"Begin!"
The referee's cry had barely left his lips when Lucien lunged forward, sword gleaming black.
"Everyone, together!" Huo Wushuang bellowed, leading Blazing Academy's charge.
"Eh? Blazing's actually fighting?!"
"Didn't think they'd have the guts. I thought they'd just surrender like smart people."
"Now that's hot-blooded!"
"Feng Xiaotian, you watching? Learn from others—don't just run!"
The crowd shouted and laughed, completely ignorant of the despair bubbling in Feng Xiaotian's chest.
Idiots. They don't know. This fool Huo Wushuang is marching his whole team to the slaughter… even dragging Huo Wu along with him!
On the field, Blazing's seven members unleashed their spirit abilities together.
"Meteor Fire Rain!"
"Wrath of Tyrannosaurus!"
"Mars Scatter!"
Seven rays of flame roared toward Lucien.
Instead of dodging, he hiccuped, mouth stretching into an eager grin. "All together? Heheh. I like it!"
A purple ring flared beneath his feet. Surge. Power flooded his muscles.
Then, his fifth black ring lit.
"—Feng Chen, Absolute Slash!!"
Whooooshhh—!
A jet-black Sword Qi tore through the Blazing Seven in a single blink.
By the time they realized he had already vanished from sight, Lucien was behind them.
Clang, clang, clang—!
Seven crisp sounds rang out.
The crowd froze.
The shimmering red school badges on every Blazing student's chest—fell neatly to the stage floor.
Their uniforms? Otherwise intact.
Lucien twirled his sword carelessly, standing behind them with a grin.
Audience silence. Then, pandemonium.
"H-He cut only the badges?!"
"At that speed… at that precision…!"
"He's already Soul King at twelve and he has control on par with Contras!"
Up in the VIP box, Gu Rong cackled. "Hahaha! Fengzhi, good thing I came. If it were old Chen Xin here instead of me, he'd be crying again. His control over sword intent only reached this level after Contra, and this boy… he's just Soul King!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled tightly—half proud, half terrified.
Emperor Xue Ye's eyes sparkled. So this is the prodigy not weaker than a Title Douluo.
"Excellent skill," he murmured. "Sect Master Ning, your student… no, your family's genius is extraordinary."
"I… told you before," Fengzhi said meekly. Inside, he was praying Lucien didn't do anything stupid in front of the Emperor.
On the other side of the field, the seven Blazing members stood frozen, chest badges gone.
Huo Wushuang's throat went dry. A millimeter off, and we'd be corpses. This… isn't swordsmanship, it's execution.
Especially Huo Wu, whose cheeks flamed red. Had that Sword Qi been an inch lower, her clothes…
Lucien yawned drunkenly, sword lifting again. "Heh… let's test your luck this time."
"Nope nope nope!" Huo Wushuang yelped, waving furiously. "We surrender!!"
The flag was raised.
The strategy they'd agreed on: rush him once, survive if possible, otherwise surrender immediately. Better humiliation than pulverization.
But Lucien's eyes narrowed, lip curling. "Surrender already? You trying to ruin my fun?"
He stepped forward and casually punched Huo Wushuang in the head.
BOOM—!
The captain slammed to the stage floor, clutching his skull, groaning in misery.
The referee blanched, nearly fainting as he shrieked: "Match over! Tiandou Royal Academy wins! Lucien! Serious warning—no striking after surrender!"
He braced defensively, terrified Lucien might strike him next.
But the boy only tipped his jug back with a satisfied sigh.
"Gulp, gulp—ha! Happy!"
…
In the stands, spectators shook their heads.
"Blazing looked hot-blooded… but surrendered just as fast."
"Huo Wushuang's got the same ending as Feng Xiaotian. Flattened."
"At least Feng Xiaotian didn't surrender!"
"Shut up!" Feng Xiaotian shouted angrily from the Kamikaze seats. True, I was beaten into a mop, but at least I didn't throw a white flag!
Across, Huo Wushuang groaned upright. "Surrender or not—tomorrow we smash Kamikaze, and we still advance. Make fun now while you can."
Feng Xiaotian's nose smoked in rage. This dog! Not only saved his face, but schemed to pin disgrace on us instead.
"I like your sister!" he yelled across instinctively.
Huo Wushuang froze in disbelief. …This bastard!
After the match, Lucien guzzled happily in the arena rest corridors, cheeks rosy.
If I'd known the Tiandou Cup came with this much free wine, I'd have joined years ago.
"The road is far!"
A familiar sweet voice rang.
Princess Xue Ke hurried down the hall, radiant with excitement.
"Father wishes to see you!"
Lucien blinked fuzzily. "…Old man? Why's he looking for me?"
Reward with wine, surely.
"Come on, now!" She pulled him eagerly.
Emperor's Box.
"Father, this is Lucien!" Xue Ke ushered him in with a glowing smile.
Lucien squinted. "…Uh, that…"
"Your Majesty," she whispered sharply into his ear.
"Ah! Your Majesty, you wanted me?"
He swayed to the side, leaning sloppily against Xue Ke's perfumed shoulder.
Emperor Xue Ye smiled faintly. "At ease. No need for stiff courtesy."
Lucien blinked. Courtesy?
"Ohhh. Got it!"
He grinned wide, lifted his jug, and cheerfully extended it forward.
"Oi, old man, want a drink?"
The entire imperial box froze.
Ning Fengzhi's jaw dropped. Gu Rong choked on laughter. Qin officials fainted in spirit.
The Emperor of Tiandou, called old man—and offered a direct swig of wine.
Ning Fengzhi coughed, face twitching violently as he waved his hands in frantic warning signals.
Dear heavens, Lucien, please don't start drinking games with the Emperor of the Empire…!
--
Check out my pa**on to read 50 advanced chapter for just 7$. Link is in synopsis/description of this fic.