The moment Yun Jin returned to the fighters' lounge; he wasted no time.

He sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, shutting out the world around him. His breathing slowed, deep and measured, as he focused inward.

Qi circulation. Injury recovery. Absolute mental clarity.

The dull ache of bruises and the burnt faded as Qi Breathing took effect

With each controlled breath, his body repaired itself, cells knitting back together, muscles restoring their prime condition. The exhaustion from previous fights ebbed away, leaving behind only calm—the stillness before a storm.

But Yun Jin’s mind was far from still.

His thoughts replayed every second of Kravtsov’s fight against Olag, breaking it down with merciless precision.

The Champion’s Strengths:

-Lightning Knuckle—charged strikes with devastating concussive force.

-Explosive Speed—his footwork, enhanced by controlled bursts of lightning, made him faster than he looked.

-Monstrous Durability—even Olag’s best counters barely left a lasting mark.

-Relentless Offense—he never let up, always pressing forward, never defensive.

Yun Jin imagined himself in Olag’s place. Dodge left? No, caught by a follow-up punch. Block? Not enough—Kravtsov’s power was too much even for Invincible Virtue. Counter? His durability would absorb the damage.

No matter how I fight, the outcome is the same.

Every scenario he played out in his mind ended with him being overwhelmed, caught, or outright killed.

Yet, instead of frustration or fear…

Excitement bloomed in his chest.

This. This was exactly why he had accepted the deal with the system in the first place. Not just to grow stronger—but to face fights where no path to victory was clear. A battle that pushed him beyond his limits.

He grinned.

Unlike Baek Tianjun, this time, he had a chance.

It wasn’t obvious yet. But he knew it was there. Somewhere in the infinite possibilities of battle, there was a way to win.

All he had to do was find it.

His mind sharpened. New ideas, tricks, contingency plans—every angle, every strategy that could tilt the fight in his favor. Even considering a last resort option, conjuring an ice blade to fight with.

But no.

That was a shortcut.

If he was going to win, it wouldn’t be with borrowed strength. It would be with his own fists, his own skill, and his own mastery of combat.

Time passed in deep focus. His wounds had fully healed. His Qi and Mana flowed perfectly, his body in prime condition, his mind filled with battle plans waiting to be tested.

Yun Jin exhaled, standing up. He rolled his shoulders, feeling the smooth flow of energy within him.

"No point in thinking anymore. Time to test it all and see."

--

The moment they stepped onto the grand arena stage, the atmosphere exploded. The air buzzed with energy, the anticipation thick enough to taste.

The announcer’s voice thundered, carrying across the massive coliseum:

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! The moment you've been waiting for! In the final match of the Death Throne, we present—"

The stadium rumbled as the crowd erupted.

"THE CHAMPION! Undefeated, a soldier from the Northern Empire, a man who once toppled kingdoms at the frontlines with his raw power—KRAVTSOV!!"

A wave of deafening cheers, chants, and stomping feet shook the very foundation of the arena. The moment Kravtsov stepped forward, he basked in the adoration of the audience.

The towering warrior rolled his shoulders, letting out a slow exhale before raising one massive fist into the air. Lightning crackled at his knuckles, flashing with blinding arcs as he smirked down at Yun Jin.

And the crowd lost their minds.

Fans of the champion chanted his name in a frenzied rhythm, others jeered and mocked Yun Jin, calling for his death. Some of Reva’s supporters clamored for vengeance, screaming for Kravtsov to break Yun Jin apart.

With the confidence of a showman, Kravtsov stretched his arms wide, absorbing their roars. His deep voice boomed across the arena, effortlessly cutting through the chaos.

"You want a fight?!"

YES!!

"Who wants to see blood?!"

US!!

"And who will win?!"

YOU!!

Electricity erupted from his body, arcs of lightning snapping and crackling along his skin, forming a pulsing aura of raw power. The static in the air made the hairs on Yun Jin’s arms stand on end, the entire arena charged with anticipation.

Kravtsov threw his arms wide, laughing like a man possessed, fully immersed in the energy of the moment. He stomped once, the force shaking the arena floor. The electricity around him surged brighter, a violent tempest of power.

He turned toward Yun Jin, his grin widening with pure, unshaken confidence.

“YOU DAMN RIGHT!! And when I’m done, remember to come back next season! Death Throne will always welcome you with another grand spectacle!”

The crowd roared even louder, swept up in his overwhelming charisma and dominance. Coins and betting slips were tossed into the air in celebration, the arena bursting with an uncontrollable frenzy.

And then— the announcer turned toward Yun Jin.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"AND HIS CHALLENGER! A warrior whose limits KNOW NO BOUNDS! Again and again, he has shattered expectations, RISING where others would fall! Fighting his way to the final round against ALL ODDS—YUN JIN!!"

The reaction was instant.

A wave of jeers, boos, and curses filled the air. Yun Jin expected it. They hated him—not just for standing against their beloved champion, but for making them lose their bets against Kieran.

And yet—

None of it mattered.

Yun Jin tuned them all out, his focus solely on Kravtsov.

The Northern Empire soldier was massive, built like an iron fortress, his presence radiating overwhelming power. Not just raw strength—but experience, discipline, and a fighter’s instincts honed through countless wars.

The champion wasn’t just strong—he was dangerous.

And Yun Jin couldn’t be more thrilled.

He stepped forward, standing unshaken under the sheer weight of pressure from the crowd. Then, raising his voice just enough for Kravtsov to hear, he said:

"I know you’re strong. No need to hold back."

Kravtsov’s brows lifted in mild surprise before his smirk widened. He laughed.

"Hah! No need to tell me, kid." His knuckles crackled as he raised his fists, stepping into his battle stance. "I saw what your little friend could do."

The words made Yun Jin’s blood run cold.

His heart sank.

"Merlin… They got him."

His expression darkened, his stance tightening. The casual amusement in Kravtsov’s tone told him everything he needed to know.

Yun Jin clicked his tongue. Tsk…

His focus narrowed.

If he was serious before, now he was deadly.

No more games. No more holding back.

"Now that both fighters are ready, the final match of Death Throne BEGINS!"

The fight began with a roar of thunder!

Kravtsov lunged forward like a streak of lightning, his body a blur of raw power and speed.

Yun Jin reacted instantly, activating [Aura Surge] just in time to propel himself upward, narrowly evading the champion’s opening strike. As he flipped mid-air, he brought his hands together, channeling a precise surge of Qi into his limbs.

Light Blade Sovereign Style: Second Form – Thunder Break!

Yun Jin’s fist came crashing down, aimed squarely at Kravtsov’s broad shoulder.

A deafening impact rippled across the arena floor as his strike connected—but instead of a devastating blow, Kravtsov merely staggered, taking a single step back as a faint bruise formed where Yun Jin’s attack had landed.

The champion grinned, barely fazed. "Not bad, kid. But you’re going to need a lot more than that!"

Lightning crackled up his arms as he clenched his fists, each movement sending ripples of raw power through the air.

The sheer force of his energy caused the ground beneath them to tremble, faint sparks dancing across the cracked stone.

Kravtsov spun his body and brought his arms together in a thunderous clap.

The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Yun Jin barely had a moment to react before the shockwave hit him like a battering ram, forcing him to activate [Invincible Virtue] at the last second.

Even with the reinforcement, the sheer force blasted him across the arena, slamming him into the stone wall. A deep crack echoed as the impact spider-webbed fractures across the structure.

Pain shot through his ribs, his organs vibrating from the impact. But Yun Jin gritted his teeth, forced his footing against the wall, and launched himself forward.

Light Blade Sovereign Style: First Form – Arc Lightning!

A streak of white-hot motion cut through the air as Yun Jin flashed toward Kravtsov, his fist crackling with Qi. He swung his strike toward the champion’s ribs—only to feel his attack abruptly halted mid-air.

Kravtsov had caught his fist.

"Nice trick," Kravtsov grinned, his grip tightening like a vice. "But I already saw that move."

Yun Jin’s eyes widened as Kravtsov pivoted, using his sheer strength to hurl him across the ring. Yun Jin twisted mid-air, managing to land on his feet—but the moment his boots touched the ground, Kravtsov was already in front of him.

A devastating, thunderous punch!

Yun Jin barely managed to raise his guard, channeling [Redirecting Water] to deflect the force. But Kravtsov’s movements weren’t linear—he adjusted instantly, shifting his weight and following up with a brutal jab before Yun Jin could reset his stance.

The punch caught him square in the chest, knocking the air from his lungs and sending him staggering.

Before he could recover, Kravtsov’s hand lashed out, seizing him by the face.

SLAM!

The champion drove Yun Jin into the ground, the arena floor cratering beneath them.

The crowd erupted into a frenzied roar, the sheer dominance of Kravtsov sending waves of excitement through the spectators. Yun Jin lay in the crater, gasping for breath, his vision briefly blurring from the impact.

But instead of panic, a grin slowly crept onto his lips.

Now this… this was what he wanted!

Yun Jin gritted his teeth, his body screaming from the brutal impact, but he refused to stay down. As Kravtsov loomed over him, ready to deliver another devastating blow, Yun Jin's eyes flickered with a dangerous glint. He moved fast—faster than Kravtsov expected.

His hand shot out, latching onto the champion’s outstretched fingers. Before Kravtsov could react, Yun Jin ignited his Qi, sending a powerful thunderous surge crackling through his opponent’s hand.

The air popped with raw energy as Yun Jin wrenched Kravtsov’s finger outward with brutal force.

A sharp snap echoed through the arena.

"AUGH!!!"

Kravtsov roared in agony, his scream piercing through the electrified air as his fingers twisted unnaturally.

Yun Jin didn’t waste a second—he drove a lightning-fast knee directly into Kravtsov’s groin, a ruthless strike meant to buy time. The champion let out a choked gasp, his massive frame recoiling in instinctive pain.

Yun Jin took the chance to create distance, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

His vision swayed slightly—his stance unsteadies, his body battered. The concussion in his head throbbed like a drum, but his resolve remained unshaken.

If he can't kill then he needs to break, if he can't break then he will rip, pieces by pieces until it DONE!"

And to do that He had to keep moving.

"YOU DARE PLAY DIRTY?!"

Kravtsov was furious. His anger fueled his lightning, snapping his broken finger back into place. The electric field around him surged, crackling thunder zapping the ground to dust

"It’s not dirty if it’s not against the rules!" Yun Jin can feel the mana condense around him; it starts to hurt his mind even try to felt the energy with [mana sense].

So, this is what true strength in this world looks like. How fascinating!

Yun Jin cracked a wide smile.

"If you want to play it like that, FINE!"

Then, with a deafening boom, Kravtsov erupted in a storm of lightning. Sparks crackled along his skin, the air around him distorting from the sheer intensity of his power.

The electrified aura enveloping him pulsed like a living thing, tendrils of lightning whipping out and searing the arena floor.

Yun Jin felt it instantly. He sharpened his focus, activating [Mana Eyes]—and what he saw made his breath hitch. This wasn’t just wild, uncontrolled energy—this was [Aura Surge], a much more powerful Kieran's version of the skill.

But Yun Jin had an answer.

With a deep breath, he ignited his own Qi. A white radiance unfurled around him, a stark contrast to Kravtsov’s violent storm. The energy that pulsed from Yun Jin wasn’t untamed—it was measured, precise.

His own [Aura Surge]!

The arena trembled as the two forces clashed—one a furious tempest of destruction, the other a calm, radiant force of controlled devastation. Lightning roared against light, raw power against refined mastery.

Like a lighthouse shining in a thunderstorm, Yun Jin did not waver.

Kravtsov's lips curled into a savage grin. "Good," he growled, the thrill of battle igniting in his eyes.

"If you seek a battle of life and death, without rules or restraint, then come at me with all your might!!"