All-Out Kill (1)

Tene's body flew backward, her body blurred by her speed, impossible to see through by most naked eyes. Hence, the streaming features kept everything the same as they saw an imminent, crushing, and cruel death incoming from one of the most promising participants in the entire Change Merit Trials Event. Everyone could only observe as Tene's body rapidly closed in on a barrier, immediately crashing against it.

Puff…

However, instead of a sudden, gory death, Tene’s body smoked into obscure violet when it hit the barrier, and even the sound of her body moving disappeared 1 second before hitting it. Everything turned silent as this happened, and the crowd was dumbfounded before some remembered the Obscure Orb Sect’s peculiarities, their stealth and deceiving ways. It was a strange situation since the Obscure Orb Sect was well-known everywhere, but it still happened.

PSHIFT! Teno was still just a few hundred meters away from the zone where the explosion occurred. He was creating a sort of obscure violet aura around him when suddenly, a large energy blade appeared behind him, and Tene materialized above it to the side. She was in a pose with her right knee up, folded, and her left knee slightly folded but still extended downwards. Her right elbow folded as she twisted he torso, and her pelvis faced the sky.

The energy blade was 2 meters long and almost half a meter wide at the tip. Tene moved her body, rotating it to face the ground, and when her pelvis fronted in the same direction as her torso, it shot downwards to penetrate Teno’s aura!

But she didn’t stop there. Tene lifted her left arm and opened her hand, bringing it down just a second after sending the first energy blade. A second energy blade appeared and followed the first one 2 seconds later. Still not halting there, Tene turned to her right as her left arm swung like a ballet dancer, gracefully summoning another Neutral Energy blade that flew right towards Teno a second after the second energy blade.

Once she finished sending these 3 energy blades, Tene stood in the air with her body slowly covered in her crystallized armor, not intending to take a weapon out but to continue their fight like this. Despite the first energy blade already flying towards him, nose-diving towards his neck, Teno looked up and saw Tene through his aura. He smiled. His crystallized armor appeared, covering his body, and he stopped forming the obscure violet energy to face Tene.

Pssshii- cuuh, cuuuh… Teno sent his forearm, covered by additional Neutral Energy, to meet the first energy blade, deviating it a little as it cut through his crystallized armor. However, Teno was unbothered and began walking forward as he continued to deviate from it. The other 2 energy blades were already cutting his aura and the air to reach him. Just as the second energy blade appeared 2 meters before his face, in a diving position, his left hand flashed to appear before his chest.

Psif, psif, psif, psif… Several dozen tiny needles appeared between his knuckles. Without hesitating, Teno launched them to meet the second energy blade head-on. When they stabbed 1 millimeter into it, they started spreading his Neutral Energy within. They formed a circular formation that drew lines connecting with the air itself and each other on the energy blade’s tip.

Pshift, pshiiiiiiiiiii~fffffftt~. However, before dealing with the second energy blade, Teno still had to deal with the rapidly approaching third energy blade. His Neutral Energy flowed upwards as if in slow motion, but they were moving incredibly fast in sudden pauses and rapid accelerations in truth. As they encircled the third energy blade, Teno’s Neutral Energy suddenly started dismantling it! As if he had created them himself!

Whoosh! PAM! However, just then, as the second energy blade was starting to be absorbed from its tip somehow, Teno looked to the side and up. Half a second later, Tene’s body flew towards him, crossing his obscure violet aura, with her right arm extended and her hand turned into a fist. He didn’t have time to react, and he was put down with a strong fist containing 7,000 kg of bodily strength and Neutral Energy.

… A few minutes went by with the duo going back and forth, attacking each other and beating the other’s body in one way or another. The crowd was entertained, like crazy, seeing them use their energy in marvelous ways with such body movements and techniques. Even Heian Ciemnosc marveled at how they used everything they had to fight without relying on Mortal or Earth weapons and equipment. Of course, their lethality, swiftness, and efficiency in powerful moves were drastically lessened because of it.

The Obscure Orb Sect pair of top Geniuses didn’t use a tool other than hidden weapons and techniques mimicking an array formation. The latter wasn’t as immediately effective as an array formation or as potent and needed time to work, like Teno’s needles stabbing the second energy blade that time. However, they were still dangerous for anyone on the same level, let alone below it. And naturally, Teno and Tene weren’t versed in array formations and couldn’t fight with such. Even Heian Ciemnosc, well-versed in array formations, couldn’t, let alone those who weren’t.

“... By the way, Tene was asking, from her Sect’s part, how did you manage to do that move against Gora the other day.” As Heian Ciemnosc and Sahnyr watched the duel start coming to an end with their respective arena nearly descending fully, the latter spoke to the former with a nudge from her elbow. Heian Ciemnosc nodded upwards, keeping his chin up, and responded. “It was nothing much. I merely copied what I saw. Besides, the Obscure Orb Sect uses the Darkness element to accomplish that, while I happen to be… familiar with it.”

“Really? But you have never used it. Other than when you use that Supreme Art, there were no Darkness properties to your actions. And even then, the Supreme Art you use doesn’t really ‘smell’ of Darkness either.” Sahnyr elaborated, and Heian Ciemnosc tilted his head to the left, almost colliding with hers. He added, “I just can. It wasn’t difficult. I only needed to know everything about it. Mn. That reminds me… do you have any extra information on the Consequential 3-Eye’s Eras?”

“Well, there’s the Gray Era, the Blue Era, and the Golden Era.” Sahnyr nodded and lightly spoke, explaining to Heian Ciemnosc, but not without remarking to him slightly teasingly. “I thought you weren’t interested in Supreme Arts you couldn’t directly study? Hehe, what changed? Ahem. The Gray Era is the initial learning aspect of the Interchanging Dust Dynasty’s Consequential 3-Eye. This is the point those who cultivate it can partly turn some parts of their bodies into blurry brushes and strokes of a painting.”

“Their speed is increased, but their nimbleness remains raw. The Blue Era augments both. It is when their whole bodies can turn into blurred paintings. They must emit gray, blue, and golden colors and their respective energy. It can be learned even in the Second Step’s early realms, but it is best when learned towards the later middle realms of the same…” Sahnyr spoke. Her orange eyes kept looking at the duel, and her orange-furred ears softly moved with the wind.

“If a cultivator that hasn’t gotten a mastery with the blue Era decides to use it, they won’t have any boost to either their nimbleness or speed, but one of them will still increase. It depends on the individual. The Golden Era is the hardest to learn. It is seen only in Godly beings, or at least some top, peak experts in the Third Step. This Era allows the cultivator to not only mitigate most of the danger from an enemy attack, projectiles, energy attacks, and anything happening around them. It also lets them return the very same attack towards their enemy!”

“That is what that Gora tried to do. However, no matter how much that deady boy tried, he couldn’t become Kilah. In all of the Interchanging Dust Dynasty, as you were told before, she is one of the few who could learn their Supreme Art to the Golden Era before reaching 50 years of age and below the Third Step.” Sahnyr turned her head to look at Heian Ciemnosc, slightly looking up, and thought inside her mind before personally speaking to him, ‘Wow, is he growing 1 millimeter taller every week? What a monster, indeed…’

“You must be careful if you end up facing her. Kilah’s Golden Era only deficit is that she uses far too much Neutral Energy and Soul energy. I don’t know how many Elements you can… ‘use’... But if you can, go all out. Nothing should stop you with your recent breakthrough, judging by your previous fight with Gora and your previous fighting records..” Sahnyr smiled towards the end, gaining Heian Ciemnosc’s attention. Just then, the referee in charge of the arena shouted, “Tene’s victory!!”

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“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!” The crowd cheered. The spectators weren’t crazily astounded but still went off at it as their lives depended on it. The show the Tens showed to them was amazing. It opened their eyes. As for the civilians, it was like watching the best magic-themed tv show or movie. It had so much sense and wasn’t just an excuse to attract more inexperienced readers. All in all, the Obscure Orb Sect’s show made the stadium much livelier!

“Now, might the second fight commence!” Grand Elder Jolden’s voice was easily distinctive among the thunderous cheers and roars of the crowd. When they heard his words, all the bleachers were gradually silenced, waiting to see who was sent to the arena.

Tshing~. Heian Ciemnosc heard a bell-like sound, and immediately, he turned around to look above Sahnyr’s head. A golden glow emanated from nowhere, and she looked at him as if not believing it. The other participant to be selected as one participant previously defeated but returned after Gora was mercilessly slashed out of existence by Heian Ciemnosc’s dark whip. It was a weaker opponent in the Neutral realm 5th stage, but still an opponent; nonetheless.

“Wish-” - “Good luck, lass.” Before Sahnyr could flirt with Heian Ciemnosc some more, the latter spoke with a casual tone. Sahnyr was left with a gaping mouth, which she closed and thinly smiled at him. The black smoke didn’t last long before encapsulating her body, bringing her away and into another arena that remained hanging around at the same level as the others. Only one arena remained, and although both Tens were returned to their vip zone, Tene’s image remained in the first used arena.

… The fight wasn’t intense or as entertaining as Tene vs Teno, but it still captured the spectators’ minds. Sahnyr had no problem defeating her opponent, even dominating 99% of the battle, unlike Teno and Tene, whose battle was 50-50, ending with Tene bearing a few superficial cuts and slightly bleeding. On the other hand, Teno bled profusely from some body parts, but other than that, he was completely fine.

Even then, Sahnyr didn’t use any tool, weapon, or armor. All she employed was her Neutral Energy, direct melee capabilities, and some distracting moves here and there. It wasn’t like she flashed her opponent. Even if she was naughty and open-minded to getting passed around, that was with her husband, and not to act like a demented street whore. She used her charms and some sensual movements even as she just walked to capture her opponent and the crowds’ minds alike.

Towards the end of the battle, Sahnyr was struck a total of 12 times, forcing her to back off for a few seconds in the defensive every time she suffered a blow. However, in the end, her sudden speed burst, and tackling with her head prevailed, momentarily crippling the enemy. All she did to continue was show her delicate, beautiful nail-claws tipping against her opponent’s skin, and he surrendered while feeling dizzy and glad to not face Kilah, Tene, or Heian Ciemnosc…

The rest of the arenas were used, one after the other, after Sahnyr’s fight. The crowd was left blue-balled, wanting to see Heian Ciemnosc or Kilah get to it, but the day seemed to disappoint them as even in the second last arena, the golden glow appeared above the heads of 2 people who were neither of them. However, this also unchained a most crazed crowd and viewership watching over the Change Merit Trials.

As the other 2 participants were chosen, the crowd was overwhelmed with 2 different sensations. One was that they couldn’t see Heian Ciemnosc or Kilah fight until the end. However, that was also the precise same reason why the other sensations made them crazier. This meant Heian Ciemnosc and Kilah would fight it out as the last arena to be used, and they knew beforehand!!

“WOOOOOOAAAAAAAA!!” The crowd, of course, began to crazily chat and cheer as they couldn’t help but let that expectation build and swell inside their chests at the prospect of Heian Ciemnosc holding the front against the interchanging Dust Dynasty, all on his own after Biston failed to secure any spot when he met Kilah early on. Sahnyr had a more or less smooth road to the top, closing in on the semi-finals and possibly entering the finals!

She hadn’t even shown something spectacular, as if she was waiting for her opponent to force her to do that. Many were curious, but they couldn’t let their minds stay in one place, and knowing Heian Ciemnosc VS Kilah was approximating, they watched the second last arena’s fight with fervor and even cheered more than necessary. Due to the bleachers’ enthusiasm, instead of feeling depressed, the second-last arena’s participants became invigorated.

It wasn’t that they weren’t aware why the crowd was like this, as even they felt excited to see Heian Ciemnosc VS Kilah next, but they still felt like the world had its eyes on them. Thus, the second last arena’s fight was somewhat attention-grabbing, and it stirred up the Middle Godly Spatial Station before Heian Ciemnosc’s fight.

“... Big Brororororooo~, good luck!” Just as the referee announced the second-last arena’s result with excitement for what was to come, only depressed he wouldn’t witness such a youngsters’ fight up-close since each arena, a different referee would take place; Fera’s shout reached Heian Ciemnosc’s ears. He turned around as Grand Elder Jolden started standing up from his chair. Giving a wink to the young girl, making Fera blush, Heian Ciemnosc looked at Elena next, and they spoke in silence, with only their eyes.

“Now, might today’s last duel start!” Jolden declared, eliciting a thunderous response from millions of cultivators on the platform. Once he finished saying that, and an even bigger golden glow showed above Heian Ciemnosc and Kilah’s heads, he turned around, and his slit eyes glared at Diego with a somber touch. Heavenly Protector saw this with an innocent expression before chuckling.

“...” Below, a similar scene happened under the crowds’ eyes. Heian Ciemnosc crossed his arms as black smoke slowly emerged from underneath, turning his head to gaze in Kilah’s direction. Just as he set his eyes on her, Kilah, with her arms crossed, turned her head towards him. They looked at each other as the black smoke clouded their sight, and the sensation of being transported wrapped them.

VWWWWUU, VWOOOOOOO, VWIIIII… CLAAAMORRR! CLAAAAMOOOOR!

Heian Ciemnosc returned to face the ‘front’ amidst the black smoke tunnel, relaxing his arms to the sides, and wholly opened his eyes to welcome the next sight, whichever that would be. A sound seemed to echo everywhere around him as he passed through this transportation tunnel. However, he couldn’t identify it. Only when he exited the tunnel so his eyes could take in the morning in his eyes did he understand where the noise came from. The crowd.

“!” Heian Ciemnosc’s pupils shrank. Although they looked the same as anyone else, he felt his body and skin numbing at the prospect of millions of cultivators chanting loudly, cheering, roaring, and exchanging all types of words. The referee didn’t announce the battle, seemingly aware of what such a ruckus could cause to the participants. Because even though Kilah wanted to hide her reactions, by how her relaxed arms to her sides slightly trembled, she was clearly impacted by the stadium’s announcement.

It was indescribable. It was unspeakable. And it was for both. Plain entertainment, joy in seeing the future of the Existence exposed here… Whatever the case was, bleachers and viewership outside their eyes were all feeling the same for them.

“...” - “...” After 10 seconds, Heian Ciemnosc lowered his head and looked at Kilah. She did the same a second later, with both posing the same way. The bleachers slowly fell silent, and Heian Ciemnosc suddenly darted his darkest eyes into the sky to gaze upon a specific chair. He quickly returned his gaze to Kilah. However, she was grinning after seeing him act like that. Heian Ciemnosc ignored, just as he ignored some comments from the crowds and waited for the referee to speak.

“Heian Ciemnosc! If you can’t, just give up! Don’t give your life away now!” - “That’s right! You have many opportunities in the future!” - “Bwahahaha! That’s right, be wise, little black monster! Run with your tail between your legs, bhwaahwhwahwahaahkaakk!” - “Run away now, coward! If you don’t, an authentic Neutrality realm cultivator that should be here will destroy you!”

“The last arena for the top 8 will start… now!!” The referee announced, emphasizing the ‘last’ and ‘top 8’ words. The crowd was well-behaved this time and didn’t cause many more words other than a few little cries and fangirling screeches.

Dash, whoosh, … … … …

At the referee’s words, Heian Ciemnosc’s darkest eyes opened further as if trying to stick his eyes out on their own. And 1 kilometer away, Kilah rushed towards him, her body lacking even the Gray Era’s specifics as she held a dagger in her right hand, but it didn’t seem to be a weapon, at least not primarily. Heian Ciemnosc remained unmoved in the same spot as if waiting for her to come, not moving a muscle.

“Hahaha! He’s soooo scared! How can he be worthy of this Change Merit Trials?!” - “He’s being a coward! Refereee~!” - “Bhawhahahaakakak…”

… step, step… step, step, step… Step, step, step, step! Step, step, step, step, step!

Kilah’s speed was already impressive without her Consequential 3-Eye Supreme Art. She wore a deadly serious expression while running towards Heian Ciemnosc. Her strides were helping her pass through 50 meters each. As her footsteps came closer and closer, Heian Ciemnosc’s body finally moved. His head tilted 10 degrees to the right, barely gaining a pair of eyes or 2 from the crowd.

However, Kilah, on the other hand, frowned as her Spirit Sense immediately picked up the several kilometers around them started moving in a certain way. It wasn’t the same direction, much less following the same trajectory. But… they seemed to flow and slowly dance in the air from the ground to the top of the arena under a supervised force… Suddenly, Kilah looked at Heian Ciemnosc, and her eyes widened as they hardened. ‘Heian Ciemnosc!’

Whoosh, whooooosh, whooooooooosh, whooooooooooooosh… whistle, whistle…

…