"Fatso, are you sure you're going to jump to conclusions before the fight even starts?" Melissa said. Though Melissa had a point, Nala couldn't help but remain fixated on the mysterious Billy.

She turned her gaze back toward him, curiosity gnawing at her. Honestly, she couldn't see anything extraordinary about the man bundled up in a heavy winter coat.

His aura clearly marked him as someone in the Pulse Realm, so why was everyone so convinced that Ocean was doomed?

When the names were announced, she finally learned that the opponent's name was Wally Ortiz. It was an odd name, to say the least.

"Die!"

As the match began, Ocean showed no intention of holding back.

This was his first fight, and he was determined to make an impression. He needed to demonstrate the brilliance of the second family of Dragonia and pave the way for future triumphs.

Just as he was about to strike, the crowd collectively gasped. Ocean froze, sensing something was terribly wrong, but it was already too late.

Wally had somehow appeared behind him without a sound. With a casual lift of his right hand, he effortlessly grabbed Ocean's arm.

"Impressive speed, but do you really think this is enough to defeat me? Not a chance!"

Though startled, Ocean's training as a martial arts artist, along with his instincts, kept him composed. However, what happened next shattered his confidence.

To his horror, he realized that he couldn't move.

An unbearable cold surged through his body, spreading like wildfire. It felt like he had been plunged into the deepest, most frigid layers of a tundra. No, it was worse than that.

"He's as fast as lightning!"

In the audience, many shared the same thoughts as Nala. Speed like that was far beyond what someone in the Pulse Realm should be capable of. Either Wally had used a secret technique, or he was hiding his true strength.

"Look! Ocean's forehead... It's frozen!"

Melissa's startled cry drew everyone's attention. How could a person freeze like that in the middle of a fight? It was unnerving.

Not far from Arena One, Felix was on his way back to the resting area when he noticed the battle in Arena Two.

"It seems the Lone Paragon is truly drawing out some extraordinary young talents."

The techniques Wally displayed were nothing short of bizarre. To freeze someone's body mid-battle was both terrifying and impressive.

"I..."

Ocean had already realized something was terribly wrong. He tried to move his mouth to concede defeat, but even forming a single syllable was a monumental effort.

His entire body turned into an ice sculpture in less than five seconds. He was frozen in the exact pose he had been in as he prepared to attack.

"No!"noveldrama

From the audience, members of the Whit family roared in outrage. Yet, restrained by others, they dared not make any rash moves.

Before entering the martial arts competition, every participant signed an agreement and stamped their fingerprints to acknowledge the rules.

Either they admitted defeat

themselves, or victory was

determined. There was no third outcome. Life or death was entirely their responsibility, as the risks had been clearly stated when they signed.

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At that moment, Wally released Ocean's arm and moved to stand in front of him. The crowd erupted in shock when Wally gently tapped on Ocean's forehead.

Ocean's entire body shattered into pieces, breaking into uneven chunks of ice.

Though the method of killing left no trace of blood, it was even more chilling and scary. It was a kind of horror that reached deep into the soul.

"Someone from the Icejade Sect is still alive?" Lionel, who had just returned, muttered under his breath. His expression remained calm, as though he had seen it all before.

Life and death were part of any

martial arts competition. If someone

wasn't prepared for that, what business did they have being here?

Obviously, this was not a game for children.

"Are you reminiscing about another one of your past loves again?" Lionel blushed. Mira had him utterly under her thumb as she teased him.

The battle had barely begun, yet

someone had already died. What made it even more shocking was that the one who died was a member of the Whits, the second most prominent family in Dragonia.

The atmosphere among the audience grew heavy, the previous sense of ease completely replaced by tension and unease.