Chapter 569: Guilds That Performed Well
Time passed swiftly.
The elimination rounds of the Demon Hunting Ceremony progressed rapidly.
During this time, many guilds chose to forfeit.
After all, the referee seemed relentless, defeating opponents mercilessly.
Ordinary guilds lacked the confidence to pass the test.
Thanks to this, the competition moved quickly.
What was meant to take several days concluded in just one.
Among the hundreds of participating magic pattern guilds, forty-two guilds passed the competition.
Most barely cleared the test, but some performances stood out.
For instance, the six official branches of the Anti-Demon Agency shone brightly.
Jayne, Evergreen of the Magic Pattern guild, displayed astonishing strength.
Eve's Golden Sparkle, Thunder Ray, though not as dominant, performed admirably.
As for the other officials, Chasing the Light, backed by the Kingdom of Miracles, didn't fight alone.
Three members targeted one earth and stone doll each, swiftly concluding the battle.
The Shadow Demon of the Magic Pattern Guild, supported by South Blue's Dark Curtain, was led by Dorobetta, the Shadow Night Envoy, renowned in the magic pattern world.
Though Posadong was prepared, Dorobetta couldn't defeat the enemy in one strike.
Still, after battling for thirty seconds, the Shadow Night Envoy emerged victorious.
The Chaos Realm's rulers were led by their ace, the Gluttonous Girl, Guyli.
Others restrained the earth and stone dolls while Guyli used her light ball move, capable of devouring and decomposing anything it enveloped.
It was a challenging feat.
When Posadong's dolls were temporarily pinned by other magic pattern users, Guyli seized the moment, leaving a strong impression.
The Magic Alliance, backed by the North Blue New World Alliance, was led by its president, Doflamingo, the Beam of Destruction.
This guild also performed well.
Doflamingo, wielding powerful anger magic at mid-level A, combined with his destruction-attributed String-String Fruit abilities, was a force to be reckoned with.
His guild excelled, with Doflamingo personally destroying two of the three earth and stone dolls.
Beyond the Anti-Demon Agency's standout performances, other major guilds shone.
Tesoro, the Golden Emperor of the Money Worship Club, backed by Marine's Light and Shadow, and the Sword King of the Kendo Association, supported by his allies, performed admirably.
Guilds like Greedy Wolf, Sleeping Coffin, and Dawn also proved their worth.
Powerful magic pattern guilds were few.
In the current era of magic patterns, a surge of exceptional magic pattern users had emerged.
Such a concentration of talent in so short a time was unlikely to repeat.
This tied to the context and rhythm of the new era.
The growing spirituality of world consciousness amplified this trend.
Without external interference, rises and falls were the natural law of the times.
"Guhahahaha! The selection and knockout rounds of this Demon Hunting Ceremony have concluded." Morgans announced.
"The next stage will be revealed tomorrow." he added.
"Thank you to all the magic pattern guilds for their thrilling battles." he said.
"Dear viewers, this concludes today's Demon Hunting Ceremony." he declared.
"Join us again tomorrow!" he urged.
Morgans took the microphone and delivered his closing remarks with gusto.
A competition meant to span days had ended in one, promising an even more exciting showdown tomorrow.
This delighted Morgans.
Da da da!
The sun had set, casting fiery light and shadow.
People began leaving, chatting excitedly about the day's events.
Though many guilds forfeited, the battles of the forty-two that passed made the trip worthwhile.
With unknown events awaiting tomorrow, their enthusiasm was palpable.
The flourishing Magic Pattern Guilds would fuel discussions for days to come.
Da da da!
Outside the competition venue, seven figures in hooded gray cloaks, their faces concealed, moved away from the crowd toward a secluded spot.
A sudden cry halted them.
"Asara… is that you?" a voice called.
The mysterious figures turned around.
Seven other figures appeared before them.
Unlike them, these seven wore distinctive clothing and didn't hide their faces, standing tall and open.
"It's the Seven Flames of the Blazing Sun Sect!" one of the cloaked figures said in a teasing tone.
"Asara, do you know that guy? He seems quite excited!" he added.
"It's none of your business." Asara replied, stepping forward.
"You go ahead. I'll catch up later." he said.
"Is that really okay?" another figure asked.
"They're the Seven Flames. They're terrifying!" he teased.
"Stop talking nonsense. Do you want to die?" Asara snapped.
"How harsh, Asara!" the teasing figure retorted.
The leader, a young and calm voice, interrupted, "Enough, Os. Give Asara space to handle his matter. I trust he'll manage it well."
He turned and left.
The others glanced at Asara before following.
Watching his companions depart, Asara turned to the Seven Flames.
Geno, their leader, approached alone.
The other members whispered among themselves.
"Is it okay? Is that really Geno's old friend? Could it just be the same name?" one asked.
"The face is confirmed. Asara the Envy, one of the Seven Demons, that infamous group. Geno wouldn't mistake the face." another replied.
"So, those were the real Seven Demon Envoys?" a member said.
"They're dangerous!" another added with fear.
"Luckily, we're here now, or the risk of exposure would be high." someone noted.
The Seven Demon Envoys, originating from North Blue, were notorious in the magic pattern world.
Even those unfamiliar with magic pattern users knew their name.
Comprising the top demon envoys, they committed heinous acts.
Though only seven, below the guild standard of ten, they were recognized as a guild.
They were the strongest illegal magic pattern guild.
The Seven Flames, an elite combat unit of the Blazing Sun Sect, paled in comparison.
They were far less dangerous.
(End of this chapter)