The crowd inside the Grand Hunter Arena was still roaring.
Moments ago, they had witnessed one of the most brutal opening matches in the history of the World Hunter Tournament.
The battlefield was still filled with massive craters left behind by the clash between Kael Varyn and Talon Grimfang.
Chunks of reinforced spirit stone littered the ground.
Arena staff hurried in to repair the damage using restoration artifacts and earth-element abilities.
Meanwhile, Kael walked down the exit corridor beneath the arena.
His breathing had finally returned to normal.
The fight had pushed him harder than he expected.
But it had also given him something far more valuable.
System Notification
Bloodline Evolution Progress
Primordial Berserker Awakening: 5%
Kael glanced at the floating system screen.
"Only five percent…"
That meant ninety-five percent of the power hidden within his bloodline was still locked.
If five percent already gave him this much strength…
He could barely imagine what one hundred percent would be like.
The system displayed another message.
Level Update
Level: 40
Strength: 128
Agility: 101
Endurance: 134
Spirit Energy: 87
Perception: 96
New Skill Available.
Kael tapped the notification.
A new skill appeared.
Skill Unlocked
Berserker Impact
Rank: Rare
Description: Converts accumulated battle damage into explosive physical power.
Effect: Each injury increases attack power temporarily.
Kael smiled faintly.
"A skill made for berserkers."
The more damage he took in battle…
The stronger he would become.
It perfectly matched his bloodline.
But before he could think further—
A deafening explosion shook the entire arena above.
BOOOOOOOM!
Kael stopped walking.
"What was that?"
Another explosion followed.
Lightning crackled through the ceiling of the corridor.
Kael frowned.
"That aura…"
He recognized it immediately.
Up above, the audience had erupted into wild cheers again.
The next match had already begun.
The announcer's voice echoed across the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"The next battle of Round One is about to begin!"
"Entering the arena first…"
"A warrior feared across the hunter world for his destructive power!"
"The Thunder Tyrant himself!"
"Kaizer Stormborn!"
The entire stadium shook with excitement.
Lightning erupted across the arena.
A tall man stepped onto the battlefield.
Storm clouds formed above him.
Electric arcs crawled across his arms and shoulders.
Every step he took released sparks across the ground.
The pressure of his aura alone made the air feel heavy.
Even veteran hunters watching from the stands looked uneasy.
Because Kaizer Stormborn wasn't just powerful.
He was one of the most dangerous young hunters in the world.
Kaizer stretched his neck lazily.
Crack.
Lightning sparked between his fingers.
Across from him stood his opponent.
A powerful warrior named Magnus Earthshaker.
Magnus belonged to the Earth Elemental bloodline.
His body was massive, his skin covered in stone-like armor formed from earth energy.
He crossed his arms confidently.
"I've been waiting to fight you."
Kaizer glanced at him.
"Oh?"
Magnus slammed his fist into the ground.
BOOM.
Massive stone pillars erupted around him.
"I'm going to prove lightning can't break the earth."
The crowd cheered loudly.
But Kaizer just sighed.
"You talk too much."
The referee raised his hand.
"Fighters ready!"
Energy barriers formed around the arena again.
"Begin!"
Magnus attacked first.
The entire battlefield shook as giant stone spikes erupted toward Kaizer.
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
BOOOOM!
Each spike was large enough to crush a truck.
But Kaizer didn't move.
He simply raised one hand.
Lightning exploded from his palm.
Skill Activated
Thunder Strike
A blinding flash filled the arena.
CRAAAAACK!
A massive lightning bolt tore through the battlefield.
The stone spikes shattered instantly.
Magnus's eyes widened.
"What—"
Before he could react—
Kaizer vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Magnus.
Lightning wrapped around his fist.
"You're too slow."
CRASH.
The punch landed.
The impact sounded like a thunderclap.
Magnus's entire stone armor shattered.
His massive body launched across the arena like a cannonball.
BOOOOOOM!
He smashed into the arena wall.
The entire stadium fell silent.
The fight had lasted less than five seconds.
Magnus collapsed unconscious.
The referee stared in shock before raising his hand.
"WINNER…"
"KAIZER STORMBORN!"
The crowd erupted.
"That was insane!"
"He destroyed Magnus instantly!"
"Lightning bloodlines are terrifying!"
Kaizer turned and began walking away casually.
Like the fight meant nothing.
As Kaizer left the arena, he noticed someone standing at the corridor entrance.
It was Kael Varyn.
The two men stopped walking at the same time.
For a moment—
They simply stared at each other.
Lightning crackled faintly around Kaizer.
Kael's crimson berserker aura stirred slightly.
Kaizer smiled.
"So you're the guy who beat Talon."
Kael nodded.
"And you're the guy who just ended a fight in five seconds."
Kaizer laughed.
"Guess we both made a good first impression."
He walked past Kael.
But just before leaving, he spoke again.
"Don't lose before we fight."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Confident."
Kaizer shrugged.
"Just realistic."
Then he disappeared down the corridor.
Leaving Kael standing there.
But somewhere else in the arena—
A pair of glowing eyes watched everything.
From the VIP observation room sat Zarek Voidborn.
A man with one of the rarest bloodlines in the world.
A hybrid.
Void energy swirled around his fingers as he watched the screens replay the battles.
Kael's fight.
Kaizer's fight.
Then he smiled.
"Interesting."
Two monsters had appeared in the tournament.
But neither of them knew the truth yet.
Because this tournament wasn't just a competition.
It was also a selection.
And soon—
Something far more dangerous than the tournament itself would begin.