"The 10 Greatest Rookie Teams"
The Trial by Mercy was not just a competition—it was a global event.
For many, this was a rite of passage.
For others, it was a declaration of dominance.
For 10 teams of elite Iron Seekers, this was everything.
Across the world, villages, towns, and cities tuned in, their only connection to the battle a single radio.
For some, it was pride—hearing their hometown warriors step onto the battlefield.
For others, it was hope—knowing that these rookies might one day stand against The Red Order, and the unknown horrors of the world.
But for the Seekers stepping into the Seeker Colosseum, this was personal.
They weren't here to survive.
They were here to ascend.
Each team had earned their place. Each warrior had fought through brutal trials, countless battles, and impossible odds to reach this moment.
Now?
They were here to claim their place in history.
1. Team Astral (The Rising Gods)
Region: Celestial Kingdoms of Helios
Specialty: Celestial, Gravity, and Light-based Muti
A team that should already be Bronze Seekers but declined promotion, choosing instead to prove themselves in the biggest spotlight.
• Leader: Kingu "The Dawnbringer" Zale (Master of Celestial Muti) – A warrior born under a celestial alignment, his body is charged with cosmic power.
• Eos "Starborn" Nylia (Advanced Aura + Elemental Muti) – A prodigy with the ability to harness raw starfire.
• Vael "Lightforged" Lunas (Advanced Gravity + Celestial Muti) – Uses Gravitum Muti to manipulate planetary forces, making himself untouchable.
• Solene "The Zenith" Ivaris (Master of Radiance Muti) – Her light constructs rival even the greatest of masters.
Their arrival sent shockwaves through the colosseum.
2. Team Obsidian (The Demon Killers)
Region: The Shadow Territories of Dravenmoor
Specialty: Abyssal, Shadow, and Ruin Muti
Trained to fight the horrors lurking beyond the known world, this team is ruthless, efficient, and merciless.
• Leader: Kieran "The Hollow Reaper" Duskbane (Master of Abyssal-Gravitum Muti) – His void-based techniques crush anything caught within them.
• Elyra "Specter" Vanth (Master of Spiritus + Ruin Muti) – A living nightmare, weaving in and out of existence itself.
• Varin "The Silent Blade" Holt (Advanced Martial + Shadow Muti) – A master assassin, untouched in close combat.
• Sable "Midnight Wraith" Orin (Master of Illusionary + Psychic Muti) – Can create entire battlefields of illusions, warping reality itself.
Their presence suffocated the arena.
3. Team Avalanche (The Stormborn Warriors)
Region: The Glacial Highlands of Frosthaven
Specialty: Cryo-Ferro, Ice, and Water Muti
A team born in the frozen wastelands, trained in the most unforgiving conditions known to man.
• Leader: Freya "Winter's Wrath" Isolde (Master of Cryo-Ferro Muti) – Can harden ice into unbreakable metal, forging weapons instantly.
• Bjorn "The Frozen Juggernaut" Torvald (Master of Glacial Martial Muti) – A living fortress, his body reinforced by frost-hardening techniques.
• Mira "Tidal Warden" Undine (Master of Elemental Water Muti) – Commands the battlefield like an ocean, her waves unstoppable.
• Sven "Frostfang" Kjell (Master of Vitalis-Cryo Muti) – Heals while simultaneously freezing his enemies, a relentless warrior.
Their breath alone chilled the air.
4. Team Vermillion (The Phoenix Pact)
Region: The Blazing Emirates of Zirael
Specialty: Fire, Plasma, and Heat-Based Muti
Warriors who have mastered the art of destruction, wielding flames hotter than the sun.
• Leader: Ashan "Infernal King" Raazi (Master of Solaris-Morphogenesis Muti) – Burns with the fury of a dying star.
• Alaia "The Red Lotus" Veyran (Master of Fire + Haemo-Illusionary Muti) – A living mirage, weaving deadly flames with illusion.
• Omar "Scorchblade" Hakim (Master of Flame Martial Muti) – Every movement generates fire, his strikes impossible to predict.
• Nasir "Solar Requiem" Ameer (Master of Plasma-Elemental Muti) – His plasma bolts pierce even the strongest defenses.
The heat from their bodies alone warped the air.
5. Team Zephyr (The Skyborne Knights)
Region: The Floating Isles of Aeonia
Specialty: Wind, Lightning, and Storm Muti
Warriors who live above the clouds, untethered from the earth itself.
• Leader: Orion "Stormforged" Zephyrus (Master of Tempest Muti) – A force of nature, his movements like a hurricane.
• Selene "Skyblade" Raine (Master of Flight + Lightning Martial Muti) – Faster than the eye can follow, her strikes are like thunder.
• Dante "The Thunder Saint" Vireo (Master of Electromagnetic Muti) – Controls energy fields with godlike precision.
• Iris "Windswept Mirage" Yuna (Master of Illusionary Air Muti) – Moves like a phantom, impossible to predict.
The wind itself followed them as they walked.
And 5 More…
The remaining five teams, each legendary in their own right, stepped forward, their names written in history before they even fought.
Each warrior was already famous in their home nations. Some had been offered higher ranks but declined, choosing instead to fight here, before the world.
And at the center of it all—
Kai, Aria, Rin, and Lila.
They weren't the most famous.
They weren't the most recognized.
But they had earned their place.
And soon?
The world would know their names.
The bracket was set.
The colosseum thundered with cheers.
And in the distance, above it all—
The planets slowly moved into alignment.
9:00 PM was coming.
Time: 7:13 PM
The colosseum erupted with energy as the announcer's voice boomed across the battlefield.
"AND NOW, THE FIRST MATCH OF THE TRIAL BY MERCY BEGINS!"
The massive golden display flickered, revealing the first two names.
Dante "The Thunder Saint" Vireo vs. Eos "Starborn" Nylia
A battle of storms and stars.
The crowd roared, excitement coursing through the entire stadium.
Two figures stepped forward, their names already known across the world.
The Combatants – Storm vs. Starlight
DANTE VIREO – THE THUNDER SAINT
• Region: The Floating Isles of Aeonia
• Muti Specialty: Electromagnetic Muti, Lightning Martial Muti
• Fighting Style: Lightning-speed close combat, electromagnetic control, absolute battlefield dominance.
Dante was born in the skies. Raised in the Floating Isles, where storms never ceased, where the wind shaped warriors, and where lightning became an extension of the soul.
His dream?
To become the fastest warrior alive. To push beyond the limits of sound, of light, of movement itself.
He cracked his knuckles, lightning dancing across his fingertips.
"I don't plan on holding back."
EOS NYLIA – THE STARBORN
• Region: Celestial Kingdoms of Helios
• Muti Specialty: Aura Muti, Celestial-Elemental Hybrid
• Fighting Style: Unbreakable defense, celestial firepower, absolute zone control.
Eos was blessed by the heavens. A child born beneath a rare cosmic alignment, her very soul infused with the fire of the stars.
Her goal?
To ascend beyond mortality. To become a beacon of power, an unshakable force of radiance.
She lifted her hand, and instantly, a golden aura flickered around her body.
"Show me what you've got, Thunder Saint."
The moment the signal was given, both warriors vanished.
BOOM!
A shockwave tore through the colosseum.
Dante appeared first, a bolt of living lightning, his foot already crashing toward Eos' head.
CLASH!
A barrier of celestial energy formed around Eos in an instant, blocking the strike.
Dante didn't stop.
He pivoted mid-air, spinning like a thunderstorm, sending a flurry of lightning-fast kicks.
Each one slammed into Eos' celestial shield, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
The crowd gasped—the speed, the intensity, the sheer force was already beyond what most expected.
Eos stood perfectly still, her golden aura expanding like a supernova.
"Celestial Bastion."
Her energy solidified, forming an impenetrable wall of light.
Dante's attacks slammed into it, sending waves of crackling energy through the air.
But they didn't break through.
Dante gritted his teeth. He had fought against barrier users before, but Eos wasn't just blocking.
She was absorbing.
"Not bad," she said calmly. "But defense alone won't win this for me."
She lifted her hands—
And the sky erupted with starlight.
"Event Horizon."
A massive golden sphere of energy formed above the battlefield, pulsing with celestial power.
The very air trembled as the sphere collapsed inward, creating a gravitational pull.
Dante felt it instantly. His movement—his greatest strength—was being restricted.
He snarled. "Oh hell no."
Dante focused.
Electricity surged through his veins.
His body glowed with raw energy, his muscles vibrating faster than humanly possible.
He wasn't going to be trapped.
He wasn't going to be slowed down.
He was going to break through.
"Thunder Step – Infinite Drive."
BOOM!
The battlefield shattered beneath him.
Dante vanished.
For a split second, he became pure electricity.
Then—he reappeared behind Eos.
Lightning surged through his fists.
"Raijin Impact!"
BANG!
A shockwave exploded outward as Dante's fist collided with Eos' celestial shield.
This time?
The shield cracked.
The crowd lost their minds.
Eos staggered back, her breathing sharp.
Her eyes narrowed.
"So you can break through…"
She exhaled.
Then, for the first time—
She smiled.
"Good."
Her golden aura blazed even brighter.
"Let's take it to the next level."
The air shifted.
The temperature rose.
Then—Eos stepped forward.
And in that instant—
She moved like the sun itself.
The Final Exchange – Thunder vs. Starlight
The battlefield became a blur of golden and electric light.
• Dante, moving at impossible speeds, striking with the force of a storm.
• Eos, weaving through the attacks, her celestial energy bending space around her.
They clashed again and again, their blows shaking the very foundation of the arena.
The crowd couldn't keep up.
The commentators were speechless.
Both warriors pulled back, preparing their final attack.
Dante charged everything he had into his fists.
Eos summoned the full power of her cosmic energy.
They launched at each other.
The moment their attacks collided—
THE ENTIRE STADIUM ERUPTED IN LIGHT.
BOOM!
When the dust settled, both warriors lay on the ground.
Both had fought past their limits.
Both had pushed beyond anything they thought possible.
The announcer stepped forward.
The crowd waited in silence.
Then—a single hand rose.
Dante stood, barely.
His entire body trembled, his breath ragged, his muscles still surging with the remnants of electricity. He could barely feel his legs, his arms numb from the insane overuse of his Muti.
But he was still standing.
Eos was not.
She was on one knee, her golden aura flickering, dimming, the aftermath of her final attack still sizzling in the air around her.
She had fought like a goddess.
She had nearly won.
But Dante had been just a little faster. Just a little hungrier.
"The winner of the first match…"
The announcer paused, letting the tension stretch.
"…DANTE 'THE THUNDER SAINT' VIREO!"
The stadium exploded.
Dante staggered backward, gasping, almost collapsing before he caught himself.
Eos, still kneeling, let out a slow, exhausted chuckle.
"Damn." She exhaled sharply, looking up at him. "I almost had you."
Dante smirked weakly. "Almost."
She smiled, shaking her head. "I won't lose next time."
Dante extended a shaky hand. "Then hurry up and get stronger."
Eos looked at it for a second, then grabbed it—a firm grip, solid respect between two warriors.
The crowd cheered louder.
This wasn't just a battle.
This was the start of a legendary rivalry.
Meanwhile – Kai's Team & The Truth About Lila's Mom
Up in the waiting area, Kai, Rin, Aria, and Lila sat together, watching the battle's aftermath.
Aria whistled. "Damn. If that's the level we're fighting at, we better step it up."
Rin nodded. "Dante is dangerous. But Eos? She might be even scarier."
Lila leaned forward, her hands glowing faintly with Vitalis Muti, deep in thought. "I can counter Eos' style… but Dante? He's impossible to track once he starts moving at full speed."
Kai, who had been silent up until now, smirked slightly. "You just have to be faster."
Aria raised an eyebrow. "You got a plan?"
Kai shrugged. "I don't know."
Rin rolled his eyes. "Of course."
Then—a new voice spoke from behind them.
"You kids are overthinking it."
They turned And saw Lalia 'The Water Demon' Butters, one of Master Elric's legendary students, standing casually behind them, sipping from a massive cup with an umbrella in it.
The four of them froze.
Kai and Aria instantly recognized her.
Rin's Viatra sharpened.
Lila…
Lila just sighed dramatically.
"Oh great. Here we go."
Aria blinked. "Wait. Wait." She pointed at Lalia. Then at Lila. Then back at Lalia. Then back at Lila.
"…No way."
Rin tilted his head. "You're related?"
Lila groaned. "Yes. This is my mother."
Kai, who had just taken a sip of his drink, choked violently.
"YOU'RE TELLING ME YOUR MOM IS ONE OF MASTER ELRIC'S STUDENTS?!"
Lila rubbed her temples. "Please don't make a big deal about it."
Aria's jaw was on the floor. "What the hell?! How did you not tell us this?!"
Rin shook his head. "This explains way too much."
Lalia just grinned. "She doesn't talk about me because she thinks I'm embarrassing."
Lila's eye twitched. "BECAUSE YOU ARE."
Kai, still recovering, looked between them. "…Water Demon Butters is your mom. Water Demon Butters is your mom. Water Demon Butters is your—"
Lila kicked him in the shin.
Aria still wasn't over it. "We've been training this whole time, trying to master Muti, trying to get stronger, and YOUR MOM IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST SEEKERS ALIVE?! What the hell, Lila?!"
Lalia just laughed. "Kids, you've got it all wrong."
She put an arm around Lila, who looked like she wanted to die.
"I'm not just her mom."
She grinned.
"I'm her first teacher."
Kai, Aria, and Rin lost their minds.
As the team continued processing this insane revelation, the next match was about to begin.
The Trial by Mercy was far from over.
Time: 7:45 PM
The roar of the colosseum was still echoing from the last match, but the tension hadn't faded. If anything—it had only grown.
The massive golden projection flickered, revealing the next fighters:
Nasir "Solar Modi" Ameer vs. Sable "Midnight Wraith" Orin
A battle of light and shadow.
The crowd roared again, excitement pulsing through the stadium as two figures stepped onto the battlefield.
The Combatants – Sand and Sun vs. Shadows and Illusions
NASIR "SOLAR MODI" AMEER
• Region: The Blazing Emirates of Zirael
• Muti Specialty: Plasma-Elemental Muti, Solar Infusion, Sandstorm Manipulation
• Fighting Style: Destructive area control, close-range heat-based combat, mid-range sandstorm manipulation.
Nasir was a force of nature.
Born in the endless sun-scorched deserts of Zirael, raised among warriors who fought beneath the blinding heat of the dunes, he had mastered the perfect fusion of elemental destruction and raw survival instinct.
His goal?
To be the most powerful warrior alive. To control the battlefield like the rising and setting of the sun.
As he stepped forward, the air around him shimmered, his very presence radiating heat. The sand beneath his feet trembled, shifting with his movements.
"I hope you don't mind a little heat."
SABLE "MIDNIGHT WRAITH" ORIN
• Region: The Shadow Territories of Dravenmoor
• Muti Specialty: Abyssal, Illusionary, Shadow Manipulation
• Fighting Style: Evasion-based combat, perception warping, teleportation, and mind-breaking illusions.
Sable was a ghost.
Raised in the eternal night of Dravenmoor, where the stars barely shone and the land swallowed the weak, she had become a living nightmare.
Her dream?
To be untouchable. To walk in the darkness so well that even the shadows feared her.
Her body was wrapped in flowing black robes, shifting like smoke, her face partially concealed by a half-mask of abyssal metal.
"I don't mind the heat." She smirked. "But I think you'll hate the dark."
The moment the battle started—
Nasir vanished.
A golden blur, moving faster than the eye could follow, his body glowing like a sun breaking the horizon.
He appeared above Sable, his hand blazing white-hot, already crashing down.
"SOLAR IMPACT!"
BOOM!
The entire battlefield erupted, sand blasting outward in a blinding wave of heat. The crowd gasped, some shielding their eyes as a golden explosion engulfed the arena.
But—something was wrong.
Nasir's eyes widened.
His fist had hit nothing.
Sable was gone.
A whisper of laughter.
Nasir whirled around—
A shadowy blade was already at his throat.
"You blinked."
SLASH!
A deep gash appeared across Nasir's shoulder, black mist still clinging to his wound.
He staggered, his sandstorm whipping around him wildly, but Sable was already gone again.
She didn't fight like a normal warrior.
She was everywhere and nowhere.
Her movements weren't human.
Illusions mixed with reality, each step blending into the shadows, each attack feeling like a ghost passing through him—until he felt the pain.
The crowd watched in awe.
Sable wasn't just dodging.
She was erasing her presence entirely.
Nasir growled, blood dripping from his arm.
"Enough of this."
He slammed his hands into the ground
"SUNSCORCH TOMB!"
The entire battlefield shifted.
The sandstorm around him thickened, expanding outward, swirling in a dome, trapping both of them inside.
The shadows disappeared.
For the first time, Sable had nowhere to run.
Nasir grinned. "Let's see how you fight when you can't hide."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
Then Sable moved.
She darted forward, faster than before, her Abyssal Muti warping the space around her.
Nasir charged straight at her.
Both warriors clashed in a flurry of movement.
• Sable's blades flickered like black lightning.
• Nasir's fists burned like miniature suns.
Each strike shattered the air.
Each movement was blurred from normal sight.
The arena trembled from the intensity of their battle.
The crowd was on their feet, screaming.
And then—the final blow landed.
The Winner Declared
A flash of golden light.
A rippling wave of shadows.
And then—
Sable collapsed.
Nasir stood above her, panting, bloodied, but still standing.
The announcer's voice boomed.
"AND THE WINNER OF THE SECOND MATCH—NASIR 'SOLAR MODI' AMEER!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Nasir exhaled slowly, looking down at Sable.
She opened one eye, smirking despite her defeat.
"Next time, I won't go easy."
Nasir grinned, holding out a hand. "Next time, I won't let you get the first hit."
Sable laughed, taking his hand.
The crowd roared again.
Another battle that would be remembered forever.
And up in the waiting area, Kai and his team watched closely.
Kai smirked. "This is only the beginning."
Rin's Viatra Eyes flickered. "I wonder if any of them realize… we haven't even shown what we can do yet."
Aria cracked her knuckles. "They will."
Lila exhaled, shaking her head. "You guys are insane."
Kai just smiled.
"Isn't that why we're here?"
The next battle was about to begin.
Time: 8:07 PM
The colosseum was electric with energy. The previous matches had already set an impossibly high bar, but this one?
This was personal.
The golden projection flickered, revealing the next battle:
Aria "Stormborn" Vale vs. Bjorn "The Frozen Juggernaut" Torvald
A battle between speed and power. Between lightning and ice.
The arena fell into an expectant silence, tension thick in the air.
Two warriors stepped forward.
ARIA "STORMBORN" VALE
• Region: The Highlands of Skyrend
• Muti Specialty: Lightning Elemental, Advanced Martial Muti
• Fighting Style: High-speed combat, precision strikes, battlefield control.
Aria had spent her entire life fighting to prove herself.
Not just as a warrior.
As a leader.
She had grown up in the frozen wastelands of Skyrend, where survival meant adaptability and strength.
Her father, the "Glacial Phantom" Tyros Vale, was a legend in his own right. A master of Ice Muti, one of the most respected Seekers of his era.
And he had never let her go easy.
His words still echoed in her head:
"Power isn't just what you throw at an enemy. It's knowing when to move, when to strike, when to let the world come to you."
Now, she would prove she had mastered it.
Lightning crackled at her fingertips, her blue-gray eyes sparking with energy.
"Let's see if you can keep up, mountain man."
BJORN "THE FROZEN JUGGERNAUT" TORVALD
• Region: The Glacial Highlands of Frosthaven
• Muti Specialty: Cryo-Ferro Muti, Seismic Martial Muti
• Fighting Style: Unbreakable endurance, raw force, battlefield suppression.
Bjorn was a force of nature.
A warrior forged in the cold, raised to be unmovable, unstoppable, unbreakable.
He wasn't fast. He didn't need to be.
Because when you're an avalanche, speed doesn't matter.
He rolled his massive shoulders, frost curling off his skin like mist.
"No storm has ever broken the mountain."
DING!
The battle began—
And Aria vanished.
CRACK!
A burst of electricity shattered the air, and in the blink of an eye—she was already in front of Bjorn.
Lightning surged through her fist.
"Thunderbolt Strike!"
Her attack slammed into his chest—
And did nothing.
Bjorn barely flinched.
Then, without warning—
His fist came down.
BOOM!
Aria barely escaped, her body twisting mid-air as Bjorn's attack crushed the ground beneath them. The arena trembled, ice spreading from the impact zone.
The crowd gasped.
Bjorn didn't chase.
He didn't need to.
Instead, he stomped his foot—
"Glacial Dominion!"
Ice exploded from the ground, massive walls rising to encase the battlefield.
Aria's eyes flickered. He wasn't just defending—he was trapping her.
Bjorn grinned. "Speed won't save you if you have nowhere to run."
Aria dodged left—
Ice shot up, cutting off her path.
She pivoted right—
Another barrier formed instantly.
Bjorn wasn't just reacting.
He was controlling her movement.
Her breath hitched.
If he locks me down, it's over.
Bjorn lunged.
His punch shattered the air—
Aria dodged, but barely.
Her lungs burned.
Lightning was fast. Explosive. But it drained stamina fast.
And Bjorn?
Bjorn could keep this up forever.
She had to change her approach.
She had to become the storm.
Two Weeks Ago.
She had stood atop a frozen lake, her father watching from a distance.
"Again," he ordered.
Aria flashed forward, her fist cloaked in lightning.
Her father didn't move.
She struck—
And her fist met thin air.
Ice erupted behind her.
She spun, dodging barely.
"You rely on speed," her father said. "But you never stop to see what the battlefield is telling you."
Aria gritted her teeth. "Then what do I do?"
Her father exhaled, stepping forward.
"A storm is not just fast, Aria."
His eyes met hers.
"It is unpredictable."
"It is chaos."
"Be the storm."
Bjorn swung again—
But this time, Aria didn't run.
She planted her feet.
Lightning coiled around her entire body.
The air crackled.
The crowd went silent.
Then—
She moved.
Not like before.
Not like a fighter.
She moved like a force of nature.
Lightning danced unpredictably, her body shifting directions mid-movement, her speed no longer linear.
Bjorn's eyes narrowed.
She wasn't dodging.
She was weaving.
She was everywhere.
Bjorn roared, slamming his hands together—
"Frozen Titan's Wrath!"
A massive explosion of ice and frost shot outward.
Aria vanished into the storm.
Then—lightning ripped through the blizzard.
One strike.
Then another.
And another.
Bjorn staggered.
His fortress was crumbling.
For the first time, his ice could not keep up.
Aria appeared above him.
Her fist coated in pure energy.
Bjorn swung one last time—
Aria dodged.
And struck.
"Thunder Emperor's Judgment!"
BOOOOOOOM!
The entire arena flashed white.
When the dust cleared—
Bjorn lay on his back.
Aria stood above him, breathing hard, victorious.
The announcer's voice boomed.
"THE WINNER—ARIA 'STORMBORN' VALE!"
The stadium exploded with cheers.
Bjorn let out a ragged chuckle. "So… storms can break mountains?"
Aria smirked. "Damn right."
She extended a hand.
Bjorn took it.
The storm had passed.
Time: 8:25 PM
The colosseum was still shaking from the aftermath of Aria's battle. The crowd had barely settled, and yet, there was no time for rest.
Aria walked back into the waiting area, her body still buzzing with adrenaline. She wiped the sweat from her brow, rolling her shoulders to shake off the stiffness creeping into her limbs.
The moment she stepped inside—
Kai, Rin, and Lila stared at her.
Aria raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Rin smirked. "Nothing. Just didn't expect you to turn the battlefield into a damn war zone."
Kai chuckled, leaning against the wall. "You actually broke Bjorn. I didn't think that was possible."
Lila, however, was still staring.
Aria sighed, exasperated. "Lila, what is it?"
Lila blinked. "Did you know your hair is still floating?"
Aria froze.
She glanced at her reflection in a nearby metallic panel—her silver hair was still slightly lifted, strands sparking with residual electricity.
"Tch—damn, hold on."
She focused, forcing her Muti to settle. The crackling energy around her faded, her hair dropping back to its normal state.
"There. Fixed."
Lila still looked unnerved. "You were basically Raijin incarnate out there."
Kai smirked. "I guess you are the leader for a reason."
Aria huffed. "Of course I am."
Before she could say anything else—
The golden projection flickered again.
Rin "The Black Phantom" Kairo vs. Kieran "The Hollow Reaper" Duskbane
The crowd hushed.