Turquoise ripples danced across the vast pool, sunlight filtering through the academy's specially designed transparent dome, casting mottled light across the surface.
The glowing arena barriers shimmered with protective magic, keeping the combatants inside and the audience safe.
Every seat was filled. Apprentices of all levels packed the circular stands, their voices a rising tide of chatter.
For students who spent most of their days submerged in cold, ruthless training and dangerous experiments, the blood-soaked arena offered one of the few chances to unwind.
The annual gladiatorial feast of the Blood Arena always drew a massive crowd.
Some High Apprentices would even spend precious shards of magic stones for front-row seats, just to watch the brutal and dazzling spectacle.
At the center of the pool swam a lithe silver-haired mermaid, gliding with elegant ease.
Her long, sleek tail moved with refined grace, sending out flawless ripples, evidence of her extraordinary control.
Silver hair fanned out in the water like a cascade of silk. Her violet-red eyes watched her opponent with sharp focus.
Opposite her floated a massive, blue-skinned fishman, towering over three meters tall.
His upper body was armored in hardened scales, and his thick, powerful lower half ended in a tail with razor-sharp fins.
The size difference between the two was as stark as heaven and earth.
The fishman wielded a rusty trident, his grotesque face twisted in a snarl. Jagged fangs jutted out, and cruelty burned in his eyes.
This was no ordinary creature, it was a bioengineered weapon, a monstrous killer with bulging muscles and a bloodlust that radiated from every movement.
Each flick of its tail stirred up massive waves, hinting at terrifying strength.
"That fishman's a rare catch from the Dredgers," one Intermediate Apprentice explained to his companion with anticipation. "They say he can tear an adult demon shark in half under deep-sea pressure."
"I saw him eat a sea python in three bites last match. His owner paid hundreds of magic stone shards to buy him."
"What about the mermaid? Whose slave is she? She looks like a regular-blooded youngling," the other asked, puzzled.
"This looks like a complete mismatch. Like sending her to die."
"She belongs to Robb, one of the wizard reserve," the first apprentice replied in a hushed tone, reverence in his eyes.
"That's the alchemy genius who started as a six-star and became an Intermediate Apprentice in under a year. Rumor is, he saved this mermaid from death and raised her for less than six months."
He paused, then added mysteriously, "This looks one-sided, but insiders are betting on her. She already took down three opponents twice her size in earlier rounds."
At the referee's signal, the match began.
The fishman let out an earsplitting roar, shaking the water into waves as he charged at Daera like an arrow loosed from a bow.
His trident gleamed with deadly intent as it sliced through the water.
In that moment, their size difference became even more terrifying, his massive form cast a shadow that nearly engulfed her.
Any ordinary mermaid would've been skewered on the spot.
But Daera's eyes showed not a trace of fear, only a bone-chilling, cold smile.
Just as the trident was about to strike, her body twisted unnaturally, boneless and fluid, slipping past the deadly thrust with uncanny ease.
At the same time, she uttered a strange syllable, sending visible soundwaves rippling through the water.
"Hoh-laa~"
It sounded like an ancient tongue, laced with some mysterious allure.
"Huh?" The fishman hesitated, his movement slowed, a flash of confusion in his eyes.
Daera seized the moment, swimming into the pool's center and slowly circling him, drawing a perfect ring.
Her silver hair trailed behind her like a graceful ribbon, wrapping around the prey.
The fishman growled and shook off his daze, raising his trident again.
But this time, Daera didn't dodge, she surged forward.
To the audience's shock, she opened her arms as if inviting an embrace.
"She's insane!" someone cried from the stands. "She's going to get herself killed!"
But just as the trident neared her chest,
The water pulsed. Dozens of water spheres shot in from every direction, hammering into the fishman's joints and eyes.
Though they appeared soft, the spheres were tough as steel and laced with concentrated acid, causing a burning sting.
It was a well-planned move designed to impair movement and obscure vision.
The fishman howled in pain, his strike faltering.
He blinked furiously, trying to clear his eyes.
Daera closed in, but instead of attacking, she began to sing.
Her voice, like heavenly music, spread through the water with strange resonance.
Each note carried power, shaking the pool itself.
The crowd found themselves entranced, their minds drifting.
Some of the weaker-willed apprentices even swayed slightly, caught in a mild hypnotic trance.
This was no ordinary melody, it was the siren's unique "Singing" ability, directly affecting the listener's psyche.
In ancient tales, many ships met their doom this way, lured into rocks by the call, sailors leaping into the sea to be devoured.
"Incredible technique!"
"That's the legendary 'Siren Song'? I thought only adult sirens could use that!"
"It's a charm-type spell, but this is far beyond normal." A High Apprentice's eyes gleamed. "This level of sonic manipulation requires very pure blood. That little mermaid must've gone through some unique bloodline mutation."
The fishman slowed, eyes foggy.
Daera's song was like a web tightening around his mind, drawing him in.
His eyelids drooped, trident slipping from his grasp, sinking slowly.
He hovered between sleep and consciousness.
Daera leaned close and kept singing by his ear.
Her song was a venomous whisper, invading every corner of his being.
"She's no ordinary creature." Another High Apprentice muttered. "That 'Siren Song' is on par with advanced psychic magic. What kind of bloodline enhancement did Robb do to her?"
Just as the fishman was about to pass out, Daera changed.
She opened her mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and bit deep into the fishman's exposed neck.
"ARGH!" The fishman snapped awake, but too late.
Blood bloomed in the water like crimson clouds.
Her fangs sank deep, sucking life from his veins.
Her violet-red eyes gleamed with hunger, her pupils now slit like a beast's.
The audience gasped.
This seemingly innocent mermaid had turned terrifying.
The fishman thrashed, trying to shake her off.
But Daera clung tight, like a starving vampire, drawing every drop she could.
He rolled and spun, but his strength faded rapidly.
She bit with surgical precision, ripping away flesh with each bite.
And the water around her began to spin, forming a vortex.
Faster and faster it spun, soon engulfing the fishman.
Blood and flesh swirled inside like a scene from hell.
"Dear gods..." a spectator whispered, pale-faced.
"This is more like a deep-sea predator's ancestral form. What kind of blood experiment did Robb run on her?"
The fishman screamed one final time before being shredded in the vortex, his body compressed, broken, and devoured.
Silence gripped the arena.
Then a deafening cheer erupted.
In a world where power ruled, such a terrifying display of predation sparked both fear and admiration.
"The winner, Daera, battle slave of Apprentice Robb Reyne!"
At the highest point of the stands, several instructors whispered among themselves.
"This mermaid has potential," said a robed middle-aged man with neat hair.
"Her bloodline is very pure. She seems to absorb traits from her prey. Robb's bloodline modulation skills have advanced rapidly."
It was Solon Griffith himself. Since this was the last elimination round, and involved a slave of his favored student, he had made time to watch.
In the stands, a tall veiled girl sat quietly in the corner, holding a translucent crystal sphere that recorded the entire fight.
Robb hadn't come, occupied with other matters, so his student Layla was watching in his stead.
The crystal sphere in her hand, crafted by Robb, was engraved with complex recording runes, capturing not only visible events, but the energy and bloodline changes beneath.
While others saw the surface, Layla observed the flow of bloodline energy within Daera.
"The terrifying thing about her 'Glutton' talent," Layla whispered, "is that it absorbs all the best traits of her prey..."
Robb's prediction had been spot-on.
Inside the crystal, glowing energy markers moved in distinct patterns.
The fishman's deep-sea adaptation, strength, resilience, even partial water-element resistance, were all being absorbed and fused into Daera's bloodline.
This wasn't digestion, it was high-level bloodline assimilation and refinement.
Layla gently stroked the crystal, admiration blooming in her chest.
Her teacher's bloodline techniques were on another level, he had transformed a young mermaid in mere months.
"If I could master even a tenth of this, I'd be satisfied."
But she knew it would take a long journey.
The crowd dispersed, but Layla stayed behind to collect Daera.
"Sis Layla!"
Daera leapt from the pool, droplets shining in the sunlight.
"I won!"
She had already returned to her innocent girl-like demeanor, as if the savage predator from before never existed.
"Well done, Daera," Layla said softly, handing her a towel. "The teacher will be proud."
Daera dried herself cheerfully. "That big guy wasn't even hard. Training with Master is much tougher! He gives me special 'food' after... and it's way tastier than that fishman!"
Layla smiled faintly, a flicker of pride in her heart.
Such was the product of Robb's workshop, always exceptional.
"Are we going home now?" Daera asked, eyes gleaming.
"I want to tell Master how I ate that guy!"
"Not yet."
Layla shook her head. "I need to certify as an Elementary Apprentice first."
"You're becoming an apprentice too? That's awesome!"
The tournament was supposed to happen a month ago but was delayed by the Oliver incident.
Most of the wizard reserve had research and tasks, so preliminary matches were usually overseen by assistants.
…
They walked the stone path outside the arena, heading for the central hall.
Autumn sunlight fell on them, adding rare warmth to the Black Mist Forest.
"Why didn't Master come?" Daera asked sulkily, pouting like a child. "I did so well..."
"He's preparing for something even more important," Layla replied gently. "Big plans for the future. He trusts you completely, that's why he let you fight alone."
Seeing her still pout, Layla patted her silver hair.
"If he didn't believe in you, he wouldn't have let you compete. That itself is proof of your strength."
Layla continued, "This was the final elimination round. You're through. Next is the beast melee, all remaining slaves will face magical creatures selected by the wizards."
Daera nodded, eyes flashing.
Layla had noticed that whenever battle or hunting was mentioned, the mermaid's pupils subtly narrowed, a predator's instinct surfacing.
"In the melee, be careful. Others may team up against you."
She paused.
"After that, the top four will enter the finals. Most instructors will be watching personally by then."
Daera's eyes lit up. "Is the 'Substitute Puppet' the prize for the winner? Master really wants that!"
"Yes," Layla confirmed, thoughtful. "The coming fights will be harder, but with what you showed today, I believe you can make it."
Daera grinned, her small white teeth looking harmless, though Layla knew they could become fearsome weapons in combat.
In the crowded central hall, Layla led Daera through the noise to the registry.
They queued briefly, then a kind-faced female registrar greeted them.
Her gaze was sharp but warm, clearly experienced.
"Name?" she asked, quill poised.
"Layla, from Robb Reyne's workshop," she replied respectfully, heart pounding.
The registrar's brow lifted. "Robb Reyne? The wizard reserve alchemy genius?"
Layla nodded slightly, both nervous and proud.
That name carried weight now.
"Interesting," the registrar said, examining Layla curiously.
Layla tensed.
She was led to a room and tested for spiritual strength, then the registrar flipped through a thick book, locating her name.
"Your aptitude test... Mid-tier five-star. Basic meditation, pass. Potion brewing, pass."
The woman nodded with slight approval. "You've been in Black Mist for... about six months?"
She gave a rare smile. "That's very good progress for a five-star candidate. Robb Reyne really does raise exceptional students."
Layla bowed her head humbly. "It's all thanks to my teacher."
"Interesting..." The woman's expression turned nostalgic.
"Robb Reyne came here with only six-star talent, yet became an Intermediate Apprentice in under a year. He made history."
She looked at Layla with meaning. "Now his student follows a similar path. Not as fast, but impressive nonetheless."
Layla listened quietly, emotions churning.
Being compared to Robb was an honor, but also pressure.
"There's still a long road ahead," she reminded herself. "I can't be blinded by early success."
Still, there was comfort in the registrar's words.
"Maybe someday, I really can stand beside him."
That thought took root in her heart.
Leaving the hall, Layla and Daera walked the path back to the workshop.
She touched the novice apprentice badge on her chest, a swirl of emotions rising.
"This is just the beginning. If I stop here, I'll never catch up to him."
…
Deep within the Black Mist Forest, inside an ancient tower, Robb sat upright before a silver-haired elder, Alchemist Thompson.
The air was thick with the scent of alchemical materials, ancient tools cluttered the room.
"You ask insightful questions," Thompson said, setting down a beaker, eyes gleaming.
"Combining exotic materials with energy-isolation layers... few apprentices explore such paths so early. You're onto something."