After listening to Tri Tran's announcement, a jolt of adrenaline surged through me. The tournament was about to begin, and I found myself adjusting my bandages, still damp from earlier injuries. The thorns had driven deep into my arms, and despite the healing potion I had used, the pain lingered, a constant reminder of how severe the wounds were.
The dojo buzzed with activity as competitors stretched, warmed up, and exchanged nervous glances. Just as I started to settle into my routine, something unexpected happened.
Without warning, the walls of the dojo began to shift and reconfigure, emerging from hidden compartments and sliding into place. Heavy, reinforced barriers closed off all exits, trapping everyone inside. The buzz of conversation turned into gasps of shock and confusion as the competitors realized what was happening.
A loudspeaker crackled to life, filling the now-constrained space with an authoritative voice. "Attention, competitors! Due to the overwhelming number of participants, this round will be a free-for-all. The last fifty individuals remaining will advance to the next round. Killing is allowed. I repeat, killing is allowed."
A wave of murmurs and anxious whispers swept through the crowd. The announcement had thrown everyone into disarray. This wasn't the tournament we had been expecting. The stakes had just been raised dramatically.
I glanced around, taking in the sight of competitors grappling with the new reality. Some looked determined, while others seemed paralyzed with fear. The sudden shift from a structured competition to a lethal free-for-all was jarring, but I knew I had to stay focused.
The walls had sealed us in, and there was no turning back. The sound of shuffling feet and the murmur of voices filled the air as competitors began to assess their surroundings and prepare for the fight.
I steeled myself and moved to a more secure corner of the dojo, my mind racing with strategies. I briefly considered using a portal to escape, but the announcer's next words quashed that idea.
"The arena will be monitored. Anyone attempting to escape or cheat will be disqualified and dealt with accordingly. Good luck, and may the strongest survive."
With that, the dojo fell into a tense silence as the competitors began to make their moves. The once orderly tournament had transformed into a chaotic battlefield. I knew I had to be strategic and vigilant to make it through this unexpected turn of events.
As the first clashes erupted around me, I took a deep breath and readied myself for the brutal contest ahead. The rules had changed, but the goal remained the same: survive and advance.
As I was walking around, avoiding any fights, I found myself being confronted by a man.
"You're wrapped in bandages… seems like an easy target to kill," the man said ominously.
"Look, I don't want to fight, and even though my arms are injured, I can still kill you," I replied, my voice steady despite the tension in the air.
He grinned wickedly, drawing a blade that glinted in the dim light. "We'll see about that."
Just as he lunged at me, ready to strike, a vine shot out of nowhere, wrapping around his arm and yanking him backward with a force that sent him crashing to the ground.
"He's mine to kill," a cold, familiar voice rang out. My eyes widened in shock as Violet stepped out of the shadows, her gaze icy and determined.
"Violet?!" I blurted out, unable to hide my surprise. "How did you get in here without a ticket?!"
She smirked, her expression unreadable. "Let's just say I have some strong connections. It's amazing what being related to powerful people can do." Her words dripped with sarcasm, but there was an edge to them that made it clear she wasn't lying.
The man struggled against the vine, trying to free himself, but the more he fought, the tighter it constricted. Violet tightened her grip, the thorns on the vines digging into his flesh, drawing blood. His defiance quickly turned to fear as he realized he was outmatched.
"You think you can take me down, little girl?" the man snarled.
Violet didn't respond with words. Instead, she tightened the vine even further, the thorns biting deeper until the man's struggles ceased. His eyes widened with terror before the life drained from them completely.
I stared at Violet, a mix of shock and anger surging through me. "I didn't need your help."
Violet gave me a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a smirk. "Consider it a favor. I don't like people taking what's mine."
"What's yours?" I repeated, my voice cold.
"Magnus," she said, stepping closer, her gaze locking onto mine. "In this tournament, there are no friends—only enemies. But I'm not ready to kill you. Not yet."
A thought flashed through my mind—maybe I could use her to get rid of some of the competition. If Violet was determined to keep me alive just to kill me herself, I might as well take advantage of it. She could be a useful ally, at least for now.
Before I could respond, another competitor came charging at me from behind. Violet whipped around, her vines lashing out and catching the attacker mid-stride. The vines wrapped around his torso, squeezing until he was immobile, his weapon clattering to the ground.
Violet turned back to me, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "Like I said, you're mine."
The realization hit me hard. Violet wasn't protecting me—she was claiming me as her prey, waiting for the right moment to strike. My heart pounded as I realized the depth of her cunning.
"Remember," she said, her voice calm and deadly, "In this place, there are no allies. Only competitors."
I didn't respond. But as I moved further into the dojo, a plan began to form. If I could play along, I might just survive this round with her clearing out the weaker opponents for me. Let her think she has the upper hand—until I'm ready to take it back.
"Attention, everyone! You can now see the number of Ascenders left on the board."
As the announcement echoed through the dojo, I glanced up at the scoreboard. "Ninety-seven left… this is going to be a long day," I muttered under my breath.
The dojo had become a battleground of chaos. Fights broke out everywhere, with weapons clashing, abilities firing off, and the cries of combatants filling the air. It was utter pandemonium, with every competitor fighting for survival. The tension was palpable, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
Vines snaked across the ground, some coming dangerously close to my feet. I knew they were Violet's, but I didn't have time to worry about her plans right now. Just as I was about to dodge them, something strange happened.
The air around me seemed to shimmer, and before I could react, I was suddenly pulled into a different space. I realized immediately what had happened—someone had activated a simple realm.
A simple realm is like a stripped-down version of a spiritual realm, a space that any A-rank Ascender or above can create. Unlike a full spiritual realm, which is very powerful, a simple realm is just used to trap others and also empower everyone inside the realm.
I quickly realized that I wasn't alone. There were about twenty others here, all of them caught in this strange realm just like me. The realm felt like it was amplifying everyone's powers, making them stronger than they were outside. My heart raced as I tried to assess the situation.
Suddenly, three of the competitors, who seemed to be working together, noticed me. Their eyes zeroed in on my bandages, and they saw an easy target. Without hesitation, they attacked. Two of them charged at me head-on, while the third—a stealth user—disappeared from sight.
I fought back with everything I had, using my Wind Blades to keep the first two at bay. The blades cut through the air, sharp and precise, but they weren't enough to overwhelm the enhanced strength of my attackers. They dodged and weaved, forcing me on the defensive.
My focus was on the two in front of me, and I almost missed the stealth user sneaking up from behind. He moved silently, his blade aimed right at my back. Just as I was about to counter, I felt a sharp pain in my side. The assassin had struck, and blood seeped from the wound. I stumbled, the pain nearly bringing me to my knees.
The assassin moved in for the kill, his blade poised to strike again. Desperation clawed at my mind. I knew I couldn't take another hit, not in this state. My thoughts raced, and there was only one option left—something I had been hesitant to use.
Summoning every ounce of mana I had left, I activated Spatial Disruption.
The effect was immediate and devastating. A dark rift tore through the realm, a void of nothingness that sucked in everything around it. The energy within the simple realm destabilized, and the very fabric of the space began to collapse. The twenty competitors, including the ones who had attacked me, were caught in the disruption. They were disintegrated almost instantly, their screams cut short as they were swallowed by the void.
The realm itself couldn't withstand the power of the Spatial Disruption. It shattered, and I was thrown back into the real world, the chaotic dojo reappearing around me. But the strain was too much. My vision blurred, and I could feel consciousness slipping away. I had used everything I had left.
As I fell to the ground, barely holding on, I saw Violet's face come into view. Her expression was a mix of fear and awe. She had witnessed what I had done, and for a moment, I thought she might finish me off then and there.
But instead, she knelt beside me, her hands trembling slightly. "Magnus…," she whispered, her voice betraying her shock. "That was something else."
She hesitated, then made a decision. "I'm not letting you die here," she muttered to herself, almost as if trying to convince herself of something. She glanced around, realizing that the chaos of the free-for-all was still raging. Competitors were still fighting, but for now, it seemed like no one had noticed us.
Violet carefully lifted me, her vines wrapping around my body to support me. "I'll protect you… for now," she said, her voice a mix of determination and uncertainty. She began to move, taking me to a safer area within the dojo, away from the immediate danger.
As my consciousness faded completely, I could hear the faint sounds of battle continuing around us. But Violet's presence was reassuring, and for a moment, I allowed myself to believe that I might just make it through this after all.