Immortal Ice Empress: Path to Vengeance

As the battle reached its intense apex, the whole arena vibrated with the energy released by the formidable combatants. Mira's narrowed eyes stared intently at Ryker as the atmosphere around them grew thick with tension.

Mira's breathing was labored, but her eyes burned with determination. She'd faced numerous tough foes in her lifetime, but Ryker was proving to be one of the toughest yet. Each attack she launched, he countered, and each of his strikes she managed to evade—barely.

Across the field, Nova was equally locked in her duel. Sweat dripped from her brow as she parried, struck, and maneuvered. 

The Immortal Sword Sect Elder seemed relentless, pushing her back at every turn. But with each move, Nova began to grow accustomed to such a high-level fight. She wasn't going to be easily defeated.

Amidst this, Aelina fought against the other Immortal Sword Sect Elder, but her focus was on Mira. Although the Elder was certainly powerful, she didn't need to allocate too much thought into battling him and treated it more like a warmup.

Back to the main showdown, Ryker's raw, physical prowess contrasted sharply with Mira's ethereal agility. With every lunge, swipe, and roar from him, she countered with her own set of moves—frosty blasts, electric jolts, and swift dodges. The white tiger, despite his injuries, was not yielding an inch.

Ryker's next move caught Mira off guard. Using his bulk, he feinted a lunge, then swiftly swiped at her with his other paw. Mira gasped, narrowly avoiding a direct hit, but the force knocked her off balance.

Seizing the moment, Ryker lunged again, hoping to end the battle. But just as it seemed it was over for Mira, a sharp, icy blast emanated from her, pushing Ryker back.

The burst of coldness radiated outward like a blizzard, covering the arena with a thin layer of frost. Ryker, taken by surprise, stumbled back, his white fur quickly covered in a layer of shimmering ice crystals. The entire audience held their collective breath as the temperature in the arena plummeted, turning the fervor of battle into an eerie, silent winter's night.

Mira, despite her momentary disarray, summoned her strength and used this frozen advantage. Drawing from the energies within, she conjured a series of massive ice spikes that shot toward Ryker with precision. The white tiger, though dazed, managed to deflect most of them, but a few found their mark, leaving minor cuts.

Ryker's growl echoed, a deep rumble of frustration and pain. The cold had slowed him momentarily, but his fiery determination still burned bright. Shaking off the frost, his eyes focused intensely on Mira, the pupils narrowing to predatory slits.

Not wasting a moment, Mira sent an electric wave across the frozen ground. It raced toward Ryker, illuminating the arena with its brilliant blue hue. 

But Ryker was ready. Using his immense strength, he leaped high into the air, avoiding the electric onslaught beneath him.

Mid-leap, Ryker transformed from predator to missile, aiming straight for Mira. It was a risky move, but they weren't getting anywhere at this rate. 

Mira, sensing the incoming danger, prepared another attack. But this time, Ryker was quicker. 

Just before she could release her energy, he landed heavily on her, pinning her to the ground.

The entire arena felt the impact, a shockwave of raw force and energy. The ice that had covered most of the ground cracked, causing the others to momentarily lose their balance.

But beneath the weight of the white tiger, something remarkable happened. 

Mira gathered her Qi at a single point within her body and began to glow as a radiant blue aura enveloped her. The ground around them cracked, and an immense force exploded outward.

With an intense flash, Ryker was thrown off Mira, and both combatants were separated by several meters.

Both warriors, now visibly battered, resumed their stance. Their injuries began to heal at a rapid rate, forcing them back into battle.

In a sudden burst of energy, Mira launched a series of rapid electric arcs laced with Yin Magma for an ultra-destructive attack.

Ryker anticipated this and moved around them, but every so often, one grazed him, leaving a sizzling mark on his fur that would sink further into his skin like acid.

Trying to press her advantage, Mira summoned a swirling vortex of ice and wind. It engulfed the white tiger, momentarily blinding him and cutting deep into his skin. But Ryker, through sheer physical strength, broke free from the tempest and lunged straight at Mira.

Despite her enhanced perception, she was unable to react in time and took the full force of his weight, once again falling backward with a heavy thud. The ground shook from the impact. 

Ryker, not wasting a second, prepared to deliver the final blow.

'Fuck! I shouldn't have done that!' She wanted to smack herself for creating something that blurred both his and her visibility and not keeping her Soul Sense active. She was so confident in herself that she didn't think such a slip-up would happen.

In fact, she was just beginning to get used to fighting in her Progenitor Form, as well as a Rank 10 beast, and wanted to use some more powerful attacks. 

Alas, it was too late for regrets. 

As Ryker's massive jaws descended towards Mira's vulnerable neck, time seemed to slow. The crowd gasped, and even Nova and the others, in the midst of their battles, glanced over in alarm. 

It was then that a shimmering ripple in the air appeared next to the lunging tiger. Emerging from this ripple was Aelina, with a sharp, gleaming blade in her hand. She struck with swift precision, and her blade found its mark, piercing the vulnerable area under Ryker's jaw and into his neck.

The weight of the massive tiger, combined with the force of his jump, brought him crashing down next to Mira. But his eyes, once filled with predatory focus, now carried the glaze of death.

He didn't even realize how he died or who killed him, as it all happened too fast. 

Immediately afterward, a barrier enveloped him, healing him, and teleported him out of the arena.

Aelina wiped the imaginary sweat and glanced at Mira with a mocking smile, "Thanks for being my bait. Fighting that guy would've been annoying even for me if you hadn't taken the brunt of the damage."

Mira's face fell when she heard that, and she nearly activated her black tail. Nearly.

'This bitch… Using me as bait?!' Mira's grip tightened around her scythe. She stared at Aelina and fought the urge to attack that stupid face, but she shoved that feeling down. 

'...I'll get you later.' She promised, but for now, they had work to do.

Without saying a word, Mira got up and rushed to the other girls. Aelina chuckled and followed. 

Mira joined the one who was having the most trouble, Seraphina, who fought against the Divine Weapons Sect Elder. 

As most of her abilities were either defensive, auxiliary, or support, she found it difficult to take on someone who was mostly offensive—especially someone as skilled as an Elder.

Seraphina, in her defensive stance, skillfully utilized her sword and shield combo.

Every blow from the Divine Weapons Sect Elder was deftly parried or absorbed by her shield, its watery aura acting as a cushion, dispersing the force of the blows.

However, the pressure was getting to her. The Elder's attacks came fast, a flurry of slashes and thrusts that left little room for error. He was adept at using the strengths of his sect's teachings, forcing Seraphina to constantly be on the defensive.

Just when it looked like the Elder was about to break through her defense, a jet of water erupted from Seraphina's shield, pushing him back several meters. Using this brief moment of respite, she channeled her Leviathan Bloodline.

The ground beneath them began to quake. From Seraphina's position, massive water tentacles, manifestations of her Leviathan power, erupted from a pool. 

Each tentacle was imbued with the dual energies of Water and Metal that thrashed and writhed, aiming for the Elder. These tentacles, while massive and powerful, also had a sheen of metal on them, making them harder to cut.

The Elder was taken by surprise but quickly regained his composure. Using his weapon, he started severing the tentacles. However, for each one he cut, two more seemed to emerge.

Mira, sensing an opening, quickly flanked the Elder. While Seraphina kept him busy with her Leviathan's tentacles, Mira charged her scythe with a powerful electric arc. With a swift swing, she aimed at the Elder, hoping to land a debilitating strike.

The Elder, sensing the incoming threat, deftly maneuvered between the tentacles, avoiding Mira's strike. But this move made him vulnerable to Seraphina's sword. With a swift, upward slash, she cut open the Elder's chest. 

Mira took advantage of this opportunity and swept her scythe in a long arc, cutting through his neck only to be stopped halfway. The Elder could only watch in anger, resentment, and unwilling acceptance before he was thrown out.

Seraphina and Mira looked at each other, nodded, and rushed over to help the others. 

With two of their enemies out of the way and Mira, Seraphina, and Aelina on the loose, they were able to make quick work of the rest of their opponents. 

Mira and Aelina were just too strong. One could teleport at will, while the other ran around smashing people with brute force. After Ryker died, it was hardly much of a battle for them.

A few minutes later, all 7 enemies were thrown out of the arena. 

"Congratulations on entering the final stage." The ancient voice said, and suddenly, a force wrapped around their bodies, and they were teleported out, too.