Shin raised his hand and roared, "Begin!"
Riyal's wand shimmered gold, runes glowing across its length. The ground shook as ancient stone surged upward, shaping into a towering golem—twice Feng Yun's height, its fists as wide as carriages. Dust and debris danced around its feet as it stomped forward with thunderous weight.
Riyal leapt onto its shoulder, eyes gleaming with arrogance.
"Crush him!" he commanded.
The golem lunged with terrifying speed for its size. Its fist came crashing down like a falling mountain. But when the dust cleared—Feng Yun was gone.
Gasps swept through the audience.
"Where did he go?!"
"He didn't vanish," someone whispered. "He moved too fast for the eye to follow…"
A mocking voice echoed through the arena like a ghost on the wind."You're slow, Riyal. What happened to your confidence, genius?"
Riyal's expression contorted. "Damn you! I'll kill you!"
A flash of black.
Feng Yun reappeared beside the golem's upper arm. His katana pulsed with black Qi, dark and devouring. Without hesitation, he struck—piercing directly into the shoulder joint.
A deep crack echoed like a thunderclap.
Then—the golem crumbled.
Its massive frame collapsed in an instant, stone shattering and limbs tumbling. Riyal was thrown through the air, hitting the arena floor in a dazed sprawl.
The crowd was stunned into silence.
"How did he…?"
"He found the core," someone murmured. "Most golems have it in the chest—but he knew it was in the shoulder. One strike was enough."
In the royal box above, fear took root.
King Feng Han gripped the edge of his chair, his knuckles pale."T-that's not my brother… That's a demon in his skin."
The general's face was tight."My king… That sword aura, that movement speed—he's at the Fifth Stage, and yet even I, at the Eighth of the Awakened Path, couldn't replicate that."
Minister Van leaned forward, eyes flicking between the arena and the horrified king."My lord, we can't afford to—"
SLAP.
The king's palm crashed across Van's cheek.
"You're worried about appearances? My throne is slipping beneath me and you're preaching caution?! This is your doing. You kept saying the timing wasn't right. Should've killed him while we had the chance! Unless… unless you're with him now?!"
As they argued, the general's thoughts drifted."I once followed Feng Yun. He forgave his enemies, even those who didn't deserve it. But this… this isn't the man I served. He's colder. Smarter. Unstoppable."
Down below, the crowd murmured uncertainly.
Some booed Riyal's failure. Others were in awe of Feng Yun's display—defeating a prodigy five stages higher with ease.
Riyal staggered to his feet, bloodied but burning with fury. His voice cracked as he raised his wand toward Shin.
"I'll win next time! I… I promised my sister I'd make it to the finals…"
His lips trembled—not with anger, but fear.
"I gave—"
THUNK.
A sword pierced through his neck before the words could leave his mouth.
Blood spilled from Riyal's eyes. His mouth opened in disbelief, his trembling hand still reaching for the sky.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Feng Yun said nothing.
No one moved.
No one dared.
Even Shin froze.
Yichen, up in the stands, stared—shocked into stillness. This wasn't the father he remembered. This wasn't a man who hesitated.
Feng Yun calmly approached the corpse. He placed his hand atop Riyal's head.
"Devour."
A quiet ripple of void energy shimmered in his palm, invisible to most. A golden wisp of soul essence rose from Riyal's body and vanished into Feng Yun's grasp.
Using demonic or forbidden arts is punishable by death in the Feng Kingdom…
The system whispered:
| Ding... Congratulations, Host. You've advanced to Awakened Path – 1st Stage. || Two unknown skills detected. || Analyzing… || New Skills Acquired: [Serpentsteps], [Shura Sword Art]. |
Feng Yun exhaled. The power flooding his veins felt intoxicating. His spine straightened. His gaze sharpened.
"Ah… this is real strength."
Shin, shaking slightly, lifted his trembling voice."T-the winner of this match is… Feng Yun!"
For a breath, the arena was silent.
Then the cheers began—hesitant at first.
A handful stood and clapped, unsure whether to celebrate or stay seated. Others stared at Riyal's body, face-down in a pool of blood, a sword through his neck.
"He… he killed him without hesitation," someone whispered.
"But Riyal surrendered…" another murmured. "Didn't he?"
"No rules were broken," someone else countered. "Killing's allowed now."
Whispers turned to roars. Some chanted Feng Yun's name like he was a war god returned. Others watched with narrowed eyes, uncertain—awed, but afraid.
In the back rows, an old soldier crossed his arms.
"This isn't the same king we buried five years ago…"
A young girl clutched her mother's hand. "Mama, why didn't anyone help him?"
The mother looked away.
Shin tried to announce the next match.
But Feng Yun raised his hand. And the crowd fell silent.
He stepped forward, his black robe fluttering slightly.
"Citizens of the Feng Kingdom," he said. "This festival celebrates strength, does it not?"
The people murmured, uncertain but listening.
"But what if I told you the matches from this point onward are meaningless?"
A wave of confusion and curiosity swept through the audience.
"Instead," Feng Yun continued, "I offer something greater. A duel unlike any in our history."
He raised his katana—and pointed it directly at the royal box.
"I challenge the current king—my younger brother."
A hush. Then gasps. Then chaos.
"And the wager?" Feng Yun said, voice cutting through the noise. "Either my head… or his throne."
King Han barked a bitter laugh."Does he take me for a fool? I won't stake my life on a game!"
Feng Yun didn't flinch.
"You all remember who I once was—a weak man, broken by grief. A king who searched endlessly for a woman who vanished without a trace. A fool… who forgave everyone, even those who tried to kill him."
He gestured to his scarless, powerful form."But I'm no longer that man. I don't love. I don't forgive. And I don't kneel."
He stepped to the edge of the arena, voice dropping but somehow booming louder than before.
"You didn't inherit the throne, brother. You stole it. By putting me in a coma."
Gasps rippled across the crowd.
Feng Yun's voice dropped to a razor's edge."Shall I tell them why you really fear me?"
Han's face blanched.
Feng Yun pointed his blade again.
"You're the one who kidnapped the children of Yuana Church. You raped them. Sold them. You trafficked humans through Soliva City's underground like livestock."
Han shot to his feet, face red with fury and fear."LIES! WHEN DID I—HOW DARE YOU—?!"