This matter was something Hayes took care to remind Nora about.
According to his investigation, the current administrator of the Dragonscale Bank in Sunken City had been transferred there abruptly over a decade ago. The man named Reno, once a rising star within Dragonscale Bank, was suddenly reassigned to such a remote location—a move that was certainly unusual.
Later, the major factions decided that the final battle would take place there.
It could only mean that Dragonscale Bank had its own plans. However, Hayes had found no concrete information about them.
Now, the sudden emergence of a woman named Imora left Hayes perplexed. He couldn’t even trace her origins; all he knew was that she had been chosen for the battle—and that she was immensely powerful.
“Perhaps… she is the only one who could pose a real threat to you.”
Although Hayes had confidence in Nora, the mysterious Imora made him deeply uneasy.
Nora merely nodded. She had little interest in her opponents. The only reason she was participating in this battle was because the headmaster had instructed her to. That was it.
She was also curious to see how her strength, honed over the past few years, compared to the prodigies of the major factions.
“I know you don’t feel much of an attachment to Karea Academy,” Hayes said, “but I hope you understand this: if you win this battle, all your past actions will be forgiven. No one will trouble you anymore. Your family, your friends, even your former academy will fall under Karea Academy’s protection. They’ll be safe. That’s my promise to you.”
Nora glanced at Hayes, nodding without a word.
She stifled a laugh. If the headmaster were here, she wondered, would Hayes dare speak with such arrogance?
The rules of the competition were clear: six participants, each scattered across five elemental fields.
Each field held a fragment of treasure, hidden and protected by a powerful spell beast.
The task was to defeat the spell beast and claim the treasure.
Afterward, participants could enter other fields to take treasures from others.
Ultimately, the one who fused all the fragments would be the victor.
Naturally, there was a catch: with six participants and only five fields, one person would be randomly assigned to a field with another.
This person could either cooperate with their fieldmate or eliminate them to take their place. Both strategies were allowed under the rules.
The five fields—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—each differed from the main world, with unique environmental laws that made crossing between fields a formidable challenge. It was a comprehensive test for the participants.
…
At Dragonscale Bank, Reno, Imora, and Elise were gathered in a room discussing the competitors.
“The other factions’ representatives are more or less predictable,” Reno said. “But Karea Academy… There’s no information at all about this Nora. It’s as if she appeared out of nowhere, completely disrupting our initial expectations.”
Indeed, the major factions often speculated about who would be chosen, as young geniuses tend to garner attention—unless they had been trained in secrecy.
Dragonscale Bank, for instance, had groomed Imora from a young age, much like Elise, though Imora was considered even more valuable.
Karea Academy, by contrast, recruited students from all over, and their talents were usually easy to discern. But this Nora, who had appeared so suddenly, had thrown their predictions into chaos. Reno had initially assumed that the academy’s candidate would be Gurei, the son of House Ponton’s head, but instead, they got Nora.
This uncertainty worried Reno. What if something unexpected happened?
“It doesn’t matter who they are,” Imora said with unshakable confidence. “They’ll all die at my hands.”
…
“Ina, I’m sure you’ll win! You’re the strongest!” Ina said with a look of adoration as she gazed at Garr.
But Garr ignored her, his expression serious and pensive. His thoughts lingered on the day Rose defeated him—her enormous sword breaking through his pride, blow by blow.
Still, Rose wasn’t affiliated with one of the five major factions, so he wasn’t afraid.
…
As the bells tolled, the
Battle for Dominance
officially began.
As Daniel had anticipated, the chosen participants entered the secret realm through various means. Nora found a door appear before her, and Hayes urged her to step through while reminding her to be cautious. Without hesitation, Nora crossed the threshold.
Simultaneously, the other participants also entered the realm.
In the viewing area, a central projection lit up, showing the status of the six participants. They had successfully entered the secret realm.
The projection revealed five distinct landscapes:
A battlefield littered with broken weapons.
Towering trees that blocked out the sun.
An endless icy plain.
A volcano filled with molten lava.
A vast desert swept by sandstorms.
Each of the six participants was assigned to a field, their images appearing on the screen for all to see.
When Elise saw one of the figures, she froze, utterly stunned.
“Who is this?” Elise asked quickly. “Which faction is she from?”
Elise had once thoroughly investigated Daniel and Crossbridge Academy, particularly after the transformative events in Riverside City and the Mistriver Realm.
During that incident, Daniel had trained five students: Rose, Reed, Green, Nina, and… Nora. The five had made such an impression that their names were still remembered by their peers.
And now, Elise was seeing something unbelievable: Nora, one of those five, had appeared in the
Battle for Dominance
.
Did this mean Daniel was aware of this battle? Or worse, that he was watching it unfold from somewhere?
..
Daniel observed the participants scattered across the fields:
In the
Fire Field
was Yesar from the Dawnlight Empire.
The
Metal Field
held Garr from the Sanctuary of Extension, who had previously clashed with Rose.
In the
Earth Field
was the enigmatic Imora from Dragonscale Bank.
The
Wood Field
featured two participants: Deguro from the Dark Empire, exuding a deathly aura, and Fedrick from the Cult of Calamity, radiating the power of curses. Read new chapters at empire
Lastly, in the
Water Field
, was Nora.
The
Water Field
was a world of snow and ice. As Nora entered, a bone-chilling cold greeted her. Despite her current strength, which rendered her immune to ordinary temperatures, the cold here managed to affect her.
“So this is what the headmaster meant by the ‘rules,'” Nora murmured. She reached out, catching a snowflake in her palm as it melted into water, sending a sharp chill through her hand.
The five fields were extremes of their respective elements—far removed from the main world. This singular focus made them unique, but it also confined them to their roles as part of a secret realm.
Nora’s task was clear: comprehend the field’s rules, master them, and perhaps even control them.