Gardener of Eden

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Combat Competition

As the echoes of the Land Cultivation, Leyline Tuning & Resource Harvesting trial announcements faded across the arena, the massive central holographic displays shifted from warm golden forge-runes to a vibrant, pulsing crimson.

The arena announcers’ voices boomed across the colosseum, signaling the start of the Direct Combat Category, split into its respective sub-trials: Melee Combat and Ranged Combat.

With fifty percent of all participants facing immediate elimination, the tension in the stadium reached a fever pitch.

”Looks like it’s my turn to step into the ring,” Caelen said, rolling his shoulders as his name flashed on the roster display. He unclasped his silver-hilted blade, resting a hand on its pommel as he met the eyes of his squad mates.

”Show them what Squad 07 is made of,” Rowan said with a calm nod, adjusting his enchanted straw hat. ”Keep your pace steady.”

”Don’t leave any intact target dummies for the rest of them,” Barney grinned, giving Caelen a solid clap on the back that nearly rattled his pauldrons.

Caelen descended the stone ramp to the main combat floor, where heavy physical evaluation automata and shifting tactical barrier arrays were being prepped. As the trial signal flared red, Caelen moved like a flash of steel. Drawing his blade in one fluid motion, he engaged the high-density combat constructs with razor-sharp precision, weaving through flurry strikes and delivering devastating, mana-infused counter-cuts. His footwork was flawless, neutralizing high-threat targets in seconds flat.

When the horn sounded to signal the end of his bracket, the evaluators’ scores locked into the floating displays:

[MELEE COMBAT TRIAL - FINAL STANDINGS]

Rank: 5th Place – Caelen Thorne (Squad 07)

The stadium scoreboard flashed in recognition of his high efficiency and zero-damage combat run. Caelen sheathed his blade and made his way back up to Squad 07’s reserved seating, wiping a light bead of sweat from his brow.

”Top 5 in the entire melee bracket,” Seraphina said with an appreciative smirk as Caelen reached their row. ”Not bad at all, swordsman.”

”Clean execution,” Rowan praised, offering a fist bump. ”You didn’t give those evaluator constructs a single opening.”

”They were faster than expected,” Caelen replied with a disciplined smile, bumping Rowan’s fist. ”But keeping Squad 07 at the top of the leaderboards makes it worth every strike.”

Before the applause for the melee trial could settle, the arena floor shifted again. Shifting mechanical target grids, wind-simulation runes, and long-range moving targets rose from the stone terrain as the Ranged Combat Category began.

Mirei calmly stood up from her seat, pulling her composite longbow over her shoulder and checking her quiver of mana-tipped arrows.

”Your turn to shine, Mirei,” Barney said with a rumbling laugh. ”Hit ’em right between the eyes.”

Mirei gave a quiet nod, her face a mask of absolute concentration. She strode down to the marksman platform, taking her position as dynamic targets spawned at extreme ranges across the simulated wind field.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Mirei drew her bowstring. Her rhythm was terrifyingly consistent—draw, release, hit. Arrows whizzed through the air in rhythmic succession, piercing moving target cores through simulated gale-force winds and illusionary decoys. She executed rapid multi-target acquisitions with pinpoint accuracy, landing consecutive critical hits on high-tier moving targets.

As the final target shattered, the system tallied her speed, grouping tight-pattern accuracy, and armor-penetration metrics:

[RANGED COMBAT TRIAL - FINAL STANDINGS]

Rank: 7th Place – Mirei (Squad 07)

A chorus of cheers rippled through the stands as Mirei secured another top-tier finish for their squad. She unstrung her bow and walked back up the stone steps to the squad’s sector.

”Top 7 in ranged combat,” Seraphina noted, nodding approvingly. ”That precision under wind-disruption runes was textbook.”

”You made that look effortless,” Rowan said with a smirk, extending his hand for a fist bump.

Mirei let out a small breath, a rare, subtle smile breaking across her calm face as she bumped Rowan’s fist, followed by Barney and Caelen. ”The target arrays were predictable. But it’s good enough to keep us well above the elimination line.”

Barney let out a booming laugh, crossing his broad arms. ”With second place in forgecraft, top 5 in melee, and top 7 in ranged, Squad 07 is steamrolling this trial.”

Rowan adjusted his hat and looked over at the massive overall squad leaderboards floating over the colosseum, where Squad 07’s joint standing was rapidly climbing into elite territory. ”We’re setting the bar high. Let me and Seraphina keep that momentum going when the support and cultivation brackets open up.”

***

As the amber hues of dusk settled over the colosseum, signaling the official conclusion of the day’s Initial Competency Testing Trials, the echoing roars of the colosseum crowd finally began to fade. Squad 07 made their way down the grand stone promenade leading back toward their private residential quarters.

The squad was in high spirits following an exceptional showing across the board.

”Not a bad day’s work,” Barney grunted, rolling his broad shoulders with a satisfied grin as he unslung his heavy hammer. ”We didn’t just survive the fifty-percent elimination cut; we blew right past it.”

”We still have the remaining domain and cultivation evaluations coming up,” Rowan noted with a calm smirk, adjusting the brim of his enchanted straw hat as they walked. ”But today proved Squad 07 isn’t easy to displace.”

Before they could reach the private suite entrance, a sharp, metallic step echoed through the quiet archway ahead.

A tall figure stepped out from the shadows of the marble pillars, instantly drawing the squad’s tactical focus. The newcomer was clad in pristine, high-tier silver-and-gold plate armor embossed with the royal crest—a mark worn exclusively by the Sovereign’s Royal Guard. The knight’s mana pressure was formidable, controlled, and distinctly that of an elite Awakener.

Caelen’s hand instinctively rested near the pommel of his silver-hilted blade, while Mirei quietly shifted her bow into a comfortable carry grip.

”Stand easy, Cadets of Squad 07,” the Royal Guard commanded softly, his voice carrying a crisp, refined authority as he raised a gauntleted hand. He gave a respectful, formal bow toward Rowan and his teammates. ”I bring no hostility.”

Rowan gestured subtly for his squad to lower their guard, stepping forward as leader. ”Can we help you, sir?”

The Guard reached into his crimson mantle and withdrew a thick, parchment scroll bound with a gold-leaf silk ribbon and sealed with the heavy wax emblem of the Crown.

”His Highness, the Crown Prince, and Her Highness, the Youngest Princess, have been observing today’s trials from the royal box,” the Guard announced, extending the sealed document toward Rowan. ”They were thoroughly impressed by Squad 07’s tactical execution, combat metrics, and craft mastery. As such, you are cordially invited to attend a private dinner at the High Royal Pavilion this evening.”

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the royal seal. ”A royal invitation on the very first day of testing?” she murmured quietly to Rowan. ”That carries heavy political weight.”

”The Prince and Princess wish to extend their personal congratulations to your squad before the higher-tier layer trials commence,” the Guard added smoothly, ignoring the quiet chatter. ”An armored escort is prepared to guide you to the royal pavilion whenever you are ready.”

Barney let out a low whistle, looking at Rowan. ”Dinner with royal blood right after taking top ranks? Looks like our night just got a lot more interesting, squad leader.”

Rowan took the gold-sealed scroll, feeling the subtle, high-grade mana lingering within the parchment. He looked back at his teammates—each tired from a long day of trial battles, yet sharp and ready for whatever laid ahead.

”Inform Their Highnesses that Squad 07 accepts the invitation,” Rowan replied, meeting the Royal Guard’s gaze with steady composure. ”We will join them shortly.”