The waters under her domain began to expand exponentially morphing from a defensive aquatic barrier to a devastating maelstrom of cacophony enveloping the entirety of the arena in its fury threatening to devastate everyone present. Kilik though struggling to maintain control managed to at the very least direct the full force of her tidal attack in Qalen’s direction bringing down upon the deadly force of her primordial fury.
Qalen's eyes widened in mixture of horror and awe as he realized the true extent of Kilik's suppressed potential. Poised defensively atop his weathered stone pillar, he raised his arms to shield himself. But it was futile. Kilik's unleashed torrent of power was cataclysmic, roaring through the air with the force of the sea itself. Qalen could tell she was strong, but he didn't think his opponent was suppressing the ability to conjure tidal waves! The force was merciless, stripping the flesh from his bones like a deadly acid. In seconds, he was washed away like debris by the sudden tsunami and tossed violently onto the earth barely clinging to consciousness.
”..oh my..” Delion murmured as he watched from the safety of the spectators' seats. Kilik's tsunami did more than simply bring her battle between her and Qalen to an end, but her deadly tidal wave managed to affect every combatant within the arena. The massive wall of water surged, sweeping away the warriors like leaves in a storm. Delion remained safe of course at his distance, but he couldn't keep himself from rising out of his seat in a fevered sweat. His face amazed.. then incredibly calculated.
Soon the deadly waters from Kilik's attack were drained into the fissures previously carved by Qalen's desperate defenses, leaving a haunting silence over the area. The battlefield was a grim tableau of survival, with drenched and battered bodies scattered amongst the debris. Qalen was out cold, Kilik also seemed unconscious.. and there were about five new dead bodies lying soaked and tattered on the floor of the arena.
”A rather dazzling display.” He projected, offering a standing ovation in honor of the remaining recruits as General Roux began his descent from the skies. He too had been intently observing the battle aptitude of their young warriors and how they adapted to their first real taste of combat. He studied their habits, predilections and weaknesses with his keen eyes. It didn't take nearly as long as he figured it would, even still the General managed to accrue a heft of valuable information. But that wasn't apparent from his stoic expression.
“And what did you think, General?” Delion roared from the stands.
“I’d even say some of them shined more than others, no?”
The Avian warrior did not reply. He was busy assessing the aftermath. He floated above the grounds as he counted the number of survivors, his countenance marred by a frown.
“Hmph. Only four?” His voice was a low growl of displeasure as his gaze stumbled upon Kilik. It was her unprecedented display of magical ability that decimated a potential legion of recruits, dawning them to a watery grave. Was this what Delion saw in her? Such raw power couldn't be ignored.. but it was her lack of restraint that he found deeply troubling. One most unacceptable within his ranks.
General Roux sharpened his gaze into contemplative slits as he sneered at Delion for. moment before returning his gaze to the unconscious recruits. So far, the foreigner seemed to be the paramount of this year's batch of new recruits.. and he wasn't sure whether or not that boded well for the Empire. She, along with her opponent lay unconscious following her final attack. Aside from them, Naii’ and Tur'on were the only other living recruits. Fortunately, both of them exhibited extraordinary technique.
“..a Joro, a Khor, a Vulqin, and an alien.” The General scoffed as he crossed his arms, in reference to this tiny batch of future soldiers. He wondered if the Emperor would host another exhibition for new recruits in light of such a light turn out. But then, the General thought.. perhaps such drastic measures wouldn't be needed if these four could be sculpted into the most formidable warriors B'halia had ever seen! His pride swelled with anticipation. He could already imagine their potential and what they could blossom into under his tutelage. And slowly, General Roux's apathy began to grow into something more. Something that coaxed a rare, ambitious smirk on his face.
“Very well.” He announced, tapping a button on his wrist plate that opened a line of communications to the headquarters of the military.
“Send a unit of Dryads immediately. And some able bodies to carry these weaklings out of my arena.” There were a total of five dead bodies; all of them had been drowned and mutilated by Kilik’ assault. The General barely paid them any mind as he hovered over their bodies en route to the surviving four. Already, he could see his vision taking shape. He cleared his gruff voice before he spoke again.
“As per the result of this trial, the leaders for the remaining two groups have been predetermined. Naii’ and Qalen. You two have shown the necessary mettle to insure victory for not only yourselves, but for those trusted to fight alongside you. All of you will meet with me again within three days. By then, I expect each of you to have healed your wounds and curbed your pride.” By the end of his speech, a dozen of Sylva Dryad Elves would have melded out of the ground itself. Immediately, they began to restore the Arena to its prior glory while others began healing the living recruits' terminal wounds before relocating them within the medical wing of the military’s HQ.