unison, determined to intercept Raven before he could reach Belial.

"Oh no you don't!" they declared collectively,