There was no introduction, no familiarity or any sort of connection that Kai had found with his last opponent Gawain.

Ever since they announced his opponent earlier, he’d seemed like he was in a fever dream.

It didn’t really hit him until he stood across from Cassius Landon. And then, the rage filled him in waves, choking him up and almost drowning him with its intensity.

It took every ounce of his willpower to keep his Aura in check, every ounce of his control to not rush across the arena and kill the Heir where the pompous fool stood.

The Landon Heir, on the other hand, stood there with a smirk on his face, knowing that he would finally be able to absolutely crush the commoner across from him.

The crowd seemed more subdued than usual, knowing that the power disparity in this battle was even larger than it had been in Kai’s last, as for the first time, he stood across from a Spirit Realm Cultivator. And yet, under the subdued presence of the crowd was a slow burning anticipation, for they’d already seen the black cloaked Cultivator in the Arena pull miracles out of nowhere.

The crowds today would be cheering for Kai, because the Landons had never been popular, and of course, who doesn’t love a true underdog.

And yet for those who truly supported Kai, those like Rian, there was even an undercurrent of fear, as a Rank 1 Core Stage Cultivator was set to take on a Wisp Stage in the Spirit Realm.

If the gap between Stages in the Forging Realm was like the width of a river, the gap between the Forging and Spirit Realms was more akin to a lake. Much more increased capacity in the Core, wider and tougher channels, and a more powerful body were just some of the advantages and those didn’t even take the power of a bound Spirit into account.

And unfortunately, the Landon Heir was no normal Spirit Realm Cultivator either. He had the backing of one of the largest noble families in the Kingdom, having been given the best elixirs, pills and training throughout all points of his life, but even more than that, he was just as talented, they said, as Alyssia Azel, who was supposed to be the largest prodigy the kingdom had ever seen. If not for her, he would hold the record for the youngest ever to break through to the Spirit Realm.

He was also supposed to be a prodigy with his blade, close to mastering the Tenth Form. And that didn’t even take his Spirit into account.

There would be no shame for Kai in surrendering, though the notion hadn’t even occurred to him.

Unlike Gawain, Cassius was not lugging around heavy armor on his slimmer frame. He instead was dressed in his simple green robes, that bloody raven that almost seemed to laugh at Kai, etched into the garment. His sword was the only visible weapon he had on him, yet Kai was under no misconceptions that he didn’t have any other Artifacts hidden away on him. He could just barely see two golden rings on his left hand and knew that there were most likely even more in places Kai couldn’t see.

As soon as the word Begin rang out across the Arena, Kai was the one this time to blast forwards, sword out to attack. A film of white surrounded the blade, signaling the use of his Sword Earth and though he’d wanted to keep his most significant powers secret, his rage was demanding for him to end the future of the House of the Bloody Raven.

Yet, he still had enough control to hold his Aura in check, waiting to use it at the most opportune time.

He saw hesitation, and then surprise in the face of his enemy as Kai came hurtling towards him.

Cassius had barely enough time to lift his sword before the storm hit.

The crowd gasped as Kai sliced right through the blade of his sword, cutting it in half before slamming his blade down with full power… right into a red tinged dome that had just managed to spawn around the Landon Heir just before Kai could slice him in half.

His sword managed to cut into the dome, before getting stuck. Kai started to push his sword in, forcing it through the energy of the dome.

Cassius, on the other hand, gaped at the ruined sword in his own hand and then at the blade coming for his head, most surprised at the white film surrounding it, before looking at his opponent’s face in both horror and determination.

The dome finally shattered, falling into pieces like glass, along with one of the rings on Cassius’s fingers. Yet as it did so, the Heir leapt back, finally utilizing his Energy to empower him.

It seemed that the Landon Heir would no long be taking this fight easily. Everyone in the Arena had seen the initial move and there were murmurs of both shock and awe as they witnessed the rise of the youngest Sword Earth wielder in Revanian history.

“There is this much surprise at him revealing his proficiency in the sword,” Executive Yannick said from above the Arena, watching the King and the reactions of all the High Nobles around him. “I can only imagine what they will do once they see his Aura.”

Kai, however, was now retreating after his initial assault. After Cassius had dodged Kai’s killing blow, he’d instantly activated one of his attacking Techniques, calling it Lashes of the Fiery Raven.

Four whips of fire had formed from his hands and started to lash out at Kai with extreme speed. Only his own agility and his Sword Earth energy were defending him from being severely burned, but his opponents initial assault had managed to hit him in a couple of places, forcing the smell of burnt flesh into his nostrils.

Cassius had managed to force Kai back towards the edges of the Arena before his Technique guttered out. Before he could call it out once again, Kai had already noticed and leapt forward, sword at the ready.

An earthen dome appeared around Cassius as he said, “Shield of the Golem Knight.”

It was just barely enough to hold back Kai’s sword for a split second, but that was more than enough time for Cassius to escape the attack.

The two opponents stared at each other for a few moments, both starting to sweat in exertion.

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“Admirable,” Cassius said. “But, this must end now. I cannot have you besmirching the Landon name by fighting me on even footing, an entire Realm under me.”

“Now look,” Cassius said, raising his hands. “And shiver in horror at the power of the House of Landon.”

***

The Bloody Raven himself sat in a box above the crowds of the Arena, along with the King and the Heads of the other two High Houses of Revania.

He saw his son start the fight with hesitation and cursed his son’s foolishness at the fact that his Heir was forced to use one of his priceless life saving Artifacts at the very beginning, against a Forging Realm Cultivator no less.

It became apparent, however, that his son’s opponent was a special case, when the Raven caught sight of the white film surrounding the commoner’s blade.

He gripped his own seat in surprise and apprehension, but then relaxed as his Heir decided to take the fight seriously.

The Lashes were a crude Forging Realm Technique but they did their work.

It was when he saw his son raising his hands to the sky, and a bolt of pure blue lightning struck him, when he leapt to his feet and cursed in surprise.

He barely registered the words of the King, who said, “You fool, Julius. What the hell did you give him a Thousandfold Bolt for?”

“It is not restricted by the rules of the competition,” Julius Landon, the Bloody Raven, answered unconsciously.

But in his own mind, he was thinking why.

The Thousandfold Bolt was an Artifact that harnessed the power of a bolt of Lightning, multiplied it by a thousand, and sent the chaotic power raging at whatever it was directed at. However, it also used a tremendous amount of the user’s power and their body as a conduit to direct the power. And, it only had three uses, this one being its second.

As the bolt of lightning hit Cassius Landon, his hands glowed an unearthly blue color, before lightning, the color of white blasted towards the hooded commoner across from him.

At least he’s won the fight, the Bloody Raven thought to himself.

***

Kai watched the bolt of lightning rip through the air towards him almost in slow motion. There was no possible way for him to defend this attack, except for his Aura, and so that’s exactly what he activated.

It didn’t take much. It never did. But, with the Heir to the very house that had ruined his life across from him, it took even less rage to activate his Aura. And this time, he didn’t hold back.

A silver wave of rage filled energy blasted out from him, further slowing the white lightning bolt down, and siphoning away some of its power as it entered Kai’s domain.

For just a split second, every single person in the crowd felt a phantom sword at their neck, before it fell away.

***

In the box of floating Silversteel above the Arena, the Bloody Raven yelled, “What the fuck?” While at the same time, the King murmured, “Ankara Almighty.”

The other two Heads stared slack jawed as the boy they’d believed to be an ordinary Core Stage Cultivator, not only showcased his mastery over his weapon, but also his Aura.

It was unrefined, but it was an Aura, and one under the Spirit Realm. Once again, something that had never been accomplished before.

***

Alyssia Azel leaned as forward in her seat as she could as she whispered in awe, “You were right.”

Gawain snorted in amusement as he said, “Of course I was. He’s a fucking monster.”

Alyssia turned to shoot an icy glare at him. “A prodigy above all prodigies. I refuse to call him a monster, as even you know that he has retained his honor all these years.”

Gawain raised his hands in acquiescence as he said, “Of course cousin, a prodigy, not a monster. And yes, you are correct. He has retained his honor, as he had every right to claim my axe in our last fight, yet you say it was sitting in my room before you got there.”

They looked back out at the fight, both of them hoping that the Core Staged young man could pull off the impossible once again.

***

Kai knew that even with his Aura siphoning away some of the power of the bolt of Lightning he could not fully defend the powerful bolt.

And so, he didn’t. Instead, he forced his body to leap sideways to dodge the bolt of death that still hurtled towards him.

He almost had it. But the bolt managed to graze his left shoulder as he tried to dodge, ripping through it and throwing him back against the Arena wall.

He stumbled to his feet, letting his Aura infuse him with power as he checked the hole in his shoulder.

Definitely didn’t want to try defending that fully.

Kai looked out at his opponent and saw Cassius kneeling on the ground, panting and covered in sweat. His robe was also in tatters and Kai could see a myriad of burns all over his arms. Channeling lightning through your body would do that.

As Kai stepped closer, he could see that the disdain and contempt that had been etched across his opponent’s face before the fight had been replaced by two emotions.

Fear.

And jealousy.

Kai stepped closer and Cassius began to speak, “Whatever you are, I will make sure that my House will never help you. We may not be able to touch you at the school, but I vow that I will one day kill you.”

He gave Kai a bloody grin as he said, “If this doesn’t do the job.”

Cassius then grabbed another Artifact from within his robes, one that would replenish the energy that he had used, before he yelled, “Sanguis Death Raven. Arise.”

His voice was slightly distorted but each word was clear to Kai and he knew that he was about to face his very first bound Spirit.

Shadows darker than night pooled around Cassius and up his body, forming a large black Raven almost fifteen feet tall.

It was made of shadow and Kai could just make out Cassius’s standing form inside the dark bird.

He focused then on the wave of overwhelming power that emanated from the Raven. Whatever Technique or Attack it would now use, there was no chance that Kai would come away uninjured.

The beady blood red eyes of the Death Raven looked right at Kai, and then the formed Spirit cawed.

A wave of power shot towards Kai and slammed into his Aura, pushing him back a few steps.

Sure, he was facing overwhelming odds once again, but when had this world ever been fair to him. Instead of the fear that everyone had expected to see on Kai’s face with the arrival of the Spirit, there was only determination.

Determination to win, to get stronger and to advance. He’d have his own Spirit soon…

The Raven then suddenly rushed forward with blinding speed, the Landon Heir controlling it from its depths. And before Kai could even think about blinking, the shadow formed beak of the Spirit slammed into him, throwing him back into the Arena wall once again.

This time, blood sprayed from his stomach, where the beak had managed to stab into him. Aches and bruises that Kai had forced out of his mind came roaring back in full force with their ever present companion, pain.

The Raven did not rush forward to finish its opponent, as it should have.

Instead, it’s form started to fall away, shadows pulling away from it and into the person it was bound to, empowering Cassius.

This occurred until only a faint outline of the Raven was left surrounding Kai’s opponent. However, none of the power had fallen away, only having been consolidated within the Spirit Realm Cultivator.

And this was the true ravine of power that separated the two Realms. A Spirit was so much added power that Cassius seemed almost unbeatable to any Cultivator currently in the Arena under the Spirit Realm.

Casius stepped closer, the shadows that made up the Death Raven now covering him.

“In my magnanimity,” Cassius said. “I offer you a chance to surrender. This does not mean that I will not kill you later, but it is bad form to murder an opponent in a competition for the School.”

“See,” Cassius continued, pointing up behind him. “Even one of the Advanced Elders is coming down to stop the fight. You’ve already lost enough face in my House by continuing to resist.”

Instead of the look of surrender that Cassius had been expecting to see on Kai’s face, he was met with a bloody grin.

“I’m the one who’s lost face? Check again, Landon Heir. You, a Wisp Stage Cultivator in the Spirit Realm, had to bring the full power of his Spirit against me, who’s still in the Forging Realm, currently Rank 1 of the Core Stage.”

“Well,” Kai continued, tilted his head as his grin stretched even wider. “Not Rank 1 anymore, am I?”

And then, he finally pushed himself over the edge and advanced.