“Nervous, little warrior?” Kieran hissed, his lips curving into a bloodthirsty grin. “I can smell your fear. Let me taste it…”

Yun Jin merely exhaled through his nose and settled into his stance. His muscles coiled beneath his skin, ready to spring into action at any moment.

The heat rose sharply as Kieran’s mana flared anew. The arena floor cracked beneath his feet, glowing a molten red.

This level of heat… Yun Jin’s flesh burned, and his veins hummed with pain. But the exhilaration of combat overshadowed it all.

He’s pushing his body past its limit, Yun Jin noted, eyes glowing faintly as he observed the currents of mana roiling through Kieran.

Kieran let out a harsh, mirthless laugh. “Come on, fight me properly! If you can’t handle the heat, I’ll just incinerate you!” His voice rose in an unhinged cackle that echoed around the arena.

Then, before Yun Jin could fully decipher the chaotic mana pattern, Kieran vanished.

BANG!

Kieran rocketed forward with terrifying speed, propelled by heat-based magic that amped his blood flow, unnaturally stretched his muscles, and magnified his strength and speed to insane levels. Yun Jin’s eyes widened as Kieran’s figure blurred.

Reacting on instinct, Yun Jin realized there was no way to completely evade the blow. He activated Shaolin Technique: Invincible Virtue, though some of Kieran’s raw power tore through his defenses, sending a punishing shockwave through Yun Jin’s torso.

BOOM!

The impact blasted Yun Jin off his feet. He crashed into the stone wall, pulverizing a section of it with an explosive crack. Pain throbbed along his ribs, and his lungs seized in a ragged gasp, forcing a sputtering cough.

If not for Invincible Virtue, his organs would’ve ruptured on the spot.

Kieran’s laughter rang out once more, echoing around the arena. “How’s that, kid?” he taunted.

That speed… even the assassins in the imperial palace weren’t this fast, yet he’s just a slave here? Yun Jin felt the corners of his mouth twitch with excitement, igniting his fighting spirit. He shoved away the rubble, chest heaving, and locked eyes with Kieran.

Kieran was already a blur at close range, his arm elongating unnaturally. He thrust it at Yun Jin’s throat with blistering speed. Yun Jin dove aside, narrowly avoiding the strike. The second blow crashed into the ground, shattering the stone where he’d been standing moments before.

He’s even faster than before! Yun Jin marveled, but also realized something crucial: the faster Kieran moved, the more telegraphed his path of attack became.

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Kieran let out a feral growl, shaking the rubble off his molten arm. “Stop squirming! I want to watch your arrogant eyes go cold!”

He swept his leg at Yun Jin with a scorching trail of mana. Yun Jin deflected the blow with a circular motion, redirecting it away from his body. The heat seared the skin on his forearm, and smoke rose from the contact.

He’s fast, flexible, and tough as steel. Yun Jin’s gaze flicked to Kieran’s shoulders, noticing how the surging mana was wild and inefficient.

Every magic needs some sort of system, he remembered Merlin saying.

That’s his weakness! His magic relies on heat to loosen muscle fibers and boost blood flow, which increases his strength and speed. But he’s burning his mana reserves at an alarming rate. If I stall him, he’ll tire.

But that’s how losers think.

Refusing to cower or prolong the fight, Yun Jin dashed forward, hoping to seize the initiative.

Kieran roared with glee. “Yes! Show me that neck—I’ll tear it open!” He whipped his elongated arm toward Yun Jin’s exposed throat instead of dodging.

The molten arm lashed out like a burning whip—deadly and precise. But Yun Jin had planned this.

He was purposely dropped his guard to lure Kieran into a reckless counter.

Shaolin Technique: Throwing Willow.

He caught Kieran’s extended arm mid-swing, pivoting smoothly and using the assassin’s own momentum.

Kieran slammed face-first into the stone floor with a jarring impact. Bits of shattered tile flew in all directions, and a grunt of pain tore from Kieran’s lips.

A malevolent hiss escaped him as he struggled to rise. “I’ll kill you!” He tried to yank his arm free, but Yun Jin instantly seized another opening.

A swift, gentle strike to Kieran’s shoulder caused his entire left arm to go limp.

Kieran howled in fury. “What… what did you do to me?” His eyes glowed with murderous intent, but now also held a trace of panic.

Yun Jin flexed his fingers. “Qi blocking. It’s a medical technique, not combat. I severed the mana flow to your limb.” His gaze sharpened. “I learned it from a doctor who could cure anything.”

Kieran’s eyes flashed with horror. “You… you attacked my mana veins directly?”

“Exactly. It doesn’t matter how tough your joints are if the energy flow is cut off at the source.”

“You… you just revealed your secret?”

Yun Jin chuckled. “Yes. Consider it payment.”

“Payment for what?” Kieran growled, eyes still wild with bloodlust.

Yun Jin’s voice dropped to a near whisper. “For this.”

Mana flared around Yun Jin’s body. The air shimmered with heat as he adapted Kieran’s principle of heat circulation to his own qi pathways.

Kieran’s face twisted. “You’re copying my technique?” he spat, disbelief and rage battling in his expression. “Impossible!”

BOOM.

Yun Jin’s feet sank into the ground as raw power surged through him. A faint glow licked across his skin, resembling Kieran’s flames—except Yun Jin’s aura burned with calm, refined precision rather than chaotic fury.

[You have unlocked a skill: Aura Surge (Rank D+)]

Kieran let out a ragged roar. “You—!” But his shout broke off as Yun Jin vanished from sight.

Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form – Arc Lightning.

Yun Jin reappeared mid-strike, his fist hammering into Kieran’s chest with surgical accuracy.

CRACK.

Bone fractured under the blow, and the assassin’s magic circuit broke. Kieran gasped, blood misting the air as he collapsed. His breath caught in his throat with a horrible rattle.

A hush descended over the crowd. Moments later, the announcer’s voice cut through the silence:

“Winner: Yun Jin of House Altheron!”

The stands erupted into a cascade of boos and jeers. Far above, noblemen watched with curious disdain; commoners gawked in shock.

Yun Jin straightened, chest heaving, a savage grin etched into his features. He stared down at Kieran’s broken form.

This world really is full of fun!!