The platforms beneath the contestants expanded, widening to provide ample space for everyone standing upon them.

  Then they detached from their positions, drifting forward and arranging themselves into four corners beneath the crack in the center.

  Nathan swept his gaze around, confirming that all formidable opponents were present.

  Zhanyu's team included Laurent Nyralith, Sigrid Bergstr?m from The Resonating Blade School, and the one locking eyes with Evelyn, Reza Karimi from Azure Lake Academy.

  Nathan felt irritation crawl across his skin as hostility radiated from every pore. That bastard would certainly not overlook him if given the chance.

  Lachlan was present without question. The wind aspect swordsman who had thoroughly thrashed Nathan belonged to another team. Beside Lachlan stood two girls, one wielding Shadow Aspect, the other Light Aspect, along with the Artificer who had participated in Nathan's pursuit seven days prior.

  Duan Jingyi, the sharp-tongued senior sister of Zhanyu, had also entered the arena. The Thousand Stars Pavilion clearly had more representatives than other factions.

  The Verdant Spire Sect in Nathan's group already had three people, while other teams included Keira and Xander. The young spearman merely offered Nathan a slight nod when their eyes met. Keira kept her eyes closed, cultivating, utterly indifferent to her surroundings. Beside her were two fellow disciples from Verdant Spire and one stranger.

  Finally, the brightest star of The Shifting Trials commanded the most attention: Adrian Kovács alongside Ruby Voss, a young master of the Partheon family, and Emrys Merinor. Two of the four great houses and Maelivar's largest power gathered in one place, a development that left everyone stunned.

  Most surprised was Nathan himself. He'd assumed collaboration between Ruby and Emrys would be nearly impossible based on the incident during the final night of feasting, when Ruby mentioned Arthur Merinor. He'd reasoned these houses harbored mutual animosity. Yet the scene before him proved otherwise.

  Adrian Kovács seemed to be a joint investment from all three houses: Voss, Partheon, and Merinor. This assessment aligned with tolerating Adrian's reputation for hot temper, demonstrated during Emrys's small gathering.

  Jingyi frowned deeply at this development. Having caused a scene before Emrys and noting the wariness from other factions, she'd believed she had successfully pressured House Merinor. The current situation defied her expectations, potentially marking her as one of Adrian's targets.

  Jingyi's scowl prompted Zhanyu to laugh aloud, truly a case of one venomous snake being countered by another. Sigrid, hearing this, remained silent, her sword restless since first glimpsing Zeryn Valtaris. The young man's razor-sharp gaze left her perpetually unsettled.

  Lachlan observed everything with an expression of keen interest. He hadn't even needed to stir trouble; the waters were already murky.

  Undercurrents of conflict simmered between the groups, threatening to materialize at any moment.

  Nathan couldn't suppress his excitement. Four months ago, he wouldn't have dreamed of standing here, using his abilities to compete fairly with the geniuses of his generation, not even if beaten to death. Simply being here had bolstered his confidence immensely. The feelings of inadequacy that had plagued him had largely dissipated. Physical Cultivation according to Darkan might not compare to Spirit Cultivation, but with [Titan's Descendant], it absolutely could. In fact, this bloodline could propel him beyond what others might achieve.

  Though satisfied with his progress, Nathan remained determined to push further, not just to discover his own limits, but for the teammates standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

  Twenty-four teams remained, ninety-six people in total, a stark difference from the expected one hundred twenty-eight people across thirty-two teams.

  The elimination had been truly brutal. Some were defeated until their lifesaving bracelets activated, while others were swallowed by their very standing positions. Most ironic were those who fought to become one of the top two hundred fifty-six, only to fail at forming teams and face elimination. Losing eight teams seemed a reasonable calculation.

  Nathan wondered why the format was team-based rather than individual, unlike previous events. Could this relate to some unknown factor, or was it a policy imposed by the Empire that the Kingdom of Caelindor must follow? Perhaps to test adaptability and synergy among youth thrown into unfamiliar environments with strangers.

  If so, Nathan felt fortunate to have found Zahra and Zeryn, fellow disciples from his Sect. Evelyn was also someone he knew from before.

  Fate worked in such peculiar ways that Nathan couldn't help questioning whether things were progressing too smoothly for him.

  The serpentine line above trembled once more. An invisible wave spread outward, transforming something imperceptible to the naked eye. This time it carried sound beyond mere voice.

  "Teams will proceed to paired combat in this final stage. Rules regarding life-threatening situations and rescue bracelets remain unchanged. However, individuals using bracelets to withdraw will not exit this pocket dimension, they will merely conclude their round of combat. After analysis and evaluation, each team will participate in four combat rounds. Results and performance will determine final rankings. Therefore, the bracelet is a strategic item requiring judicious use. Contestants, the time has come to determine who stands strongest!"

  The young faces hardened with determination. Muscles relaxed, eyes intent, all focused on what approached. These battles would shape their futures.

  The platforms carrying each team began to move, rising and falling, shifting left or right. Everything became chaotic, as if caught in a whirlwind.

  Finally, combat pairs were selected, each platform positioned opposite another. The edges connected.

  When the platforms touched, light flashed. The entire area expanded to the size of a playing field, surrounded by protective walls. Those inside, looking outward, saw other combat pairs as mere specks in the distance.

  A strange sensation, unclear whether space had expanded or they had shrunk.

  Nathan's team faced four opponents who similarly marveled at the spatial manipulation around them.

  They were no strangers.

  The purple-robed young man who wielded gravity aspect.

  The earth and plant users who had confronted Nathan with Argentius on the first day.

  The final girl was a newcomer to their lineup.

  "We meet again," said the green-clad young man with a smile.

  Nathan nodded in greeting, his eyes sliding toward the purple-robed youth. The bastard had exploited his teammate, Evelyn, to reach this stage. Had Nathan been at full strength that day, he could have at least given him difficulty.

  The young man noticed Nathan's gaze and sneered.

  "Seems you can walk properly now? No longer need a girl to carry you around?"

  Before Nathan could respond, a chill spread through the air. He made a mental note to remind Evelyn about controlling both her temper and her aspect.

  "Trash talk all you want," Zahra declared, bouncing forward enthusiastically. "You'll still end up pulverized."

  "Confidence is necessary for the competent," the previously silent girl remarked, eyebrow raised. "Otherwise, it's merely arrogance."

  Nathan and Zeryn exchanged glances, astonished that someone else's tongue could cut so venomously.

  Zahra's response was a brilliant smile, accepting the challenge without hesitation.

  The two teams separated as the floor beneath them extended further.

  In mid-air, an announcement board materialized, displaying a countdown. The arrangement suggested the organizers wanted the audience to witness these exchanges between young contestants, observing how they provoked one another.

  The counter ticked downward, each bell resonating to the core. Other arenas apparently received the same signal.

  When the final bell tolled, Nathan's team surged forward, Nathan and Zahra taking point. They had established tactical plans beforehand. The formation was preliminary, given they hadn't tested their strategies yet. If problems arose, they would adjust accordingly.

  The opposing team remained motionless. They had already set their first trap.

  "Nathan," Zeryn called out, his voice trembling.

  Nathan turned to see his friend and Evelyn pressed downward, knees bent in resistance.

  In an instant, gravity intensified at his position as well.

  Zahra moved close to him, laughed loudly, and used two wind orbs to propel herself away. As she prepared to throw orbs toward Zeryn and Evelyn, vines erupted from the ground and entangled her, forcing her to shift focus.

  Nathan bent his legs and launched backward, smashing through the earthen wall erected to block him. As expected, vines from created seeds attempted to entangle him. He drew a sword from his Spatial Pouch and executed a skillful circular motion, slicing through the obstacles.

  Thinking the danger past, he spotted seeds floating in the air. Within seconds, they grew rapidly from embryonic size as though nourished over months. When they reached the size of a fist, they detonated.

  The explosions hurled debris in all directions, blasting Nathan from side to side.

  For him, however, these were minor inconveniences. He used his strength to propel himself closer to the gravity zone behind.

  "Catch," Zeryn called.

  Nathan caught Zeryn's thrown sword and employed the same technique as before. His arm muscles tensed as he executed a throw so powerful it seemed to tear through spatial barriers.

  His strength pulled Zeryn free from the gravity-affected zone.

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  Clearly, the gravitational force applied to Zeryn and Evelyn was significantly stronger. For Nathan and Zahra, it had been substantially reduced.

  This was confirmed when Nathan stepped into the affected boundary. He remained entirely unaffected. This weight paled in comparison to The Pressuring Fall. The difference lay in that The Pressuring Fall involved two tangible forces in opposition, while now they faced an invisible force against a tangible one. This prevented Evelyn from using her mana shield as defense.

  She could have used exploding ice orbs to escape, but that would require more energy and power, potentially harming herself. She chose to wait for Nathan's assistance.

  If she had learned anything during this period, it was to let others do what they excelled at when possible. In this case, that meant relying on the resilience and physique of her smiling teammate.

  Nathan tilted his head inquiringly. Evelyn nodded in acceptance.

  He lifted her with both hands, treating her with utmost care. Then he walked deliberately out of the zone, glancing toward Zeryn and Zahra, who fought competently despite being outnumbered.

  Zeryn's sword moved in all directions, the invisible sword lines of his Sword Intent slicing through plants and earth walls. Zahra flickered in and out with her exceptional speed.

  Yet they couldn't penetrate their opponents' area. Whenever they approached, gravitational forces activated, making their movements sluggish and exposing vulnerabilities for the three other cultivators to exploit with their techniques.

  Nathan set Evelyn down.

  "Can anyone detect the gravity fields?" he asked.

  "We should be able to," Evelyn pondered. "We were caught off guard initially. But with preparation, we won't be trapped so easily."

  "Good," Nathan nodded firmly. "I'll handle the purple-robed one and create a distraction."

  Though his words seemed intended only for the two of them, they were actually meant for Zeryn and Zahra as well. After the gravity-enhanced attack, everyone had extended their spirit awareness to assess their surroundings.

  The sides separated after their initial clash. The opposing group exchanged meaningful glances, nodding as though confirming an unspoken strategy.

  Nathan's team still lacked a comprehensive plan, not having fully gauged their opponents. Nevertheless, confidence remained high.

  Zeryn maintained three swords spinning around him. Evelyn kept lethal compressed ice particles floating nearby. Zahra cracked her knuckles and rotated her neck, preparing for battle.

  As before, Nathan's team initiated the attack, with Nathan and Zahra leading the charge.

  They faced a barrage of projectiles, earth fragments and mana bullets.

  Zahra extended her hands, creating vortices that deflected attacks in various directions.

  Nathan weaved through the heavy barrage, dodging where possible and enduring hits when necessary.

  Evelyn and Zeryn spread to the sides, controlling sword and ice respectively to support their close-combat teammates.

  The gray-robed earth aspect user from the opposing team dropped to a crouch, pressing both hands against the battle floor. Massive earth chunks launched toward Zeryn and Evelyn.

  These earthen masses shattered quickly under their combined assault, fragmenting into pieces that scattered everywhere.

  Taking over the attack was the plant aspect user. Sharp wood spikes grew from his arms, launching with such force that Nathan and Zahra faltered. Exploding seeds burst like bombs around them continuously.

  Nathan frowned. These weren't techniques he recognized from his previous encounter with the young man. If he possessed such effective, damaging attacks, surely he and his partner would have confronted Argentius directly rather than hesitating. Either he had discovered something in the subsequent challenges that strengthened his aspect, or the newcomer girl had enhanced his abilities. Perhaps both.

  At this moment, the opponents unleashed their combination attack.

  Stray bullets, debris, and missed projectiles suddenly bent in unnatural trajectories. They didn't immediately return to attack Nathan's team but traveled to another location before bending again. After several such redirections, they would completely change angle and shoot directly at their targets.

  A bullet that initially passed Nathan struck an invisible force. From that pivot point, it curved rightward, drifting farther away. Then it bent right again, guided by an unseen hand. Now traveling horizontally, completely off its original course, a third impact abruptly redirected it straight into Zahra's flank. She flew backward with a pained groan.

  "What the hell is happening?" Nathan exclaimed.

  No answer came, only projectiles raining from front, behind, and above in relentless assault.

  From a distance, Zeryn narrowed his eyes, sensing danger. He pointed forward, unleashing Dynamic Sword Intent. A massive slash formed on the ground, severing the attacks. He curved his finger rightward, forcing their opponents to defend and interrupting their barrage against Nathan and Zahra.

  Zeryn frowned. Even his invisible sword suffered from gravity's influence. It grew heavier, prompting him to dispel rather than maintain it.

  Evelyn had successfully maneuvered tiny ice particles close to their opponents. With a snap of her fingers, ice spikes shot forth, freezing the green-robed youth's hand. This forced the opposing team to retreat and seek healing.

  Nathan's team regrouped, close enough for communication but distant enough to avoid gravity field effects.

  "Gravity... wells?" Zahra ventured.

  "Probably," Nathan replied.

  "Using gravitational fields at specific spatial points to bend object trajectories. Brilliant!"

  Everyone acknowledged Zeryn's assessment. Their opponents' combination proved formidable. Nathan's group excelled through individual talent, but their teamwork remained lacking by comparison. Such coordination couldn't develop overnight. Their opponents simply possessed higher natural compatibility.

  For instance, had Nathan's team included that gravity user, they might have displayed comparable, perhaps superior, capabilities. Using gravity wells to catapult Nathan into enemy ranks presented a promising strategy. Combined with Zahra's wind properties or Zeryn's sword techniques, few could withstand them. Add Evelyn's ice to that equation, and the danger became self-evident.

  No wonder the gravity aspect was so rare and coveted. Lachlan's connection with this individual proved valuable indeed.

  "That girl appears to possess the Vitality Aspect," observed Evelyn, her gaze never leaving her ice constructs.

  The frozen arm made everyone shudder. Mere observation revealed cellular-level penetration, causing frostbite and tissue damage. Yet the group's sole female member channeled mana into the injured youth's body. Decomposition and paralysis slowed as two mana sources contested Evelyn's, gradually neutralizing her technique.

  The arm had been saved, though its owner's face remained pale and considerably more cautious.

  The purple-robed youth finally moved, stepping forward with his hood revealing only a cold smile.

  "Prepare!" he announced simply.

  The four facing him exchanged startled glances.

  "Is he planning to fight us alone?"

  "No," Zeryn shook his head. "He's buying time. Despite our brief acquaintance, I know he's not that arrogant."

  Without further discussion, the four advanced from different directions.

  The purple-robed youth released discs attached to his hands. A gravitational field activated at his command, lifting him skyward. He gazed down with proud confidence.

  More gravity-enhanced zones materialized. Except for Nathan, the others carefully avoided these invisible quicksands.

  The lone Physical Cultivator traversed the gravity zone, curiosity evident in his expression. Though he felt gravity's influence, his body adapted instantly.

  Seeing the red-robed "bastard" relatively unaffected, the purple-robed youth showed no concern. He inverted his hand, palm facing upward.

  Nathan, caught in mid-jump due to decreasing gravitational pull, flailed in the air, his vantage point higher than anyone else's.

  His teammates moved to assist when gravity suddenly intensified. The downward force far exceeded normal levels, sending him plummeting like a cannonball. The impact shook the entire battle floor with a deafening explosion.

  Nathan emerged from the dust cloud, stood up, and smiled challengingly at the gravity aspect user.

  In response, discs flew toward him.

  Evelyn created her own discs, attempting to intercept and destroy the others. Before they could make contact, however, gravity pulled hers downward.

  Each disc projected its own gravitational field. Not only could their opponent create gravity zones, but he could also imbue objects with his power, likely the creation of a skilled Artificer.

  Zahra faced similar challenges as Nathan. Whenever she approached, gravitational fields either hurled her skyward or slammed her groundward.

  Though Zeryn could force reactions by compelling the gravity user to defend with his discs, he couldn't penetrate those defenses. More accurately, he conserved his strength.

  Clearly, despite the gravity aspect user's irritating capabilities, he hadn't demonstrated significant damage potential. His power was spread thin, dividing among various gravitational pull zones and reducing each area's intensity. He had yet to recreate the intense pressure initially applied to Zeryn and Evelyn.

  This was a contest of endurance, timing, and opportunity. Zeryn couldn't attack recklessly and leave himself vulnerable later. Targeting the three people behind offered a solution. He moved strategically, creating distractions while seeking openings in the seemingly impenetrable defense.

  Evelyn increased pressure on their opponent by attacking from multiple angles, forcing him to expend additional energy.

  The purple-robed youth laughed loudly, prepared to withstand any assault.

  His discs flew forward, moving unpredictably through invisible gravity wells. When they approached Nathan, he attempted to grab them, breaking through their gravitational membrane. The discs seemed almost sentient, reducing their attraction to deviate upward and fly farther, entering different gravity wells.

  Zahra attacked with wind explosions. Though the discs reacted to these quick, explosive strikes by veering sideways, they promptly regained altitude and traveled far enough to enter gravity wells.

  Whenever the two close-combat fighters approached, these gravity-utilizing discs obstructed them.

  The gravitational field intensified around Zeryn and Evelyn. Sword and ice attacks appeared trapped in invisible prisons.

  Zeryn found himself ensnared when the cunning gravity user placed five small-radius gravity-enhanced zones around him. When he stepped into one, forces from adjacent areas transferred. With a mana explosion, he propelled his sword outward, generating just enough pull to extract himself, only to intersect the discs' path.

  Sparks flew as Zeryn knocked them aside.

  Though he'd already held their opponent in high regard, this gravity user continued to surprise him. He must have recognized sword intent as a weakness and trained his abilities to affect even what most considered intangible and nearly indefensible.

  Evelyn's attacks met similar resistance from gravity wells. Though she targeted the three people behind the gravity user, her efforts were likewise obstructed.

  A formidable opponent indeed.

  Yet he showed signs of weakening. Sweat covered his face, concealed only by his hood.

  Nathan, analyzing everything from beginning to end, identified a breakthrough. Never had he imagined [Improved Pattern Recognition] would prove so valuable.

  Unlike the gravity-enhanced zones created at will by the purple-robed youth, the gravity wells remained fixed. These invisible whirlpools neither moved nor dissipated when convenient.

  In Nathan's mind, he mapped the locations of these gravity wells, marking the directional pulls of each. Where objects would veer left or right, rise or fall.

  Dozens of points materialized in his perception, pathways through this complex maze revealed.

  With a smile, he retrieved his defensive vambrace, palming bombs purchased from Artificers.

  He sprinted forward with long, powerful strides. The purple-robed youth turned to focus on him. Discs flew toward Nathan, but he avoided them with unmatched dexterity. When prediction failed, he deflected them using his Tier 2 gloves, maintaining forward momentum.

  As gravity decreased, his excessive force propelled him skyward.

  Nathan twisted backward mid-air, delicately tossing a bomb with precise placement. He activated his vambrace, generating a thin mana membrane.

  The explosion propelled him beyond the gravity-enhanced zone.

  The gravity cultivator froze momentarily in surprise. He had anticipated Nathan would struggle most with weak gravity, unlike his mana-manipulating teammates.

  The surprise didn't end there.

  Nathan deliberately plunged into a gravity well. Its attraction, like an anchor point, flung him upward.

  The purple-robed youth's lip twitched. He never expected someone to deliberately enter such a place. More impressive was Nathan slapping the air with his palm, slightly altering his trajectory. He landed precisely within another gravity well's range, launching himself higher.

  The gravity user’s hand turned downward.

  Gravity around Nathan intensified again.

  At that moment, a wind explosion sent him beyond the gravity zone.

  Zahra had launched a compressed aspect orb onto his back.

  Though slightly painful, Nathan unhesitatingly gave his teammate a thumbs-up.

  Zahra smiled brightly. Her attentiveness to Nathan's movements had yielded their best outcome yet.

  Seeing this coordination, Zeryn and Evelyn intensified their attacks, denying the purple-robed youth operating space.

  His breathing grew labored, hands swinging continuously to control discs and gravity zones.

  Yet he had caused enough trouble. With another bomb, Nathan propelled himself toward a gravity well, bending his path leftward to target the gravity user directly.

  In the distance, Zeryn raised his sword and slashed downward. A dim giant sword materialized, targeting the three people behind the gravity user.

  Evelyn joined with a massive ice saw.

  The purple-robed youth recalled his metal discs, redirecting them toward Nathan. For the first time, he retreated.

  Nathan twisted through the air. He felt an immense gravitational field pulling him downward.

  He smiled—his goal achieved. To counter both him and Zahra required extremely powerful gravity. Consequently, Zeryn and Evelyn's attacks would proceed unhindered.

  The giant sword, imbued with Sharp Aspect, tore through the air, bright white rays sparking backward. Evelyn's saw advanced simultaneously.

  The purple-robed youth recalled his discs and pushed them backward.

  A reduced-gravity zone formed. All three teammates rose upward.

  Zeryn's sword struck the earthen wall, shredding it to fragments.

  Evelyn's saw sliced through the subsequently created tree wall.

  The discs collided directly with Evelyn's attack. Both shattered.

  A necessary sacrifice.

  Just as everything seemed to favor them and the group surged forward, a brown orb flew toward them.

  It expanded, drawing earth and plants from all directions. The force generated a shockwave that propelled Nathan and Zahra backward.

  All four stared wide-eyed at what materialized before them.

  A giant golem.