"Power is not given. It is earned, one battle at a time."
The Underground Arena – The First Steps
The underground combat arena was nothing more than a repurposed stone chamber beneath the academy, hidden within the unused lower halls of the old training wing.
It wasn't officially sanctioned by the instructors, but they turned a blind eye—because even they knew that the best fighters weren't made through controlled training alone.
This was where real combat experience was earned.
Joshua stood at the edge of the stone pit, his fingers lightly gripping his wooden training sword.
Nine more fights.
That's what the system demanded.
Around him, students whispered, watching him with mild curiosity. Joshua had never been noteworthy before—neither weak nor exceptional.
Yet, the way he carried himself now was different.
His steps were too measured. His stance too steady. His eyes too sharp.
And then there was Lin Hao.
A well-known 3-star hunter student, skilled with the saber and known for his aggressive, overpowering fighting style.
He looked at Joshua with mild amusement. "Alright, Lim. I'll humor you."
Joshua's lips curled into a small smirk. He didn't need to be humored.
He needed to win.
First Fight – Lin Hao, 3-Star Saber User
The moment the fight began, Lin Hao moved first.
His saber blurred through the air, a streak of motion cutting straight toward Joshua's ribs.
Fast.
But not fast enough.
Joshua's body reacted before his mind even needed to think. He pivoted slightly, letting the attack graze past him, and in the same motion, brought his wooden sword up in a precise counter.
Thwack!
The sound of wood meeting flesh echoed through the chamber.
Lin Hao staggered back, his eyes widening.
The crowd tensed.
Joshua didn't let him recover. He stepped in, his sword moving with brutal efficiency—a downward slash, a thrust toward the gut, and a final sweeping strike to the legs.
Lin Hao barely blocked the first two. He didn't stop the third.
Thud.
He hit the ground hard, his saber slipping from his fingers.
A few seconds of silence followed before someone whispered—
"…What the hell was that?"
Joshua exhaled, relaxing his stance. One down.
Without hesitation, he turned toward the crowd.
"Next."
The whispers grew louder.
But the next fighter stepped forward.
Joshua raised his sword again.
The hunt had only just begun.
The Consecutive Battles – Each Opponent Stronger Than the Last
The second fight was against a 2-star axe wielder. He was stronger than Joshua physically, but slower. Joshua dismantled him in under a minute.
The third opponent was a 3-star wind mage, relying on ranged spell attacks. Joshua closed the distance before he could cast a second spell.
Fourth fight—a tank specialist, a 3-star with heavy defenses. Joshua broke his stance and sent him to the ground.
Fifth fight—another swordsman, but too predictable. Joshua countered every move he made.
By the sixth match, the murmurs in the crowd had turned to full-blown whispers.
By the seventh match, they were no longer whispers, but shouts of disbelief.
By the eighth match, they were staring at Joshua like he was a different person.
By the ninth match, the air in the underground arena was thick with tension.
One more.
Just one more fight before the system would reward him.
And then, a new voice spoke.
"I'll take the last match."
Joshua turned, his heartbeat steady.
Standing at the entrance of the arena was a tall, broad-shouldered figure, his crimson combat uniform pristine despite the weight of his massive greatsword.
Students sucked in their breath.
Shen Kai.
A 4-star prodigy from the academy's elite class.
Final Fight – Against a 4-Star Opponent
Joshua studied him carefully. This was the real challenge.
He had just fought nine opponents back-to-back. His body wasn't fatigued yet, but there was strain—his muscles burned, his breath was slightly heavier than before.
Shen Kai, meanwhile, was completely fresh.
A fair fight? Not at all.
But Joshua smirked. He didn't need fairness.
He needed victory.
They stepped into the pit, facing each other. The tension in the room thickened.
"I don't know what's gotten into you lately," Shen Kai said, rolling his shoulders. "But I'll admit—I'm a little curious."
Joshua tilted his head slightly. "Curious enough to hold back?"
Shen Kai grinned. "Not a chance."
The instructor overseeing the match raised his hand.
Then—
"Begin!"
Shen Kai moved first, and the ground trembled beneath his step.
His greatsword was too large to be fast, but what it lacked in speed, it made up for in devastating power.
Joshua's instincts screamed.
Dodge—!
He twisted his body at the last second, feeling the wind pressure of the massive blade pass inches from his chest.
If that had landed, he would've been done in one strike.
But Shen Kai wasn't done.
His greatsword came crashing down again, relentless, heavy, unforgiving.
Joshua danced between the strikes, moving faster than the crowd could track.
But it wasn't enough.
Shen Kai's fifth swing finally connected.
Joshua barely blocked it.
The sheer force behind the attack sent him skidding backward across the dirt, his feet digging into the ground to stop himself.
A ripple of shock went through the audience.
It was the first time tonight Joshua had been pushed back.
Shen Kai smirked. "Not bad. But let's see if you can handle this—"
He shifted his stance. His Aura flared, surging into his blade.
Joshua's eyes narrowed.
He's using Aura techniques now?
Fine.
He would use them too.
For the first time tonight—Joshua channeled his own Aura into his sword.
His blade glowed faintly, a subtle sheen of energy coating the wooden weapon.
The crowd gasped.
Someone whispered in disbelief.
"…He wasn't even using Aura before?"
Shen Kai's grin faltered.
And then—
Joshua moved.
Faster.
His sword blurred.
The ground cracked beneath him.
And Shen Kai, for the first time in a long time—was the one forced to defend.
Their blades clashed. Once. Twice. Three times.
Then, Joshua saw his opening.
He sidestepped Shen Kai's final strike, twisting his blade around the greatsword's handle.
And in a single, brutal motion—he used Shen Kai's own momentum against him.
Thud.
Shen Kai hit the ground.
The underground arena fell silent.
Then—
[DING!]
A blue screen appeared before Joshua's eyes.
[QUEST COMPLETE]
10/10 Victories Achieved
Level Up!
New Skill Unlocked!
Joshua clenched his fists, feeling power flood through him.
A new era had begun.
And this was only the beginning.
End of Chapter 4