Among the shattered ruins of the arena, the garbled voice of the announcer crackled weakly through the broken sound system. The device, damaged beyond repair, struggled to project the final result.

"The victor... Yun Jin!"

The words barely reached the audience before the system fizzled out entirely. Yet, the message had been delivered. The battle had ended. Kravtsov, the Champion, had fallen.

From the high balcony, Madam Veyra observed the aftermath, her form wreathed in the soft glow of emerald-like mana crystals that shielded her from the debris. She had anticipated Yun Jin’s strength—had even accounted for his potential as a rising star. But this?

This outcome should have been impossible.

By all logic, Kravtsov should have crushed him.

And yet, as always, what truly mattered was crowd retention.

Despite the devastation, the surviving guests did not scream in outrage. Many had come expecting brutality, wagering fortunes on the match’s outcome. They had lost money, lost fighters, but what they had gained in return was something far more intoxicating—the thrill of witnessing an impossible battle.

The silence fractured as one voice cried out:

"YUN JIN! YUN JIN!"

More followed. The chant surged through the coliseum, the crowd erupting in thunderous applause, reveling in the spectacle they had just witnessed.

Yun Jin barely heard them. His body—half-dead, numb, and battered beyond recognition—knelt amidst the rubble. Blood dripped from his wounds, pooling beneath him. His mind teetered on the edge of unconsciousness, the sheer weight of exhaustion dragging him under.

Then, a voice—urgent, frantic.

"Yun Jin! Hold on!"

Merlin rushed to his side, his golden hair disheveled, panic flashing in his blue eyes. His hands glowed faintly as he cast a minor healing spell, stabilizing Yun Jin’s injuries, but the damage was too severe. The spell couldn’t fully heal him—only sustain him.

A shadow loomed over them.

Hazel, daggers at her side, watched in silence as Madam Veyra’s attendants moved in, surrounding them.

Veyra’s lips curled into an amused smirk. “Congratulations, dear winner,” she mused, her tone layered with intrigue. “You fought fair and square. So tell me—why do you look so confused?”

Yun Jin exhaled, his breath ragged. He had given everything. And yet, they cheered him?

A breathless chuckle escaped him.

"Why are you people even celebrating?"

Veyra merely shrugged. "Because a fight is a fight. And nothing matters more than the outcome."

The announcer hesitated, clearing his throat, "Actually, there’s the matter of the—"

Veyra’s sharp gaze snapped toward him.

He shut up immediately.

She turned back to Yun Jin, her voice smooth as silk.

"Technically speaking, you didn’t break any rules."

Yun Jin lifted an eyebrow. "I literally brought a sword into the fight."

Veyra smirked. "No, you didn’t. That was your own magic conjuring a weapon. The rules state fighters can’t bring weapons or an arcane focus into the arena. It never said you couldn't use what you manifest in battle."

She reached into her sleeve and flicked something toward him. A black card, etched with a green rose insignia, landed by his side.

“Your prize.”

Yun Jin looked at the card.

Then spat on it.

Veyra laughed, unbothered by the disrespect. She turned her attention to Merlin.

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"Now that this is out of the way... Merlin, what will you choose?"

Her attendants subtly shifted, their presence growing more aggressive, expectant.

"I’ll give you both an offer," Veyra continued, her voice a perfect mix of allure and authority. "Work for me, and we all profit. Or struggle with the old relics of this city and face the inevitable."

Yun Jin stumbled to his feet, his breath wheezing, his body screaming for rest.

Still, he moved.

With slow, deliberate motion, he raised his arm—the same arm that should barely function—and conjured a simple ice sword.

It wasn’t much.

But the message was clear.

"Support me, Merlin."

Merlin swallowed, then nodded. He reached out, channeling his mana. A faint blue glow enveloped Yun Jin as buff spells activated, pushing what little strength he had left just enough to stop him from blacking out.

Yun Jin steadied his breathing. "I know I might not win against all of you. But I can still kill one of you."

The room tensed.

Hazel took a step forward, her twin daggers catching the dim light.

Yun Jin’s gaze snapped to her. His expression sharpened. "You. You were the one who tried to deceive me."

A pause. Then a low chuckle from Veyra.

"So, you noticed?"

Hazel’s cold voice cut through the air. "You said that the next time we met, you’d attack first. Do it, and it will be your last."

Yun Jin exhaled, his grip on his ice sword tightening.

"Oh, girl… I already did."

Light flared. Merlin, already familiar with what came next, shut his eyes instinctively.

A blinding white flash engulfed the room.

By the time it faded—Yun Jin and Merlin were gone.

The only thing left behind was a single, flickering shadow at their feet.

Veyra’s brow twitched.

"That shady old man…" she muttered, exhaling. Even so, a smirk crept onto her lips.

"Well, no matter. I’ve already planted the seed. Business still profits." She turned to her attendants. "Find me a new champion. And clean this place up."

Then her gaze settled on Hazel.

"And as for you… this is the second time you’ve failed. There won’t be a third."

Hazel bit her lip.

Then, bowing her head, she whispered, "Understood, madam."

But the moment she turned away, her walk became a sprint.

She raced underground, storming through the hidden corridors until she reached a locked chamber.

Her voice cut through the silence.

"Gret! I told you to keep that woman locked up! What did you—"

She stopped.

Inside the cell, a corpse hung from the ceiling—her brother, Gret.

Brutally slain.

On the ground, written in blood, were three words.

"That was for Elara."

Back at Altheron Mansion, a shifting pool of shadow wobbled in one of the grand halls.

Then, three figures emerged.

Selene. Yun Jin. Merlin.

The moment they arrived, Yun Jin collapsed.

Ardent’s medical team rushed forward, lifting his unconscious form while Merlin remained standing, watching over him.

Ardent Altheron stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

"Go rest, Merlin. We’ll discuss everything later."

For now, the night was over.

When Yun Jin awoke, the first thing he saw was Merlin asleep beside him, using his arm as a pillow.

A rare moment of peace.

Gently, Yun Jin placed a hand on Merlin’s head, ruffling his hair. "Wake up."

Merlin stirred, blinking groggily before his eyes widened. "Are you okay!?"

Yun Jin closed his eyes, focusing inward. His qi had taken a heavy toll, but with rest, he would recover.

And yet… as he flexed his hand, as he stared at his damaged arm, a single thought echoed in his mind.

That fight… made me stronger.

For the first time in years, he could feel the step forward he had taken.

So this is what the old man meant. The only way to truly grow stronger—

—is to fight those worthy of killing you.

Excitement surged within him. He needed more battles. More challenges.

"Merlin," Yun Jin grinned. "Once I recover, we’re clearing dungeons and getting stronger. It’s time to level up!"

[Encounter Complete]

[Completion Level: Perfection]

[You have been awarded 100 Completion Points.]