"It's a tragedy, such a hard working youngster taken for a ride by fate."
"No it's not," Vienna rolled his cat eyes, "It's a trial. If he fails then I will not save him. Once one has fallen, they cannot be brought back up by anyone but themselves."
Elder Yu shook his head.
"...You may be powerful," Elder Yu slowly vanished into a fog which then disappeared underground, "But that's it."
Vienna scoffed and closed it's eyes.
"What do you know?"
----
The arena.
Sandy bricks and arid skies, a clear day with the sun high and not a cloud in sight.
People gathered in the arena, their minds focused on the pit below where many would begin to fight soon.
Among them, a youth stood quietly in the very center, all the other fighters surrounding him from afar, sending suspicious glances at him.
A breeze blew through the arena, and a low cold voice carried on it.
"You all wished to see my full strength?"
The crowd's eyes widened, whilst the warriors pupils shrank.
Horrifying powers arose from the youth like whirlwind, his three centers, the Sword, Body and Soul letting out a low ring which seemed to carry the faraway sounds of combat alongside them.
"What are you doing?!" The announcer shouted from above, cold sweat dripping down his back.
The youth was surrounded by a virulent killing intent which was razor sharp like a sword and carried create strength creating a field, those who entered would be cut apart.
The youth smiled.
"...I learn these things at the worst times."
"What?!" The announcer shouted.
"Behold."
The youth's arm seemed to move incomparably slow and yet it drew in the gazes of everyone in the arena, they're gazes focused almost as an instinct!
The sword screamed slowly as it drew, causing many to feel their spines crawl!
Ring!
It rang, terrifying storms of power within his field slowly beginning to coalesce into the sword, creating another two floating blades of bloody killing intent!
One of the warriors who was nearby could no longer take it, his mind shaking horribly he was consumed by the killing intent, shattering his mind and attacked the person nearest to him!
This happened simultaneously all around the arena!
"It's not fair."
The youth raised the sword which seemed to have the reflection of countless entrapped souls within!
"Stop!" An old man charged forward at break neck speed.
The youth glanced over with a grin.
Winds of killing intent diffused everywhere blowing away the weaker practitioners.
A terrifying Sword Qi flew forward cutting through the very winds themselves.
The earth was dug up and the strike slowed slightly, but it was almost instant.
A long ditch ran from the feet of the youth to the edge of the arena leaving a massive scar along the sandy bricks and among the seats.
The youth slowly touched his chest, feeling something changing.
His hair began to whiten slightly, as though all pigment had been drained from it, his gaze becoming a white husk.
"He is undergoing a Berserk State!" The old man yelled, "Everyone, escape!"
The old man's shout came with an even more terrifying burst of Qi which knocked away all resistance, the arena occupants all began to speedily escape save for those in the premium seats who watched with interest.
"Shou Xin! Come back to us!" The old man arrived before the youth-, nay, Shou Xin.
Yet.
A sword light rose from the earthen ditch and shot towards the old man, only hitting an after image.
----
'Ah, what is that?'
'Someone is calling …?'
'Why should I care?'
'I'm a trashcan.'
'Useless.'
'Hated by fate.'
Shou Xin grit his teeth.
His head suddenly turned towards the sky, letting out a beastial roar which caused the sand and dust to fly off in all directions!
His gaze thickened, as something seemed to come into being.
"Ha?"
Shou Xin slowly turned to his side, catching sight of a familiar person.
"Uncle Yu," Shou Xin said coldly, "I figured it out."
"That's good, now come back to us!" Elder Yu held out his hand for Shou Xin, however as Shou Xin was about to make a move, he felt his body begin to shudder and shake making him unable to control himself.
He threw out a terrifying blade of Qi which shattered the stands behind where Elder Yu had been standing.
"I can't control it." Shou Xin said coldly, "Run now."
Elder Yu's facial expression darkened and an overbearing pressure emerged.
"I will keep you in check," Elder Yu circled, "Fight."
Shou Xin closed his eyes, his mind falling into his Inner Sea where the picture of chaos had begun unfolding!
The balance between his Body, Sword and Soul had been ruptured!
His soul… was being ravenously attacked by the Eight Chain Flood Dragon!
It tore at the foundation trying to open it, but it was futile at it could not tear into it, but it could take control over it!
At once, seeing the mental imprint of Shou Xin, the Eight Chain Flood Dragon roared and in the outside world a horrifying blast of energy rocked the area in all direction shattering the earth beneath him in a circle.
Shou Xin caught the gaze of the Flood Dragon, and held it.
The Sea Spring Sword's illusory image appeared in his palm.
Flicking his wrist the waves of Sanguine Sword Qi around rushed forward, yet the Eighth Chain Flood Dragon's whiskers began to shake violently!
A single whisker flew from it's mouth where five others remained, attacking him!
Like lightning moving at break neck speeds it charged straight at Shou Xin's head!
"Sanguine Sword Field!"
Shou Xin's killing intent within his body rose and rushed towards his Inner Sea covering it in a dense fog!
The Eighth Chain Flood Dragon roared and the field almost crumbled instantly!
Yet, that was all Shou Xin needed, appearing behind the Flood Dragon having used the killing intent to conceal his presence!
In an instant, he chopped away at the whiskers, his instincts screaming for him to do so!
Before the flood dragon could react, two whiskers were chopped apart, yet at the same time the whisker which was already free made a bucket sized hole straight through his chest!
His soul shook violently!
However the incredibly thick and dense foundation kept it from directly shattering, keeping it together!
The killing intent which had been shattered quickly regenerated and formed tens of swords within the Sanguine Sword Field!
Sanguine Sword Steps!
Shou Xin's figure vanished, despite the immense pain literally ripping through his soul, he endured it with blood shot eyes appearing directly in front of the Eighth Chain Flood Dragon which bite forward!
Yet, in the instant that it did, the swords hidden within the field struck forward chopping off another two whiskers!
It roared in immense pain dispersing the field!
Yet, this time the field did not regenerate!
Shou Xins illusory image had become incredibly faint and was almost gone!
Only two whiskers remained and the Eighth Chain Flood Dragon appeared to be just as strong as before!
Shou Xin fell back his knee stopping an instant before touching the ground, as a terrible pride awoke in his mind forcing him to rise.
The Eighth Chain Flood Dragon charged forward, it's whisker taking the lead as it aimed directly for Shou Xins heart, piercing it!
The Eighth Chain Flood Dragon's pupils shook slightly as it looked at it's prey which had caused it much pain, unable to wait to relish such a prize!
It's jaws, unhinged and horrifying powers arose seeking to send a vengeful strike of pure, unaligned Qi.
As it arrived just before Shou Xin, it's face paled, an inexplicable sense of danger rising in it's body as it tried to escape.
"It's just not fair."