Chapter 55 - The Tournament Begins: First Day Conclusion

Kazue stood there for a moment, her chest heaving with exhaustion, but a triumphant smile tugged at her lips. Her entire body ached, yet she managed to lift a fist into the air—a silent signal of victory that brought cheers from her teammates and the audience alike.

Up in the stands, the rest of her team erupted in celebration. Chloe, caught up in the excitement, hugged Katya, who had been nervously watching the whole time, and missed the fleeting, tense look filled with disgust the blond shot her—a reaction that hinted at an unexpected discomfort, though no one else noticed the shift; meanwhile, Kazue made her way to the edge of the arena, still savoring the announcer’s spirited praise.

“Incredible display of resilience! Another brilliant victory for the ‘White Flower Divination School’! Four wins in a row—these newcomers are taking the arena by storm!”

With her energy drained, Kazue looked down at the short drop to the ground and waved for a little help. Drake and Adam were quick to reach her, each taking one of her arms and helping her down as she tried to catch her breath. Her face brightened, and she looked up at them with a cheerful, if slightly pained, grin.

“That was something, wasn’t it? I don’t think I’ve ever hit anyone that hard in my life haha.”

She said with a small laugh, but as the words left her lips, she felt her legs buckle, and she fell into the boys’ arms. Drake and Adam exchanged a concerned glance as they steadied her, but Kazue reassured them with a tired smile. Her energy had drained with the last blow, leaving her almost too weak to stand.

“It’s normal.”

Li said calmly, walking up and observing her with a small nod.

“You improved your physical endurance with the ‘Physical Strength Boost Package’, but you’re still fundamentally human. After pushing yourself that hard, this is to be expected. A bit of rest, and you’ll be back on your feet.”

It was kind of weird hearing Li speak that way, especially since not long ago, he would’ve probably thrown in a sarcastic remark or might not have even bothered to say anything at all. But it was clear that he was starting to hold his teammates in higher regard as he saw how much each of them had improved on their own. Not a huge change—but noticeable for someone like him.

Kazue managed a grateful nod as they helped her settle on a bench near the arena, where she could catch her breath. The crowd's cheers still echoed around her, and for a moment, Kazue let herself savor the triumph. She felt proud—not just of her win but of facing the challenge head-on without holding back.

The next two fights unfolded with a stark contrast: the first was over almost before it began, a forgettable match, but the second drew everyone’s full attention. It was one of the tournament’s most anticipated contenders—Wei Lin, representing the prestigious ‘Shaolin School’. The announcer’s voice rang out with excitement, explaining that the 28-year-old monk had recently been promoted to middle-rank at the Shaolin Main Temple—a feat unheard of for someone his age. Across the arena stood his opponent, Guo Ying, proudly representing the ‘Wudang Sect’ under the city's regent main house. The announcer mentioned Guo Ying as the pride of the city, nodding to the influence of Zhou Tianhe, who was a high executive of the sect and whom the group had briefly met in the restaurant at the beginning of the scenario.

Wei Lin had the air of a monk, with a muscular build and a shaved head, but instead of traditional robes, he wore an impeccably tailored tuxedo that glimmered with opulence, setting him apart from any ordinary warrior. He stood silently, hands clasped around a long pole weapon, his eyes closed as he chanted in a steady mantra. Guo Ying, on the other hand, wore a sleek but more modest suit, his weapon a massive jade sword that exuded a pale, ghostly glow. His stance was solid, his expression smug, and the sword gleamed as he prepared to strike the exact instant that the gong rang.

The match began with Guo Ying’s dazzling sword dance, each movement as fluid as water yet cutting the wind; he moved with an elegance that belied the sheer power behind his jade blade, twirling it high as it carved through the air, leaving trails of greenish light that hung like ethereal flames, sweeping in a wide arc around him, calling forth four roaring wind tornadoes. They swirled viciously, each twisting and expanding until the ground beneath them shook, sending a spray of dust and debris.

Spectators gasped as the security team sprang into action, all of them thug-looking men who immediately took out a lot of tiny papers from their pockets, invoking a series of shimmering yellow seals that floated around the arena’s perimeter, enclosing the audience in protective wards adorned with weird luminous symbols.

With an almost dismissive glance at Wei Lin, Guo Ying sneered.

“You might have reached the Shaolin Main Temple, but you’re no match for a real Wudang swordsman, I suggest you bow out before you’re swept away, monk.”

He taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance while the monk continued his steady chant, paying no mind to the tornadoes bearing down on him or the scorn in his opponent’s voice. He didn’t so much as flinch as the spiraling winds edged closer, threatening to tear him from his place, and just as the tornadoes were about to close in, Wei Lin finally opened his eyes. His gaze, calm and unyielding, locked onto Guo Ying, who gripped his sword tighter, sensing a shift in the air.

And then, Wei Lin moved.

In a flash, his pole extended, its length unfolding like a bolt of lightning, with a speed that seemed impossible to track. An ear-splitting crack accompanied the sudden release as it sliced through the wind with a force that drowned out even the roar of the tornadoes. Guo Ying’s smirk faltered as the pole shot toward him with unerring precision, easily bypassing his tornadoes and landing a direct hit to his abdomen.

Guo Ying gasped, a look of sheer disbelief spreading across his face as the reality of the blow set in. Blood trickled from his mouth as he staggered, the jade sword slipping from his grip, clattering to the ground… He looked down to see the wound, the pole having retracted just as swiftly as it had struck, leaving a deep, burning ache that tore through him. His confident stance crumbled, and he stumbled backward, a bitter realization dawning in his eyes.

The crowd watched in awe as Guo Ying dropped to his knees, his face twisted in anguish. His breath came in ragged gasps, his proud expression fading into one of resignation. With one final, helpless look at his opponent, he collapsed to the arena floor. The tornadoes dissipated into the air shortly after, leaving a heavy, eerie silence.

The announcer hesitated, struggling to process the brutality of the sudden, decisive blow, and after a breathless pause, she stammered.

“A-and the winner is… Wei Lin, in a brutally spectacular victory!”

Her voice shook, but she rallied, her tone eventually finding its usual fervor as she raised a hand to the roaring crowd.

However, the young monk paid no attention to the clamor around him, retracting his pole as it shortened back into his hand in a seamless, fluid movement. Without a single glance toward his fallen opponent, he resumed his mantra, his quiet voice barely audible amidst the cheers, and strode calmly out of the arena, his composure untouched.

In the stands, Li, Drake, and Adam were rooted in place, processing what they’d just witnessed. Gregor squinted, trying to make sense of the commotion he hadn’t been able to follow, but Adam’s face was white as he replayed the fight in his mind. The killer blow hadn’t even been a skill—just raw speed and deadly precision, which was insane even for their standards.

For the first time, Li’s expression shifted, his usually calm demeanor momentarily shadowed with a trace of unease as he watched the monk disappear into the hallways beyond the arena.

“Fuck, this is a problem.”

The man's words reflected his state of mind at that moment—not that the young monk could be a problem, but that he was already seeing him as one. Finally, it seemed he understood why none of the other groups, sects, and schools had sent more powerful representatives, choosing instead to enter only their novices. One reason had to be the presence of monsters like Wei Lin... Damn it.

Just then, the announcement came: the next fight was about to begin, and it was Li’s turn. His companions watched as he took a deep breath, muttered to himself, and made his way to the arena.

Standing across from him was Kai Zhang from the infamous ‘Dragon Gate Gang’. The young man’s tanned skin, short white hair, and intense red eyes exuded strength, and a strange red symbol blazed on his forehead, casting a foreboding glow over his serious expression. His bare chest was adorned with a single, gleaming golden plate on his left shoulder, with traditional warrior garb flowing from his waist down and he gripped a katana-like sword, its blade reflecting the faintest glint of the arena lights denoting it as a masterpiece. The announcer wasted no time noting how the ‘Dragon Gate Gang’ operated directly under the third Don, Bai Huolong, heightening the audience’s anticipation

The fighters met at the center of the arena, exchanging a brief but weighty stare before the announcer’s signal rang out, after which Li barely had a moment to react. He had just summoned his spellbook when Kai Zhang seemed to dissolve into thin air, only to reappear a heartbeat later with his sword poised in mid-swing. Li’s mechanical eye whirred, processing Kai’s rapid approach in the blink of an eye, allowing him to twist his body just in time, narrowly avoiding a deadly arc of flashing steel. But the reprieve was short-lived. Kai Zhang’s blade followed with relentless precision, slicing through the air as Li barely dodged, each maneuver leaving him with shallow cuts that stung like fire.

In a brief moment of respite, Li’s eye glinted as he noticed a tiny opening in Kai’s otherwise seamless attacks. He thrust his hand forward, opening his spellbook, which ignited in a pulse of energy.

"[Begiru Rakketen]"

[Skill: Begiru Rakketen Lv2] [A spell that draws power from a world ruled by steel and steam, summoning ten [Anti-Person Missiles] around the user. The missiles activate automatically and fire forward, each one causing a powerful explosion capable of shattering solid rock walls.] [Cursed Vision Knowledge] [Warning: The missiles' accuracy could be higher, and their trajectory may not follow a perfectly straight path.]

A dozen missiles appeared overhead, each glistening with a deadly shimmer while his mechanical eye’s [Lock-On] skill activated.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

[Skill: Lock On Lv1] [The user can mark a target within their line of sight, ensuring that the next skill follows its target.]

The missiles locked onto Kai’s figure and surged forward with a deafening hiss. But the young warrior was a blur, twisting and dashing through the arena with astounding agility, his form weaving through the missiles like water.

Just as one missile closed in, Kai leaped high, spinning in mid-air and slicing through the projectile in a single fluid motion, making it explode into a cloud of smoke and sparks while the crowd gasped as he continued his elegant dance, deflecting each missile with rapid, precise movements of his sword. The arena filled with a cacophony of shattering energy as Kai’s blade cleaved through the remaining projectiles in a blazing display, leaving Li staring, wide-eyed.

Li gritted his teeth, trying to steady his breathing as his opponent calmly lowered his blade. His spellbook flared with light once more, this time a vivid, searing glow, summoning every ounce of his power to cast his next spell, summoning a massive ring of fire above his head.

[Raajia Ignis]

A dragon’s head, sculpted from flames, emerged with an ear-splitting roar and unleashed a torrent of fire that cascaded down toward Kai. The event’s security team acted fast, raising again protective seals around the audience and contestants, as the yellow barriers with glowing, intricate symbols materialized to shield them from the searing heat.

Flames poured across the arena, churning in a sea of orange and red as they surged toward Kai Zhang. For a fleeting second, Li thought he had finally gained the upper hand. But as the blaze receded, the young warrior stood in the center, untouched, a shimmering bubble of air surrounding him. To the dumbfounded look of everyone, he had created a wind shield through rapid, precise strikes that created an intense vortex, compressing the air around him until it repelled the flames. His sword, however, hadn’t escaped unscathed; the heat had warped its edge, so with an indifferent shrug, he let it drop, its clatter on the floor swallowed by the roaring crowd.

That had been especially impressive and terrifying for Adam, who was trying not to blink to catch every single detail. Because of that, he realized, just as with the young monk in the previous fight, that this defensive maneuver wasn’t any kind of skill—just pure martial prowess, something beyond human.

Undeterred, Li’s eye pulsed with renewed resolve. Once again, he cast the [Begiru Rakketen] spell, a storm of homing missiles taking form around him. With a fierce glint in his eye, he watched his opponent as the missiles hurtled toward him with deadly precision, knowing that now he couldn't evade the attack. Kai’s body, however, responded with an agility that defied logic, he darted through the arena, his feet light as he dodged each projectile, twisting and flipping in ways that seemed impossible. At one point, he kicked off one of the missiles, using it as a stepping stone, his foot leaving a burst of light as he propelled himself to safety, evading each projectile with inhuman reflexes.

Then, something shifted… A faint green aura began to emanate from Kai’s form. His eyes blazed, and the symbol on his forehead pulsed as he unleashed a surge of energy. With a mighty roar, an ethereal dragon formed above him, its translucent scales glowing as it coiled around his body. This newfound aura seemed to meld with his form, enhancing his strength tenfold. In a blinding burst of speed, he launched himself toward Li with the force of a meteor.

[Skill: Emerald Dragon Ascendance Lv4] [No info available]

Even though Li’s artificial eye captured his opponent's movement, his body couldn’t keep up. Kai’s fist struck directly into his face with a resounding crack, sending him hurtling across the arena. Li didn’t remain down and struggled to his feet, blood dripping from his lip as he cast [Physica Naguru] on himself, his muscles bulging with enhanced strength while a golden flame danced around his body. His strikes would be now heavier, faster, and more relentless. Yet, even with this boost, his attacks lacked the finesse and control his opponent had.

Kai Zhang, with a calm intensity, dodged or parried most of Li's strikes, using his swift movements and precise technique to land counters that Li could barely follow. He managed to land a punch, but it glanced off Kai's chest, barely affecting the man’s ironclad physique. In contrast, every strike from Kai was as clean and cutting as a blade. His elbow shot forward, connecting with Li’s ribs, creating an audible crack, and sending a wave of pain through him. Li staggered back, trying to catch his breath, but Kai Zhang was relentless, his blows coming faster, in perfectly timed patterns, almost as if he were playing a complex rhythm with his prey as his instrument.

Despite the pain, Li launched forward, his fist raised high to strike. But Kai Zhang caught it mid-air, twisting the man’s arm painfully, his smirk revealing the disdain he held for his opponent’s desperation. In a brutal display, Kai’s knee drove up into the man’s gut, the impact forcing a wheeze out of him as his head tilted back in agony. Li’s vision blurred, his knees buckling as Kai Zhang seized the moment, delivering a relentless chain of blows across Li’s jaw, chest, and stomach with speed that defied what a human should be capable of. Blood spattered from his mouth with each hit, his movements becoming sluggish as he tried and failed to fend off the devastating attacks.

Finally, Kai Zhang delivered a powerful upper kick that lifted Li off his feet. The blow was so intense that his body went limp mid-air, and before he could even collapse, Kai seized his arm, hoisting him up like a ragdoll, his bloodied and bruised body hanging helplessly. The young warrior of the ‘Dragon Gate Gang’ held him there, his expression stone-cold, almost as if he were surveying his handiwork, while the crowd stared in stunned silence at the carnage on display.

Li dangled, barely conscious, the world around him blurred and fading. His vision darkened at the edges, but he could still feel the ache, the sting of every suffered blow, each one carving deeper into his will. Blood dripped steadily from his mouth, and his muscles screamed for relief with his body caught between agony and exhaustion. Thoughts of surrender teased at him, the weight of Kai Zhang's brutal assault pressing down like a smothering fog, yet, even in that haze, a flicker of something fierce burned inside him, refusing to extinguish… He was still conscious and breathing, meaning he could still fight. His eye, the mechanical one, registered his enemy’s unwavering grip and analyzed its strength, the unyielding confidence behind it. The guy’s unwavering calm in his moment of victory ignited a spark in Li’s mind, full of rage.

With a guttural growl, Li’s hand twitched, pulling up to grip his spellbook, barely able to steady his fingers as he mustered every ounce of strength left in him. His vision cleared, his eyes narrowing with newfound focus, locking onto Kai Zhang with a resolve that broke through the fog of pain. His hand glowed faintly, and his spellbook reacted, resonating with his fury, each page shimmering as he channeled the last fragments of his energy.

[Doruku Pantser]

He spat through gritted teeth, his voice raw with strain yet filled with an unbreakable spirit. The air around him crackled, a powerful aura surged from his spellbook, and an armored shell began to encase his battered body, its dark sheen covering him like an unyielding cocoon. Kai Zhang staggered back, surprised by the sudden release of power, his grip breaking as the dense armor fully surrounded Li.

His form glowed as dark, gleaming armor materialized around him, its surface humming with energy. This was the very armor they had seen Admiral Jasper Merrick wear in the last scenario and that Adam recognized as the [Atomica High Armor], now enveloping Li in a suit of near-indestructible might, to the point of allowing him to stand tall again even tho his body would have been unable to.

“You’re fucking dead.”

He spat, his voice low and vengeful… The clash between the two warriors resumed with a ferocity that left the crowd breathless. Li, surged forward with a steam-propelled kick that cracked through the air like thunder. The ground beneath him trembled as the propulsion system in his limbs activated, giving him an explosive burst of speed. Kai Zhang responded with lightning reflexes, slipping to the side and deflecting the kick with a quick jab, followed up with a counterpunch aimed at Li’s midsection. The impact rattled Li’s armor, sending vibrations through his body, but he quickly regained his footing, determination burning in his eyes.

Drawing upon his raw strength and the new agility of his armor, Li retaliated with a powerful right hook. The mechanical whir of his limbs was almost musical, and the sheer force of the strike forced Kai to duck low, narrowly avoiding the blow. In one fluid motion, Kai unleashed a series of rapid punches, each one striking with the precision of a master martial artist. The audience could see the brutal efficiency of his technique as he landed a swift kick to Li’s knee, destabilizing him momentarily. The force of the strike sent a shudder through the man’s armor, but he refused to yield, tightening his grip and launching a heavy uppercut, enhanced by steam propulsion, that his opponent barely managed to evade.

Yet Kai was relentless. He moved in a blur, darting around Li and launching a flurry of attacks. A roundhouse kick grazed the side of Li's unprotected head, while a sharp jab caught him on the cheek, the sound echoing through the arena like a thunderclap.

Each blow landed with a painful thud, the armor absorbing the damage but not without its toll on the man inside. Li felt the vibration of each strike through his body, a constant reminder of the mounting pressure against his defenses.

Then, as Kai prepared for another finishing strike, Li saw a flicker of opportunity. Summoning all his strength and the full capabilities of his armor, he planted his feet firmly and unleashed a piston-powered jab to Kai’s chest. The force resonated through the air, creating a shockwave that staggered the young warrior. Kai’s eyes widened with surprise as he momentarily lost his footing, but he quickly regained his composure and retaliated, launching himself at Li with a barrage of kicks, each one whirling with astonishing speed. The blows were a blur, and while Li could block some, a few landed squarely against his torso, each sending vibrations through his armor and rattling his resolve.

As the fight escalated, the arena buzzed with tension. Kai’s strikes were relentless, each one designed to find a weakness in the armor's solid defenses. Yet, with each punch and kick exchanged, it was evident that Li was becoming more than just a machine of brute force; he was adapting, responding to the flow of the battle. He ducked under another of Kai’s strikes and came up with an elbow aimed squarely at his opponent’s jaw, using the steam propulsion to enhance the force. But Kai was faster, dodging to the side and delivering a quick knee strike to Li’s abdomen that forced the air from his lungs.

Despite Li’s conjured armor being originally a copy of a brutally powerful item, it became clear that Kai Zhang’s martial skill was a level above. He spun into a flawless roundhouse, his movements almost dancing around Li, landing a series of rapid kicks and punches that had Li reeling.

The armor kept Li on his feet, absorbing the brunt of the strikes, but the man inside could feel every blow reverberate through his bones. Each punch was met with a counter from Kai, his speed and agility proving to be formidable. Then, just as Kai prepared for a finishing strike, a sudden cough wracked his body, a trickle of blood escaping his mouth. His movements faltered, his aura dimming to the point of disappearing completely. Li’s armor had begun to take its toll. The passive effect of his suit had infected Kai, sapping his strength.

“What happened?”

Asked Drake, looking with concern. It didn't seem like he had inflicted any damage significant enough to cause such a reaction; however, Adam remembered perfectly the side effects of that armor. Just being near it as an enemy would lead to acquiring the altered state [Radioactive], which essentially meant accelerated radiation poisoning, a very cruel way to die.

Seizing the opening, Li propelled himself on top of Kai and unleashed a relentless rain of vertical punches, each propelled by steam-powered impulses from his elbows. The sound of impact echoed through the arena, each strike sinking Kai deeper into the ground as the arena floor fractured beneath the force. The power behind each punch was staggering, the enhanced strikes driving Kai into the very earth. When Li finally stepped back, panting, he gazed down at his opponent, who lay broken and unmoving amidst the shattered stone.

The arena was silent for a heartbeat as the judges got into the arena to confirm Kai’s death. The announcer, visibly shaken, stuttered as she declared Li Xie Jie of the ‘White Flower Divination School’ as the victor. For a moment, there was a stunned silence before the entire place erupted into deafening applause. Li allowed a faint smirk to appear as his armor vanished, but as he took a step forward, his vision blurred, and he collapsed onto the floor due to extreme exhaustion. Adam and Gregor rushed to his side, confirming his battered body was alive but gravely wounded. Medics hurried forward to take him to safety, leaving the crowd in awe of the brutal spectacle they had just witnessed

“That was… Something.”

Adam finally said, trying to calm himself in light of all the information he had managed to gather.

"I think it would be best to have an urgent meeting after all of this."

The boy finally said, to which everyone else agreed.