The arena was silent.
The kind of silence that precedes a storm, heavy and crushing, as every eye locked onto the massive sphere of fire spiraling above Liu Shen's hand. Flames roared like a living beast, its core blazing white-hot, a miniature sun birthed within the confines of the Skyfire Arena.
The air itself distorted. Tiles melted, the protective barrier groaned and flickered. The pressure was so suffocating that even the Inner Academy disciples shifted uncomfortably.
"This… this is Skyfire Annihilation," one Elder muttered, his face grave. "He's using it against an Outer Sect disciple?"
Another Elder sneered. "That brat forced it upon himself. Liu Shen can't afford to lose face now."
Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire across the stands.
Kai stood at the center of it all—his body battered, his flesh scorched, his breath shallow. Blood dripped from his split lips, painting crimson lines down his chin. His vision swam, but his eyes burned with unyielding defiance.
If this lands, I'm finished.
The sphere descended, dragging with it a suffocating wave of heat. The tiles beneath it cracked like glass under strain, glowing red before bursting apart.
Kai's knees nearly buckled. His instincts screamed at him to flee. But where could he go? The arena was sealed. The only path was forward—or death.
---
The System Stirs
Ding!
> System Notification:
Imminent fatal threat detected.
Emergency Protocol initiated…
New Temporary Skill Unlocked: Survival Will (Lv.1).
Boosts physical endurance and resistance to damage for 60 seconds.
Increases qi circulation speed by 25%.
The words blazed across his vision, clear even in the haze of pain. A surge of energy flooded through his limbs, burning away the weakness, sharpening his senses.
Sixty seconds.
That was all he had.
Kai clenched his fists, teeth gritted so hard his jaw creaked. His qi surged, wild and violent, flooding every vein in his body. His skin cracked under the pressure, tiny rivulets of blood seeping out—but he didn't falter.
He drew upon every shred of strength, every ounce of willpower. His mind screamed, his spirit roared.
I won't die here. Not beneath him. Not today.
---
The Clash Begins
Liu Shen's laughter rang above the roar of the flames. "Burn, and vanish like the trash you are!"
The Skyfire Annihilation descended, a boulder of sunfire crashing toward Kai. The air sizzled, space itself seemed to tremble.
Kai moved.
His fists clenched, qi condensing into a spiraling torrent around his arms. His instincts, sharpened by the System, guided him—every step precise, every breath in sync with his heartbeat.
He roared, his voice tearing from his throat.
"Break!"
He leapt, driving his fists upward into the descending inferno.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The world detonated.
---
Arena in Chaos
The collision unleashed a shockwave so violent that the protective barrier shuddered, spiderweb cracks racing across its surface. Spectators screamed as they shielded their faces from the blinding light. Even the Elders stood, their robes whipping in the gale.
Inside the maelstrom, fire clashed against defiance. The flames surged, seeking to consume everything, while Kai's qi roared back, tearing through the inferno with raw willpower.
His body screamed in agony. His skin blistered, muscles tearing under the strain. But his fists did not falter.
System pulses…
> Survival Will active. Endurance boosted.
Battle Instinct synchronizing…
Prediction rate increased by 15%.
Kai's vision tunneled. All he saw was the wall of fire before him, all he felt was the agony of resistance. But deep inside, a calm surfaced. A razor-sharp clarity born from desperation.
He twisted his body, channeling all momentum into a final strike. His fist pierced through the inferno, punching directly into the heart of the Skyfire Annihilation.
CRAAAAAACK!
The flaming sphere shuddered, its surface fracturing like glass under a hammer.
Liu Shen's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible!"
---
Shattering the Sun
Kai roared again, his voice raw and primal. He drove his fist deeper, qi detonating outward like a storm.
The sphere convulsed—then shattered.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion was apocalyptic. Flames erupted in every direction, slamming against the barrier with such ferocity that the entire arena shook as though the heavens themselves were collapsing.
Spectators cried out, shielding themselves. Even Inner Academy geniuses stared wide-eyed, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
Inside the storm, two figures were hurled apart.
Liu Shen staggered back, blood spraying from his mouth as his aura flickered wildly. His arms trembled, scorched black from backlash.
Kai crashed into the arena floor, a crater exploding beneath him. His body convulsed, smoke rising from his scorched flesh. For a moment, silence claimed him—until his trembling hand pressed against the shattered tiles.
And slowly, impossibly, he rose.
---
Aftermath
The dust settled.
Kai stood—barely. His chest heaved, blood painting his robes, but his eyes… his eyes still burned with that same unyielding fire.
The crowd erupted in chaos.
"He's still alive!"
"He broke the Skyfire Annihilation?!"
"An Outer Sect disciple… against Liu Shen?!"
The Elders exchanged glances, shock and calculation flickering in their eyes. The name Kai spread like wildfire through the stands, whispered with disbelief and awe.
Liu Shen's face twisted with humiliation. He took a step forward, aura flaring again. "You—"
But his legs buckled, blood spraying from his lips. He collapsed to one knee, his qi scattering like broken glass.
Gasps echoed.
The top genius of the Inner Academy… defeated.
---
The System Speaks
Ding!
> System Notification:
Victory Achieved. Opponent: Liu Shen (Inner Academy Genius).
Exp gained: 1200.
Stat Points gained: +5.
Reward: Minor Skill Unlock – Iron Will (Lv.1).
-- Passive: Increases resistance to suppression and qi-based intimidation.
-- Grants mental clarity under overwhelming pressure.
Kai blinked as the words scrolled across his vision. His body trembled, every nerve screaming—but deep inside, triumph surged.
I did it.
---
The World Reacts
The arena buzzed with chaos. Some Outer Sect disciples screamed in joy, their voices hoarse from cheering. Others simply stared, stunned beyond words. Inner Academy disciples looked on with mixed expressions—shock, resentment, intrigue.
"He actually won…"
"He's a monster…"
Even the Elders whispered among themselves.
"This Kai… if nurtured, he could become a force beyond the sect's control."
"Or a weapon, if bound properly."
Politics shifted in the shadows. Alliances, schemes, and fears began to take shape—all centered on one bloodied figure still standing at the center of the stage.
---
Closing Scene
Kai's knees wobbled, his body threatening to collapse. But he forced himself to remain upright. His gaze swept the arena, meeting the eyes of countless disciples.
Some looked at him with awe. Others with envy. Many with fear.
Good.
Let them see. Let them all see.
Liu Shen lay unconscious at the far end of the stage, his aura shattered.
The referee raised his trembling hand, voice echoing across the silent arena.
"Winner… Kai."
The Skyfire Arena exploded with noise. Cheers, curses, gasps—all mixing into a storm of sound.
Kai exhaled, blood dripping from his lips, his body trembling. His vision dimmed, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Step by step… I'll climb higher.
And with that thought, darkness claimed him as his body finally gave out.