Aies and Serra descended and reunited with the rest.

"Sigh... winning like this isn't really good. We don't have anyone cheering for us..."

Aies complained.

"It can't be helped. It was a good way of claiming victory. Here, we proved ourselves, be it technique, strength or cunning. It's enough."

Lilia consoled her.

"That's right. After this, that trick won't work again. Everyone would be on guard against that trick. So, the next fights would definitely be showy."

Seileen said.

"Well... If you ask me, their team didn't fight very well. Their team should be balanced... But why did only armored ones fight...?"

Serra asked.

"True... But, they couldn't possibly have cheated. Furthermore, their support should be well-balanced. Perhaps..."

Luisa thought of a possibility.

"Thought of something?"

They asked her.

"I think I get it. It's reserve members. Most likely, they do have a support but he was put into reserves. He just participated in the tests so they could pass the trials. It's not really a secret... This match-up is basically a kind where you can put any fighter's you wish to participate fight as they wish. They intended their support and marksman to pass the trials but their main fighters were coming along as reserved. The moment the trials concluded, they would be placed as reserved while those members who they intended to fight would join up."

Luisa explained.

"Oh... So that's how they only showed armored warriors to fight."

Seileen said in understanding.

"Well... That truly does not matter much. Let's return and rest. We should celebrate clearing our first battle with a victory!"

Lilia spoke.

After that, they returned to the house they rented and had a small celebration. They didn't go all out since they might need to fight tomorrow.

...............

Tomorrow, they discussed some tactics and match-ups to increase the chances of victory.

They didn't get called in to fight that day.

The next day, they did indeed have a match.

Fortunately, they were merely on the same level as the team they fought before.

The next days were also quite difficult.

They faced many teams but they didn't face any truly formidable team.

Serra didn't use any tricks similar to the trick he used against the first team or Lezner. He mainly used range attacks, made the ground frozen and difficult to approach him as he supported Aies in battle.

The battles were growing harder.

It showed that the weaker ones were eventually getting cleared out.

However... they didn't hit any iron plates and when the first phase of the tournament was cleared... they emerged victorious on all their battles. Given their record... They immediately got a good ranking. Given their total victory... They were placed at 13th. There were also 49 other teams. The one's there in the top were the same as they should be. However... Of the 10 teams expected to take their ranks... Two were eliminated early by two dark horses.

The Icepeak Team and the White Crow Team.

They didn't have much intel available on them.

They must've been some team hidden out there somewhere that decided to hide their abilities and train in silence until the tournament came out. Intel was gathered immediately on these two teams but no info about them was found. Be it their weapons, skills, sects, names and abilities were a mystery.

It was believed that they found a mysterious ruin that hid various techniques about those sects that once fought and waged war against the founder or even before that. Ruins of the old era that was filled with strife and war.

Also... Some rules were adapted and used for this new format.

The 50 teams are each given a ranking based on their performances. They can freely challenge teams only two ranks ahead of them. They cannot challenge teams below them.

Basically, Rank 16 can challenge Rank 15 or 14 but not Rank 17 or below. All teams challenged can only accept two battles per day. A team that challenged a team above them and lost cannot be challenged for a period of three days however, they can't issue any challenges for a week.

Each rank has a corresponding reward set to them. But all teams want the highest possible reward. Regardless, any rewards for any rank are quite a fortune in the eyes of any sect.

Supervisors will supervise and ensure that no violations take place.

All teams are given a month to fight it out and determine the final rankings.

It was time... for a great struggle for supremacy.

Who will be crowned as the overlords of their generation?