The countdown began, and both competitors braced themselves for action. Around Allen, tiny streams of water began to swirl, tracing intricate patterns in the air. Uriel, by contrast, remained perfectly still, his body seeming to merge with the earth itself, his eyes the only hint of movement his left eye glowing a deep earthy yellow, his right a vibrant forest green, alternating with each heartbeat.
"Three, two, one… Begin!"
The system's announcement rang out, and Allen moved immediately. His motions were fluid and elegant, as if guided by an invisible current. Hands slicing through the air, he condensed the moisture around him into dozens of narrow water streams.
"Water Law: Convergence of a Thousand Streams!"
The streams rapidly coalesced into a massive dragon of water, roaring as it surged toward Uriel. Its speed was breathtaking, its force enough to launch any ordinary warrior across the arena.
Yet Uriel did not flinch. Just as the water dragon was about to strike, he finally reacted, planting his right foot heavily on the ground.
"Earth Law: Barrier of the Land."
Uriel's voice rumbled low and commanding, like an ancient beast's growl. As the words fell, the ground beneath him erupted, forming a towering earthen wall several meters thick, halting the water dragon entirely. Water splashed violently against it, yet the wall remained unmoved.
"Impeccable control," Roland commented. "He didn't simply raise the ground. He rearranged the rocks and minerals beneath the surface, forming a unique structure that absorbs impact to the maximum."
Allen, undeterred, adjusted his strategy. Hands forming a precise seal, he invoked, "Water Law: Stone-Piercing Torrent."
The streams of water on the ground began to surge with a newfound intensity, seeping into the cracks of Uriel's earthen wall. Under the influence of the Water Law, these streams possessed extraordinary penetration, capable of piercing almost any substance.
Soon, fine fissures appeared across the wall, and water began to seep through. A glimmer of triumph sparked in Allen's eyes he believed he had found Uriel's weakness.
Uriel, however, merely curled the corner of his mouth into a faint, cold smile. Slowly, he raised his right hand, palm facing the wall.
"Wood Law: Life Sprouts."
To the astonishment of all, countless tiny roots burst from the fissures, absorbing every drop of water. The roots grew at a terrifying rate, soon blanketing the wall's surface, creating a hybrid barrier of earth and living vegetation.
"Impressive fusion of Wood and Earth!" Roland exclaimed. "He leveraged the life-giving properties of the Wood Law to enhance the defensive power of the Earth Law. The roots don't just absorb the water; they also reinforce the structure itself."
Allen hadn't anticipated this outcome, but as an experienced fighter, he quickly adjusted his tactics. He stepped back, crossing his hands in front of his chest, then spread them outward with force.
"Water Law: Domain of the Flow, Activate."
The arena itself shifted. Humidity spiked, and a thin layer of water spread across the ground. Allen had entered a higher-level application of the Water Law a Law Domain, reshaping the battlefield to favor himself.
"Within this domain, my Water Law attacks gain thirty percent more power, while your Earth and Wood Laws are suppressed," Allen declared with confidence. "Here, I am the master."
Uriel finally moved, stepping forward with each stride heavy and deliberate, like a mountain shifting across the land.
"Water can indeed suppress Earth and nourish Wood," Uriel said in a calm, resonant tone. "But you have overlooked one thing when Earth and Wood are combined, they give rise to an entirely new force."
He raised both hands simultaneously, left palm down, right palm up.
"Earth-Wood Law: Symbiosis of All Things."
The ground trembled, and countless vines burst forth from the soil. Unlike ordinary plants, these vines shimmered with alternating earthy yellow and forest green hues, radiating both raw life force and destructive energy.
To everyone's amazement, these vines were not hindered by Allen's Water Domain; instead, they seemed nourished by it, growing even more vigorously. Within moments, they sprawled across more than half the arena, drastically limiting Allen's mobility.
Allen's confident expression faltered. He had not expected his Water Domain to be turned against him.
"Earth-Wood Symbiosis is an extremely rare Law fusion," Roland explained, his eyes gleaming with professional awe. "It is not a simple stacking of two Laws. At the interface of Earth and Wood, it forms a completely new energy form Earth's solidity combined with Wood's vitality. Water, ironically, becomes the nourishing element for this new power."
"So Allen's domain actually bolstered Uriel's strength?" Rolf asked in astonishment.
Roland nodded. "Exactly. Uriel's understanding of the two Laws has reached an extraordinary level, allowing him to harmoniously fuse them."
Recognizing the unfavorable turn, Allen abandoned his domain, gathering all his energy for a decisive strike.
"Water Law: Thousand-Blade Ice Seal!"
Streams of water around him froze instantly into countless razor-sharp ice blades, forming a massive sphere that rained down on Uriel like a torrential hailstorm. Each blade was incredibly sharp and carried tremendous penetration a high-level Water Law attack.
Uriel did not retreat. His eyes blazed left earthy yellow, right forest green and an unshakable aura of authority emanated from him.
"Earth-Wood Law: Guardian of the Land!"
A remarkable transformation overtook Uriel. His skin hardened into rock-like armor, while thick wooden striations grew along his arms. He now appeared as a demigod forged from earth and wood.
Striding forward, he allowed the ice blades to strike him. To everyone's shock, the blades either shattered or ricocheted harmlessly upon contact, causing no significant damage.
"His defense is incredible," Kevin muttered, stunned into silence.
"This is the pinnacle of Law materialization," Roland explained, a trace of awe in his voice. "He has externalized his Law energy and perfectly fused it with his own body, achieving unity of Law and self a level extremely rare even among cosmic-tier warriors."
Uriel closed in on Allen, leaving deep impressions in the ground with each step. Allen fell back continuously, unleashing all manner of Water Law attacks, but to Uriel, they were like raindrops striking stone, incapable of halting his advance.
Finally, Uriel stood before Allen, yet made no attack. He simply towered over him, looking down with quiet authority.
"Your mastery of the Water Law is impressive," Uriel said with a hint of admiration, "but in the face of absolute power, no amount of skill can overcome raw strength."
Allen, knowing he was defeated, forced a wry smile and raised his hand. "I yield."
"The winner is Uriel!" the system announced, echoing across the arena.
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the spectators. Though brief, the match had left a lasting impression; Uriel's mastery of dual Laws stunned everyone present.
"Unbelievable," Rolf whispered, eyes wide. "This is what a dual Law wielder can do?"
"Not just dual Laws," Roland corrected. "What sets him apart is his understanding of their fusion. Many can wield multiple Laws, but none can harmoniously merge them to achieve power beyond that of a single Law, like Uriel."
"Chances are we might face him in later matches," Kevin said gravely. "Can we even win against someone like that?"
Roland paused thoughtfully. "A one-on-one duel would be difficult, but we have our own advantages. Over the past few days, we've started mastering Law fusion techniques. While we still lag behind Uriel, we are moving in the right direction. If we optimize further before our matches, we might stand a chance."
For the rare time, Hong spoke. "The key is to find his weakness."
"Exactly," Roland agreed. "Even the strongest warrior has vulnerabilities. Uriel's dual Law fusion is powerful, but limited. From today's match, we saw that his style favors defensive counterattacks. His movement isn't particularly fast. If we can disrupt his rhythm, we might find a breakthrough."
The four continued watching the remaining matches, but Uriel's performance lingered in their thoughts. Each was filled with a mix of anticipation and apprehension for their own upcoming battles.
After the final match of the day, the four returned to the lounge. Roland checked the schedule. "Tomorrow is our turn. Rolf goes second, Hong and I are in the afternoon, and Kevin is in the last match."
"Who is my opponent?" Rolf asked, a tinge of nervousness in his voice.
"Morte Davidson," Roland replied. "He's from the Purple Magnolia Empire, a prodigy of Fire Law. This will be challenging, as fire can melt metal, giving him a natural advantage against your Metal Law."
Rolf nodded, his expression turning serious. "I will give it my all. These past days of training have deepened my understanding of the Metal Law I hope I can put it to use."
"I believe you can," Kevin said, patting Rolf's shoulder. "Remember, you also have Master Roland's guidance on psychokinetic weapon use experience most would kill to have."
Rolf smiled. "I will put all our recent training into action."
Roland glanced at the clock. "That's enough for today. Tomorrow's matches are crucial. Rest well and stay at your best."
Each returned to their respective preparation rooms, readying themselves for the final day.
The following morning, the Virtual Universe Corporation arena buzzed with heightened excitement. Supporters from across the universes had claimed the best seats, eager for the day's spectacular duels. Remaining contestants were all top-tier prodigies, each match promising incredible spectacle.
Rolf sat alone in the semi-enclosed preparation zone. The walls were lined with energy stabilization devices, preventing interference during warm-up. In the center, comfortable chairs awaited, and Rolf occupied one, eyes closed, focusing on his inner state.
He wore a snug black combat suit, a golden belt around his waist studded with small blue crystals energy stabilizers to help regulate his Law flow. The Black-Patterned Blade rested across his lap, its subtle engravings catching the light.
His expression was calm, yet an aura of unwavering determination radiated from him. His opponent, Morte Davidson, the "Flame Magician" of the Purple Magnolia Empire, was famed for precision and versatility in Fire Law an incredibly challenging adversary for a Metal Law specialist like Rolf.
The preparation room door opened quietly. Roland entered, clad in his deep blue robe, exuding calm authority.
"How's your state?" he asked, moving beside Rolf.
Rolf opened his eyes, a faint confident smile playing on his lips. "Very good. I've already mapped out my strategy."
Roland nodded. "Morte's control of Fire Law is precise. He doesn't favor wide attacks but targets weak points with deadly accuracy. You'll need constant vigilance, especially when using Metal Law."
"I understand," Rolf replied seriously. "Fire melts metal that's natural. But I've been thinking… What is the essence of Metal Law? Is it merely controlling metal?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Roland's eyes, replaced swiftly by approval. "You're beginning to grasp its deeper nature. Every Law extends beyond surface abilities; it has an intrinsic essence. Understanding the essence of Metal Law is something you must experience in combat."
"I will," Rolf said firmly. "This match is not just for victory, but for a deeper understanding of Metal Law."
"Good mindset," Roland said, patting his shoulder. "Remember, the outcome matters less than the growth and insight you gain."
The preparation room's system chimed. "Contestant Rolf, please prepare. Your match begins in five minutes."
Rolf drew a deep breath, rose, and secured the Black-Patterned Blade in its sheath. "Time to go."
Roland nodded. "Kevin, Hong, and I will be in the stands cheering. Trust yourself you are ready."