Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 3005: Visitor

The Dawnstar Colosseum thundered with life.

Tens of thousands of spectators filled the towering concentric tiers beneath the open sky, their cheers crashing against the ancient stone like relentless waves. The weekly Dawn Games were always one of the city’s greatest spectacles, drawing visitors from across the planet.

But today was different.

Today marked the tenth anniversary of the Immortal Gladiator School.

Exactly a decade earlier, a failing gladiator academy on the verge of bankruptcy had been rescued by the Earth faction. Renamed, rebuilt, and completely transformed, it had risen from obscurity to become the undisputed number one gladiator school in all of Dawnstar. To commemorate that extraordinary journey, this week’s games have been dedicated entirely to its honor.

High above the arena, overlooking the battlefield like a royal balcony, stood the grand VIP pavilion. Enchanted crystal barriers shimmered around its edges while luxurious seats overlooked every corner of the colosseum. Many influential figures had gathered for the occasion, yet three seats at the very center drew the greatest attention.

The first belonged to Minister Vayne, the newly appointed Magus Alliance official responsible for overseeing Dawnstar’s continued integration into Sector Thirteen.

The second was occupied by Marquess Roland, regent of the Red Dawn and the city’s steadfast protector.

The third belonged to Klea, vice leader of the Earth faction, who sat calmly with her three-year-old daughter resting in her arms. The little girl’s bright eyes wandered curiously across the roaring colosseum, seemingly fascinated by the spectacle unfolding below.

Below, the dwarf master of ceremonies raised an amplification artifact, and his booming voice echoed throughout the entire colosseum.

"WELCOME, CITIZENS OF DAWNSTAR... TO A VERY SPECIAL DAWN GAMES!"

The response shook the stadium.

Thousands of voices roared together until the stone beneath their feet seemed to vibrate.

"TODAY WE CELEBRATE TEN GLORIOUS YEARS OF THE IMMORTAL GLADIATOR SCHOOL!! LET’S WELCOME TODAY’S TRIBUTE!"

With a deafening groan, the colossal iron gates slowly parted.

Ten gladiators of the Immortal Gladiator School marched onto the bloodstained sands in perfect formation, armor gleaming beneath the afternoon sun.

Across from them, massive steel grates crashed open one after another as nine monstrous beasts burst from the underground holding pits, their savage roars shaking the arena.

While the crowd lost itself in the opening spectacle, a quieter conversation unfolded within the VIP pavilion.

Minister Vayne watched the battlefield with visible amusement as one of the towering white-furred beasts crashed through a stone barricade.

"Those are Frostback Ice Apes, aren’t they?" he asked. "Desolate-level beasts. Quite an extravagant choice for an exhibition match."

Klea smiled faintly before glancing toward the man seated beside her.

"We have the Marquess to thank for today’s entertainment."

Marquess Roland took a calm sip from his cup before answering in his usual steady manner.

"It was the least I could do to join the celebration."

His words were brief, deliberate, and as measured as the man himself.

Klea inclined her head.

"We’re the ones honored by your presence. The same goes for you, Minister. I hope your new posting to Dawnstar has been to your liking."

The minister laughed warmly.

"It certainly has. To be honest, I visited this city nearly twenty years ago." His eyes wandered across the bustling arena and the flourishing districts visible beyond the colosseum walls. "I can hardly believe it’s the same place. Dawnstar has changed beyond recognition."

"I’m glad to hear that," Klea replied, gently stroking the infant girl’s soft hair as she rested peacefully in her lap. "I look forward to many years of working together."

Below them, the final Frostback Ice Ape collapsed with a thunderous crash that sent dust billowing across the arena floor.

The Colosseum erupted into deafening applause as tens of thousands of spectators leaped to their feet.

The dwarf master of ceremonies raised his amplification artifact once more.

"THE BEASTS HAVE FALLEN! BUT THE TRUE GAMES HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN!"

A fresh wave of cheers answered him.

This was the event everyone had truly come to see.

The Immortal Gladiator School continues with rival gladiator schools sending forward their finest fighters for one-on-one duels before escalating into coordinated three-versus-three battles. As the day wore on, the matches grew increasingly spectacular until the crowd’s favorite event finally arrived—

A grand battle royale.

Ten gladiators of the Immortal School against thirty challengers across Dawnstar.

The clash exploded into motion.

Steel rang across the arena as disciplined formations met reckless aggression. Shields collided, blades flashed beneath the afternoon sun, and cultivators hurled one another across the sands in displays of strength and technique that drew thunderous applause from every corner of the colosseum.

Blood was spilled, as it always was.

But these were no longer the brutal spectacles of the past.

Under the city’s new administration, death inside the arena had long since been outlawed. Victory now came through surrender or unconsciousness rather than slaughter. Some traditionalists still complained that the games had lost their edge, yet the crowds had only grown larger with each passing year. The excitement remained every bit as intense, while the ordinary citizens could finally enjoy the spectacle without carrying the weight of needless death.

Then came the final event of the day.

The ten strongest gladiators of the Immortal Gladiator School stepped onto the arena floor, standing shoulder to shoulder as they prepared to accept open challenges from any Magus brave enough to test themselves against Dawnstar’s finest.

The moment one particular fighter emerged, the entire colosseum exploded.

"GLITA! GLITA! GLITA!"

The cheers became deafening.

Glita.

The Blue Wolf.

Over the past decade, she had become the face of the Immortal Gladiator School. Although she was not the strongest among its elite fighters, she was unquestionably its greatest star. Countless victories, an exciting fighting style, and a warm, approachable personality had made her the undisputed favorite of the Dawn Games.

She raised a hand toward the stands.

The response only grew louder.

"GLITA, YOU’RE THE BEST!"

"GLITA, I LOVE YOU!"

"GLITA, PLEASE BE THE MOTHER OF MY FUTURE CHILDREN!"

Even some of the visiting dignitaries couldn’t suppress their laughter.

Up in the VIP pavilion, Klea simply shook her head.

Somewhere over the past ten years, the arena had transformed from a place of blood and death into something that occasionally resembled an idol concert.

Still...

She had to admit Glita deserved every bit of the admiration.

Her ice wolf bloodline made every movement elegant without sacrificing ferocity. Her footwork flowed like water across the arena while frost gathered naturally around her, each technique painting brilliant ribbons of crystalline ice through the air. Every battle became both a duel and a performance, beautiful enough that many spectators came simply to watch her fight.

Combined with her striking appearance, it wasn’t uncommon for male challengers to actually be happy even after being defeated by her.

Glita made short work of her first opponent.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Each duel ended decisively, her breathing barely changing as another challenger was escorted from the arena.

She had just begun turning toward the waiting area when the massive entrance gates opened once again.

A lone muscular figure walked onto the sand.

He wore a simple iron mask that concealed part of his face.

His broad shoulders were wrapped in dark leather armor reinforced with steel plates, and resting across one shoulder was an enormous polearm axe whose blade alone was nearly as tall as an ordinary man. Every step he took left faint cracks spreading across the stone beneath his boots.

He stopped a dozen meters from Glita.

"I challenge you."

The relaxed atmosphere vanished almost instantly.

The audience fell noticeably quieter.

"Who is that?"

"He’d better not hurt our Ice Queen!"

The whispers spread rapidly before recognition began rippling through the more experienced cultivators.

"...Wait."

"That’s the Barbaric King."

"That slaughter axe... that’s definitely him...."

"You seriously don’t know him? He’s ranked among the Top 100 Rising Gladiators!"

Even several Grand Magus seated in the VIP section shifted their attention toward the arena.

Glita had already completed three matches.

By the rules, she was under no obligation to accept another challenge.

Yet instead of declining, she studied the masked man carefully; something about him interested her.

"Alright, I’ll fight you."

The crowd erupted once more, excitement reaching an entirely new level as the two warriors slowly walked toward the center of the arena, the distance between them shrinking one deliberate step at a time.

From the VIP pavilion, Klea watched the match with quiet interest.

Within moments, a knowing smile spread across her face.

The duel became chaotic almost immediately.

Glita’s frost-forged claws collided with a lightning-wreathed axe, ice meeting thunder in a relentless exchange that shook the arena. Every clash cracked the air like thunder, sending waves of sand exploding across the battlefield. Glita moved with her usual elegance, slipping through his guard with fluid footwork as torrents of ice surged from the ground, attempting to freeze his limbs in place.

Then the lightning changed.

Its brilliant blue glow darkened, crackling with a heavier, more ominous energy. Black arcs began dancing through the storm surrounding his axe, and the masked warrior’s next swing erupted into a devastating wave of force that tore across the arena.

BOOM!

The blast shattered Glita’s frozen battlefield, sending shards of ice flying in every direction. She was thrown from her feet, skidding dozens of meters across the sand before finally catching herself on one knee.

Her eyes widened.

"It’s really you!"

The duel continued for several more exchanges, but the outcome had already been decided.

When Glita finally lowered her guard and conceded defeat, the masked warrior planted his enormous axe into the arena floor before throwing back his head with a triumphant roar that echoed throughout the colosseum.

The reaction was immediate.

Some spectators cheered wildly at the stunning upset.

Many more answered with a chorus of loud, passionate boos from Glita’s fiercely loyal supporters.

When the match concluded, Klea quietly instructed one of the attendants to escort the mysterious challenger to the VIP pavilion.

A few moments later, the masked warrior climbed the steps and knelt respectfully before her.

"My respects to Master Klea"

He reached up and removed his mask.

The face beneath belonged to no stranger.

Kingrig.

The Mayan warrior of the Earth faction.

Recognition softened Klea’s expression.

"How is the master that you followed?" she asked. "Has he finally emerged from seclusion?"

Kingrig’s grin widened.

"He has."

Hundreds of miles away, on the peaceful outskirts of Neo Terra City, that same answer was about to announce itself.

A lone, muscular figure strode toward the city gates, each heavy step carrying an aura that made the surrounding spirit energy tremble.

The guards noticed him immediately.

Sentries rushed into position, hands gripping their weapons tightly, for the pressure rolling from the approaching stranger was unmistakable.

A Grand Magus.

The man stopped just beyond the city’s outer boundary.

Planting his feet firmly upon the earth, he raised his head toward the towering walls and spoke, his voice rolling across the plains like a distant war drum.

"I have come to challenge the lord of this city!"