The sun cast long shadows over the grand arena, illuminating the battlefield where warriors of both sects had gathered to continue the tournament. The previous day had been brutal—victories, defeats, and narrow escapes—but today, the tension was heavier.
Because today, he was fighting again.
At the highest seat, the Solstice Emperor and the Lunar Emperor observed with cold, unreadable expressions. Below them, the Council Members of both sects sat in silence, their gazes fixed on the battlefield.
In the waiting area, Arav, Kimi Yachang, and Buddhi Yadav stood among their fellow participants, all eyes locked on one person—Taba Tani.
He was already in the arena, exuding an air of absolute confidence, his crimson cloak swaying slightly in the wind. He hadn't drawn his sword yet. He hadn't even acknowledged his opponent. He simply stood there, unimpressed, almost bored.
On the other side, Tsering Wangchuk, one of the strongest disciples from the Lunar Sect, gripped his weapon tightly. His stance was solid, his aura calm but focused. He had studied Taba's fight yesterday. He knew what was coming.
Or so he thought.
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena.
"The first match of the second day—Solstice Sect's Taba Tani versus Lunar Sect's Tsering Wangchuk!"
A roar erupted from the audience. The anticipation was overwhelming.
Taba exhaled sharply, his golden eyes scanning his opponent with lazy disinterest. "Another lamb sent to the slaughter," he muttered, shaking his head.
Tsering's jaw tightened. "I won't fall as easily as the last one."
Taba raised an eyebrow, amused. "You won't?" He chuckled. "Oh, how delightful. A fool who believes in himself."
Tsering ignored the insult. He steadied his breath. He had trained for this moment. He had mastered his techniques. He would win.
The announcer raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Tsering exploded forward. His sword ignited with Prana, forming a brilliant crescent of pure energy. His steps were precise, his movement swift—he aimed for the kill, determined not to let Taba control the pace.
And yet—
Taba didn't move.
He didn't dodge. He didn't block.
He just stood there.
At the last possible second, a single slash rang through the air.
CLANG!
A sharp gust of wind followed.
Tsering froze. His sword snapped in half, the blade flying into the distance. A thin, crimson line appeared across his chest. His eyes widened in shock.
A second later, his body gave out. His knees buckled, and before he even understood what had happened, his consciousness faded. He collapsed.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Taba sighed, twirling his sword once before lazily sheathing it. "Was that really it?" He clicked his tongue. "I was promised warriors, but all I see are insects."
The announcer blinked, hesitating before finally declaring:
"Taba Tani wins!"
The crowd erupted. Some cheered. Others gasped in disbelief. Some whispered frantically, trying to understand what had just happened. Again. A single strike. No prana. No tamasa. Nothing.
From the waiting area, Buddhi let out a low whistle. "Okay… he's just showing off now."
Kimi, arms crossed, didn't respond immediately. She simply observed. "His swordplay is beyond anything I've ever seen. He's… perfect."
Arav clenched his fists, his expression unreadable. He had expected this. But that didn't make it any easier to watch.
Back in the arena, Taba turned toward the Lunar Sect's seating area. He took a few steps forward, his golden eyes scanning their warriors.
Then, he laughed.
A low, mocking laugh.
"Is this it?" His voice carried through the arena, dripping with condescension. "These are the so-called warriors of the Lunar Sect? This is what you have to offer?"
The Lunar Sect disciples bristled. Some glared, others clenched their fists.
Taba smirked. "Tell me, is there a single one of you who's worth my time?" He gestured toward Tsering's unconscious body. "Or should I just end the tournament now and save everyone the embarrassment?"
A murmur spread through the Lunar Sect. Their pride was being trampled.
Taba chuckled again. "Perhaps I should fight two of you at once? No, three. Maybe five?" He spread his arms wide. "Or would that still be too easy?"
The arrogance in his voice was suffocating.
He turned his back to them, not even sparing another glance at his fallen opponent. "Send the next one," he said lazily. "Let's see if anyone in this so-called sect can even make me take them seriously."
With that, he walked off the battlefield, leaving nothing but stunned silence in his wake.
Taba Tani stood undefeated.
The tension in the Solstice Sect's waiting area was suffocating. The second day had started with an overwhelming victory—Taba Tani's effortless dominance over his opponent—but after that, the momentum had completely shifted.
One after another, the warriors of the Solstice Sect fell.
Buddhi's Fight – A Humiliation
Buddhi had entered the battlefield full of confidence, determined to prove himself. His opponent, Tenzen Norbu,disciple from the Lunar Sect—known for his ruthless efficiency and cold precision.
The match lasted less than ten seconds.
The moment the fight began, Tenzen vanished from Buddhi's sight. Before Buddhi could even react, a barrage of precise strikes rained down on him. His defense crumbled almost immediately. He tried to activate his Prana, but before he could gather enough energy, Tenzen's palm slammed into his chest, sending him flying across the battlefield.
A sickening crack echoed through the arena as Buddhi hit the ground, coughing up blood. He struggled to get up, but his body refused to move.
"Buddhi Yadav is unable to continue. Tenzen Norbu wins!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Buddhi lay there, eyes unfocused, struggling to breathe. His vision blurred, but he could still make out the smirk on Tenzen's face as he turned his back and walked away, as if Buddhi wasn't even worth finishing off.
Kimi clenched her fists. That wasn't a fight. That was an execution.
Taba let out a scoff. "Pathetic." He didn't even bother looking at Buddhi. "If you can't even survive for a full minute, you don't belong in this tournament."
Arav, standing nearby, shot him a glare but said nothing. He knew Taba wasn't wrong.
Kimi's Fight – A Narrow Defeat
Unlike Buddhi's loss, Kimi Yachang's battle was a true clash of warriors.
Her opponent was Sonam Dolma, disciple with an impeccable tactical mind.
The battle was an artistic display of swordsmanship—blades clashing, movements flowing like a dance, their Prana colliding in dazzling flashes of light. Kimi fought with raw power and precise technique, while Sonam countered with strategic movements and well-placed counters.
They fought for over five minutes, neither giving an inch.
Then, in the final moments, Sonam baited Kimi into a feint.
Kimi, thinking she had an opening, lunged forward—but at that moment, Sonam sidestepped and redirected her momentum, forcing Kimi off balance. In a flash, Sonam's sword was at Kimi's throat.
The match was over.
The crowd roared with excitement.
Kimi exhaled sharply, stepping back as Sonam lowered her sword. There was no gloating, no arrogance—only a nod of respect.
"Kimi Yachang has been defeated. Sonam Dolma wins."
Kimi clenched her fists, feeling the sting of defeat. She had lost, not because she was weaker, but because she was outsmarted.
She turned toward the waiting area, locking eyes with Arav. He gave her a small nod. No words were needed.
Taba, meanwhile, smirked. "So even you fall when faced with someone smarter than you."
Kimi shot him a glare but said nothing.
Taba chuckled. "Don't look so angry, little knight. You were bound to lose eventually."
Kimi ignored him, walking past him without another word.
Arav's Turn
If Arav lost, the Solstice Sect would fall even further behind.
Arav stood up, rolling his shoulders, his heart steady.
This was his fight.
He wouldn't hold back.
The second day of the tournament was nearing its end, and the Solstice Sect was in trouble. After a string of losses, including Kimi's narrow defeat and Buddhi's complete annihilation, they were one match behind.
And now, it was Arav's turn.
The Opponent: Raju Yobin
Standing across from Arav was a colossal mountain of a man—Raju Yobin. He was easily 6'6", with shoulders broad enough to block out the sun. His muscles bulged with every breath, veins snaking across his arms like iron chains.
But his true strength lay in his abilities.
Primary Prana: Space – allowing him to manipulate gravity, distort distance, and even teleport in short bursts.
Secondary Prana: Water – giving him immense endurance, control over movement, and regeneration through moisture absorption.
Realm: Adept 9 – making him one of the strongest disciples in the tournament.
Arav clenched his fists. This wasn't a favorable matchup.
From the VIP seats, Elder Sonam Zangmo watched silently. She had trained Arav, but she didn't show any emotion. Meanwhile, Taba Tani smirked, arms crossed, golden eyes glinting with amusement.
"This will be over in minutes," he scoffed, loud enough for Kimi and Buddhi to hear. "I'd bet my collection of divine relics on it."
Kimi glanced at Arav. "He's in trouble. Raju's abilities counter his completely."
Buddhi gulped. "Arav can still win… right?"
Taba let out a sharp laugh. "Depends. Does he want to survive or put on a show before dying?I bet... Arav will win".
The Battle Begins
The announcer's voice rang out, clear and powerful.
"BEGIN!"
BOOM!
Raju didn't hesitate. The moment the match started, he vanished.
Arav's eyes widened. Teleportation?
Before he could react, a crushing force slammed into his ribs.
CRACK!
The impact sent him flying like a broken doll. His body crashed against the arena floor, carving a deep trench in the stone.
The audience gasped. The fight had barely begun, and Arav was already struggling.
"Not bad," Raju grinned, cracking his knuckles. His voice was deep, like distant thunder. "But you're too weak. Just give up."
Arav coughed, tasting blood. His ribs were bruised, maybe cracked. One hit, and he was already in danger.
He got up, wincing. "You hit like a truck. I almost felt that."
Raju frowned. "Arrogant fool."
He vanished again.
This time, Arav was ready.
As Raju reappeared to his left, Arav instinctively dodged—but the gravity around him suddenly shifted.
His body froze mid-air, as if the entire world had turned sideways.
Raju grinned. "You can't escape space itself."
With a flick of his fingers, he crushed the gravity around Arav, sending him slamming back into the ground.
BOOM!
The stone beneath Arav shattered into dust.
Kimi tensed in the stands. "This is bad."
Taba, however, smirked. "Not necessarily. He's learning."
Arav gritted his teeth. He was already bruised, his body aching.
If this kept up, he would lose.
He needed a strategy.
That's when he noticed it—Raju was reckless.
The brute didn't fight with caution or calculation. He just overwhelmed opponents with raw power.
Arav smirked. I can use that.
"You know, for someone with Space Prana, you're kinda slow," he taunted.
Raju stopped, his expression darkening. "What did you say?"
Arav dusted himself off. "You heard me. You're a muscle-head who got lucky with a powerful ability. I bet if we fought without Prana, I'd win easily."
Raju's jaw clenched. "You talk too much."
Arav shrugged. "And you think too little."
Raju's anger flared.
Raju teleported again, this time appearing above Arav with a gravity-enhanced punch.
Arav didn't dodge.
Instead, he stepped forward.
It was a calculated gamble.
By moving at the last second, Raju's attack missed its intended target—hitting the ground instead.
And that was exactly what Arav wanted.
The gravity-enhanced impact shattered the ground beneath them, creating a shockwave that sent dust flying.
Raju stumbled slightly, caught off guard.
Arav seized the moment.
He pivoted, using Void Step to appear at Raju's blind spot.
He activated his Prana, increasing the force behind his attack.
He struck—a clean, precise hit to Raju's temple.
The impact was like a thunderclap.
Raju's body jerked violently as his head snapped sideways. His knees wobbled.
But he didn't fall.
"That was… annoying," Raju muttered, rubbing his head.
Arav cursed internally. Not enough.
"Looks like I have to finish this," Raju growled.
Raju raised his hands, his entire body glowing with Prana.
Space twisted. Water swirled around him.
"This is the end," Raju declared. "You fought well, but I win."
Arav sighed dramatically. "You really love monologues, don't you?"
Raju roared. "DIE!"
Arav grinned. He had won.
Just as Raju attacked, Arav stepped forward and whispered one word.
"Checkmate."
And then—he kicked Raju's ankle.
The simplest move. The most basic technique.
But because Raju had used so much Prana to charge his final attack, his stance was unstable.
His own power betrayed him.
His foot slipped.
And in that instant, Arav twisted his Prana and redirected all of Raju's momentum—
—straight into the ground.
Victory
BOOOOOOM!
Raju crashed face-first into the arena floor, embedding himself several feet deep.
The crowd fell silent.
A moment later, the referee hesitated before raising his hand.
"WINNER—ARAV SRIVASTAVA!"
A stunned silence. Then—an explosion of cheers.
Arav wiped the blood from his lip and turned to the Solstice Sect.
Buddhi looked like he had just witnessed a miracle. Kimi sighed in relief.
And Taba?
He laughed.
A deep, arrogant laugh.
"You did well," Taba said, smirking. "But let's be honest—I would've done it faster."
Arav rolled his eyes. "Of course you would."
But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.
Tomorrow, the final matches would begin.
And he had a feeling the worst was yet to come.