Chapter 84 — Battle Between Mortals [2Chapter 84 — Battle Between Mortals [2]
Verina Hale leaned back, her gaze cold but attentive, as the names for the next match appeared:
Ryo Hale vs. Ziyang Xiao.
The announcement drew immediate reaction from the crowd. Whispers rippled through the stands. One name carried the dignity of one of the top heirs of the Xiao Clan, while the other belonged to a man many dismissed as a lunatic, a stain even among the Hales.
And there he sat—Ryo.
Long red hair, jagged and spiked like a burning flame. A robe that looked more like a rag, half-buttoned to expose one scarred shoulder and the hard ridges of his torso. His stench drove people away; he hadn't bathed in weeks, and the rot of sweat clung to him like armor. No one dared sit within ten feet. He wasn't hated for being antisocial—he was feared because he was untamed.
They called him Savage Hale.
Ryo rose slowly, his grin more animal than human, and began walking toward the stage.
On the opposite side, Ziyang Xiao stood. Tall, elegant, his long white hair tied neatly, his robes spotless. He exuded nobility in every step. But when his eyes fell on Ryo, his nose twitched in disgust.
Filth… a man like this shouldn't even be allowed to stand in the same ring as me.
Ziyang's contempt burned like fire. To him, weakness and poverty were sins. And Ryo embodied both. It's just what he was taught since childhood.
The horn blared.
The clash began instantly.
Ryo charged like a predator unleashed, and Ziyang stepped in with precision. Their forearms collided with a shockwave that rippled through the arena.
Ryo's hair burst alight, fiery streaks glowing orange-red as his bloodline transformation roared awake. He didn't hesitate. He didn't test. He attacked with everything from the very first breath.
Ziyang's eyes narrowed. This beast… he doesn't even know the meaning of restraint.
Feathers exploded from his back as two pristine white wings spread wide. They gleamed with the same purity as his hair. He took to the skies, rising higher, intent on ending this battle with a single decisive strike.
But Ryo's savage grin widened.
His legs coiled—and then he leapt.
The distance between earth and sky vanished in an instant. His fist slammed into Ziyang's face before the noble could even ascend beyond reach. The crack of bone echoed across the arena.
Ziyang reeled, but his reflexes saved him. He twisted, wrapped his body around Ryo's extended arm, and dragged him down. Wings beat furiously, hurling both toward the arena floor.
With a thunderous crash, Ryo hit first. Dust exploded outward, the stone floor denting beneath him. Blood trickled from his brow.
But he only laughed.
The sound was low, unhinged—enough to send a shiver down the spine of those watching.
He likes this, Minji realized from her seat, her fingers tightening on the railing. He's enjoying every strike.
Ziyang, grimacing, pulled back, but Ryo's hand shot out, fisting a handful of his long white hair. With a violent roar, he swung him overhead and hurled him across the arena.
The Xiao heir twisted in midair, stabilizing with his wings. Rage flared in his chest. How dare this animal throw me like trash!
He dove, fist cocked, speed ripping the air as he aimed to shatter Ryo's skull.
But Ryo's hand clamped around his wrist.
In a fluid, brutal motion, he wrenched it aside, pulled Ziyang's body off balance—and drove his elbow upward with monstrous precision.
The strike met Ziyang's face.
The sound was wet, sharp, devastating.
Ziyang's vision exploded in white. His brain rattled inside his skull, the world tilting as pain swallowed him whole.
But Ryo didn't stop.
He followed, dragging Ziyang's limp body by the hair, and slammed his knee into his stomach. Spit and blood burst from the noble's mouth. Then another strike. And another.
Each blow was precise. Deliberate. Calculated.
He's not just swinging blindly… he's reading him, James Lee realized, his drowsiness forgotten. That savage… his battle IQ is terrifying.
Ryo released him at last, shoving him backward. Ziyang's wings flapped weakly, but he could no longer stabilize. His body staggered, trembling.
"Pathetic," Ryo growled, his voice low but carrying through the silence. "You dress like a king, but bleed like everyone else."
Ziyang's pride screamed at him to rise. His vision blurred, but his fury burned bright. He forced his wings to spread, to push him upright. His hand trembled as he raised it for another strike.
But Ryo was already there.
One final step. One final swing.
His fist buried into Ziyang's temple.
The noble heir collapsed instantly, wings folding as his body crashed into the arena floor, unconscious.
Silence fell.
Thirty seconds. That was all it had taken.
Gasps echoed through the stands. Some could not believe it. Others simply stared, horrified.
Verina Hale's lips curled faintly. Interesting… this one may be crude, but his strength cannot be denied.
The referee rushed to heal and carry Ziyang away. Ryo turned without a word, walking back to his seat as if nothing had happened. He showed no joy, no pride. To him, this wasn't a victory. It was simply survival, instinct.
Ziyang, upon waking, sat in silence, shame carved deep into his expression. He spoke to no one.
James and Minji exchanged looks, both unsettled. They had underestimated Savage Hale. And that mistake would linger in their minds.
The matches continued, a blur of mediocrity. James nearly drifted off again, lulled by the monotony. Until the next announcement jolted him awake:
"Next match—Minji Xiao versus Shi Xiao."
A ripple of excitement swept through the stands. The Xiao Clan was feared, respected, and envied—and now two of its heirs would clash before everyone's eyes.
Shi Xiao moved first. He rose from his seat beside Ken Xiao, his posture relaxed yet commanding, like a man stepping onto a stage he already owned. which seemed untouched by dust or sweat. His lips curved into a confident smile as his gaze settled on Minji.
There was no malice in his eyes, no cruelty—only the unshakable belief that he would win.
Minji felt that gaze and returned it, her own lips curving into a smaller, sharper smile. It was not the smile of arrogance, but of quiet defiance—like a blade kept hidden until the moment it strikes.
She pushed back her chair, rising slowly. Her every movement was deliberate, carrying a calm elegance that contrasted Shi Xiao's bold confidence.
Before heading to the arena, she turned toward James. Her tone was light, casual, almost playful.
"Wish me luck."
James didn't even look at her at first, his arms still folded across his chest. "Luck isn't something to ask for," he muttered flatly.
Minji tilted her head, amused. "Whatever."
Then she walked forward.
Each step she took toward the arena floor echoed softly, her long white hair swaying at her back. The crowd leaned closer, murmurs growing, sensing the subtle tension between the two Xio heirs. Her expression didn't shift once—focused, calm, her eyes steady on her opponent.
On the other side, Shi Xiao descended with long strides, his smile never leaving his face.
The arena buzzed, energy thickening with anticipation. Some cheered for Shi Xiao, impressed by his charisma and confidence. Others whispered Minji's name, drawn to the quiet determination in her eyes.
Two heirs of the same bloodline.
Two very different temperaments.
One inevitable clash.
As they stepped into the circle, the crowd hushed, every eye locked on them.
The referee raised his hand, voice booming, "Prepare yourselves."
The air tightened like a coiled spring, waiting to snap.
The crowd stirred again, eager.
To be continued…