Wanda floated in the air, Chaos Magic swirling around her hands. Scarlet chains exploded into existence, spreading through the sky like a storm of serpents. Within seconds, they coiled around the sorcerers in her zone, binding them tightly as if mummified.
The match had only just begun, yet Wanda had already subdued the majority of her opponents.
Two minutes later, Jarvis's calm, mechanical voice declared them "eliminated."
The battle record glowing above Wanda's head updated instantly:
173 / 0 / 0.
The result was undeniable. With that record, no one else in her section could possibly surpass her. Satisfied, Wanda dismissed her spell. The crimson chains disintegrated into fading sparks, and she landed lightly on the ground, stepping aside to let the others continue.
The sorcerers she had defeated looked at her retreating back with silent despair. For them, Wanda was no different from Malrick—untouchable.
In another section, Pietro ended his battle even faster.
Armed with a mystic dagger Wong had entrusted to him months ago, Pietro launched himself forward at blinding speed the moment the countdown ended. His movements blurred as he wove through the combatants, striking before they even realized what had happened.
By the time Jarvis confirmed the results, Pietro was already standing back at his original spot, casually flipping the dagger through his fingers.
The glowing record above his head now read: 169 / 0 / 0.
"Done," he muttered with a crooked smirk.
Mordo's situation, however, was far less graceful.
Assigned to Section 5, the veteran archmage had attracted plenty of sorcerers eager to team up with him. Yet Mordo, stubborn as ever, dismissed every invitation with cold disdain.
"The purpose of this competition," he declared, "is to find sorcerers with the strength to represent us in greater challenges. What's the point of winning through alliances? Do you plan on embarrassing yourselves when facing warriors of Asgard?"
The sorcerers were stung by his words. But rather than scattering, they turned their frustration on him. Whispered vows spread through the crowd: if Mordo wanted to stand alone, they would unite against him.
By the time the round began, he was already surrounded.
Even with his composure, a bead of sweat rolled down Mordo's temple. For a moment, he regretted his earlier arrogance. Still, his skill and confidence remained.
The instant the countdown ended, he raised his staff high. A brilliant surge of light burst forth—a super-charged version of Lumos Maxima.
Section 5 was instantly engulfed by a blinding glare. Even nearby sections were briefly affected as the dazzling beams scattered in all directions.
Sorcerers flinched, shielding their eyes. Many misfired their spells, striking their own allies. The very alliance that had sworn to take Mordo down was thrown into chaos, their attacks spiraling out of control like fireworks exploding in every direction.
By the time Mordo lowered his staff, half of his enemies were already incapacitated.
Moving quickly, he drew upon the Mirror Dimension, shifting the battlefield and seizing several assists as his opponents fell. Yet those who remained were no novices. Even blinded, they sensed the dimensional manipulation and fought to wrestle control from him.
Mordo managed to eliminate over twenty more sorcerers before the tide shifted. Though his opening gambit was strong, he now faced the full weight of a united alliance.
The battle became a grueling test of endurance, skill, and cunning. By the end of the hour, his glowing record read: 31 / 3 / 56.
It was a hard-earned victory, and the chaos of Section 5 would be remembered as the most intense fight of the round.
When the timer expired, Jarvis's voice echoed across the floating arena. The projections dissolved, merging into a single massive screen above the platform.
Names disappeared one by one until only twenty-five remained. Their combat records shone in gold, magnified for all to see like luminous crowns above their heads.
Among them, Wanda and Pietro stood out as the most dominant. Each had singlehandedly wiped out their sections, their perfect records leaving no room for debate.
Next was Hulk's astonishing record: 236 / 0 / 61.
Yes—Hulk, not Banner.
At first, Banner and Wong fought cautiously, coordinating with summoned magical creatures to hold the line. But as sorcerers respawned and adapted, the creatures alone weren't enough. Then disaster struck: one of the combatants, wielding the Sacred Sword of the Vishanti, wounded Banner's favorite companion—a Graphorn.
The sight of its blood snapped the thin thread holding Banner's temper.
His chest heaved, his skin turned green, and his heart thundered like a drum.
"Hulk… no, not now," Banner whispered desperately, clutching his head. He tried to resist, warning the others to stop.
But it was too late.
The transformation tore through him. Muscles bulged, fabric shredded, and with a roar that shook the arena, Hulk erupted onto the battlefield.
Yet even in his fury, the green giant took a moment to lift the wounded Graphorn and set it safely aside. Only then did he turn, teeth bared, and hurl himself into the fray.
The devastation was unstoppable. Sorcerers scattered, but none could withstand his raw power. Even Wong was eliminated three times before the round ended.
When the hour concluded, Hulk stood victorious amidst the ruins. Banner returned moments later, shirtless, head bowed, hugging himself in quiet shame. The gazes of the others weighed heavily on him.
Tony sauntered over, his own record glowing 89 / 1 / 32.
"That was incredible, Banner," Tony said, grinning. He jabbed him lightly in the ribs. "Where's the big guy? He deserves the applause. With numbers like that, you're set to win the whole challenge."
Banner flinched at the poke, then laughed awkwardly. "Honestly, I'd rather win with the creatures."
Tony raised his hands. "Why limit yourself? Hulk is you, too. Own it."