The surging energy that had torn through the attacking Star Armor user's defenses poured into his body, shattering his bones and muscles. To the onlookers, this once-valiant warrior, who had dared to engage Muria in close combat, was now reduced to a bloodied, twisted figure plummeting like a discarded rag, leaving trails of crimson as he fell.
Muria didn't pursue him further. He allowed the incapacitated young genius to fall out of the white martial domain, leaving him gravely injured but alive.
"Their attacks are far too weak," Muria muttered, swatting away incoming projectiles and energy blasts with casual gestures. As he split his attention to monitor his energy reserves, he realized, almost amused, that his consumption was slower than his natural recovery rate.
Peering inward, he examined the vast reservoir of energy within him. At the center of his being, in his lower abdomen, lay a massive sea of energy, like an endless ocean of white mist. Above this sea floated a glowing Martial Wheel, radiating brilliance as it turned steadily.
This wasn't his only energy source. Muria had opened up numerous "cloud seas" across his body, each a reservoir of martial energy unique to the Stellar Way of the Celestial Hosts. By cultivating over a thousand apertures within his body, he had created countless energy seas and condensed Martial Wheels within them.
While none of the additional energy seas matched the primary one in magnitude, their combined capacity far exceeded it, granting Muria an almost inexhaustible supply of martial energy. This boundless reserve gave him unparalleled stamina, unmatched by any martial artist of his level.
Muria continued to hold his ground, preventing the Star Armor users from escaping. Only those he had beaten to the brink of death were allowed to fall out of his martial domain.
He showed no mercy. After all, these individuals had chosen to stand against him, knowing the stakes. They were all here because they wanted to challenge him, and he would give them exactly what they asked for.
For the privileged heirs of powerful families, this ordeal was a rare and valuable experience. Their pampered lives lacked real adversity, and Muria's relentless assault would temper them in ways their sheltered upbringing could not.
Meanwhile, the entire battle was being broadcast live. Originally, this was merely an awards ceremony with minimal viewership, but now it had become a sensation. Channels airing the battle saw their ratings skyrocket, and streaming platforms clamored to share the spectacle.
A genius from the Douglas family single-handedly battling the Federation's most elite young Star Armor users? The sheer audacity and scale of the event made it irresistibly newsworthy.
...
In the Douglas family's grand meeting hall, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The family patriarch, seated in a position of authority, was flanked by the elders, their gazes fixed on the holographic projections of representatives from the other three great families.
"What exactly is your family trying to achieve? Sweeping the top eight positions in the Star Armor Tournament wasn't enough? You've already trampled on our reputations, and now this?"
"Do you think that just because you've produced a few geniuses, you can break away from our alliance and dominate on your own?"
"Pull your young genius back now and give everyone a way to save face!"
The complaints and accusations poured forth, but the Douglas patriarch remained impassive, his calm demeanor unshaken. While he had only learned of Muria's actions after the other families raised the issue, he maintained an air of complete control.
"Are you telling me that the three great families have come together to confront us because one of our juniors is challenging your elites?" a relatively young elder of the Douglas family asked, his tone light but laced with subtle mockery.
The holographic figures of the other families' representatives fell silent. The truth of the statement was undeniable, though it was far from flattering.
"This is just children fighting among themselves. Aren't you overreacting? Let them sort it out. Our job is simply to ensure it doesn't get too dangerous. Let's not interfere beyond that."
"It's easy for you to say, since it's not your family's reputation on the line!" one of the representatives snapped after a long silence. "Your family's genius is humiliating all of ours! Once this battle ends, how are we supposed to show our faces?"
Whether Muria won or lost, the Douglas family stood to gain. A loss could be excused given the overwhelming odds, but a victory would shatter expectations and catapult the Douglas family's prestige to unprecedented heights.
For the other families, however, a loss meant humiliation. The idea of one genius crushing their collective pride was unacceptable.
"And how is your reputation our responsibility?" a senior elder of the Douglas family asked with a sly grin. "If your families lack a talent to rival Jerlos, that's not our problem."
"Are you really willing to push us this far?" one of the other elders asked, his voice grim.
"If you're just here to complain, then you can leave," the Douglas patriarch finally spoke. "I've got a battle to watch, and I'd rather not waste time."
"Agreed. We're all watching our young genius in action. Let's wrap this up."
With that, the Douglas elders projected the live feed of Muria's battle onto the meeting room's display. Just as they did, an extraordinary scene unfolded.
...
Without warning, the white martial domain collapsed. The energy forming it surged back into Muria's body, creating a massive vortex of pure white energy centered on him. His aura grew explosively stronger, and though the domain was gone, the pressure on the surrounding Star Armor users intensified.
As Muria's power surged, a brilliant starry sky appeared above him. Even though the sun still shone brightly in the real sky, the stars above Muria glowed with equal splendor, their radiant light casting an otherworldly brilliance.
"A Martial Avatar!" one of the young women exclaimed, her voice trembling.
"This has to be a joke. Did we really pressure him enough to break through? Did we even pose a threat to him?"
"No way. He's been ready to break through all along. He just used us as practice dummies and then made his move."
"Damn it! That guy planned this all along!"
"Can you all shut up? We're witnessing a Martial Artist ascending to Grandmaster. Just watch and learn!"
The starry sky behind Muria began to shift. The stars connected in radiant patterns, forming constellations. From these constellations, mythical creatures began to emerge, their forms majestic and lifelike.
As the phenomenon intensified, a towering figure materialized behind Muria. Clad in imperial robes and wearing a crown, this divine-like being radiated authority and power, compelling those who saw it to bow in awe.
For many, the urge to kneel was impossible to resist.
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