There are various types of contracts, and a binding agreement is one of them. These contracts are enforced by higher powers, such as deities or the greater cosmos itself.
In the case of death matches during significant events like tournaments, binding agreements are automatically enforced immediately as long as both parties agreed. They cannot be voided without both parties agreeing as well.
Hendrix steeled himself, realizing it was too late. Their words of agreement had already initiated a binding contract.
They were only waiting for the words of the host, the Crown Prince, and they didn't wait long.
He spoke, "Way to spice things up from the start, fellas! I wish the loser luck. Maybe the winner will feel sympathy and only make you his slave. HaHa. Otherwise, fight until death! BEGIN!"
Before anyone could blink, Horo was already in front of Hendrix. Everyone weaker than Horo was unable to see him move. All they saw was a trail of darkness so deep it embodied the word "BLACK."
Horo unleashed a his that shone with the same black color. It was strange because such a color shouldn't shine, but Horo and his abilities were an exception.
In fact, his fist wasn't shining; it was the effect of his old trait, which had now become a skill called [Black Light], and a new skill that swallowed light to empower itself, called [Hungering Abyss Darkness].
Such a blow was sure to wreak havoc, but Hendrix was no pushover.
Though Horo's speed was surprising, he had already mobilized his Empyrean Sun Technique. Before Horo's punch could land, it was met by a growing purplish sun.
Hendrix stepped back swiftly the moment he unleashed his [Corrosive Sun].
Yet, to his surprise, Horo moved straight through the sun to follow him as if he had phased through it. But that surely wasn't the case.
His black light and [Hungering Abyss Darkness] worked passively, automatically covering his entire body and allowing him to easily make it through, but not without paying a cost.
And that cost still couldn't prevent the devastation his fist unleashed.
The fist struck Hendrix's chest, instantly caving it in with a deafening cracking sound.
The result of this single exchange left the entire arena stunned.
The sun, unable to fully manifest, had a hole in it. Darkness enveloped the hole's shape, swallowing the light the sun produced and spreading across it as if trying to devour it entirely.
Hendrix lay on his knees after smashing into the barrier that kept them within the stage. The barrier remained undamaged, but he was not.
He coughed up blood repeatedly, and small chunks of meat also came up. Everyone assumed it could only be vital organ pieces and tissues. His attire was in ruins.
Horo wasn't unharmed either.
Though he was up and walking towards Hendrix, his robes were nearly completely burned off.
His skin was purplish in some places and charred in others. In some places, even his inverted bones were visible.
Yet, somehow, he appeared even more extraordinary.
Along with his visible inverted bones, his golden everlasting blood was seen.
Everyone was shocked. Many knew of special physiques, but none, not even the powerhouses present, had witnessed a physique with such uniquely manifested physical traits.
Only if they saw his Prime organs, Starry Realm, and Spirit World Meridians would they understand.
They didn't know that he had an evolving physique, which shouldn't be possible. It was only possible for him due to his cultivation and other paths of power being utilized in this reality.
He activated [Ferocious Heart], and with a single deep thrum from it, his blood glowed and began to rapidly heal his body.
His robes, of course, couldn't recover, but he always wore a tactical vest and pants made of Hungering Darkness beneath his robes. He no longer wore forearm guards to let his Darkstar tattoos show in full, and his chain of damnation remained around his waist undamaged.
Even though Hendrix's formidable physique, tempered by the Sun's empyrean energy, prevented him from outright dying, he found himself unable to get off his knees. His vision was blurred, and he struggled to maintain consciousness.
That single blow carried a hungering darkness, black light, double impact, and numerous other passive skills.
As Horo approached him, it felt as if the embodiment of death was closing in.
Hendrix, determined not to surrender without a fight, unleashed what his sect called the True Empyrean Sun. When their true empyrean Sun is released, its true perfect form is revealed at the cost of most of their energy reserves.
Hendrix' sun's true form began to reveal itself as it floated higher from the stage and expanded rapidly. The immense power it unleashed even affected the previously impenetrable barrier. The barrier, along with the stage, started to crack, melt, and transform into a purple hue. However, Horo remained unaffected.
His shroud of hungering darkness grew stronger, absorbing the corrosive light emitted by the sun.
Standing over Hendrix's head, Horo appeared as a three-dimensional shadow, or perhaps even something even darker than a shadow.
"To the death, huh?" Horo said before continuing, "I'll make you wish you were dead!"
He unleashed his True Cloud, the black cloud, now imbued with The [Hungering Abyss Darkness] and other compatible abilities.
The cloud engulfed the entire stage, including the growing empyrean that had reached about seventeen meters in length. Of course, Hendrix was also engulfed within its grasp.
The weaker spectators were unable to perceive anything within the cloud; in fact, no one could. However, the powerhouses could see through it with their heightened senses.
The only sound that the weaker spectators could hear was blood-curdling screams. The powerhouses were horrified as they witnessed Horo's brutal torture of Hendrix, who was held captive by chains attached to his four limbs.
This torment continued for half an hour.
Many spectators were fixated on the palace master and elder May, both of whom were staring at the Sect master, who was trying to avoid their gaze.
Finally, the Sect master stood up.