Danial froze as he caught a full glimpse of Zyler’s face—sharp cheekbones, flawless skin, crimson eyes that shimmered like rare rubies. For a moment, his breath caught in his throat.It’s… beautiful…?His crimson eyes shimmered like rubies under sunlight, his silver hair danced faintly in the wind, and his porcelain skin glowed with an otherworldly elegance. The sight disarmed Danial—not with fear, but with awe. For a fleeting moment, Danial's thoughts became a blur. His grip loosened slightly on the hilt of his sword.“Why... why does he look so… beautiful?”A strange warmth rushed into his chest, his thoughts spiralling in directions he didn’t understand. Then, like a slap across the face, a sharp thought jolted him back.“What the hell am I thinking?!”He shook his head hard, brows furrowed, disgusted at himself. “Why am I suddenly getting these thoughts? This is a battle. Focus, Danial!”Zyler caught his expression and let out a low chuckle. He tilted his head slightly, the smirk
Danial slowly unsheathed his sword, the metallic ring of steel against scabbard echoing in the silent arena. His stance was calm, firm—his eyes locked onto Zyler. Zyler scoffed, amused. "You're playing defensive, huh? I thought the great Danial would charge head-on. Looks like the rumours about you were exaggerated." Danial raised a brow at the remark, “Rumours? What the hell is he talking about? I never cared about that kind of nonsense… Still, I shouldn’t get distracted. This guy’s no joke.” Danial offered a small, composed smile. "Is that what you want, Zyler? For me to rush in without thought?" Zyler let out a deep chuckle. "So you can read intentions. Impressive." Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The aura around Zyler darkened and grew heavier. The temperature dropped. "Enough fun. It's time to get serious," he said with menace. Danial’s eyes sharpened as he raised his sword, his stance low and ready. At once, thick, black tendrils burst from beneath his feet, writhing li
Danial and Crystal sat quietly beside Pavan’s resting form, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. The tension that had filled the air earlier had now melted into a calm silence, broken only by the soft hum of the medical machines surrounding them. The sterile scent of the infirmary mixed with the dim light to create a strangely peaceful atmosphere, one that contrasted the chaos they had just experienced.Crystal glanced at Danial, her voice quiet but steady. “He’ll be fine.”Danial gave a small nod, though he didn’t meet her eyes. He simply stared at the edge of the bed, lost in thought.A moment passed before Crystal stood, brushing off her pants. “Come on. Let’s give him some space.”Danial followed her out of the infirmary. The moment they stepped outside, the evening wind brushed gently against his face—cool and refreshing—but something still felt off. The breeze did little to shake the heaviness that had settled inside him. He stood in silence, eyes fixed on the distant
The referee stood rooted to the spot.He looked from Zain’s unconscious body sprawled outside the arena to Pavan’s broken, battered form lying inside it.His lips parted, but no words came. He wasn’t just stunned by the outcome—he was stunned by everything. The ferocity. The madness. The sheer will that had dragged Pavan across the finish line.Silence swept over the arena like a wave crashing down, washing away the cheers and gasps that had filled the air moments ago.Then, with visible hesitation, the referee raised his hand and shouted into the silence, “Pavan from Somerland… has WON!”The crowd exploded.Applause and roars shook the entire coliseum. People stood, clapped, shouted, some even whistled. They didn’t know how he had won—but he had, and in doing so, he had etched his name into the memory of everyone watching.Elysia Fang narrowed her eyes, walking toward the ruined fighter. Her boots echoed faintly against the arena floor as she took in his scorched, twitching frame.“T
Pavan stood tall, the steam curling from his body growing denser with each breath. The arena crackled with tension as silence swept through the crowd. His clothes, torn and burnt at the edges, clung to his frame. His skin shimmered faintly, redder than before, and glowing orange fissures branched along his arms and shoulders like dormant lightning, pulsing with restrained might.But the change wasn’t just physical.His movements had sharpened.His aura was heavier.And his eyes—burning a molten gold—locked onto Zain like a predator.In the stands, Danial leaned forward, eyes narrowing. “What happened to him?”Crystal, just as confused, shook her head. “I... I don’t know. But it’s like his strength and speed just multiplied all of a sudden.”Danial’s brows furrowed. “Do you think he’s awakened some kind of hidden power?”“I can’t tell. But this isn’t elemental... it feels different.”Back in the arena, Pavan moved.He vanished in a blur of heat shimmer, reappearing before Zain with a r
Zain did not waste time and immediately rushed towards Pavan with a slashing whip.She leapt forward like a predator, her movements swift and ferocious, the whip in her hand arcing through the air with a venomous hiss. The sound alone was enough to make several spectators flinch.Pavan stepped back and avoided the whip attack and saw the mark on the ground—a testament to the power and durability of the whip.The stone tiles of the arena cracked under the force, the lash leaving behind a long, blackened scar. Dust floated into the air as Pavan widened his eyes."If that whip hits me," he thought grimly, "it will cut me open like butter."Zain followed the attack, twisting her body and lashing out again.She spun like a dancer, her every step precise. The whip cracked once more, slicing through the air like lightning. It came toward Pavan again—fast and merciless.Pavan raised his sword and blocked the whip attack; however, a black mark appeared on the sword, showing the power that the
Danial and Crystal returned to the arena, their footsteps brisk as they hurried toward the edge of the spectator stands. The air was buzzing with anticipation, and as they settled in, a clear voice rang out across the arena."Next round—Pavan from Somerland versus Zain from Somerland!"Danial and Crystal exchanged glances. Without a word, they moved closer, their attention sharpening as they peered down at the battlefield.Emerging from the preparation area, Zain strode onto the stage with an air of absolute confidence. In her hand, she carried a black whip, its length coiling and uncoiling like a living serpent. With a casual flick of her wrist, she lashed it through the air, the sharp crack echoing through the silent arena.Danial furrowed his brows at the sight. "A whip? Is that even considered a proper weapon?"Crystal, arms crossed, responded without looking at him. "It is—if she belongs to the Devil’s Associates faction."Danial turned to her, puzzled. "What do you mean?"Crysta
Egbert stood up while clenching his blade, his entire body trembling. His eyes, wide with disbelief, locked onto Danial as his voice cracked with confusion."How can this be? How could this ever be possible?" he muttered, his face twisted in shock. He staggered back, gripping his sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "How could your basic technique be so powerful? How could your technique overpower my divine Crimson Reaper Arts? That is not possible. You must have cheated!"Egbert could not accept reality. His technique was not just some ordinary martial skill; it was crafted by Norman Ray, a war deity of immense power and wisdom. The Crimson Reaper Arts were revered as one of the strongest sword techniques, refined through generations, yet Danial’s seemingly simple Sword Drawing Technique had shattered it, breaking through his proudest ability as if it were nothing. It defied all logic. It was unacceptable.Egbert's voice echoed through the now-silent hall, but no one came
The battle hall was filled with murmurs and hushed voices as Danial and Egbert stepped onto the duel arena. The place still carried traces of previous battles, the floor marked with faint scars from past clashes, including Danial’s fight with Sara. But today, the tension in the air was different—more electric, more charged.Egbert’s arrogance was on full display as he sneered, his voice laced with mockery. “Kid, I’m taking pity on you for what’s about to happen. Maybe if you kneel and crawl, I’ll let you live.”Danial met his gaze calmly and replied, “No.”The single word was enough to darken Egbert’s face. His jaw clenched as his pride took a hit. “Danial, I’m giving you a way out. Once in the duel arena, I won’t let you off even if you kneel and beg for mercy.”Danial tilted his head slightly, unfazed. “Are we going to fight or not?”Egbert’s eyes twitched in annoyance before he shrugged as if he had already won. “Alright, I hope you remember what I said.”Both climbed onto the duel