Joon said to everyone, "I'm strong now…right?"
'Is this really me talking? Why do I sound so evil? But this power feels so natural, like I've used it before.'
[Since you have devoured the demon centaur, you have claimed these skills:]
[Assassin of Gluttony: Devour dead beings for new skills, strength, speed, durability, etc. Taking all of the feats of the defeated opponent. Shadow art: Martial arts with a shadow and red flame aura that burn on impact. Hell's Mace: Conjure a mace of shadows that causes catastrophic destruction. Ripped Tail: A Tail that is sharp and drains small hints of strength on impact]
'Demonic Qi…it feels…good? No..it doesn't! It's not supposed to feel good! But that bastard Caelan…he immediately gave me up to the centaur..'
Caelan looked at Joon, saying, "What are you looking at, freak?"
The sect leaders said amongst each other:
"Something is brewing up between them."
"We should keep them from—."
"No. We will let this play out. You fail to realize these children were abandoned by their sects, demons and demonic qi impacted their very lives that led to some of their situations. For example: The Veiled Vallis, Originally A fertile valley known for its verdant vistas and sparkling waters, a haven for poets and lovers. The valley is shrouded in perpetual mists that suffocate both light and life. The waters, tainted by demonic essence, turned black, reflecting no light but seemingly swallowing it. Once a lovers' paradise, now a vale of endless sorrow, it's rumored the mists of the Veiled Vallis whisper lost loves, capturing the souls of the heartbroken who dare walk its paths. Next The Crimson Red, Towering mountains known for their breathtaking sunrises that turned the snow-caps into golden hues. As demonic Qi arose from deep within the mountain's core, the snow began to melt, replaced by black stone and jagged peaks that cut the sky, bleeding the clouds until they turned as crimson as the setting sun. Now referred to as the mountains that slash the heavens, they're infamous for the strange beasts that roam the ledges, creatures mutated by the Qi into impossible horrors. There's many more, but some of these children are from those areas. The hatred they have for those who were affected by demons and demonic qi in general will fuel their revenge and their bloodlust to kill."
"Hmph. Alright. We'll let them settle this on their own."
Another sect leader asked, "Do you think they'll be ready in 4 years? You know the Luminous vanguard won't falter."
"Those are our greatest enemies. Those beings of light are more corrupt than those who try to harness the devils Qi."
"Shall we start the next wave?"
"No. We will watch this. This might be pivotal."
Down in the arena again, Joon smiled at Caelan, "You threw me to the fucking centaur.."
Caelan cracked his knuckles, "Yeah, what about it? I did what I had to do. We wanna survive, and we couldn't let a brat like you get in the way."
Elara stepped in between them, saying, "Killing each other will not resolve anything—."
Caelan kicked Elara on the side, making her bash into the wall.
"No one asked you to butt in!" Caelan screamed.
Elara sat up, already covered in blood, holding her hip, thinking, 'He barely kicked me…and yet…? What gate of qi cultivation is he? Based off that, he seems to be in the 4th gate. I would go kill him for that, but…in the current state I'm in right now, after holding off an entire wave of demon centaurs I'm not 100%, not even 20%. It's suicidal.'
4th Gate: Gate of Refinement* - Here, practitioners refine the quality of their Qi, making it purer and more potent, which enables more precise and powerful applications.
Torin, on the side, said, "He's about to go crazy! I don't want us to kill each other! We're a team! Right?"
Caelan scoffed to him, "Fuck teams! Most if you seem to forget what happened! How beings like this brat fucked us over! We're in this situation because of him! Dark magic…dark qi…they're all connected! I will eradicate all of those bastards!"
Zephyr said, "Your heart is corrupted with anger, Caelan."
"Don't tell me what the hell I have wrong with me. If you've gone through what I've gone through…you would be the same. Shen Wei…my older brother…a demon took him down, and I plan to hunt them all down! Everyone involved with demonic activity!"
The other prospects said:
"It's getting hot in here, literally.."
"He's right though. People like the weak guy are the reasons most of us got what we got."
"The Blood sect is giving us another chance at redemption, we can't lose here. We've all been through things, but killing each other—."
Caelan said to them, "Your words mean nothing. If we don't start with this kid they call Joon, he'll eventually devour us all!"
In the dissonant glow of the arena, Joon's monstrous form sprung forward with predatory grace, his body lowered and slicing through the air on all fours. Eyes glinting with malevolent fire, he dashed at an astonishing speed, covering the distance to Caelan in a blur. The collision was powerful—Joon slammed Caelan against the cold, stone wall, pinning him with a malicious smile. Caelan, undeterred, ignited into his transformation—fiery armor enveloping him, his long flaming hair billowing like a violent, fiery mane.
Caelan said, "I guess I'm going all out too, bitch."
Joon smiled, "Show me something then."
Their battle began.
Caelan countered quickly, his fists morphing into spiked, flaming hammers. He unleashed a devastating uppercut aimed at Joon's chin, the blow searing the air. Joon twisted his nightmarish face, dodging swiftly to the side. The fist grazed him, sending sparks and a wave of heat that singed his cheek. He responded with a swipe of his claw, the black flames leaving trails that etched into the wall, sizzling acidously close to Caelan's face.
The sect leaders, shocked, even using the Blood Eye to take a look at Caelan's Qi level.
"4000."
'He's a 4th gate Qi cultivator at only 14 years old. That's impressive for his age. And he's also used a hidden sect technique But going against Joon…this fight would go one or two ways.'
"The young warrior Caelan," began one elder, his voice a gravelly whisper, "he is an adept of the Baihu Sect's ancient technique—Flaming Tiger Armor. It is a rare skill that invokes the protective spirit of the White Tiger, combining it with the fierce elemental force of fire."
Another responded, a woman with sharp, calculating eyes, nodding slowly. "An art born from the sacred grounds of Mount Tianhuo itself. Since the eruptions at the Fire Shrine, the Baihu Sect has become even more formidable. The demonic Qi has intensified their elemental practices."
"Master Liang has outdone himself,," a third added, stroking his graying beard thoughtfully. "That boy, Caelan, he bridges immense natural talent with the ferocity of his sect's teachings. At just fourteen, to be a fourth gate Qi cultivator with a Qi level of 4000—remarkable!"
"Observe how he utilizes his Qi," a fourth elder interjected, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Each motion, each summoning of fire is more than mere display. With every burst of his Flaming Tiger Armor, he channels his Qi to not only attack but to fortify his resilience. The fluidity of his combat style is quite indicative of his potential mastery over the elemental balance."
"Indeed," agreed the first. "His cultivation of elemental martial arts allows seamless transitions between defense and attack. Notice how his Qi does not falter, even against a foe as formidable as Joon. Each strike he delivers is powered by a profound reservoir of energy, a sign of deep synergy between his spirit and the natural elements."
"It is known through the world that Master Liang believes he could be the key," whispered the woman slowly, "the key to restoring balance, to purging the demonic Qi. If Caelan continues on this path, his mastery over the elemental forces could very well shape the future of not just the Baihu Sect, but of all the lands plagued by this growing darkness."
"The prophecy of the White Tiger's Return," mused another elder, his voice barely audible above the clangor of the battle. "Perhaps it is not just lore. With such prowess at a tender age, Caelan might just embody the spirit of the White Tiger itself—protector and destroyer of evil. But…Caelan was banished by Liang. For reasons unknown. The more we hear them talk, we can find things out."
"But he'll lose to Joon. Joon is from the Hangyang sect, a sect that had friendly relations with the Baihu sect, the Zhuque sect, and the Xuanwu sect. The Hangyang's influence is vast. They're not known for giving up, or being so overly pushed around."
Continuing the battle, Reacting with supernatural agility, Caelan rolled backward, creating a momentary gap between them. With a heavy stomp, he summoned a pillar of flame from the ground, aiming to engulf Joon. Joon, however, leaped high, evading the fiery burst. Mid-air, he conjured a massive, spiked mace of darkness, swinging it in a deadly arc towards Caelan. Caelan's armor flared brighter as he caught the mace with both flame-wrapped fists, the clash sending a shockwave rippling throughout the arena. Using Joon's momentum against him, Caelan twisted, attempting to hurl Joon over his shoulder. Joon, adaptable and fierce, landed on his feet, skidding back, his claws tearing the ground apart, leaving molten trails.
They circled each other like dual suns in orbit, rage palpable in the air. Joon pounced first, claws extended, aiming for a lethal slash across Caelan's chest. Sparks flew as claws met flaming armor, the sound a chilling echo. Caelan absorbed the impact, and with a swift motion, hammered his fists downwards, targeting Joon's exposed sides.
Joon recoiled, feeling the first real pain as the flames bit into his flesh. Smoke rose from singed skin, and as he staggered back, he spewed a stream of black flame from his mouth, aiming to engulf Caelan. The fiery warrior countered by spinning, creating a whirlwind of fire to deflect the acidic flames, turning the arena into a swirling inferno.
'Tch! What other tricks does he have up his sleeve?' Caelan thought.
Blinded momentarily by smoke and fire, Joon relied on his instincts. He sprinted forward, his form almost spectral, weaving through the smoky haze. Emerging from the whirlwind, he delivered a crushing blow with his mace directly into Caelan's midsection, the impact thunderous, sending Caelan crashing into the remnants of a shattered pillar.
"AGH!" Caelan coughed out blood, but sitting up slowly, seeing Joon slouched over with the shadow mace on his back, Joon smiling as blood dripped from his mouth, and steam came from his nose, his black halo giving out a dim black light.
Caelan screamed, "Who are you smiling at, bastard?! We're in the middle of a fight!"
Joon replied, "I can smile all I want. You threw me to the centaur, bitch."
Caelan, hurt but unbroken, pushed up from the rubble. His eyes blazed with unyielding ferocity as he charged, closing the distance. He unleashed a barrage of fiery punches, each strike aimed with precision. Joon parried with his mace, but one blow seared through, landing solidly against his ribcage. Blood splattered, dark and steaming against the scorched ground.
'I'm a 4th gate qi cultivator! I trained hard to eventually fight the demons! This is my first real demon fight, I can't lose here. If I do…I fail Shen Wei.'
Joon hissed, pain igniting a deeper fury within. He spun, his tail whipping out like a dark scythe. Caelan ducked under the sweep, counterattacking with a low kick that swirled flames around Joon's legs, the heat intense enough to char the flesh and fur. Joon leapt away, barely escaping the full brunt of the fiery trap. Regrouping, Joon utilized his nightmarish speed, moving in a confusing pattern of dashes and feints. He closed in, the spiked mace arcing down in a move designed to crush Caelan's skull. Caelan met the strike with raised fists, the collision creating a mini-explosion of flames and shadow. Both warriors felt the shock reverberate through their bones.
Elara thought, 'They're really trying to kill each other. What gate could Joon be? He's not in his right mind in that form either, but was a fragile brat earlier. He's different from the rest of us.'
In the brief deadlock, Caelan's flaming hair swirled and struck like a whip, slashing across Joon's face. A mix of blood and black ichor dribbled down, painting a war mask upon Joon's visage. Snarling, Joon recoiled, then retaliated with a barrage of black flames that he punched in a venomous stream. Caelan, enveloped in his own inferno, advanced through the firestorm unharmed. He thrust forward, turning his hands into spears of pure flame, aiming to impale. Joon dodged sideways, the tip singeing his side, and with a guttural roar, plunged his claws into Caelan's shoulder, dragging him down with savage force.
On the ground, Caelan grappled with Joon, their struggle seismic. With a powerful heave, Caelan flipped Joon off him, both warriors scrambling to their feet. Caelan's armor repaired itself with molten flows of fire, while Joon's wounds began to slowly knit amidst flickering black flames.
Joon grinned, "You're good."
Caelan, breathing heavily, saying, "Are you toying with me….?!"
"Hmmm. Maybe."
"As I thought. You're not different from the others who tried to harness demonic Qi!"
They clashed again, this time with less space, more ferocity. Joon swung his mace destructively, each strike aimed with murderous intent. Caelan's armored fists intercepted, grinding against the dark spikes, creating a symphony of sparks and flame. In a swift maneuver, Caelan ripped the weapon from Joon's grasp, casting it aside, and launched a volley of flame-enhanced hooks to Joon's torso.
These moments were brutal and relentless. Joon reared back, inhaling deeply, then unleashed the fullest extent of his black, acidic flames. Caelan responded by calling upon the deepest wells of his fire, his entire being a beacon of blinding light. As the flames met, an explosion rocked the arena, a vivid display of power and raw elemental fury. When the light and shadow finally settled, both warriors stood, battered and bruised, their breaths heavy with the weight of their undying spirits.
Fueled by the aura of the dead centaurs, Joon's form swelled with ghastly vitality. His speed—already formidable—intensified as he absorbed the dark essence from the fallen. Around the arena, Blood Sect members and prospects, battered and bloodied from their tests, watched in a mix of horror and awe as the demonic combat continued. Ignoring the pain that racked his body, Joon launched himself at Caelan with renewed vigor. His attack pattern was a blur, even more unpredictable and ruthless. The claws and teeth that extended in jagged bursts from his body seemed to embody the very essence of the darkness feeding him. Caelan, encased in his flaming armor, stood ready, his own fiery mane flaring in anticipation.
'This is really me fighting…but the words I'm saying, do I really mean them? I'm smiling, I feel malicious, but it feels right. Like he deserved it. I'm becoming the person my parents didn't want me to become—a bully. But at this point, I don't care. I'll do whatever it takes to win every fight, and get revenge for them.'
The air crackled as Joon launched a ferocious barrage, his mace emerging once more from the swirling black shadows. He swung with reckless abandonment, but each move was measured, aimed to maim or crush. Caelan, his concentration like tempered steel, parried with flame-enveloped fists, the sound of clashing forces reverberating deeply.
In a swift motion, Caelan dipped under a savage strike and thrust his spiked fist upwards, aiming for Joon's jaw. The hit connected, sending a spray of dark ichor into the air. Joon staggered, then reciprocated with a tail swipe, catching Caelan off-guard and slashing across his torso, leaving a trail of seared armor and skin. With the smell of charred flesh and acid in the air, Joon circled back swiftly, positioning himself with predatory precision. He leaped high, descending with the full weight of his darkened form, aiming to crush Caelan under the mace's lethal spikes. Caelan rolled aside, the ground where he had been a moment earlier now a crater of smoldering rock and molten residue.
Using the momentum, Caelan erupted, summoning multiple pillars of fire from beneath to cage Joon momentarily. The fiery barrier seared even the air around it, but Joon, driven by his enhanced state, tore through the blaze with a deafening roar, his form partially obscured by black and red flames.
Caelan said, "You wouldn't know what it's like to suffer like is. I bet you like having that much power!"
Joon responded, "What do you know…?"
"Look at you! You're enjoying this power!"
"I am. Mainly because I never had power before. Because of the demons. My parents didn't want me fighting so I wouldn't go and fight demons, if they ever got killed by them, they didn't want me taking revenge. I remember it all now. It's not fair, honestly. For them to be so selfish but protecting me. You don't know what I've been through either."
Tears ran down Joon's eyes as he continued to fight, and Caelan replied, "Bullshit! I've heard the same things before! You demons try to be like us, but you'll never be us!"
"Do you think I asked for this?! I didn't! I had puppies! And Hana! Now they're gone because of those dumb demons! I was shunned and ridiculed by my sect, the Hangyang, no one would help me or even talk to me, the puppies and Hana were all I had. And you want to tell me I'm a fake?!"
KATHOOM!
Joon punched Caelan in the face, a large explosion of wind and shadow flames shooting from the impact, sending Caelan across the arena, hitting the wall.
Caelan, now breathing heavily, intensified the flames around his fists, his hair almost white-hot with the infernal heat. He launched forward, each step leaving a molten footprint. As they collided once more, the arena seemed too small to contain their fury. Joon, swinging his mace, met Caelan's hammer-like fists. Sparks flew, and for a moment, time seemed to still—their faces inches apart, framed by the primal dance of flame and shadow.
Caelan, tears running down his eyes, "The Hangyang sect…where my older bro Shen Wei was defeated by that demon…were you the demon?!"
"That's when my puppies and Hana got taken! I want to kill that demon as much as you do! Now I have to find a way to hell to go get my puppies back! They fuel hell and its inhabitants with more power, I can't let them be used for that."
As they talked, the other teen prospects had tears in their own eyes, even Elara did, Zephyr did, but Torin just watched, not even smiling. They all were thinking about their lives and how it was impacted by the demons and demonic qi, fully understanding where Joon and Caelan were coming from.
In this close combat, neither yielded. Joon snapped his jaws near Caelan's neck, his teeth finding only the impenetrable heat of flaming armor. In retaliation, Caelan grabbed Joon's mace arm, the armor on his hands glowing dangerously. With a Herculean effort, he twisted, aiming to dislocate. Their clash was titanic, a symphony of destruction. Joon swung his mace downwards with a roar, the weapon enveloped in vile flames, aiming straight at Caelan's head. With milliseconds to spare, Caelan raised his arms, blocking the strike with his forearms, his armor glowing red and his muscles straining under the force. The force of the impact created a shockwave, throwing them both back. Joon, ever relentless, charged again, his claws extended for a lethal strike. But Caelan was ready; with a fluid motion, he sidestepped, allowing Joon to pass, then with all his might, slammed his flaming fist into Joon's back.
Joon's scream was muffled by an explosion of black flame. The blow had landed squarely, searing flesh and skin. Yet, Joon's resilience was terrifying; he spun around, mace in hand, and managed a crushing blow across Caelan's thigh. Caelan stumbled, pain flashing across his features, but he did not fall. Grinding his teeth against the pain, Caelan's next move was one of desperate brilliance. He clasped both hands together, hammering down like a meteor upon Joon's shoulders. The sound was sickening—a mix of crackling flames and crunching bone.
Joon staggered but didn't break. His regenerative powers, fueled by the devoured essence, began to mend his injuries. With a monstrous push, he freed himself from Caelan's fiery grasp and backed away, his eyes a mix of pain and undiluted ferocity.
Both warriors, now visibly weary but unyielding, circled warily. They bore their scars openly—burnt, bleeding, but not broken. Around them, the Blood Sect and the prospects watched in a tense silence, enraptured by the brutal ballet unfolding. With what might have been a grunt or a growl, Joon lunged once more, his entire being an avatar of shadow and destruction. Caelan, enveloped in flame, met him head-on, their collision less like flesh striking flesh and more like the crashing of celestial bodies.
Joon cried tears of blood, "I'm no different from you!"
As the dust settled and the clamor of the crowd became a distant nearly forgotten echo, the true moments of reckoning were upon them. Joon, eyes ablaze with a ferocious gleam, stood steadier now, drawing from the well of his monstrous essence. Black and red flames spiraled tightly around his being, a dark aura palpable in its menace.
Without warning, Joon exploded forward, a blur of shadow and flame. His initial strike was a masterclass in ferocity— a savage uppercut aimed directly at Caelan's jaw. The impact reverberated through the arena, a sonorous declaration of war. As Caelan reeled backward, Joon's claws came next, each swipe laced with black flames, tearing through the air and across Caelan's armor, which hissed and steamed upon contact. With Caelan momentarily staggered, Joon harnessed the essence of his dark powers, churning the air with intense speed. He launched into a vicious spinning kick, a whirlwind of darkness that slammed into Caelan with the weight of nightfall. Each contact was punctuated by a cacophony of blows that sounded like thunder cracks, echoing off the arena walls.
But Joon was not done. Leveraging his demonic agility, he darted behind Caelan, locking him in a crippling hold. He hoisted Caelan into the air, spinning him with terrifying strength. The crowd gasped as Caelan's frame became just a blur within Joon's swirling dark maelstrom. Joon's eyes were wild, his movements a symphony of predatory precision. As they spun, Joon tightened his grip, his claws sinking into Caelan's shoulders, drawing both blood and a pained roar from his opponent. The centrifugal force increased, turning them into a vortex of violence until, at its peak, Joon abruptly released Caelan, sending him hurtling upwards.
The descent was inevitable. Joon, positioned directly below the falling Caelan, prepared his final, devastating move. His arm drew back, coiled like a dark serpent ready to strike. As Caelan descended helplessly, Joon's palm met his chest with brutal force, an unmistakable sound of impact slicing through the tumult of the arena. The finale was a cataclysmic face palm that drove Caelan into the ground, creating a crater beneath him. The ground itself protested with a resounding crash as dust and debris skyrocketed. Around them, the arena felt a moment of stunned silence before erupting into frenzied roars. Joon stood over Caelan, chest heaving, flames and darkness swirling as the victor in this epic battle, his opponent defeated but not dishonored, sprawled beneath him in the testament of their brutal dance.
As the dust settled and the ground ceased its trembling, Joon stood panting heavily, his monstrous form dissipating into the ether until only his human facade remained. Blood marred both their skins—a testament to the battle's ferocity. Around the edge of the crater, the group of teen prospects, fresh and hopeful once, now wore expressions steeped in solemn realization. Slow tears carved paths down their dirt-smudged faces, heavy with the gravity of what they'd just witnessed.
In this moment, beyond their tears, a vision unfolded, unbeknownst to them, as vivid as the battle they had just seen. It was a sunlit garden, verdant and vibrant. Laughter filled the air, an echo of innocence, as younger versions of Joon, Caelan, and the prospects crawled on soft grass, their tiny hands stretching towards the towering statues of their sect leaders. Sunbeams danced through leaves, casting playful patterns on the ground, a scene of peace and protected childhood.
But as their small hands grasped at the bases of the statues, a sudden change swept over the garden. The statues crumbled into nothingness, the sunlight abruptly snuffed out, leaving behind a void from which shadows began to rise. The ground darkened, and from its depths, sinister figures of demons pulled themselves free, their forms casting elongating, threatening shadows over the now darkened memory. The laughter was stolen, replaced with the ominous rustling of unknown terrors waking.
Back at the heart of the arena, Joon's gaze hardened as he absorbed the scene around him—the tearful eyes of the young prospects and the broken form of Caelan at his feet. He breathed out slowly, words emerging hoarse but clear. "This is it—the true meaning of what we endure. It's not just about the fight; it's about understanding abandonment, the stark void that forms when you are forgotten, when you are unloved."
He paused, his voice growing softer, tinged with pain. "To be loved... it's to bask in the sun, safe and sound, under the watchful eyes of those who are meant to guard and guide us. But that love, it can be taken, leaving nothing but shadows in its wake. Leaving us to fight, to scramble in the dark for a semblance of what we once knew."
Joon's words hung heavy over the silent arena, each syllable a painful tick of the clock that counted down their moments of lost innocence. The prospects sobbed a little harder, clutching each other for comfort, their dreams of glory now shaded with the darker hues of truth. Joon looked down at Caelan, offering a hand to help him up, unity in their shared understanding, their shared pains—a somber brotherhood forged in the fires of combat and the shadows of lost idols.
Caelan asked, "Brat…where did you learn that…?"
"My parents. Now..we're forced to be assassins for the Blood Sect, and on our paths to revenge, we can hope they don't abandon us too."
Joon said, looking up at the Blood Sect leaders.