An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2300

“Stop making things worse!” Cyrus shot a glare at Alloy. “The Celestial Alliance has had its share of run-ins with the Mystic Arts Order over the years. If we’re talking about enemies, your guild is really the problem for them.”

“It’s just small fights. I’m sure Madam Penelope sees the bigger picture and isn’t worried,” Alloy replied with a sly smile.

Cyrus might have been stronger than Alloy, but when it came to quick comebacks, Alloy always won.

“Mr. Hadley, Mr. Marshall, you both seem cheerful today.”

A black sedan pulled up in front of them. An elderly woman with silver hair and a slight hunch emerged slowly, leaning on a cane shaped like a serpent.

This was Penelope Solace, the leader of the Mystic Arts Order. She had gained fame long before Alloy and Cyrus, becoming a respected figure in their world.

Even though she had spent many years in seclusion and rarely appeared in public, her reputation was just as powerful and intimidating as theirs. Her name inspired both respect and fear.

“Madam Penelope.” Kaden, their host, stood up first and nodded respectfully.

“It seems the Ancient Sage has passed the mantle to you. Good,” she said with a neutral look.

“Madam Penelope, it’s been a while! How have you been?” Alloy stood, nodded, and smiled warmly.

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Marshall. I’m still healthy and plan to be around for a few more years,” she replied calmly.

“That’s great to hear,” Alloy said, still smiling.

Penelope then looked at Cyrus, who remained stone-faced and didn’t greet her.

“Madam Penelope, please take a seat.” Kaden gestured politely, leading her to the chairs for viewing.

With that, the leaders of the three major guilds were finally gathered together.

“Grandma!” When Abigail saw Penelope, she rushed forward, excited to greet her.

crowd buzzed with excitement. Abigail felt a mix of nerves and anticipation as she made her way to the ring.

Penelope stood off to the side, watching her friend with a proud smile. The betting ring in the corner continued to operate quietly, with people focused on their bets while the matches were about to begin.

Abigail stayed low-key, knowing that with so many important people watching, she needed to avoid drawing too much attention. If she stood out too much, it could affect her performance and lead to losses she couldn’t afford.

“Abigail, I heard you’ve been busy at Sacred Wrym Summit lately. You must have made quite a bit of money, right?” Penelope asked, her smile widening.

“Not much. Just a bit,” Abigail replied, returning the grin.

“Making money is great, but don’t lose focus on today’s matches. We need the Mystic Arts Order to shine,” Penelope reminded her, still smiling.

“Don’t worry. I’ve trained hard, and I’m confident I’ll be in the top three,” Abigail assured her.

As long as she avoided facing Dustin in the early rounds, she felt confident that she could handle the other challengers easily.

“Great! I’m looking forward to it,” Penelope said with a nod.

Abigail had awakened the Phoenix bloodline and was now a rare Dark Phoenix. With the Mystic Arts Order’s legacy behind her, she was stronger than her peers. Penelope believed Abigail could finish in the top three, maybe even win first place.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s not waste any more time. The sooner we start, the sooner we can finish,” Cyrus said, cutting in.

“Since everyone’s excited, let’s begin the match!” Kaden added cheerfully. After receiving nods of agreement from Alloy and Penelope, he signaled to Oron.

Oron stepped into the center of the battle ring. “Today, 32 contestants will compete for a spot in the top 8. To make it fair, we’ll draw lots right here. All contestants, please come up to the battle ring!”

As he finished speaking, the crowd roared with anticipation. Abigail took a deep breath and prepared herself for the competition ahead.

The crowd erupted in loud applause.

As cheers filled the air, the top members from various guilds took the stage. Most of the 32 finalists were grandmasters, with a few still working towards that title. Each contestant had gone through tough screenings and showed incredible talent.

Simply put, any of these competitors would be a valuable addition to any guild.

“Grandma, I’ll go first,” Abigail said, before leaping into the air. She flew gracefully over a hundred feet and landed softly in the center of the battle ring.

The audience applauded her elegant entrance.

Abigail was stunning, with her flowing white hair giving her an almost magical appearance. She captivated many in the crowd. If she weren’t the Grand Sorceress of the Mystic Arts Order, she would have had countless admirers.

“Glenn, you’re up,” Cyrus said, glancing at him.

Glenn, who had been meditating, nodded. In an instant, he jumped a hundred feet into the air, landing in the battle ring with a loud thud that kicked up a huge cloud of dust.

The force of his landing sent spectators reeling, struggling to keep their balance. The sheer power of his entrance was so shocking that the audience scattered in surprise, too stunned to express their feelings.

“What a show-off!” Fenley scoffed.

He shook his body, and a towering, thirty-foot-tall figure appeared behind him. This figure was a blazing red, surrounded by an intense heat that radiated fury.

The striking sight instantly caught the attention of everyone in the crowd.

Fenley walked towards the ring with the Fire God figure looming behind him, making his entrance far more impressive than Glenn’s.