Location: Arena Core Zone, Tournament GroundsTime: Just After Round One Victory
The stadium roared like a beast uncaged.
But for Rishabh, all was silent. His focus was like the still surface of a sacred lake. Even as Arthis walked forward, dragging the chained girl behind him—her eyes hollow, soul flickering—Rishabh remained seated. His breath even. His energy, calm.
⚠️ Hostage Detected: Ji Mei – Karma Bond (Tier: Gold)🔓 System Prompt: Karma Detected From Past Life🔥 Optional Mission: Rescue Ji Mei without breaking Enlightened Meditation State – Reward Multiplied
Arthis raised his hand. The chains glowed crimson, forming a glyph in the air shaped like a lotus made of teeth.
"Once she looked to you as savior," he said. "Now she becomes your sin."
The crowd gasped. The sky dimmed. Even the world system trembled.
🔒 Initiating Ritual: Blood Karma Ascension☠️ Cost: One Golden-Bonded Soul (Progress: 72%)🔁 Bonus: Inherits All Positive Karma from Victim. Corrupts Host's Karma Tree.
💀 The Ritual Begins
Dark petals spiraled up from the arena floor. A blood lotus bloomed beneath Ji Mei, lifting her. Her mouth opened, but no sound came. She had no more tears.
Arthis stepped inside the lotus formation.
"With her light, I'll shatter your shadow," he whispered.
But even as the sky cracked, Rishabh remained still.
He wasn't ignoring her.
He was becoming something else.
🧘 Enlightened Combat Meditation – Activation
Inside Rishabh's soul realm, countless ancient scripts rotated around his heart. His system core burned.
✅ [ENLIGHTENED COMBAT MEDITATION – Initiated]🔓 Requirement Met: Soul Sync 100%, Mind Void 100%, Qi Flow Infinity Path Reached🔥 New Combat Form: [Seated Battle Zen – Form 1: Mirror of Wrath]🔁 Auto Counterattacks Initiated – Without Physical Movement
A ghostly Rishabh stepped out of his body.
He looked at the ritual, at Arthis, at Ji Mei—and saw through time itself.
"Arthis," he whispered. "You're trying to steal karma... but I've already paid the price."
Suddenly, the lotus shattered.
⚔️ The Duel Begins
Arthis flinched. A cut appeared across his cheek. He hadn't seen anything. Hadn't sensed an attack.
❗ You Have Been Hit By: [Karma Reflection – Enlightened Cut]❗ Damage Cannot Be Blocked or Dodged
Rishabh hadn't moved an inch.
"What?" Arthis growled. "What is this sorcery?!"
The sky cracked again.
Rishabh opened his eyes—golden, blazing.
🌱 Godroot Mutation – 2nd Phase Breakthrough
🔓 Qi Core Saturation 100%... Overflow Detected...🔓 Godroot Awakening Progress: 99%... 100%...✅ Congratulations! You Have Awakened: [Divine Dharma Root – Tier: Mythos]✅ New Passive: [Sacred Flow] – All surrounding spiritual energy flows toward you naturally✅ New Active: [Lotus of Endless Death] – Summons infinite karma blades to strike all enemies within 100 meters
His back glowed. From his spine, a sacred lotus vine erupted—twisting up like a crown, wrapping around his body like armor. Each leaf held an ancient mantra.
The crowd could barely comprehend what they saw.
🔥 Ji Mei's Karma Reversal – The Rescue
As the blood lotus cracked, its energy tried to lash back toward Ji Mei.
But a single karma thread shot from Rishabh's chest—Golden.
It wrapped around her soul, yanked it back to him—and reversed the flow.
✅ Skill Activated: [Perfect Karma Reflection]❌ Ritual Cancelled🔥 All EP and Qi drained from Ji Mei has been transferred to you.⚔️ Arthis suffers double backlash due to ritual collapse.
Ji Mei collapsed into his arms. Alive.
He didn't hold her.
His clone did.
Rishabh was still seated—glowing like a seated god in meditation.
💥 Final Clash – Dharma vs Crimson
Arthis screamed.
He shed his skin, becoming a demon-faced god. His wings burst from his back. His sword was a cursed fang.
❗ Arthis: Crimson Heaven Protocol 89% Synced❗ Unlocking: Hell Soul Authority – "All wounds you receive are inflicted on the world instead."
He dived.
The world froze.
Rishabh moved a finger.
That was enough.
"Dharma Cut – Final Form: Thousand Truths As One."
A single wave of karma light passed through Arthis.
His body stopped midair.
All his curses shattered.
His wings fell off.
His demon form burned.
❗ Crimson Heaven Protocol: Disrupted❗ System Sync Reset to 19%❗ Status: Severely Wounded – Spiritual Core Damaged
He fell.
The crowd went silent.
The world system issued an alert.
🔔 WARNING: A Cultivator Has Achieved Mythos Class Mutation. Balance Disrupted.🔥 Tournament Paused. System Lords Are Intervening.
🌀 Post-Battle – Arrival of the System Lords
The skies opened.
System Lords descended.
Beings made of floating data, cosmic light, and divine architecture.
One of them pointed to Rishabh.
"This soul... has breached Forbidden Dharma Path Tier 2.""He will either ascend as a god...""...or become a virus that must be deleted."
⚡ Chapter 6 Ends On a Thunderous Note
Rishabh defeated Arthis without lifting a weapon.
Rescued Ji Mei.
And broke through to the Godroot Mutation's second phase, stepping into a realm only whispered of by immortals.
But now... he's no longer just a tournament fighter.
He's a threat to the balance of the System World itself.