"This Luminescent Rainbow Dew is the top treasure that the number one genius will be receiving, with the others getting varying levels of treasures that are in no way near this one in efficacy. As for the geniuses themselves, step into the field!"
The voice of Grandmaster Onillus reverberated out as figures of multiple beings stepped forward, the figures of Athena and Noah being among them as they grandly entered into the eyes of many.
From the circular ring of tens of thousands of beings surrounding the clear field, 32 beings stepped out. Shockingly, each of these beings were releasing waves of energy at the Domain Expansion Realm, with very few being in the lower Soul Forging Realm.
"These geniuses you see before you are the future defenders of the Light Expanse, but they have to prove their capabilities and show who shines the most among them."
Grandmaster Onillus waved his hands as 32 streaks of light shot out from him towards the geniuses that stepped forward. Noah grabbed the object shooting towards him as he found it to be a crystalline ball that pulsed with a hint of essence.
"The way to prove their capabilities is through combat, as we only care about which one has the most potential for us to foster! The White Crystals you have all received will act as your number. The moment it lights up, you will step forward and battle another genius who also had the White Crystal light up. The winner will advance forward, while the loser will step out!"
Clear guidelines for the matches to follow were laid out as many listened with shining eyes. There were 32 beings competing, so there would be 5 rounds to determine the ultimate winner. In the first round, only 16 winners will continue on. The second round will have only 8 continue forward, with the 3rd round having 4 continue, the fourth round having 2 continue, and these last two would fight in the final 5th round for the title of the Strongest Genius!
"Understood? Now step back once more so we can soon begin."
Grandmaster Onillus waved his hands impatiently in the air as the 32 geniuses pulled back slightly, many of them being powerful enough to hold the title of a Grandmaster, but they listened dutifully to the powerful World Rank Onillus.
Noah was looking at the White Crystal on his hands, his senses spread out in the surroundings to observe the beings he would be facing as he noted the names he had come across already.
The two Special Existences known as the Three-Eyed Fate Child and Grandmaster Light. The two with Noble Fates known as Grandmaster Xander and Grandmaster Lila.
There were a few others with genius Celestials, some with unique bodily compositions, and others who simply had monstrous comprehension abilities that allowed them to quickly master the techniques of fate and advance forward.
He was thinking of how he would act to take down those that stand against him when he heard the telepathic message of a particular Grandmaster in his mind.
"You two are faced with powerful opponents that have been cultivating even longer than you. Still, try your best to pass through the rounds and get a good position. Even if the Luminescent Rainbow Dew is out of reach, a high ranking will allow for even more resources to go to you!"
The strong voice filled with the care of Grandmaster Vredral rang in Noah and Athena's ears as the two of them looked at each other, their gazes filled with confidence in their own abilities, even if others did not fully believe in them!
In one of the Prime Warsh.i.p.s, Grandmaster Vredral was watching with a group of Grandmasters that had teaching roles of bringing up talented Celestials. The Commanding Officer Raizel who had a post overseeing a portion of the Sanctum that Noah and Athena had met when they first came to the Celestial Realm was to his right, his head shaking as he glanced at the two that he had seen first not too long ago.
"When you brought them into the Celestial Realm, weren't they still at the Void Realm? You're really having them face other disciples at the Domain Expansion Realm after pushing their levels up so speedily?"
Commanding Officer Raizel asked his friend as he was in deep thought, a shining light passing through Grandmaster Vredral as he replied.
"Even though I cannot see the fates of those holding the title of Noble Fate, I have a feeling that these two will bring a great surprise to us in the future. I will stake my entire reputation on it!"
The words of the Grandmaster were filled with belief as they prepared to watch the matches that would soon begin.
Chapter 452 - First Match: Athena!
The World Rank Grandmaster Onillus looked at the masses of beings, Celestials and non-Celestials alike, as he waved his hands while domineeringly floating in the skies.
"Then we shall get started. The first match will be…"
RUMBLE!
Two lights released from him as they circled above his hands randomly, thereafter shooting out as they went to light up the White Crystals of two beings!
"...Athena and Lila!"
WAH!
Murmurs spread among the Celestials as above in the Prime Warship where Grandmaster Vredral stood, an ashen look had appeared on his face when he heard the first match to be between his disciples and one of the more powerful beings with Noble Fates.
In the first match, Athena was actually placed against one of the four beings they were told to watch out for the most, the same Grandmaster Lila that had patted Athena on the head like a younger sister!
"Sigh…"
"Haha, Vredral, it looks like our disciples are the first ones up!"
Commanding Officer Raizel let out a pitiful breath as another voice perked up thereafter, a wide looking Grandmaster that could be considered to be a fatty entering the Prime Warship that Vredral and Raizel were in.
This was Grandmaster Rock, the one who had brought in Lila as a student, the powerful genius at the Domain Expansion Realm being his disciple!
Vredral turned to look at Grandmaster Rock with a calm expression as he observed the vibrant power of this being at the peak of the Domain Expansion Realm, the Fate Lines this Celestial Grandmaster held being even more numerous than Vredral himself.
"I didn't think you'd be joining us, Rock."
"How can I miss my two disciples showing off their strength after all this time? Both Lila and Xander have been training hard in the dangerous areas these past years, they deserve the treasures coming out of this little tournament."
The fatty Grandmaster Rock sat next to Grandmaster Vredral and Commanding Officer Raizel jovially, revealing that he would similarly be watching the results of two beings holding Noble Fates that he guided, similarly to Vredral!
"But your disciple is truly unlucky to be matched with Lila as the first match. Her potential would have at least placed her in the Top 8 if this hadn't happened."
Rock spoke out again with a smile as the Grandmaster watched the figures of Athena and Lila step forward in the center of the field of battle. Grandmaster Vredral was quiet before he replied calmly, his gaze being as clear as water.
"It matters not, as it is simply what fate had ordained. Let us see exactly what the results would be."
A calm reply unlike what Grandmaster Rock expected came out, the Grandmasters turning their senses down as the two curvaceous women in the center of the field were about to start!
---
When the match was first called, the White Crystal in Athena's hands had lit up, making Noah turn towards her as her opponent was someone that did not hold the two of them in any regard in their past interaction.
An impassive look appeared on Athena's face as she stepped out silently, Grandmaster Lila following thereafter with a smile as the two of them wordlessly went towards the center of the miles-long field.
"Junior Sister, I'm sorry to cut your ranking off so quickly. I really didn't expect for both me and you to be picked first."
Grandmaster Lila had an apologetic expression as she looked with smiling eyes towards Athena, who had already begun summoning Empyrean Guards and casting Empyrean Armament to prepare herself.
In a stellar fashion, a golden armored and w
inged Athena holding two huge hammers appeared in the clear field, her languid eyes locking on the smiling figure of Grandmaster Lila as she replied impassively.
"The victor is yet to be decided, Senior Sister. Let us see what fate has in store!"
Noah stared at the two women facing off as he smiled, the outcome of this battle having been long decided the moment that the two of them were picked to stand against one another.
On one side was the War Princess at the Domain Expansion Realm, and her enemy was someone who had been in this same realm over many years, and even had more than double the Fate Lines that she held. So many beings were seeing a clear dominant winner, but would that be so?!
OOOOOOH!
His eyes shone as the watching crowd made vibrant noises at the stellar figures of these two women facing off, the clear and resounding voice of the floating Grandmaster Onillus reaching them thereafter as a spark was lit.
"Start!"
BOOM!
"YAA!"
With a glorious cry, Athena shot off the ground like a cannon as she rushed towards Grandmaster Lila who was still smiling sweetly, her body glimmering with Fate Lines as numerous Empyrean Guards were cast and absorbed by her instantaneously.
A resplendent set of armor and wings similar to Athena was adorned on her, having a few distinct differences because of their levels of comprehension in the law of fate. The smiling eyes of Grandmaster Lila found Athena's eyes filled with battle as she grasped the slightly larger hammer in her hands and struck out towards the oncoming attack!
BOOOM!
A golden shockwave spread out as the spectating combatants that would be called upon later watched closely.
The three glimmering eyes of the Special Existence known as Three-Eyed Fate Child rapidly moved as he began following the figures of the two fighting women in the field of battle.
The other Special Existence known as Grandmaster Light was simply watching on impassively as her body that was majorly made of particles of light brightened. The one with Noble Fate, Xander, also watched his Senior Sister under the same master as all of them waited for a singular result from the battle, the winner already decided in their eyes a long time ago.
In the distance, the forces of the Dark Expanse with Malthus the Spatial Magician at the forefront were using a hidden device to portray all the occurring events in real time towards the Scholar's Guild where many powerful beings were watching!
From many directions and on all sides, many beings had begun watching as the first fight in this Battle of Geniuses began!
Chapter 453 - Outmatched
WAAAAA!
Cries of wonder and fervor rang out from the tens of thousands of spectators as a battle with rarely seen abilities unfolded in their eyes.
Many from the Prime Worlds did not get a chance to see the skills of Celestials in action, the masses being given access to watch the coming battles using this opportunity to the fullest as they pledged to see the power they wanted to achieve themselves.
On a nondescript side of the circular field where Athena and Grandmaster Lila were battling, an Emperor Penguin exuding deep arrogance was being carried by Elena as their forces of Vampyres were stationed around an enormous tree not too far from Malthus.
The being sending a live feed of the occurring events to the Dark Expanse was messaging with Elena telepathically over the past few minutes as numerous things were discussed.
"The one that is working with us, Crixus, how do we see his chances in these battles? The old fogeys have been wanting to use him more ever since they found out he had somehow reached the Domain Expansion Realm this fast, even though his mission to release the prisoner from the 7th Celestial Star has not been accomplished."
"Bah, take things slow and as they come. As for his chances in this battle? Hmph, just watch like all of us."
An irritated reply came from the Royal Vampyre as she held the fluffy Emperor Penguin tightly, the Kraken at the side watching with jealous eyes as they kept their gazes towards the continuing battle!
SHAA!
Ever since the battle began, those with keen and observant eyes had begun noticing a shocking fact with the constantly moving figures of Athena and Lila.
When the battle began, Grandmaster Lila who had been in the Domain Expansion Realm much longer than Athena was fending off her attacks with ease, even maintaining the light smile behind her armor as her Fate Lines that were double her opponents gave her even more support.
Yet as time passed, it felt like her support and ease was gradually leaving, things getting so serious that her smile was completely wiped off a minute later when a hammer swept to her left and forcefully lifted her off the ground!
In the Prime Warship, the veteran Grandmasters were watching the battle with shining eyes as they stroked their beards, Vredral's impassive face gaining a smile as Commanding Officer Raizel spoke.
"This is...Battle Sense? The battle was in favor of Lila in the first minute, but she soon fell into a particular rhythm that Athena began, almost as if it was a…"
Grandmaster's Vredral's face smiled as his beard shimmered, finishing the words of Commanding Officer Raizel.
"...dance!"
Yes! What many people were witnessing was the expert control of battle that only the War Princess had because of a unique ability that only she held, an ability that allowed her to foresee and perceive the strikes of her opponents as she relentlessly used this knowledge to hammer their defenses and evade their attacks in such a way that it looked like she was conducting a dance!
The face of the fatty Grandmaster Rock was dark as he watched his student actually begin to be cornered, the valiant eyes of Athena seemingly shining with light as she relentlessly pursued someone that many knew to be stronger than her. Grandmaster Rock's flaps of fat could not even turn to the Grandmaster Vredral that he was gloating towards a few minutes ago as he remained quiet!
"As I said, we must always wait to see exactly what fate has in store for us."
Grandmaster Vredral cooly said as his gaze remained on the ongoing battle where Blades of Liberation and sharp spears of Judgment had begun weaving around majestically.
BOOM! BOOM!
Enormous Blades of Liberation thundered down while golden spears filled the skies, the two combatants weaving in and out of them with ease. Athena was evading the ferocious attack within a few inches as she used the least required movements to get closer and closer to her opponent, her hammers being able to reach her as she entered into close combat- something that was her forte.
SHAA!
Grandmaster Lil saw her bending her body backwards as she evaded a golden hammer smashing straight to her face, her body letting out rapid breaths as her eyes angrily glanced towards the Junior Sister that was actually putting her in a tight spot!
But something horrendous occurred in the next instant as the hammer that was swiping from left to right that Lila evaded by bending down had somehow stopped its horizontal trajectory instantaneously right at her position, the tout muscles in Athena's arms bulging as the golden hammer changed directions to smash down vertically, right on her wide open and full chest.
BOOOM!
"What!"
"Grandmaster Lila!"
Shocked Celestials that knew Lila called out concerningly as she took the blow straight on, the watching masses glancing at one another as they raucously cheered by the resplendent move.
OOOOH!
Noah was watching by the side with shining eyes as what he expected occured, the terrifying battle skill of the War Princess exceeding the 100,000 Fate Lines difference as Athena's hammer smashed into the opened defenses of her opponent to deal a deadly strike.
She didn't get complacent though, as the moment her strike landed, she jumped back from the position of the shockwave as a wrathful Grandmaster Lila erupted out with glowing Fate Essence preparing to unleash a last ditch attack, but all that met her was air as Athena had already moved far away! Her golden hammer was pointed towar
ds Lila silently as her valiant eyes shimmered, Lila feeling an oppressive feeling as her sense of danger rang wildly, her gaze only being able to rise to the skies briefly before she saw a golden Blade of Liberation smashing right at her position.
BOOOM!
…
Silence.
After the first hammer strike that had smashed onto the chest of Grandmaster Lila, Athena had moved back as she summoned a Blade of Liberation right at her position to finish off the battle.
Valiantly!
Ruthlessly!
This was the War Princess, this was Athena!
"WAAAAA!"
Cheers rang out as the dust cleared, one being able to see a bloodied Grandmaster Lila with broken pieces of golden armor, a large scar on her shoulder as her wrathful gaze shakingly looked up at Athena. The eyes that met her were calm, as if they weren't the cause of the horrendous injuries, making this Senior Sister Lila feel even more anger as she stared at the Junior Sister that she was domineeringly patting the head of just an hour ago.
"Winner, Athena!"
The impassive voice of Grandmaster Onillus floating in the skies rang out, Athena's armament fading away into particles of light as she calmly made her way back towards where the other combatants were, coming to stand right beside the Junior Brother Crixus as she leaned on his shoulder for balance.
Very few could notice her hard breathing as Noah smiled, the first battle of the Battle of Geniuses concluding gorgeously as soon after, Grandmaster Onillus called the next fighters!
Chapter 454 - Those Watching
"Reiner and Zula, you're next!"
The World Rank Grandmaster Onillus randomly picked the next two combatants as two Celestials brimming with power stepped out.
Both were at the Domain Expansion Realm, with their Fate Lines fairly close to one another.
But each of them was a genius in their own way, with one being proficient in the law of water on top of the law of fate, and the other being proficient in the law of air. Mastery of two laws paired up with extremely deadly techniques allowed them to be called geniuses, many of the other beings in the group of 32 participating Celestials being this way!
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