The morning sun rose sluggishly, as if it too wasn't ready for the chaos about to unfold in the arena.
Kailash stood in the shaded waiting area with the other competitors, yawning despite himself.
The soreness from the previous day still clung to his muscles, but the excitement buzzing in the air was contagious.
In the distance, the crowd was already chanting, the arena packed with spectators eager to see who would survive Round Two.
The Tournament Announcer a man whose voice seemed to be magically amplified to shake the arena's stones stepped forward into the spotlight.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he bellowed, stretching his arms theatrically. "Welcome to Round Two of the Jade Youth Tournament! The stakes are higher, the challenges tougher, and the likelihood of survival... questionable!"
Kailash glanced at Ravi, who had tagged along to offer his usual mix of support and sarcasm. "Questionable? That's reassuring."
Ravi smirked. "Better get used to it, kid. This round separates the fools from the truly unlucky."
Kailash sighed, gripping the hilt of his Basic Spirit Sword which, thankfully, hadn't screamed yet this morning.
He didn't think he could handle a shrieking sword and the anxiety of the next round simultaneously.
"The Rules of Round Two!" the announcer continued, pacing dramatically. "Each contestant will face multiple opponents or spiritual beasts in the arena. To advance, you have two choices: either withstand their attacks for five minutes or eliminate all enemies to earn an immediate victory. Remember there is no shame in surviving. Only in running away!"
The crowd cheered wildly, clearly eager to see some carnage.
Kailash muttered to himself, "No shame in surviving, huh? Sounds like the motto for my life."
Ravi clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't get killed. It's hard to train someone who's dead."
The announcer called out the name of the first contestant, a wiry young man named Haren of the Stormclaw Sect.
Haren stepped into the arena with a look of grim determination, carrying a staff crackling faintly with lightning energy.
His opponents followed a trio of fighters, each wielding different weapons, and a single spiritual beast that resembled a giant lizard with scales gleaming like metal.
"Well, that's not fair," Kailash muttered, watching as Haren sized up his enemies.
Ravi crossed his arms. "Fairness isn't in the rulebook, kid. This is cultivation."
The match began with a deafening roar from the crowd.
The three fighters wasted no time, rushing at Haren in unison.
Meanwhile, the spiritual beast circled around, its yellow eyes gleaming with predatory intelligence.
Haren twirled his staff, arcs of lightning rippling outward in a wide circle.
The first attacker, a burly man with an axe, was forced to leap back, narrowly avoiding the crackling energy.
"Not bad," Kailash said, leaning forward slightly. "But he's outnumbered. How's he going to keep that up?"
Haren ducked under the second opponent's sword slash, countering with a jab from his staff that sent a bolt of lightning through the attacker's arm.
The man cried out, dropping his weapon and retreating.
"One down," Kailash muttered, though his brow furrowed as he noticed the spiritual beast creeping closer.
The lizard-like creature suddenly leaped forward, its claws extended.
Haren barely managed to dodge, the beast's claws raking through the dirt where he had been standing.
Before he could recover, the third opponent a girl wielding twin daggers slashed at his back, leaving a shallow but bloody wound.
Haren gritted his teeth, spinning his staff to deflect the follow-up attack.
The lightning crackled more fiercely now, arcs of energy lashing out in unpredictable bursts.
The girl with the daggers cried out as one bolt caught her leg, forcing her to retreat.
The crowd roared in approval as Haren turned his attention to the spiritual beast.
He planted his staff in the ground, summoning a larger burst of lightning that danced across the arena floor.
The beast growled, its scales absorbing some of the energy, but not all. It staggered, giving Haren the opening he needed.
He lunged forward, driving the end of his staff into the beast's chest.
The lightning surged, and with a deafening crack, the creature collapsed, its scales still sizzling.
The final opponent the burly man with the axe charged again, but Haren was ready.
With a final, powerful swing of his staff, he struck the man in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The crowd erupted as the announcer declared, "Victory to Haren of the Stormclaw Sect!"
Haren stood in the center of the arena, his chest heaving and his staff still sparking faintly.
He was alive, but barely.
"That looked brutal," Kailash said, his voice quieter now.
Ravi nodded. "This round isn't about looking good it's about surviving. If you're smart, you'll go for the five-minute strategy. No need to take unnecessary risks."
Kailash scratched his head. "Yeah, that's good advice, but when have I ever been smart?"
Ravi smirked. "Well, at least you're self-aware."
As the fights continued, Kailash's nerves only grew.
Each battle seemed harder than the last, with contestants barely scraping through.
When his name was finally called, he felt his stomach do a somersault.
"Kailash Varuna of Kalith Village!" the announcer bellowed.
The crowd buzzed, most of them clearly unfamiliar with him.
He stepped into the arena, gripping his Basic Spirit Sword tightly.
Thankfully, it stayed silent, though he had a sneaking suspicion it was just saving its scream for the worst possible moment.
His opponents entered next: two fighters and a spiritual beast. One fighter was a wiry girl with a spear, her movements quick and precise. The other was a stocky boy with a mace, his expression as grim as the weapon he carried. The beast was a hulking, four-legged creature with long fangs and a tail that lashed the ground menacingly.
"Oh, great," Kailash muttered, sizing them up. "The fang monster comes with backup."
The overseer raised his hand, and the match began.