As I stepped into the arena for my 71st battle. The crowd's roars were deafening and their bloodlust was palpable. I had come a long way from the inexperienced participant I was during my first match. Now, every step, every movement, carried the precision of a predator who had perfected his instincts with constant battles.
The stakes grew higher with each passing match, and I could no longer rely solely on my martial soul transformation and the Eight Spider Lances. Every battle demanded more from me.
By the 80th match, I faced a team of opponents who were unlike any I had encountered before. Their coordination was impeccable, their strategies ruthless. For the first time in the arena, I felt genuine pressure. A tall man with a spiked mace charged at me while two agile fighters wielding twin blades flanked my sides. A spear-wielding woman was also watching with her piercing eyes tracking my every move, waiting for an opening.
The moment the battle began, I knew my usual tactics wouldn't be enough. I activated my martial soul transformation and released the Eight Spider Lances, as well, immediately. The lances lashed out, keeping the flanking fighters at bay while I focused on the mace-wielding man. His swings were powerful but slow, and I dodged them with calculated precision, my arm blades striking at his exposed limbs.
But the coordinated assault from the others made it clear that I needed more. For the first time in the arena, I revealed my second martial soul: the Dragon Slaying Saber. Its appearance was met with gasps from the crowd, the weapon's sheer presence exuding an oppressive aura. Gripping the saber, I felt a surge of confidence, a stabilizing force that steadied my mind amidst the chaos.
The battle turned in my favor. The saber's devastating power allowed me to break through their defenses, cleaving through the spear-wielder's weapon and forcing her to retreat. The agile fighters tried to overwhelm me with their speed, but the combination of the saber's precision and the Spider Lances' versatility made it impossible for them to gain the upper hand. One by one, they fell, their blood staining the arena floor.
By the time I walked out of the arena that night, the name "Asura Emperor" was no longer just a whispered rumor. It was a title spoken with awe and fear, a recognition of my dominance in the arena.
Time-skip
Nearly two years had passed since my first match. Ninety-nine battles had pushed me to my limits, forcing me to adapt and grow faster than ever. Each night, the Dragon Slaying Saber's presence was a constant reassurance, stabilizing my state of mind and shielding me from the bloodlust that permeated Slaughter City. It was as if the saber absorbed the madness, leaving me clear-headed and focused despite the carnage around me.
And now, the final battle awaited, the 100th match. The arena was packed, the crowd's anticipation reaching a fever pitch. My opponents were unlike any I had faced before: nine Spirit Douluos, their auras radiating power and menace. Even without their soul ring abilities, their sheer physical prowess and combat experience made them formidable foes. This was a test of everything I had learned, a battle that would push me to the brink.
The moment the gates opened, chaos erupted. The Spirit Douluos moved with terrifying speed and precision, their attacks coordinated to overwhelm me. I activated my martial soul transformation, the Poison Devouring Spider Emperor, and the Eight Spider Lances burst forth from my back, their venomous tips striking out like vipers.
One opponent, a muscular man wielding a massive war axe, charged at me with a roar. I met his attack head-on, my arm blades clashing against his weapon. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, but I held my ground. The lances lashed out, piercing his leg and injecting their deadly poison. He faltered, giving me the opening I needed to drive my blade through his chest.
But there was no time to rest. Two others, a pair of twins armed with scimitars, attacked in perfect unison. Their blades danced around me, striking from every angle. I parried and dodged, the Spider Lances intercepting their strikes. But their coordination was impeccable, and I struggled to keep up. That's when I activated the skull bone's mental attack, sending a wave of psychic energy crashing into their minds. They stumbled, their synchronization broken, and I seized the opportunity to strike. One fell to the lances, the other to the Dragon Slaying Saber.
The battle raged on, each opponent pushing me further. A woman with a sword that could transform into a chain tried to ensnare me, her weapon wrapping around my arm. But the corrosive poison of the lances melted through the chains, and a well-placed strike ended her life. Another, a hulking man with fists like hammers, managed to land a powerful blow that sent me sprawling. Gritting my teeth, I activated the Devouring Domain for the first time in the arena.
The effect was immediate. The air around me shimmered as the domain drew energy from everything within its range. The Spirit Douluos were surprised, their strength decreased as the domain weakened them and empowered me. My wounds began to close, my spirit power surging. With renewed vigor, I launched a counterattack, the Dragon Slaying Saber carving through their defenses with terrifying efficiency.
The final moments of the battle were a blur of blood and steel. The last three opponents—a spear-wielding, a swordsman, and an agile fighter with daggers—teamed up in a desperate bid to take me down. Their movements were precise, their attacks relentless. But with the Devouring Domain empowering me, I was unstoppable.
The swordsman fell first, his blade shattering under the force of the saber. The dagger-wielder tried to exploit an opening, but the Spider Lances intercepted him, their poison reducing him to a twitching heap. The spear-wielder was the last to fall, his weapon clattering to the ground as the saber cleaved through his chest.
As the last body hit the ground, the arena fell silent. The crowd stared in stunned silence, their bloodlust momentarily quenched by the sheer brutality of the battle. I stood alone in the center of the arena, my armor stained with blood and the Dragon Slaying Saber gleamed in the crimson light.
The 100th match was over. I had finally won.
A deep and sharp voice suddenly came from every direction.
"Congratulations, young Asura Emperor."