So, seeing as school and getting internships is really affecting my chapter releases, I'm going to go on a short hiatus to build up chapters so I don't keep missing release days.

Audun let his entire being relax, and his divine sense to condense. The fight was about to amp up, and he couldn’t make a single mistake. He was still unfamiliar with his powers as a whole, and the child in front of him was possibly the strongest being that resided within the True realm.

He decided to take initiative this time, he knew if he could catch Finis off guard, he could end the fight quickly. He launched a kick straight towards where Finis was, but just when it seemed like he connected, the kid was right behind him. Using qi to shift his movement, he spun out of the way and launched a knife hand right down the kid’s arm. He responded, however, by launching a punch straight at the knife hand, and dispersed all the qi that had surrounded it. Finis quickly followed with three punched to Audun’s abdomen, knocking him to the edge of a nearby platform.

Every fiber of Audun’s being was in pain, and his pride was even hurt. Finis had yet to even use a technique, yet he was pushed back and put in such a state. It was almost assured at this point that he couldn’t win, except if he used that technique…

There was a forbidden section of the Martial Asura’s Requiem, a section that contained a technique which converted life qi into muscle energy and push you five levels up! The downside was, of course, decreased longevity. It wouldn’t matter should he reach the Saint Realm, but the more the technique is used, the less likely it was he would reach that level. Even now, him reaching the Saint level was only very likely, not an absolute.

While he had resolved to only use it in a life or death scenario, his blood was raging and flowing. He didn’t want to lose, no matter what. Focusing on his heart, he began to extract life qi from it. The life qi then flowed from his heart into every part of his body. This all took time to explain, but it happened within the span of three seconds.

Finis was standing there, watching Audun closely, but he was astonished when Audun was all of the sudden next to him. Audun launched a kick with so much force that the very platform itself cracked. He knew he saw Finis fly away, but somehow he had appeared behind Audun, and attacked with a kick surrounded by light ki.

Blocking the kick, he prepared to strike back, but found himself thrown across the stage. Again, the attack came from somewhere other than where he had saw Finis. Thinking quickly, he realized that the kid must focus on illusions, done by bending light waves. Not only that, he had to be able to manipulate world qi on a level above even Audun himself. Every other illusion expert was of the Saint level, specifically because of how precise one’s control of world qi must be. Not only that, most were peak level experts. It has to be so high because world qi was where the other sense received their information from. More and more, Audun realized his only advantage was speed.

A flash of inspiration descended, and Audun began to swirl world qi all around the edges of his body, with merely a layer three inches thick. He refused to believe that the kids control was precise enough to reach that far. He also injected his body with more life qi, keeping him at his absolute peak. The fight was going to end soon.

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The two combatants then threw themselves at each other, while the Audience around them went wild. Avari herself was witnessing the fight, having earned the privilege since she moved on. She was shocked that Finis was actually able to control world qi to the extent that he was. She was also equally as shocked at just how strong Audun was. It made her all the more impatient to break through, the current her had no chance of defeating either of them, but if she made it to the peak level, she knew she would undoubtedly could beat the kid. The Joka clan had truly spared nothing in training her.

Back on the battlefield, Audun was more able to get hits off. Even so, he was still losing. His body could no longer support the amount of energy that was coursing through it, tearing him apart. However, Finis was also slowing down. Audun could think of no more tricks to gain an edge, so he couldn’t help but have his frustration rise. He only needed just a bit more, just an ounce more strength, and he could win.

Lashing out in his frustration, Audun lost the fight. Finis saw his opening, and launched his ultimate attack. Gathering light ki, he allowed its rays to orbit around his arm. This created a vortex which had a gravitation pull that moved Audun closer to the fist. Striking forward, the air itself shattered when the punch connected with him. The whole world started to grow dark, and when he hit the shield that protected the audience, the shield cracked too, and the illusion of the stage fell apart.

Audun laid there, broken and barely conscious. No sounds were made at all, as everyone was shocked by the fight that just happened.

‘I cannot lose here.’ This was the only thought that swirled through his head, as he used all of his will to try and stand. ‘I cannot lose here.’ He couldn’t even sense world qi, he was so exhausted, but yet he still found the strength to stand. ‘I cannot lose again.’ Rain started dropping from the sky, yet came from inside the shield that blocked the arena from the outside world. Finis was shocked to find that he could no longer control world qi.

Audun stood up, eyes half open, body covered in blood, and stared down Finis with a look that would win him the fight, should it be one of determination. A shocked look flashed through his face, before it was covered with a smile.

“Arimasen, you were truly an opponent worthy of me. I shall now grant you death by my hand!” Using the fraction of his speed he still could, Finis quickly made his way over to Audun, intending to kill his with a final attack. Unexpectedly, however, Audun was teleported away, even though he was still conscious. The announcer quickly stated that Finis was the winner, and for the first time in Arena history, a contestant was escorted off the stage by Sky Realm experts.