The arena in Tethar Town was nothing like Kailash had ever seen.
Stone walls stretched high above, casting the battleground in partial shadows, while rows of spectators filled every tier, murmuring in anticipation.
As Kailash and the other competitors gathered at the arena's edge, a tall man with a booming voice, clearly the tournament's overseer, stepped into the center.
"Welcome to the Jade Youth Tournament!" he called out, his voice echoing through the arena. "This is where the strongest among you will rise. Each match is a test, not only of strength but of wit, resilience, and spirit. And remember, mercy is allowed, but weakness will not be forgiven."
The crowd roared, and Kailash felt a chill.
This was no village sparring match; this was serious.
"Nervous?" came a voice from beside him.
Kailash turned to see a boy around his age, wearing the uniform of the Golden Fang Sect, a prestigious organization from a neighboring village.
He had a confident smirk, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword.
"Just excited," Kailash replied, refusing to let his nerves show.
The boy chuckled. "Excited to be crushed, maybe. I don't know what hole you crawled out of, but don't expect to last long against us sect-trained types."
Kailash gritted his teeth, deciding not to rise to the bait.
He had plenty of time to prove himself in the ring.
As the first pair of contestants entered the arena, Kailash felt the tension in the crowd shift.
A boy with a battle-axe, burly and strong, faced off against a wiry girl with quick, calculating eyes.
The overseer announced their names and cultivation levels both at Basic Level 3 then stepped back, signaling the start.
The boy with the axe rushed forward, bellowing, his axe slicing down with an audible whoosh.
The girl sidestepped with ease, smirking as she darted forward, landing a punch to his side that made him stagger.
"You'll have to be faster than that!" she taunted, and the crowd laughed.
But the boy's eyes narrowed.
He swung again, this time feinting, and when she dodged, he twisted his grip, catching her in a low sweep that sent her sprawling.
She gasped, clearly winded, and rolled back just in time to avoid another brutal swing.
Their exchange continued with blow after blow, the crowd cheering every time one of them landed a hit.
Kailash found himself clenching his fists, caught up in the intensity.
He could feel the tension and the stakes in every swing, every dodge.
Finally, the boy managed to land a solid strike with the blunt end of his axe against the girl's shoulder, sending her to her knees.
She tried to rise, but he leveled the blade at her throat, his face set with determination.
The overseer raised a hand. "The match goes to Jorik of the Ironfist Clan!"
The crowd roared, and Kailash couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and fear.
These weren't the kind of fights he was used to; each match was brutal, relentless, and ended only when one fighter couldn't go on.
Next up was a slender boy with a spear from a small sect, facing a girl from the Crimson Viper Sect.
Kailash watched closely, taking in every move.
The boy was fast, his spear darting forward like a snake, but the girl's movements were fluid, her body twisting and evading with the grace of a dancer.
The girl seemed to glide around the boy, her hands snapping forward with small, sharp strikes that left him staggering.
Her expression was cold, unyielding, her eyes focused solely on her opponent.
She didn't say a word, didn't taunt or sneer just attacked with quiet efficiency.
Finally, she landed a palm strike against his chest that sent him flying back.
He skidded across the ground, gasping, clearly unable to stand.
The overseer raised a hand.
"The match goes to Lian of the Crimson Viper Sect!"
Kailash couldn't help but feel his stomach tighten.
The girl, Lian, barely glanced at her fallen opponent, her expression blank as she left the arena.
There was no mercy here, no room for kindness.
As match after match continued, Kailash's turn grew closer.
Each battle showed him just how dangerous this world was.
Fighters were wielding techniques he had never seen, using movements and skills that left him both amazed and wary.
Many competitors fought with weapons, while others relied on hand-to-hand techniques, their Qi amplifying every movement.
Finally, after what felt like hours, Kailash heard his name called.
"Kailash Varuna, from Kalith Village!"
The crowd murmured, clearly unfamiliar with him.
He could almost feel the spectators sizing him up, judging him based on his simple clothing and lack of a sect emblem.
"Do your best," Ravi muttered from the sidelines, giving him a reassuring nod. "You've got this."
Kailash took a deep breath, stepping into the arena.
Across from him stood his opponent: a tall, thin boy with piercing eyes and a long staff in his hands.
His stance was confident, calm, and there was a faint smirk on his lips.
"Let's make this quick," the boy said, tapping his staff against the ground. "I don't have time to waste on villagers."
Kailash clenched his fists inside his gloves, feeling the Qi-infused energy hum against his skin. "We'll see who's wasting whose time."
The overseer gave the signal, and his opponent immediately lunged forward, swinging his staff in a wide arc.
Kailash barely managed to duck, feeling the rush of air as the staff missed his head by inches.
"Not bad," his opponent sneered, swinging the staff downward. Kailash rolled to the side, coming up in a crouch.
He struck back with a quick punch, using the gloves to amplify his Qi.
His fist connected with the boy's side, and his opponent staggered, his smirk vanishing.
"So, you're not just some country weakling," the boy muttered, eyes narrowing.
Kailash took the opening and attacked again, swinging his fist toward the boy's chest.
But his opponent recovered quickly, spinning his staff in a defensive arc that blocked the strike.
The two exchanged blows, each movement calculated and fierce.
The boy's staff gave him a reach advantage, but Kailash's gloves allowed him to hit harder, each punch landing with a force that surprised even him.
"You're tougher than you look," the boy admitted, breathing heavily. "But let's see how you handle this."
He stepped back, his Qi flaring around him as he began a rapid series of strikes with the staff, each one aimed at different points.
Kailash barely managed to block, his arms feeling the impact of every blow.
But he held his ground, refusing to back down.
Finally, Kailash saw his chance.
As the boy raised his staff for another overhead strike, Kailash lunged forward, grabbing the shaft with one hand and yanking it down.
His opponent stumbled, and Kailash didn't hesitate.
He drove his fist forward, channeling all the Qi he could muster, and struck the boy squarely in the chest.
The impact sent him sprawling backward, his staff clattering to the ground as he hit the dirt.
For a moment, there was silence.
The boy lay on the ground, gasping for air, his face twisted in pain.
Kailash stood over him, his heart pounding, his body aching, but he knew he'd won.
The overseer raised a hand. "Victory goes to Kailash Varuna of Kalith Village!"
The crowd erupted, a mix of cheers and surprised murmurs.
Kailash could feel their eyes on him, their judgment shifting as they took in his victory.
As he left the arena, he caught a glimpse of Ravi's face, a proud smile breaking through his usual stern expression.
"Well done," Ravi said quietly, clapping him on the shoulder. "You've taken your first step. Just remember, the road only gets tougher from here."
Kailash nodded, exhaustion settling in but feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
For the first time, he truly felt like he belonged in this world of cultivation.