Chapter 39: The Arena of Rivals
The academy had never witnessed a day like this.
By early afternoon, every seat surrounding the grand arena had been filled.
Families sat together beneath colorful banners.
Children climbed onto their fathers' shoulders.
Wolf Brigade veterans stood with folded arms near the highest rows.
Hunters still wore their bows.
Blacksmiths smelled faintly of smoke.
Rune Masters discussed formations while waiting.
Teachers struggled to keep excited students from climbing over the railings.
It was just past one in the afternoon.
The entire city seemed to have gathered.
For Mistforge...
This was history.
Never before had a public duel between two young cultivators attracted such attention.
High above the arena...
Lord Shen sat beneath a simple pavilion overlooking the battlefield.
Nearby sat Lady Shen, little Lian, Yun Jian and Yun Mie. He had allowed Yun Che's parent's to sit beside him.
Lord Shen quietly observed the endless sea of people.
Then...
He smiled to himself.
Interesting.
He had expected enthusiasm.
Not this much.
Without saying anything, he quietly made a mental note.
Perhaps...
Public tournaments should become a tradition.
Not merely for entertainment.
But to inspire.
Children dreamed after watching heroes.
Young warriors trained harder after witnessing greatness.
Cities became stronger when people had something to strive toward.
This...
Had value.
Captain Han stepped forward.
His deep voice carried effortlessly throughout the academy.
"Everyone."
"Today's duel is a friendly match."
"It is not a death battle."
"The purpose is growth."
"Not victory at all costs."
"If either combatant is placed in unnecessary danger..."
"I will end the match immediately."
No one objected.
If anything...
The audience felt reassured.
Captain Han rarely spoke.
When he did...
People listened.
He extended one hand.
The formations surrounding the enormous arena awakened.
Blue runes lit the edges of the battlefield.
A transparent barrier rose into the sky.
The football-field-sized arena shimmered once before becoming completely still.
The stone beneath had also been reinforced.
Ordinary Foundation Realm attacks would barely leave scratches.
The western gate opened.
A ripple spread through the audience.
Shen Tianyu walked calmly into the arena.
Beside him...
Bingya strode proudly, every step filled with confidence.
The wolf's newly forged armor gleamed silver-blue beneath the sunlight.
Tianyu himself wore full battle armor for the first time in one of their duels.
Light.
Elegant.
Deadly.
Blue and crimson Ki Metal reflected the afternoon light.
The claw-gauntlets resting upon his hands looked capable of tearing through steel itself.
Someone in the audience whispered,
"Young Master is serious."
Another nodded.
"He intends to win."
Moments later...
The eastern gate opened.
Yun Che entered.
No drake.
No butterfly.
No spirit.
Only himself.
Some spectators looked surprised.
Lin Xia already knew why.
He had refused to bring them.
"They're still inexperienced."
"They're partners."
"Not shields."
He would never throw them into a battle simply to gain an advantage.
Not against Tianyu.
His armor immediately drew everyone's attention.
It no longer resembled ordinary equipment.
Dark metal shaped into the image of a dragon.
Curved horns swept backward from the helmet.
The visor resembled the face of an ancient beast.
Deep crimson lenses glowed where eyes should have been.
Behind him...
A metallic tail swayed gently.
Its sharpened tip gleamed ominously.
Children gasped.
"He's so cool!"
"I want armor like that!"
One elderly hunter chuckled.
"I pity the blacksmith who has to repair it afterwards."
Yun Jian coughed awkwardly.
"...That would be me."
Captain Han glanced between the two boys.
Then nodded.
"Enter."
They walked toward the center.
Every step echoed across the silent arena.
Five years.
Countless sparring sessions.
Victories.
Losses.
Arguments.
Laughter.
Every memory seemed to walk beside them.
Finally...
They stopped only a few meters apart.
For a heartbeat...
Neither spoke.
Then Tianyu grinned.
"You've gotten taller."
Yun Che tilted his helmet slightly.
"So have you."
"Still shorter than me."
"Only because your hair keeps growing upward."
Several people nearby laughed.
Even Captain Han's lips twitched.
Tianyu looked around.
"...Where are your monsters?"
"They're still learning."
"I'm not sacrificing friends just to make the fight harder."
Tianyu nodded approvingly.
"Good answer."
He scratched Bingya behind one ear.
"This idiot insisted on coming."
Bingya snorted.
"Someone has to make sure you don't embarrass yourself."
"I've never embarrassed myself."
"You once slipped into a frozen pond trying to look cool."
"...We agreed never to mention that."
Yun Che suddenly spoke.
"...Behind you."
Tianyu immediately spun around.
Nothing.
He frowned.
"...Very funny."
The next voice came from somewhere above.
"You looked."
Tianyu looked upward.
Still nothing.
Tianyu blinked twice.
"What..."
"...where are you talking from?"
Yun Che remained perfectly still.
"It doesn't matter."
The voice now came from behind Bingya.
Then beside Captain Han.
Then from somewhere high above the barrier.
Tianyu stared in disbelief.
"...What is this?"
"My mother's hunting technique."
"It throws your voice."
"..."
"..."
Tianyu slowly nodded.
"I want it."
Yun Che laughed.
"I knew you'd say that."
"Can you teach me?"
"After I beat you."
"Oh?"
"And if I win?"
"I'll teach you anyway."
"Good."
"I was going to ask regardless."
Even Lord Shen quietly smiled.
Practical...
and entertaining.
The teasing continued naturally.
Tianyu folded his arms.
"You seem confident."
"I am."
"You should be worried."
"I am."
"...That sounded less impressive than I hoped."
Yun Che shrugged.
"Confidence doesn't mean stupidity."
"I know exactly how dangerous you are."
Tianyu nodded approvingly.
"Good."
"Because I'm planning to win."
"So am I."
"I'll even be nice."
"Oh?"
"I'll leave enough armor intact that your father doesn't have to rebuild everything."
Yun Che snorted.
"Generous."
"I know."
"And if I accidentally tear yours apart?"
Tianyu sighed dramatically.
"My mother already told me not to come home looking ugly."
"I'd appreciate your cooperation."
Yun Che tilted his head.
"I'll try."
"Good."
"I don't want to lose while also losing my pants."
For a brief second...
Silence.
Then nearly the entire arena erupted into laughter.
Even Bingya lowered his head as though pretending not to know him.
Yun Che chuckled.
"That would be a memorable farewell."
"It would be humiliating."
"I agree."
"So..."
"Let's avoid that."
Both boys laughed.
The tension vanished.
Only excitement remained.
Captain Han stepped between them.
His voice echoed across the arena.
"Combatants."
"Prepare yourselves."
Instantly...
The laughter disappeared.
Two smiles slowly faded.
Two warriors remained.
Snow drifted gently across the battlefield.
Every spectator leaned forward.
For one long heartbeat...
Neither side moved.
Snow drifted lazily through the air.
The entire academy seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
Captain Han raised one hand.
"...Begin."
--------------------------------
Neither Yun Che nor Tianyu rushed immediately.
They slowly widened the distance between them, circling like two predators studying unfamiliar prey.
Despite knowing each other for years...
Neither truly knew the other anymore.
Three months.
A new realm.
New techniques.
New equipment.
New experiences.
Everything had changed.
Tianyu flexed his clawed gauntlets.
"You know..."
"I'll give you one free shot."
Yun Che's armored head tilted slightly.
"Feeling guilty?"
"I've got Bingya."
"You don't."
"Seems unfair."
Before Tianyu finished speaking...
Yun Che's voice suddenly echoed from somewhere behind him.
"You should take this seriously."
Tianyu turned instinctively.
Nothing.
The next sentence came from somewhere high above the arena.
"You might lose before realizing how."
Another voice followed immediately from his left.
"Now that would be embarrassing."
The audience chuckled.
Tianyu sighed dramatically.
"...This technique."
"It's really useful."
Another voice answered from somewhere behind Bingya.
"Thank you."
"..."
"...but incredibly annoying."
Laughter spread through the stands.
"Enough."
Tianyu's smile slowly disappeared.
"Let's begin."
Blue-white Ki erupted around him.
Heavenly Frost Wolf Body Enhancement.
The air itself seemed to howl.
His muscles tightened.
His heartbeat accelerated.
Strength increased twentyfold.
Speed increased twentyfold.
Durability rose fifteenfold.
The technique remained only at the Beginner Stage.
Someday...
When mastered...
Its strength would increase a hundredfold.
Its speed one hundred and twentyfold.
Its durability fiftyfold.
Even now...
Its power was terrifying.
Beside him...
Bingya underwent the same transformation.
Wolf and master became one.
Then...
Frost Aura spread.
The arena changed.
Stone whitened.
Snow thickened.
Thin layers of ice crept rapidly across the battlefield.
Every breath became visible.
Children sitting closest to the barrier instinctively shivered.
Master Liang nodded quietly.
"Mid-level Frost Aura already..."
Lord Shen smiled faintly.
"He worked for it."
Across the battlefield...
Yun Che reached behind his back.
Instead of his sword...
He drew something far larger.
A massive horse-cleaver nearly as tall as himself.
The weapon struck the ground with a heavy clang.
Then...
Iron Minotaur Body Enhancement.
His Ki surged differently.
Less elegant.
Far heavier.
Strength multiplied twentyfold.
Durability increased twentyfold.
Speed only fifteenfold.
Yet...
The enormous armor already weighed nearly fifty tonnes.
Combined with his enhanced body...
He could comfortably carry over two hundred tonnes.
The cleaver alone weighed two tonnes.
Yun Jian folded his arms proudly.
"Let's see if he remembers his footwork."
The vents hidden throughout Yun Che's armor glowed faintly.
Ki gathered within them.
Ready.
Waiting.
Then both sides moved.
Not cautiously.
Not gradually.
Explosively.
Tianyu blurred into motion.
Bingya split away.
One left.
One right.
Exactly as always.
Yun Che met Tianyu head-on.
Steel collided with claws.
The impact exploded across the arena.
BOOM!
Shockwaves rolled through the barrier.
This time...
Raw strength decided everything.
Tianyu's feet left the ground.
He slid backward several meters.
The audience gasped.
"So strong..."
"He overpowered Young Master!"
But before Yun Che could follow...
A white blur slammed into his side.
Bingya.
The enormous wolf crashed into him like a falling boulder.
Yun Che staggered.
Tianyu was already moving again.
"Heavenly Frost Rend!"
Frost gathered around both claws.
Blue crescents slashed toward Yun Che.
The armor vents erupted.
Compressed Ki blasted outward.
Yun Che shot sideways.
The icy claws barely missed his helmet.
The attack carved deep scars across the reinforced arena instead.
Bingya attacked again.
Only—
He stopped.
The wolf's eyes widened.
Steel wires.
Dozens of them.
No.
Hundreds.
They tightened around his legs.
His neck.
His armor.
His tail.
The audience collectively blinked.
"When..."
"How?"
Even Tianyu frowned.
He had watched Yun Che continuously.
He had never seen him deploy them.
Yun Che stepped forward.
The massive cleaver descended.
CLANG!
Bingya was launched backward.
Before the wolf even landed—
Yun Che swung again.
Ki Slash.
A genuine one.
The pale blue crescent smashed into Bingya.
Sending him tumbling across the frozen ground.
Then...
Yun Che's left arm shifted.
Panels opened.
Metal rotated.
The audience froze.
"...What?"
"...A cannon?"
Inspired by the Hundred-Eyed Hollow.
A compact cannon had been integrated into his left gauntlet.
Without hesitation—
BOOM!
The projectile screamed toward Tianyu.
He vanished.
The blast exploded harmlessly behind him.
"Too slow!"
Tianyu accelerated again.
"Ice Prison!"
His Frost Aura had already frozen much of the battlefield.
Now...
That frozen ground answered him.
Ice erupted around Yun Che's boots.
Locking his legs firmly in place.
"Got you."
Tianyu lowered his body.
Bingya recovered instantly.
The pair spun together.
Wind.
Frost.
Rotation.
Everything merged.
"Heavenly Wolf Drill!"
Like twin drills of ice...
They rushed straight toward Yun Che.
Instead of struggling...
Yun Che calmly raised one hand.
"Ki Barrier."
A transparent wall materialized.
CRACK!
The first impact shook it.
Second.
Third.
Fractures spread everywhere.
Three seconds.
That was all it lasted.
Three seconds...
Were enough.
The ice shattered.
The boosters exploded.
Yun Che blasted backward through the air.
At the same time...
Half a dozen grenades scattered beneath him.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Smoke.
Snow.
Fire.
Ice.
Everything erupted together.
Yet...
Through the explosions...
Two figures emerged.
Completely undeterred.
Tianyu.
Bingya.
Still charging.
Their momentum never stopped.
They crashed directly into Yun Che.
The cleaver barely intercepted their combined strike.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Then—
BANG!
A rifle shot rang across the arena.
Tianyu's instincts screamed.
He twisted.
Too late.
The Mountain Piercer struck his chest.
His armor flared brilliantly.
The force threw him several meters backward.
He skidded across the stone before finally stopping.
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone slowly looked around.
Yun Che still held the cleaver.
He had never drawn the rifle.
Tianyu slowly stood.
He looked toward Yun Che.
Then...
Toward the surrounding battlefield.
His eyes narrowed.
He smiled.
"I knew something felt wrong."
Yun Che remained perfectly still.
"Oh?"
"You've been hiding your scent."
Tianyu pointed toward the armor.
"Some kind of herb or oil."
"I couldn't smell you."
He glanced toward the wires.
"Then the wire attack."
"I never saw you launch them."
Finally...
He looked toward the distant rooftop where the rifle barrel briefly disappeared behind cover.
"And now..."
"The Mountain Piercer."
"You never even held it."
Realization spread through the audience.
Captain Han chuckled quietly.
"Of course..."
Tianyu laughed.
"You bastard."
"You're using a puppet."
A distorted voice answered from somewhere completely different.
"...Who knows?"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Master Fu burst into laughter.
"I taught that boy runes."
"I didn't teach him to become this devious."
Lord Shen smiled as he watched the battlefield.
"Interesting..."
"Very interesting."
The duel...
Had only just begun.