The Monarch-Chapter 540: Battle of areas[1]

Merry Christmas my dear readers

The time they had spent in the other world now seemed meaningless, as everyone here appeared to have arrived at the same moment. Most likely, a small temporal dilation spell had resolved that issue.

"Welcome, everyone. The ten strongest mages will be selected for the next stages. The last ten standing will earn the right to progress in our tournament," announced a voice. The instructions were straightforward—this was simply a war among the strongest mages in the sector.

Kayden watched as hundreds of spells were launched almost instantly. Many of these mages possessed the power to destroy entire planets with a mere flick of their fingers. It was then that Kayden truly grasped how far he had evolved. Among the chaos of spells being cast, not a single one posed even the slightest threat to him. His mana shield wouldn’t even budge against their efforts.

"Once we reach the top, it’s hard to find anyone on our level," Netero remarked, observing the battle unfolding below them.

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"Indeed. It’s like watching children pretend to fight," Kayden replied, his tone indifferent. He had no intention of joining the fray. His plan was simple: wait until the others eliminated each other, then defeat the last remaining mage to secure the tenth position. He could easily annihilate everyone in the arena, but that would be disrespectful to the event’s organizers.

As time passed, the weaker mages fell in the initial hours of battle. However, those with real power lasted for days, even weeks, without showing signs of fatigue. Kayden continued to wait, observing and studying everything he could. Occasionally, he intervened to assist a few mages who displayed unique abilities, ensuring they had a chance to showcase their potential.

After three weeks, only ten mages remained standing. Without hesitation, Kayden eliminated one of them with a simple lightning attack. It was so swift and overwhelming that the target didn’t even have a chance to defend themselves. The mage was utterly obliterated, leaving no trace behind.

The remaining nine mages froze, their eyes scanning the battlefield in confusion. None of them understood what had just happened, but when they saw Kayden hovering in the air, they fell silent.

This wasn’t a stealth attack. It was a blatant display of power so overwhelming that none of them could even comprehend the event, let alone counter it. The nine survivors realized they were only alive because Kayden hadn’t chosen them as his target.

Before anyone could utter a word, the world shifted again. They found themselves standing on another plain, similar to the first. However, this time, an enormous river split the terrain, separating two large groups of mages. On one side stood the hundred strongest mages from one sector, and on the other, another hundred mages from a different sector. It didn’t take a genius to deduce what was coming: a team battle.

"Congratulations to all who have reached this stage. The second phase begins now—a simple battle of one hundred versus one hundred. Anything is permitted," the heavens proclaimed, their booming voice confirming everyone’s suspicions. "Each team has one month to establish leadership and devise strategies."

With that, the event officially commenced. Almost immediately, the mages in the area began to radiate their auras, asserting their presence and dominance. None of them were timid kittens—they were apex predators. The only one who did nothing was Kayden, who merely observed the unfolding situation.

"I will take leadership," declared one of the mages who had already proven their worth in the earlier challenge. The other eighty-nine mages readily accepted his claim. The remaining ten, who were new additions to the group, had no choice but to follow suit. Of course, there was one exception: Kayden. He could have wiped out every mage present without breaking a sweat, but he chose to remain silent, allowing the group to proceed with their plans.

Kayden had no intention of involving himself unless absolutely necessary. He would only intervene if his team was on the brink of defeat. That seemed like the proper course of action, ensuring that power and rewards didn’t fall into the hands of fools who didn’t deserve them. The heavens were watching everything, and even those who lost had chances of receiving rewards later.

Netero remained with Kayden, both of them floating invisibly above the battlefield. The higher Kayden ascended in power, the less he concerned himself with the affairs of mortals. At this moment, he was merely a passive observer. Meanwhile, the mages below erected defensive runes and support structures across the area. Kayden had to admit, the chosen leader was a highly competent individual.

The man conducted dozens of training sessions to assess the strengths of every mage. While the eighty-nine he had brought with him were already well-known, they still needed to be refined and integrated with the remaining nine. The group’s overall strength was immense, but their ability to work as a team was laughably poor. However, the fear of the demigods was enough to compel them into cooperation.

The central zone boasted the highest concentration of demigods, who had chosen this group to lead. These mortals were the pinnacle of their kind, meticulously trained by the demigods themselves.

On the other side, things were starkly different. Leadership had been seized by a group of ten mages, resulting in complete disarray. There was no strong leader among them, and the ninety other mages had no familiarity or camaraderie with one another. This was shaping up to be a technical massacre.

It didn’t take long for the central zone team to notice the absence of one mage among their ranks. Kayden was nowhere to be found, and no one could locate him. Those who had witnessed his power during the previous challenge remained silent, unwilling to stir the hornet’s nest.

"The battle of the zones begins now. Good luck to all!" After a month of preparation, the heavens declared the event underway. For a few minutes, neither side made a move, both awaiting orders from their respective leaders.

The opposing zone, identified as Zone 12, had undergone a leadership change just a few years prior. Their current demigod leader was notoriously negligent, exploiting the zone’s resources while leaving its governance to mortals.