Is this really a Game?!

"Guess we should get comfortable," Shadow remarked, finding a spot to sit and watch the evolutions. "It might take a while."

Wolf nodded, settling beside him. "It\'s worth the wait, each of them will be a huge asset once they complete their evolution."

Minutes turned into hours as the three continued their transformation. The sun set behind the city walls, and the golden tree\'s light provided a warm glow that kept the area illuminated. Reign, standing vigil with the rest of his team, couldn\'t help but reflect on how far they had come.

From their early days of struggle and survival in the town, to now, leading a powerful faction that was respected and admired.

As the night wore on, the energy within the barrier began to stabilize. The intense glow started to dim, and the forms of Elijah, Neil, and Boggart became clearer. They stood tall and steady, the raw power of their evolutions evident in their postures and the energy radiating from them.

Elijah emerged first, his lean frame now exuding an even greater agility and sharpness. The swirling poison around him settled, coalescing into a concentrated aura that hinted at his enhanced abilities. He took a deep breath, his eyes shining with a new intensity.

Neil followed, his aura of nearly invisible energy now more controlled and focused. His presence seemed to push away everything around him with a subtle but undeniable force. He flexed his fingers, testing his newfound power, and gave a satisfied nod.

Boggart was the last to step forward. The mist that had surrounded him dissipated, revealing a figure that seemed almost ethereal. His form flickered slightly, as if he were part of the mist itself, blending seamlessly with the shadows. His eyes glowed faintly, filled with a newfound cunning and confidence.

That form only lasted a moment before he was back to his regular self, the power from the evolution removing itself and allowing them to be as they usually are.

Reign stepped forward, clapping his hands to draw their attention. "Congratulations, all of you."

"You\'ve made it to Tier VI, how do you feel?"

Elijah grinned, flexing his fingers and feeling the poison energy course through him. "Stronger, faster, it\'s like everything has clicked into place."

Neil nodded in agreement. "My control over my energy has improved drastically. I can already feel the potential for new techniques."

Boggart, always the quiet one, simply gave a thumbs-up, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

Reign smiled, clapping each of them on the shoulder. "You\'ve done well."

"Now, tell us about the place you were sent to, it sounds like an interesting experience."

"An arena, it was all done in a huge arena where millions of beings could be seen," Elijah said as his face showed apprehension, as well as slight worry.

"We had to battle many times, defeating our opponents before reaching the end of the challenge, where we each had to face an opponent of the same level who had an ability that was effective against ours."

"Till then, we had fought as a team as the system had brought the three of us together to face the challenge, but the final battle was done individually."

"Death was not true, that was what the system told us about the last 3 battles we had gone through, but had we died earlier, we would have truly been dead."

"The arena was brutal, I truly hope I won\'t have to go there again in the future," Neil said as even Boggart showed an expression of slight fear on his face.

"Boss … we … we were able to look at some battles, battles waged by those in the higher realms."

"Many who were in the Power Realm fought against one another, some had even reached the peak, becoming Tier X, and yet they still fought, eager to gain some rewards that the arena was handing out to those that managed to defeat enough opponents.

"We even spectated a couple of battles that were waged between Transcendents."

Reign\'s eyes, as well as the eyes of every single person present, widened upon hearing Neil\'s words.

"People who had reached the peak of the leveling realm battled there, and there were even Transcendents?"

"That is not all, there were even some places we were not allowed to go to, including larger arenas present in the compound we were in, we heard that one can even see Saints battling there."

"Wait, so it wasn\'t a single arena, but multiple?" Shadow asked as Boggart suddenly nodded his head.

"It was a huge building that was simply floating through the void, that is the place we were sent to, and the entire place served for entertainment, it was for people who wished to see others fight and die in the many arenas present there."

"An arena, huh?" Reign mused, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and concern. "That\'s a new one, I guess the system always finds ways to keep us on our toes."

Elijah nodded. "It was brutal, but we learned a lot. We saw techniques and strategies that we wouldn\'t have imagined otherwise. It was a harsh teacher, but effective."

Neil added, "The presence of Power Realm combatants and even Transcendents was humbling. It gave us a glimpse of what\'s out there, what we might face in the future."

Boggart, who rarely spoke more than a few words, simply said, "We\'ll be ready."

Reign placed a hand on Boggart\'s shoulder, appreciating the quiet confidence. "I know you will be."

"Let\'s take what we\'ve learned and use it to strengthen our faction, we need to prepare for whatever comes our way in the future."

The team dispersed, each member finding their own way to unwind and process the recent events. Greenie headed to the market, eager to replenish supplies and catch up with the local vendors. Shadow and Mia sought out the quieter parts of the town, where they could train and reflect in peace. Wolf and Beast, ever the duo, went to the training grounds to spar and exchange battle strategies.

Reign, however, decided to take a walk through the town. The streets were alive with activity, the people of Doncaster bustling about their evening routines. He greeted familiar faces and took in the sights and sounds of the town he had come to protect and cherish.

As he walked, he couldn\'t shake the feeling that something larger was looming on the horizon. The challenges they had faced so far were just the beginning. After all, the enemy they had faced this time was a being in the Power Realm, and even then, it was merely a clone that was much weaker than the true self of that entity.

For some reason, Reign doubted that this was the end of it, even though he knew that Cyrus\'s words were correct and that the entity would find nothing but its own death if it dared come close to Earth, he was still worried about it.

For some reason, even after the corruption was gone and they were given the rewards from the system after managing to complete their mission, he could not calm down. He felt as if they had missed something as if they missed an important clue somewhere along the way.

Just what could it be, why was his heart so restless when it came to what happened?

Then there was the presence of Power Realm combatants and Transcendents in the arena where Elijah, Neil, and Boggart were sent to. Their mere existence was a stark reminder of the vastness of the universe and the dangers that lay beyond their current understanding.

Reign\'s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter and music. He followed the noise to a lively tavern where many of the town\'s inhabitants had gathered to celebrate their return. The atmosphere was infectious, and Reign found himself drawn into the revelry.

"Reign, over here!"

Reign\'s face showed a temporary look of confusion as he immediately recognized the voice before glancing to the side and staring at Drayce, who was wearing a disguise that would fool absolutely nobody. .net

\'Don\'t worry, I allowed you to see me like this, nobody else can see through the disguise, only those I allow, like you.\' Drayce\'s voice echoed in Reign\'s head before he walked toward him.

\'You know, this is quite the coincidence, I was just about to head to you.\' Reign said telepathically as Drayce smirked at him.

"I know you were, I could sense your intentions a mile away." Drayce\'s voice was clear, even the sound of music and people talking was unable to cover it, but it seemed as if nobody in the tavern was able to see or hear either of the two.

"You know, those three just went through something interesting, something that reminded me of the challenge you gave us once." Reign said with a smirk as he sat down and stared into Drayce\'s eyes.