"Next, let us welcome our contestant, Jelos from the Douglas family—a martial arts Star Armor user! In his last match, he defeated a fourth-tier Star Armor user with just one move. What kind of spectacular battle will he bring us today?"
As Muria entered the arena, he heard the commentator introducing him. Following the viral spread of his last battle video, his identity had been thoroughly uncovered. The fact that he was a martial artist was now widely known.
Although martial artists were a largely unfamiliar concept to most, there were still some who knew about this extraordinary profession that had once flourished over three centuries ago. Now, Muria's appearance was reminding people of the martial artist lore they had once heard.
In truth, the government had neither suppressed nor obscured information about martial artists. Their decline wasn't due to deliberate suppression but because they had been completely replaced, and humanity, being a forgetful species, had moved on.
For those who searched diligently, fragments of information about martial artists could still be found. As Muria's identity came to light, an increasing amount of information about martial artists began to surface online. Some of these accounts seemed almost mythical, describing martial artists who had reached such heights that they appeared godlike.
While most of the public dismissed these online stories as exaggerations, curiosity had been piqued. This led to Muria's current match drawing record-breaking viewership across all preliminary tournaments, far surpassing the second-highest watched event by a staggering margin.
The majority of viewers simply wanted to witness the marvel of a martial artist, a once-glorious profession now virtually extinct.
"To think that a formal member of the Douglas family would practice martial arts. What were you thinking? Others might not know, but don't tell me you don't know—martial artists are just outdated garbage, discarded by history."
Muria's opponent was already in the arena. When he saw Muria approach, he began a verbal assault aimed at shaking his confidence. Trash-talking the opponent was a standard part of the psychological warfare before a fight and was thus permitted.
"If you're not afraid of offending someone, feel free to keep talking," Muria replied with a smile. To him, Star Armor users were the real garbage.
One focused on self-cultivation; the other relied on external equipment. The superiority was obvious and left no room for comparison. Star Armor users had supplanted martial artists mainly because of their lower entry barriers and greater accessibility.
"Offend who? You?" The burly youth laughed, showing complete disdain.
"Standing in front of me, you must have researched martial arts, right? Didn't you come across the part where martial artists, upon reaching a certain level, could transcend their mortal limits and extend their lifespans?" Muria asked with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Muria's opponent, hearing this, hesitated, suspicion clouding his face.
"Martial arts fading into obscurity just means fewer people are taking it up, almost none at all. But it doesn't mean all martial artists are dead," Muria said with a genial smile. His words were transmitted live, reaching countless viewers across the Federation.
"You... I..." The youth instantly realized his grave mistake, his face darkening as panic set in.
"There are quite a few old martial artists who have survived from three centuries ago. While most of them have become reclusive, if one of them happens to be watching this broadcast and takes offense at what you just said, what do you think your future holds?" Muria asked with mock innocence.
"Shut up! Stop twisting my words! I didn't insult martial artists," the youth frantically backtracked, realizing the potential disaster he'd brought upon himself. If one of these ancient martial artists indeed took issue with him, his life would be over.
"Very good! We can see that the contestant from Corsica High School has completely panicked even before the match begins. He's sweating bullets!" the commentator observed gleefully.
"Let me remind the contestant: whatever happens off-stage, focus all your energy on the fight ahead," the commentator added.
"Right!" Jolted back to his senses, the youth shot Muria an angry glare. "You were bluffing!"
"I was simply stating facts," Muria replied calmly, shaking his head.
"Alright, you two. The chatter ends here. The match begins now!"
"Jelos, laugh at me if you dare! Today, I'll show you why Star Armor users..." The moment the match started, the youth donned his Star Armor. Just as he prepared to gloat, he abruptly shut his mouth, now keenly aware of the danger of reckless words.
"Show me what?" Unlike his opponent, who disappeared into his Star Armor, Muria made no grand gestures. He simply drew a sword.
"So, you're really planning to use martial arts against a Star Armor user?" The youth, now fully armored, dared not underestimate Muria. He had reviewed Muria's last match video over twenty times.
"Don't misunderstand. This is a Star Armor weapon." Muria released the seemingly unremarkable sword from his grip. Instead of falling, the blade floated gracefully around him before returning to his hand.
As Muria spoke, the youth deployed all his external weapons, aiming an array of cannons at Muria. Then, he unleashed a barrage of firepower, a mix of energy beams and projectiles, saturating the air as they bore down on Muria.
This was the hallmark of Star Armor combat—overwhelming firepower. Every Star Armor user was a walking fortress.
Muria, however, remained unmoved. He raised his sword, its tip angled slightly downward, and swung lightly.
A pure white curtain of energy erupted from the blade, enveloping the arena. The radiance was so intense that the spectators shielded their eyes, unable to endure the brilliance.
When the light dissipated, the Star Armor user lay on the ground, his once-pristine armor marred by a single, devastating slash.
"Incredible! Unbelievable! In his last match, Jelos defeated his opponent with one palm strike. Now, he has repeated his feat, felling his opponent with just one sword strike!" the commentator exclaimed as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Muria smirked, sheathing his sword and leaving the arena. He had entered this tournament to showcase his strength and would continue to fight in the most visually impactful manner possible.
As before, footage of Muria's victory went viral, reigniting interest in martial artists across the network.
Elsewhere, a man with loose black hair and an imposing presence left a luxurious restaurant with a list in hand.
Three days later, a bombshell shook the Federation. A black-haired man claiming to be a martial artist had challenged the Federation's renowned Star Armor King, the "Crimson Radiance King," and defeated him without using any Star Armor. The martial artist crushed the King's defenses barehanded, leaving him critically injured and hospitalized.
Blurry footage of the fight, though distant, spread like wildfire, showing the black-haired man shrouded in golden energy effortlessly overpowering his armored opponent.
The revelation sent martial arts fever soaring. Federation citizens, armed with newfound knowledge, unanimously identified the black-haired man as a martial artist.
"In just one battle, he's become a legend known across the Federation!" Muria lounged in a sofa, watching the crisp fight video sent by his family. A grin played on his lips. "Dad, your reputation has now spread far and wide."
Muria didn't need to guess what awaited his father—offers of alliances, negotiations, probes, and even assassination attempts. But with his Golden Dragon mother in charge, Muria was not concerned.
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