The morning sun painted the sky in hues of crimson and gold as the city of Zhenwu came alive with deafening roars. The Grandmasters' Arena, an ancient coliseum built from black stone and enchanted with protective barriers, was packed beyond capacity.
Nobles, warriors, scholars, and even royalty from distant lands had gathered to witness the legendary battle that had been whispered across every continent.
Ochieng, the once-forgotten outcast, was no longer just a name.
He was a storm that could not be ignored.
Yet, no one knew if he would actually arrive.
---
At the center of the arena, a single man stood tall—his crimson robes flowing in the wind. His aura was terrifyingly oppressive, suffocating weaker warriors in the crowd.
He was Master Li Xuan, a Martial Arts Master 5-Star, known as the Crimson Tyrant.
He gazed at the empty entrance, his expression calm yet mocking.
"Did the boy flee?" he asked, his voice booming.
A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd.
"Perhaps he realized the gap between us was too great?"
The announcer, an elder of the Martial Arts Alliance, cleared his throat, his voice magically amplified across the coliseum.
"The challenger, Ochieng, has until the twelfth bell to appear. If he fails to arrive, he will be declared defeated by default."
The crowd murmured. Some were disappointed, others indifferent.
But then—
BOOM!
A thunderous shockwave exploded through the coliseum.
The gates at the far end shattered into dust as a lone figure emerged from the shadows.
Ochieng had arrived.
---
Silence fell.
The air grew unnaturally heavy, and every warrior present felt a chill crawl up their spine.
Ochieng walked forward at a steady pace, his aura restrained, yet the ground beneath his feet cracked with every step.
His clothes were still simple, his long black hair tied back lazily.
But his eyes—his eyes burned with an intensity that made even the strongest warriors avert their gaze.
"He's here," someone whispered.
"But… something feels different."
"That aura… he's changed."
The Crimson Tyrant smirked, unbothered.
"So, you actually showed up."
Ochieng stopped at the center of the arena, his expression unreadable.
"Enough talk," he said. "Let's begin."
The elder raised his hand.
"This battle shall be fought under the laws of the Grandmasters' Duel. No interference. No surrender. The fight ends when one of you can no longer stand."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"BEGIN!"
---
The moment the battle started—
BOOM!
A crimson blur shot forward. Li Xuan moved faster than sound, his palm glowing with destructive energy as he struck toward Ochieng's chest.
The impact shattered the ground, sending a shockwave through the entire coliseum.
The crowd gasped—
But Ochieng wasn't there.
---
High above the arena, Ochieng hovered in mid-air. His body flickered like an illusion before solidifying again.
He had dodged at the last possible moment, stepping beyond mortal speed.
His power had grown once more.
Martial Arts Master 4-Star.
The Crimson Tyrant's eyes narrowed.
"He broke through again? Impossible!"
Ochieng smiled faintly.
"You're too slow."
---
Before Li Xuan could react, Ochieng vanished again.
A deafening BOOM erupted from below—
Li Xuan's body was sent flying across the arena, smashing into the stone walls.
Dust filled the air.
The crowd was stunned into silence.
Ochieng stood in the center, his fist still raised, golden lightning crackling around his fingers.
He hadn't even used his full strength.
Li Xuan staggered to his feet, his crimson robe now tattered. His face twisted in fury.
"This… This is impossible!"
He roared, his aura expanding violently, the arena trembling under his power.
"If one hit wasn't enough," Ochieng said coldly, stepping forward—
"Then I'll hit you again."
---
Li Xuan wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with disbelief and rage.
"How did he get this strong?!"
He had expected to humiliate Ochieng, to crush him before the eyes of thousands. Yet, he was the one being forced back.
But a true Martial Arts Master never admits defeat.
With a furious roar, Li Xuan's aura surged, the ground beneath him cracking as his body began glowing with a blinding crimson light.
"You think you've won? Let me show you the power of a true Grandmaster!"
The crowd gasped as Li Xuan's energy condensed into a terrifying Crimson Dragon, coiling around him, its eyes burning with destruction.
Peak Martial Arts Master Realm!
A legendary level that only a handful of warriors in history had ever reached.
But Ochieng simply exhaled, his gaze calm, fearless.
Then, he did something that made the entire coliseum fall into stunned silence.
He closed his eyes.
---
Time seemed to stop.
The air around Ochieng shifted, as if reality itself was bending to his presence.
Then—
BOOM!
A golden pillar of energy erupted from his body, tearing through the sky, parting the clouds.
At that moment—
Ochieng had ascended.
Martial Arts Master 5-Star.
The stage that countless warriors had pursued their entire lives.
And yet, he had achieved it mid-battle.
The spectators trembled.
The nobles in the VIP stands rose from their seats, their faces filled with utter disbelief.
Even the Grandmasters watching in the shadows felt a chill crawl down their spines.
"What… what kind of monster is he?"
---
Li Xuan refused to back down.
With a final battle cry, he commanded the Crimson Dragon to lunge at Ochieng, its mouth wide open, flames scorching the air.
The sheer heat melted the stone floor beneath them.
Ochieng slowly opened his eyes.
Then—
With one step forward, he vanished.
A blink later, he reappeared above Li Xuan.
Before the Grandmaster could react, Ochieng's palm slammed into his chest.
The impact—
CRACK!
A deafening explosion shook the entire coliseum as Li Xuan's body was sent crashing into the ground, leaving a massive crater behind.
Dust and debris filled the air.
The silence was unbearable.
Then, as the dust settled, only one figure remained standing.
Ochieng.
---
The elder referee hesitated, his voice trembling as he raised his hand.
"The winner… and new Grandmaster of the Arena—Ochieng!"
The coliseum erupted into chaos.
Some cheered. Some stood frozen in shock.
Others fell to their knees, realizing they had just witnessed the birth of a legend.
From this day forward—
Ochieng was no longer just a rising talent.
He was a force that would change history.
And the world…
had finally taken notice.