The Omnipotent System

The first challenge began with a dramatic flourish. The shimmering stage beneath the participants' feet shifted, its runes glowing brighter as mana surged through the air. The audience gasped as the ground morphed, creating a vast, uneven terrain of jagged rocks, molten lava streams, and shimmering pools of liquid mana. The participants were now scattered across the battlefield, their expressions ranging from calm focus to determined intensity.

Eren stood at the edge of the stage, his heart pounding in his chest as he crouched low behind a jagged outcrop of rock. The air was thick with heat and crackling mana, and the faint scent of sulfur stung his nostrils. His hands, damp with sweat, clung to the rough surface of the rock as he tried to steady his breathing. He was acutely aware of the eyes on him—thousands of them, watching his every move. His lack of magic marked him as prey in this world, but he wasn't about to let that define him now.

Across the battlefield, Ragnar Thornshield moved with the precision of a predator. His broad shoulders and imposing frame made him a commanding presence as he raised his hands, summoning a swirling vortex of wind and earth. His pale green eyes glimmered with fierce determination, his jaw set as he launched the attack at a wiry boy clad in dark robes. The boy dodged swiftly, his movements like shadows flitting across the stage, but Ragnar's onslaught was relentless.

Selene Veylinor, the druidess, was a vision of grace as she danced through the battlefield. Her bare feet barely touched the ground as she summoned shimmering vines from the pools of liquid mana. Her silver hair flowed behind her like a cascading waterfall as she directed the vines to entangle her opponent, the fiery-haired girl from the Desert Spires. The girl countered with a burst of flame that roared to life around her, causing the vines to wither into ash. Selene's serene expression remained unchanged, though her violet eyes narrowed slightly as she gracefully leapt to avoid the flames.

Eren watched from his hiding spot, his chest tightening as he realized the gap between himself and the others. They wielded magic with elegance and power, each movement a testament to their skill. He, on the other hand, had nothing but his wits and his will to survive.

The first elimination came swiftly. A participant from the Shadowed Isles, his dark robes now scorched and tattered, miscalculated a step and fell into a bubbling pool of lava. The stage shimmered around him, teleporting him to safety, but his disqualification was met with a wave of polite applause from the crowd. The others barely spared him a glance, their focus locked on the fight.

Eren exhaled slowly, his hands gripping the rock tighter. Just survive, he told himself, repeating the mantra in his head. He ducked lower as a stray gust of wind sent shards of rock flying past him, narrowly missing his face. His heart thundered, but he forced his body to stay still. Survive.

Another participant was eliminated when Ragnar's vortex caught the wiry boy in its grip, slamming him against the rocks. The boy groaned as he vanished in a flash of light, his elimination prompting another ripple of applause. Ragnar straightened, his expression impassive, though his eyes flickered briefly toward Selene, who returned his gaze with a faint nod.

Two more eliminations followed in quick succession, the fiery-haired girl overwhelmed by Selene's relentless vines and a participant from Arcanaeum stunned by Ragnar's mastery of the elements. The battlefield grew quieter, the air thick with tension as the remaining participants turned their attention to one another.

And then there was Eren.

Still crouched behind his outcrop, he felt the weight of their gazes shift toward him. For a moment, the battlefield seemed to hold its breath. Ragnar's green eyes narrowed as he studied the frail figure, his lips pressing into a line of mild confusion. Selene tilted her head slightly, her serene expression softening with curiosity. The crowd buzzed with murmurs, their whispers like the hum of restless bees.

"He's still here?" Kael hissed from the audience, her voice sharp with disbelief. "How is he not eliminated yet?"

Eren's stomach churned as he felt the scrutiny intensify. He slowly straightened, his trembling hands clenched into fists at his sides. His brown eyes, though filled with fear, burned with a quiet resolve. He wasn't sure how he'd lasted this long—pure luck, perhaps—but now, with all eyes on him, he knew he couldn't falter.

Ragnar took a step forward, his powerful frame casting a long shadow across the battlefield. His pale green eyes glinted with something between curiosity and annoyance as he addressed Eren, his voice calm but firm. "You've been hiding this whole time."

Eren swallowed hard, his throat dry. "I'm still here," he said, his voice steadier than he expected.

The crowd gasped at his defiance, a ripple of astonished laughter breaking through the tension. Ragnar's brow furrowed, his lips twitching into what might have been the ghost of a smirk.

Selene's violet eyes sparkled with faint amusement as she observed the exchange. She didn't speak, but there was a subtle shift in her stance, her movements less guarded, as though she didn't perceive Eren as a threat. Yet there was also a glimmer of respect in her gaze, a recognition of the sheer will it must have taken for someone like him to survive this long.

The tension thickened as the remaining participants seemed to reach a silent consensus. They would not underestimate Eren, even if he lacked magic. He had proven himself capable of surviving, and in a tournament where survival was key, that alone made him dangerous.

Ragnar's focus sharpened, his pale green eyes narrowing as he stepped toward Eren, his frame exuding quiet authority. The weight of his presence alone seemed to suck the air from the battlefield, leaving Eren acutely aware of the power imbalance. The crowd's anticipation rose, their murmurs growing louder as two other participants, sensing an opportunity, shifted their positions to align with Ragnar.

One was a stocky man with bronzed skin and a mane of braided black hair, his broad chest heaving slightly as he adjusted the metallic gauntlets covering his forearms. Sparks of electricity danced between the ridges of the gauntlets, illuminating his sharp, calculating features. The other was a wiry woman with short-cropped blond hair and piercing amber eyes, her movements fluid and feline as she twirled a pair of crystalline daggers that shimmered ominously.

"This is a waste of time," the man growled, his deep voice carrying across the battlefield. "Let's finish this quickly and move on to the real challenge."

The woman smirked, her lips curling upward in a predatory grin. "Agreed. He's just a spectator who wandered into the wrong place."

Ragnar didn't respond immediately, his gaze locked on Eren, who stood his ground despite the growing tension. For a moment, Ragnar's lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw tightening. Then, he spoke, his tone cold but not unkind. "You've survived this long, but survival isn't enough. Let's see if you can fight."

Eren's chest rose and fell rapidly, his nerves screaming at him to run, but he refused to back down. His fists clenched tightly, the rough skin of his palms pressing into his nails. "I don't need your approval," he said quietly, his voice trembling yet laced with defiance.

The crowd erupted into a mix of cheers and jeers, the polarity of their opinions creating a storm of emotion. Kael's sharp voice cut through the din, dripping with derision. "He's delusional. This is where he gets crushed."

Before Ragnar could respond, another figure moved. Selene Veylinor's bare feet barely made a sound as she stepped between Ragnar and Eren, her movements fluid and deliberate. The druidess stood tall, her slender frame radiating quiet strength, the soft glow of her silver hair reflecting the shimmering pools of mana around them. Her violet eyes, usually serene, now burned with a resolute fire as she fixed Ragnar with a pointed gaze.

"Enough," Selene said, her voice calm but firm, like the first crack of ice on a winter morning.

Ragnar stopped mid-step, his expression shifting from cold determination to mild surprise. The crowd hushed, their collective breath held as Selene continued, her tone unwavering. "Three against one? Against someone without magic? That's not competition—it's cowardice."
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The bronzed man scowled, electricity crackling around his gauntlets as his frustration bubbled over. "Stay out of this, Selene. He's dead weight."

Selene turned her gaze to him, her expression impassive but carrying an unmistakable undercurrent of disdain. "If you're so powerful, prove it against someone who can fight back."

The woman with the daggers narrowed her amber eyes, her grin fading. "You're defending him? Why?"

Selene's gaze flicked briefly to Eren before returning to the others. Her voice softened but remained resolute. "Because I won't stand by while the strong prey on the weak."

Her words struck like a bolt of lightning. The crowd erupted into a cacophony of reactions—some cheering her courage, others, like Kael, scoffing loudly. Eren, still standing behind her, felt a wave of conflicting emotions. Relief, gratitude, and a strange sense of shame warred within him. He took a hesitant step forward, his voice low but steady. "Thank you… but I don't need your help. I can handle this."

Selene turned to him, her violet eyes narrowing slightly as a faint frown tugged at her lips. "Do you think I'm doing this for you?" she asked, her tone carrying a touch of sharpness. Her elegant features softened into a look of exasperation, though her gaze remained piercing. "Don't flatter yourself. If I wanted to help you, I'd give you a fighting chance—not a shield."

Eren blinked, taken aback. "Then… why?"

Selene's expression hardened, her posture straightening as she crossed her arms. "Because I refuse to let them indulge their arrogance at someone else's expense." Her gaze bore into him, unwavering. "If you're truly capable of handling this, then prove it. But don't misunderstand—I'm not here to save you."

Eren nodded slowly, swallowing hard. Her words stung, but they also lit a spark of determination within him. His hands unclenched, his posture relaxing slightly as he met her gaze. "I will."

Selene said nothing more, turning her attention back to Ragnar and his companions. Her stance shifted subtly, her weight balanced on the balls of her feet, ready to react at a moment's notice. The air between them crackled with tension, and for the first time, Ragnar hesitated. His pale green eyes flickered with an emotion that might have been respect, though his jaw tightened in frustration.

The bronzed man growled, his gauntlets sparking violently. "This is a waste of time."

"Then leave," Selene replied coolly, her voice like a blade's edge.