Chapter 25 – Sparks in the Arena
Morning sunlight streamed through the mist-laced streets of Mologan City as merchants opened their stalls and the scent of roasted meat and sweet rice buns wafted into the cool air. The second round of the tournament was about to begin, and the entire city buzzed with excitement. The streets near the Arena were crowded with cultivators and spectators, all eager to witness the fierce clashes to come.
Flux and Ryo walked side by side through the flow of people, their steps steady amidst the rising noise.
Ryo yawned and stretched his arms overhead. "So, tomorrow's your match, huh?"
Flux nodded lightly, his expression as calm as ever. "Yes."
Ryo groaned dramatically. "Must be nice. Meanwhile, I'm about to get shredded today. I overheard people whispering about my opponent—Serina Vale from Crimson Veil Sect. Apparently, she's a storm in human form. Brutal. Efficient. Cold. Just my luck."
Flux's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Good luck."
Ryo shot him a side-eye glare. "Was that sincere or sarcastic?"
Flux shrugged. "Just your imagination."
"You're the worst. You don't even try to hide it," Ryo muttered.
As they approached the towering gates of the Arena, the street widened to reveal hundreds of cultivators funneling through the archways, their voices mixing into a thunderous hum.
Flux stopped and looked around. "I'll head to the audience seats."
"Yeah, yeah," Ryo waved a hand dismissively, though his brow was furrowed. "Time to meet my doom in the waiting area."
"Good luck," Flux repeated.
Ryo glanced back as he walked away. "You're definitely mocking me again."
Flux didn't answer. He turned, slipping into the crowd with measured steps, disappearing among the sea of robes and anticipation.
---
The stadium was a massive, circular structure crafted from silverstone and spiritual jade, the arena below surrounded by tiered seats enchanted with sound-enhancement arrays. Flux found a high vantage point where he could see the entire battlefield clearly. A few moments later, the first match of the day began.
The crowd roared as two disciples from rival sects clashed in the arena. One from the Iron Thunder Sect—brawny and wild-eyed—wielded a massive hammer imbued with lightning essence. His opponent, a rogue cultivator dressed in flowing black robes, danced through the air with wind-stepping techniques and dual crescent blades.
Lightning cracked and blades flashed, their energies colliding midair in thunderous bursts that rattled the stadium walls. For over fifteen minutes, they exchanged fierce blows, neither giving ground. Eventually, the rogue cultivator feinted left, then twisted into a low spin, slicing through the Iron Thunder disciple's guard and sending his weapon flying.
The crowd erupted.
"That was insane!"
"Way better than those short fights from before!"
"Yeah, this is the real tournament now. Foundation Establishment talents from all over are clashing!"
"I watched the last regional one five years ago—it was mostly sect-only. But this year? They've opened it up to rogue cultivators, and the rewards are way higher. No wonder the competition's this fierce."
Flux listened silently, eyes still on the arena. His expression remained unreadable, though a hint of appreciation gleamed in his gaze.
---
After several more matches, the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.
"Next match: Ryo Vercu of the Blue Mist Mountain Sect… versus Serina Vale of the Crimson Veil Sect!"
A buzz rippled through the crowd.
Flux leaned forward slightly.
Down in the arena, Ryo stepped out onto the stone platform, flicking his wrist as his sword appeared with a flash of blue lightning. He wore a confident grin, though his eyes betrayed a sliver of tension.
Serina Vale followed soon after, crimson robes fluttering like embers caught in the wind. Her long, red hair was tied into a sharp braid, and her presence radiated cold determination. Wrapped around her arms were two long, crimson spirit chains that writhed like living serpents.
Ryo gave an exaggerated bow. "Well, hello there, beautiful lady. Let's keep this a nice, friendly match, yeah?"
Serina's voice was flat and icy. "My sectmates spoke of a lightning-wielding freak and a mist-using shadow rat who ambushed them in the trial realm."
Ryo's grin faltered. "Uhh... sounds rough. I can't say I know anything about that…"
"They said the lightning freak laughed like a maniac while they were electrocuted. Sound familiar?"
Ryo paled. "You know, I think they might be confusing me with someone else. Lots of people use lightning these days, it's very trendy—"
"They remembered your face," Serina said, her eyes glowing with red spiritual light.
The moment the bell rang, she launched forward.
Her chains struck like vipers—fast, aggressive, coordinated. Ryo barely managed to dodge the first set, rolling backward and releasing a burst of lightning to force her away.
"She's way faster than I thought!" he muttered, flicking his sword in a defensive arc.
The chains swept toward him again, this time from both sides. He blocked one with his blade and narrowly avoided the second with a sidestep, but a third chain came out of nowhere, wrapping around his leg and slamming him into the ground.
The crowd winced.
"Damn, she's not playing around."
"Ryo's quick, but Serina's control over those chains is unreal!"
Gritting his teeth, Ryo surged with spiritual power. Lightning exploded around him, cracking the arena floor and forcing Serina to release her grip. He launched into the air, blade spinning, and rained down a volley of lightning strikes that scorched the platform.
But Serina didn't retreat. Her chains spun into a crimson wheel, deflecting each blast with terrifying precision.
"Even when I go all out, she just brushes it off!?" Ryo thought, sweat running down his temple. "I can't look like a loser here!"
He screamed, unleashing his strongest technique—Stormfang Slash. His blade glowed with blinding lightning as he rushed forward in a last-ditch charge.
For a moment, it seemed like he might break through.
But Serina whispered a cold incantation, and her chains coiled tightly into a spiral shield. The moment his blade struck, the shield burst outward and wrapped around him entirely, locking his limbs in place.
"Match over! Victory goes to Serina Vale of the Crimson Veil Sect!"
Ryo groaned as he hit the ground, twitching slightly from his own lingering lightning. He was quickly carried off to the medical room.
---
Flux sat silently in the stands, watching the aftermath.
"As expected," he muttered to himself. "Though he lasted longer than I thought."
The next several matches showcased more skilled disciples: one from the Night Lotus Pavilion used shadow lotus illusions to overwhelm a brute-force rogue cultivator, while a Blue Mist disciple barely won with a clever mist trap against a twin-dagger fighter.
By the time the 25th match concluded, the sun had dipped beneath the horizon, casting a golden-orange glow over the arena.
Flux rose from his seat and headed to the medical area. There, he found Ryo lying on a padded bed, half-conscious, his hair frizzed from his own lightning recoil.
Flux raised an eyebrow. "Nice match."
Ryo groaned. "You're totally enjoying this, aren't you?"
"You got smoked."
"Now you're not even pretending!" Ryo shouted, then winced and clutched his ribs. "Ow—damn chains…"
Flux crossed his arms. "Maybe next time, don't flirt with your opponent mid-battle."
Ryo groaned louder. "I was trying to break the tension!"
Flux smiled faintly but said nothing.
Ryo exhaled, closing his eyes. "Still… it was kinda fun."
Flux "huh? What fun?" Getting smoke?"
Ryo then siad with a red face" Ahh! Shut up man!"
"Since when did you start talking to much!?"