Lan Mei stepped into the ring with calm confidence, her silver hair glistening in the sunlight. Her cold blue eyes locked onto Yin Bai, and she tilted her chin slightly upward, an air of arrogance in her posture. She had watched her brother's defeat at Yin Wei's hands, and now it was her turn. She promised herself she wouldn't make the same mistakes and would avenge her brother in the final battle.
"I won't lose like my brother did," she said coolly, her voice steady.
Yin Bai didn't care. He remained calm, his expression as still as a placid lake. He could feel the tension in the air, but he didn't let it faze him. His heart was steady as he regulated his breathing. Over the years, he had learned how to keep calm in important situations. He had fought countless battles, but none tougher than this. It was a different world, where teens could overpower any martial artist from Earth.
"Begin!" Instructor Lei's voice rang out, signaling the start of the match.
Both fighters exploded into action. Lan Mei moved like a blur, her form light and graceful, as though she were dancing across the arena. Her footwork was impeccable and precise. She attacked swiftly, closing the distance between them in a flash, her silver robes flowing like water. Her palms glowed with the power of her Divine Essence fragments as she launched rapid strikes toward Yin Bai.
Yin Bai's body reacted instinctively, dodging and parrying her blows. His expression never changed, but he could feel the strength behind her attacks. They weren't wild or reckless; each strike was precise, aimed at weak points in his defense.
Smack!
A strike glanced off his shoulder, sending a sharp jolt through his arm. But he didn't falter.
Lan Mei's eyes gleamed as she pressed her advantage, her strikes coming faster and more fluid. But Yin Bai wasn't panicking. He had felt this pressure before—many times. His body moved in sync with his mind, conserving energy, only blocking when necessary and letting her attacks slide off his defense like water over stone.
Minutes passed, and Lan Mei showed no sign of letting up. Her silver hair whipped around her face as she continued her barrage, her breathing controlled. But Yin Bai noticed something: despite her impressive speed and precision, she was burning through her Divine Essence fragments rapidly. He could feel it—her energy flickered, just slightly, but it was enough for him to see the cracks beginning to form in her defense.
Lan Mei jumped back. She wiped sweat from her brow, her eyes narrowing. She had given it her all in the opening moments, hoping to overwhelm him, but Yin Bai barely looked like he had broken a sweat.
But in reality, he felt the pressure; he was just great at acting, and his stamina training was no joke.
He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and seemingly calm. He wasn't flashy—he didn't need to be. His strength lay in his ability to endure, to outlast, and to strike when the moment was right.
Lan Mei's eyes flashed with determination. She wasn't done yet. She summoned more Divine Essence fragments, this time focusing them into her legs, enhancing her speed even further. With a burst of energy, she shot forward, her form becoming almost a blur as she weaved around him, striking from different angles.
Yin Bai's eyes tried to follow her every move, but she was becoming too fast. So, he decided it was better to just defend while waiting, analyzing, studying the patterns in her attacks. He could sense her growing desperation, the strain on her body as she pushed herself beyond her limits. She decided that she had dragged it on for too long, and she jumped toward Yin Bai, putting all her strength into her left fist.
Seeing this, Yin Bai sidestepped her attack with almost no room for error, his body moving like a shadow. He spun around her, his palm glowing faintly with Divine Essence, and slammed his hand into her back with a controlled but powerful strike.
Her breathing was heavy now, her once-graceful movements becoming sluggish. Yin Bai could see it—the fatigue, the strain. She had used too much, too fast, and now she was paying the price.
But Yin Bai wasn't finished.
He could tell she had used everything for that one punch. He moved in to finish the fight. He used 50% of his remaining Essence on his legs to enhance his speed, delivering a leg sweep that knocked her down and pressing his palm to her neck.
"Stop, the winner is Yin Bai!" Instructor Lei's voice boomed across the arena.
Lan Mei bit her lip, a slight bitterness in her eyes.
Yin Bai stepped out of the arena, his breathing not as regular as before. He was panting, but he tried to hide it. He went to the furthest corner, where no one was around, and sat down to rest.