Eldrin's eyes widened in shock. It couldn't be right? How could mana storms show up here at the endpoint?
Shit! He immediately became alert so as to not get caught up in one again. He did not want to have reached the endpoint only to be teleported to the beginning all over.
But the next moment, Eldrin realized that he had made the wrong assumption. This mana storm was clearly different.
Instead of acting like a typhoon and removing everything from sight, blasting its way through the landscape, this mana storm was more stationary.
Moreover, if one looked at it closely, then one could see something inside of this storm. Eldrin's eyes further widened in shock as this unusual mana storm finally started clearing up.
And from within a figure emerged.
"Prince Galanar!" Immediately one of the elven factions shouted in alarm.
From within the mana storm, the elf emerged unscathed and glowing. He looked startled a bit but he quickly regained his composure as a look of understanding crossed his face.
But the show was not over.
That was not the only pillar that lit up. Almost immediately a few other pillars lit up.
A total of eight pillars lit up in succession for everyone to see.
And just like the first one, from each of the mana pillars, elves emerged one after the other.
A few did not understand what was going on. But every major figure including Eldrin instantly figured out the situation. The elves emerging out of these mana pillars were no ordinary elves. They were the heaven chosens!
The revelation of the elves emerging from the mana pillars sent a ripple of excitement and awe through the gathered armies.
These were the elves with royal bloodlines who excelled in their respective empires, the elite of the elite, each possessing skills and powers far beyond the average warrior.
Their emergence signaled a turning point in the battle for the guardian's blessing.
Eldrin's heart raced as he assessed the situation.
The presence of these chosen ones drastically altered the dynamics of the battlefield. Each one of them was a powerhouse in their own right, capable of changing the course of the conflict with their unique abilities.
Prince Galanar, having emerged from the first pillar, stood tall and regal, his aura radiating power and confidence. He was the dark elf's chosen one, handpicked by the guardian. His eyes scanned the battlefield, taking in the chaos and the various factions vying for control.
Not too far from him was Prince Jian of the Verdant Empire emerging from another pillar. His presence was like a force of nature, his aura suffused with the life force of the forest. He stood with a serene demeanor, yet his eyes betrayed a sharpness, a readiness for the battle that lay ahead.
Then there was the ugly mug that Eldrin immediately recognized, Prince Thorazin of Stormshroud Empire. The guy was disgustingly talented. Why the hell was he here instead of being stuck back in the mystic realm?
Eldrin gritted his teeth. This was bad.
As each chosen one took their place on the battlefield, the atmosphere became electric with anticipation. There was a moment of silence as everyone's attention was drawn to these elves.
These were not mere participants in the guardian's trial. They were embodiments of their respective empires' hopes and dreams, each vying for the ultimate prize, especially because the big shots were currently sitting out the fight.
Eldrin quickly gathered his thoughts. "We need to be careful," he whispered to Elira and Lunaria. "These chosen ones are not to be underestimated. Each of them will have their own agenda, and their powers are formidable."
Before he finished talking, Prince Thorazin acted first as bolts of lightning crackled around him, his eyes scanning the battlefield with a predator's focus.
With a swift motion, he unleashed a storm of unruly bolts, targeting a nearby group of elves, the ones standing between him and the guardian.
The air buzzed with electricity, the scent of charred flesh filling the air. The battlefield momentarily lit up with the bright flashes of his attack, causing several combatants to momentarily stagger under the assault.
Not long after the next attack followed, releasing several tornadoes that crackled with raw power. The body count immediately skyrocketed. The blood bath had already begun!
Eldrin quickly moved out of the way. He did not plan on becoming part of this massacre. This was just the starting. The blessing ritual every year was pretty much a shit show of carnage and viscera.
Just as he moved, another big shot unleashed his attacks. This time it was the wind elf chosen Kohim.
The elf moved like a blur across the battlefield, his wind blades slicing through the ranks with lethal precision. The sound of his attacks was like a howling storm, relentless and unforgiving.
And unlike Thorazin, he did not show any interest in committing mass murder. He directly raced towards the guardian's trunk as fast as he could, only culling down those who stood in the path.
The other chosens also did not stand still. Everyone started making their own moves. Each and every single one of them seemed extremely confident as they unleashed their attacks without holding back, each attack seeped rich with the power of Dao.
Bodies continued to pile up one after the other. The armies could no longer handle the pressure given by the chosen ones. But this also did not continue for long. Soon, the eight arrived at the forefront of the battlefield, all eyeing each other.
They were clearly each other's biggest competition. So there was no point wasting their time in crushing weaklings. The eight all sprang into action at the same time.
And just like Eldrin predicted, at the last minute, three of them teamed up on one side, two teamed up on the other, leaving the remaining three all alone. Despite this situation, none of them looked nervous as if they had already expected something .
Mana swirled in the air, ready for the final battle to ensue when suddenly another two pillars of mana emerged out of nowhere.