Spirit’s Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water

The fanfare began immediately. The coliseum trembled as the five battle stages flared to life, lightning arcing across their surfaces as the first wave of matches commenced. From the highest platform, Lassim watched intently, his gaze and spirit sense sweeping across the five battlefields. The difference between Spirit Growth and Spirit Transformation cultivators was clear from the first few exchanges. The combatants here were faster, more refined, more explosive in their use of techniques, yet still limited by inexperience, and their stage of cultivation. However, the uses of elemental weapons had a higher proficiency, and there were techniques or battle arts being used that were more than just the entry level ones. There was the budding beginnings of trying to find and refine a style of attacking or defense that would shape and define them in the future. Just like Lassim had begun at that stage, he'd incorporated his lightning into his weapon [Slash]es and [Thrust]. At the center of the coliseum, Elder Baruun stood with arms crossed, his imposing figure a constant reminder that he alone held final judgment over the matches and he could end any match in a flash in the event that a competitor was finished. Thankfully it appeared that there was a common agreement between all of the competitors to end things civilly and surrender or offer their opponent the chance to withdraw respectfully when it was obvious they were outmatched. Above them, the projection screens displayed close-ups of the battles, giving the spectators a clear view of the unfolding clashes. The martial competition felt like it had truly begun with this increase in stage. Lassim's eyes were drawn to Stage One a few minutes after the 10 minute timer had started, where a pair of fighters were currently clashed mid-air. One disciple, a lean combatant, wielded a set of dual, curved daggers, their edges pulsating with thin, crackling arcs of violet lightning. He moved like a phantom, his blades flickering between solid and blurred as he activated a standard dagger battle art Lassim had seen once during his first visit to the Sect's Library called [Lightning Phantom], a technique that focused on leaving afterimages trailing behind his dagger's movements to deceive his opponent with repeated feints that be used to exploit small gaps in their attention. His opponent was an imposing figure with thick arms, and his weapon unlike any Lassim had seen before—a broad drum, levitating beside him. Its surface was etched with golden lightning runes and had a ring of the same golden runes that hovered around the stretched, white-leather edges of the drum. As the dagger-wielder struck, the Drummer brought his hand towards his drum, striking it while shouting, "[Thunder Pulse]!". The drum's rune flashed and the leather sheet thrummed, unleashing a thunderous concussive wave that disrupted the afterimages, sending a shockwave rippling across their individual stage. The shockwave caused the dagger-wielder's movements to falter for a fraction of a second—just enough time for the drummer to slam his palm against his weapon once more, sending a second wave of force hurtling toward his opponent. Lassim's interest piqued. This was a pretty unique looking battle art that he hadn't seen used before, one that relied on sonic force mixed with lightning energy. So far, he'd only met wind elemental users that controlled sound to hypnotize beasts or control the air to become sharp wind blades. This was an aspect of the [Lightning] element that he hadn't previously considered, but it made sense, the booming of thunder was an equal part of the equation. But the dagger-wielder wasn't out yet. He twisted his body at the last second, redirecting his momentum mid-air, his daggers flaring to life again. He countered with [Lightning Step], the most basic movement technique within the sect's library that accelerated his speed instantly, bringing him within range for another attack. The Drummer reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. The dagger-wielder ended the match with a quick series of slashes toward the drummer's throat. Yet, those slashes mysteriously disappeared after a glance and twitch from Elder Baruun, leaving both fighters stunned before the projector screen showing the battles instantly declared the winner. The drummer had to leave the coliseum's arena floor in shame for being eliminated so early, but at least he could return to the stands and watch the rest of the bouts uninjured. On the second stage, one disciple wielded a golden chain elemental weapon that was coiled in lightning mana, its length shifting between solid and flexible as it serpentined through the air. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it forth, shouting, "[Thunder Bind]!" It then shot forward like a snake, attempting to wrap his opponent in an electrified restraint. His opponent remained steadfast, unfazed. Two thin metallic rods hovered at his sides, each crackling faintly with controlled arcs of his lightning mana. As he raised his arms, they extended outward, forming a shifting lattice of interlocking lightning strands, weaving themselves into a defensive grid. The chain-wielder's attack slammed into the lattice, but instead of breaking through, the lightning-infused rods dispersed the incoming energy, forcing the chain to rebound harmlessly. The chain-wielder clicked his tongue. "Tch—!" His metal-rod wielding opponent thrust both hands forward shouting, "[Arc Net]!" The lattice collapsed inward, shifting from a wide defense into a sharp, condensed arc, surging toward his opponent like a fishmen's hook-filled net made of jagged lightning. The chain-wielder barely managed to react, twisting his weapon in a rapid arc. "[Recoil Thunder]!" His chain whipped upward, generating a shockwave that launched him backward, narrowly escaping the lattice before it could envelop him. Both combatants stared each other down, neither willing to give ground, in anticipation of the next exchange. Their battle continued, but Lassim's senses wandered once more as the third battlefield out of the five happening simultaneously—minus the ones that had ended already—had quickly turned into a match of extremes that felt oddly familiar… One disciple soared through the air, wielding a lightning-imbued spear that left behind arcing trails of lightning behind the spearhead with every thrusting movement. His opponent remained firmly on the ground, unmoving, his feet planted like an immovable object. This reminded Lassim of a certain individual from a very serpentine sect. Instead of a metallic body that could be covered with a liquid-like metal mana, this disciple wielded a towering greatshield. Showcasing its wielder's innate element, its surface shifted between smooth reflective metal expected of an elemental weapon, and jagged, lightning-infused spikes. The spear-wielder struck, continuing a long sequence of their technique, [Lightning Piercer], another that Lassim recognized from the sect's Library for its similarity to his simple [Thurst] technique. He twisted his body as his grip shifted along the spear's haft, "[Lightning Piercer]!" he shouted. The spearhead ignited, a concentrated surge of Lightning Mana gathering at its tip before launching forward in a high-speed thrust. The shield-bearer didn't move. Just as the attack closed in, he braced himself, tilting his shield slightly at an angle to intercept the oncoming attack. "[Lightning Wall]!" A layer of dense Lightning Mana expanded outward from his shield, dispersing the force of the attack across its surface instead of absorbing it outright. The audience reacted sharply as the spear-user was repelled backward through the air, his attack nullified and hands clearly shaking from the reflective impact. Lassim noted the clean execution of the defensive maneuver. A textbook counter, but also incredibly well-timed. The spear-wielder adjusted mid-air, twirling his weapon to prepare for another strike. The grounded titan remained still, waiting. However, the clock kept ticking all this time and as the ten-minute mark arrived, Elder Baruun raised his hand, the undecided combatants were all forced to a stop due to his spiritual pressure. signaling the end of the first wave of battles. One by one, he evaluated the remaining outcomes, before he just let the projection screen announce his assessment. The only surprising outcome to Lassim that he slightly disagreed with was that it seemed that the spear wielder he was watching at the end was given the victory over the greatshield disciple. Noticing his confusion, Sect Master Volten just carefully stated, "There's a time and a place to value defense in order to protect your companions. And, while that's vital for everyone as a group, in the end we cultivate the path of [Lightning]. Aggression and charging forward is more valued than standing still like some dumb rock-for-brains [Metal] Spirit Warrior." Elder Baruun turned toward the large number of still remaining competitors, his voice unwavering. "Second wave, step forward!" And like that, a new set of combatants stared at the new matchings on the projection screen with their assigned stages and entered the battlefield. Their Elemental Weapons emerging from their inner heart worlds, lightning already crackling in anticipation as they circulated their mana. Just as quickly as the second wave started, had it ended. Then the third. Then the fourth. And so on. The early matches had thinned the herd, separating the truly capable from those who had simply hoped to advance. Now, the fighters who remained weren't just throwing simple lightning bolt attacks at each other—they were refining their styles, sharpening their techniques, and proving why they deserved to stay in the competition. Mostly, just proving their advanced Spirit Transformation stage prowess. Lassim let his gaze drift over the battlefields, his spirit sense picking up the rising ferocity and displays of budding skill from the competitors. Then—one name flashed on the projection screen. A name that caught his attention. Lassim's expression subtly shifted in a smile, accompanied by a flicker of storm energy that leaked out of his spiritual pressure. He hadn't even recognized him amidst the crowd, standing in the violet and gold Personal Disciple robes instead of those dirty brown with purple accents ones. It seemed he'd gained some motivation and made progress in his cultivation compared to the last time he saw him. Elder Baruun's voice rumbled across the coliseum. "Next wave, hurry to your stages."