Chapter 563: The Gladiator Arena I

Just as a breeze, time flowed by, and three months later within the Sacred Divine Land, above a particularly elevated area, a crack materialized in the sky, radiantly lit without a sun, as there was no sun in this land filled with divine and spiritual energy.

Numerous figures, both old and young, dressed in cream-colored robes with a large gray sword intricately engraved on the chest of their garments, emerged from the crack and gazed down at the elevated area. Among them were men and women from various races, yet they all shared a common trait - an imposing aura.

The elderly man, with white hair and light blue eyes, leading the group, was enveloped in a brilliant white light, appearing to have transcended mortal limits and reached a state harmonizing with nature. Yet, despite his immense power, visible battle scars marked his exposed hands.

Similarly, all the individuals floating behind him also bore numerous scars on their bodies, evidence of the deadly conflicts they had endured in their lifetimes.

The elderly man with white hair gazed around at the land beneath him and felt an uncountable number of people scattered all around the vast elevated area. He heaved a deep sigh as he peered into the distance, observing the region in the Sacred Divine Land enveloped by pure dark energy, which was extending to engulf the divine and spiritual energy.

"What a pity..."

His blue eyes brightened briefly as he attempted to foresee if a war would indeed erupt in this land within the Gladiator Arena between the dark side led by the shadow generals and the many races participating in the Gladiator Arena. But he furrowed his brows when he saw nothing but countless threads of fate intertwined with death.

Whose threads they belonged to, he couldn't discern for some reason. But one thing was certain, thousands of people would perish in this Arena that he and the others behind him are about to open.

"I suppose this time we will witness many deaths in the Gladiator Arena."

The expressions on the faces of the numerous people behind him remained unchanged even after hearing him. They were already mentally prepared to witness a brutal spectacle this time, a bloodbath that would stain the platforms in the Gladiator Arena.

The elderly man gestured and waved his hand. Without delay, the many figures behind him scattered in different directions above the raised ground. As each of them encircled the elevated area like a bubble, a hidden barrier that had concealed the seemingly desolate space shattered, revealing a grand spectacle.

In the next second, many immense land pieces lifted into the air and began shaping themselves into towering walls engraved with ancient symbols encircling the expansive raised platform.

The symbols glistened and eagerly absorbed the divine and spiritual energy in the atmosphere. As the walls took form, elaborate statues representing powerful ancient rulers emerged from the walls at different points. A tall man's statue, representing the human race with strength and power, stood proudly next to a winged woman from the demi-human race. Close by, a dwarf's statue, holding a hammer, symbolized resilience and craftsmanship. Next to it was an elven woman's statue exuding grace and agility, holding a sword with a thin blade in her right hand.

Amongst them, a demon's statue was also present. The man was sitting lazily against the wall with a sinister grin, adding an air of mystery and danger. Lastly, in the midst of this grandeur, there was a stunning mer woman's statue. She wore a blindfold over her eyes, her hands lifted towards the sky, and a serene smile gracing her lips.

The statues, carved with exquisite detail from ancient stone, added a sense of history and reverence to the walls reaching the sky. Each figure seemed to tell a story of its race, standing as a testament to the diversity and legends of the past. Once the walls were established, numerous chairs crafted from sand emerged from the walls for the audience. Then, in the next moment, thousands of circular stages where the participants would battle each other materialized in the middle of the walls surrounding the huge ground.

The group of people dressed in robes hovering above the area, watching the scene, stayed unruffled since they had seen this scenario play out many times. The Gladiator Arena, a centennial event, was a familiar occurrence to them.

The elderly man with white hair and blue eyes, leading the group, descended upon the walls. He gazed at the walls, and under his gaze, numerous illusionary figures of men and women purely made of spiritual energy emerged from the walls glistening with ancient symbols.

The figures had different duties: firstly, to provide a nameplate to each person participating in the Gladiator Arena. The participants would then write their own name or whatever title represented them on that plate. Once they inscribed their names, the plate would vanish and integrate itself onto the back of their hands, automatically entering their names in the countless large floating projections lighting up the sky every passing second.

This plate would show the participants when to join a battle and their designated stage since each stage had a different number. It would disappear from the back of their hands when the participants are eliminated from the Gladiator Arena.

Secondly, the illusionary figures would oversee the floating stages where different participants would battle each other. As a result, some figures settled on the floating stage, while others positioned themselves in various locations before the walls.

The group of people clad in robes floating around the elderly man channeled their spiritual energy. All at once, a sphere of light shot towards the sky. As the ball of light reached the highest point in the sky, it erupted into flames that engulfed the sky before a resounding trumpet blast echoed throughout the entire Sacred Divine Land, signaling the commencement of the Gladiator Arena. Right after that, the three grand gates positioned in various directions amidst the towering walls lowered with a resounding noise to allow entry for all those eager to participate.

As the crimson flames lit up the sky above the towering walls and the trumpet blast resounded, every person in the Sacred Divine Land with some knowledge of the Gladiator Arena was alerted. Those close by hurried towards the Arena gates, while others, following their elders, also gathered to head to the Arena. Immediately, the sky was filled with many figures, all moving towards the same destination.

The elderly man in robe and the group around him positioned themselves above the chairs that materialized near the majestic mer woman's statue. They silently observed as the thousands of people eagerly waiting for the Gladiator Arena to open filled the space from each large gate. The atmosphere quickly intensified and buzzed with various sounds, yet everything remained orderly as the illusionary figures moved about, handing a nameplate to each participant and guiding those old elders not participating to the audience seats.