An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori (official version)

"Crystal, if you can advance to Group A and make it into the top ten, you'll be famous. Then, the guild will pour all their resources into your training," Miles said excitedly.

"I might have a chance to advance to Group A, but there's no way I can make it into the top ten." She shook her head.

She continued, "Most contestants in Group A are grandmasters. Who knows how many of the top ten are from the Heavenly Immortals list? With my current strength, I'm not even close to competing with those beasts.” Crystal knew her limits. Even if she were against an early-stage grandmaster, her chances of winning were slim. She knew competing with those beasts from the Heavenly Immortals was out of the question. After all, those who made it into that list were at least a late -stage grandmaster.

"Don't be discouraged. Not all the elites from the Heavenly Immortals list will be competing. We can still try our luck. "Miles chuckled.

There weren't many participants listed in the Heavenly Immortals in the Combat Tournament. Swere absent, while others had already fought in the earlier rounds.

After all, when two heavyweights clashed, swere bound to get hurt. Miles believed that the strongest contestants should fight each other first.

He knew they might have a shot to break into the top ten if they were lucky enough to face weaker or injured opponents. But these odds were slim.

"Let's do our best." Crystal didn't say much. She was in a good mood and wasn't looking for fame. Her main goal was to make friends in the tournament and broaden her horizons.

"Alicia, I'm sorry for letting the guild down." Aurora returned to her seat, looking dejected. As Alloy's daughter, losing to the Sword Union disciple was a blow to her pride.

"You did your best, so don't be too hard on yourself," Alicia said reassuringly.

"I was so close to winning," Aurora replied, frustrated. If only she were composed and less impulsive, she might have won.

"Winning and losing are just part of the journey. Don't get too hung up on it. Concentrate on your training, and you'll bounce back and win again," Alicia comforted her. She believed that with Aurora's talent, she would surpass Fenley and earn a spot on the Legendary List.

Aurora slowly clenched her fist. Her fighting spirit was ablaze. "I'll remember Crystal Wesley from the Sword Union. I'll defeat her next time. She vowed to reclaim her honor after the earlier encounter.

After the exciting match between the two beauties, the tournament continued to heat up. Renowned experts stepped into the battle ring one after another. Even the elites from major guilds showcased their unique skills. Every match was intense.

For many guilds, the tournament meant more than just victory or defeat. It represented their honor and prospects.

Winning would bring fame, attract disciples, and elevate the guild's prestige. Conversely, a loss could result in being overlooked and stuck in a downward spiral.

New talent was essential for any guild, as they would carry on the legacy passed down through generations. Therefore, achieving favorable results in the tournament was crucial for all participating guilds.

As a result, the top experts from each guild gave their best effort. They aimed to bring honor to their guild and establish their own reputations. Seven risked their lives in the process.

According to the tournament rules, the top 32 contestants would be determined that day. Group A had already filled 20 spots and left 12 places up for grabs among the contestants in Group B.

The matches were incredibly intense, with over 100 elite participants from Group B competing for those slots. As tpassed and the sun began to set, the matches finally neared the end. Dalen and Crystal successfully advanced to Group A, while the remaining ten spots were filled by other geniuses chosen from various guilds. "Congratulations to contestant number 15 on qualifying. Today's match is over. All qualified contestants, please get ready for tomorrow." With the referee's announcement, the day's event ended.

The top 32 contestants had been decided. Tomorrow's matches would reduce the field to eight. A new draw would decide the pairings since winning required luck and skill.

"With contestant number 15, our guild now has three members in the top 32. The future looks promising." Alicia sighed with relief.

She was glad that contestant number 15 was a Celestial Alliance disciple. Otherwise, her day wouldn't have ended well.

The Celestial Alliance had many disciples and was the top guild in Dragonmarsh. They had two guaranteed spots in the top 32-Fenley and Riley Grayson, the SuprElder's disciple. Since they were grandmasters, they could advance directly.

Yet, Alicia knew having these two wouldn't be enough. In Group B, the and Sword Union and the Mystic Arts! Order's disciple had also advanced to Group A. Without representatives from the Celestial Alliance, she knew they would likely be criticized. "It should have been four, alas." Aurora sighed, lost in thought.

If Brian hadn't betrayed the guild, he could've brought honor to the Celestial Alliance. Instead, his m ambition for the guildmaster's position led him to conspire with outsiders to harm Alicia. No matter how talented he was, he lacked true merit. "Dr. Rhys, you're also competing in Group A, right?" Alicia asked, suddenly turning to Dustin.

"Yes," he replied with a nod.

"Great!" Her eyes lit up. "Since you're consulting for the Celestial Alliance, can you compete under our guild's banner?" "Well..." Dustin paused, glancing thoughtfully at Grace next to him.

He joined the tournament mainly to help her find the Dracan essence. Fand such didn't matter much to him. After all, it depended on what she had in mind.

"Since you're their consultant, it makes sense to compete under their name," she said.

Dustin promptly agreed when Grace nodded.

"Great! It's settled then!" Alicia beamed. With that, the Celestialm Alliance secured another spot in the top 32: She felt they were finally getting their chance to shine.