At the exact moment when Mira's and Kael's attacks were about to collide—
the entire arena trembled violently as Mira screamed with everything she had:
"Burning Lotus Heart Art!!"
And on the opposite side—
Kael's insane grin widened as he violently raised his two massive swords:
"Hell Butcher!!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
Red and silver chi exploded in the center of the arena like an uncontrollable storm, and the stone floor beneath their feet transformed into a massive web of cracks in a single instant.
Even the air inside the arena itself seemed to tear apart, and the pressure from the collision caused even the light inside the defensive formation to shake for brief moments.
But—
despite all that… nothing escaped beyond the arena's boundaries.
The massive defensive formation surrounding the place swallowed the entire shockwave violently, to the point that the transparent energy walls appeared for moments like a raging sea trying to devour the explosion whole.
And in the middle of that clash—
Mira pushed her sword with all her strength while silver chi spiraled sharply around her blade, while Kael pressed down with terrifying force, the explosive red chi surrounding him looking as though it wanted to devour everything before him.
The sound of the two energies grinding against each other became painfully sharp.
SKRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEECH!!
One disciple stood up in shock and shouted:
"Damn it… is this really a first-round match?!"
Another swallowed nervously and replied:
"This level doesn't even feel like disciples anymore…"
And in another section of the stands...
Daren sat beside Lin, his eyes fixed on the arena without even blinking.
As for Lin—
he was visibly stunned.
His eyes widened while watching Mira withstand Kael's direct pressure, then he muttered in a low voice filled with disbelief:
"I knew Mira was strong… but to this extent?!"
Then he clenched his fist slightly.
"This is incredible… she actually looks like she's suppressing Kael despite the level difference!"
His tone rose with excitement.
"Mira can win!"
But Daren remained calm. He silently watched the arena for a short moment before saying:
"Don't get too excited, Lin…"
Then he continued in a low and steady tone:
"Kael's vessel level is far higher than Mira's, and that difference can't be ignored easily. It's true that she's confronting him head-on… even forcing him to fight seriously, but in the end…"
He paused briefly.
"She's only gambling with herself despite already knowing the outcome."
A brief silence followed before Daren narrowed his eyes slightly while watching Mira.
"But…"
A strange glint appeared in his eyes.
"Why did she suddenly change like this…?"
As for Lin—
he could hear nothing except the sounds of collisions on the arena, then he slowly said as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing:
"Don't tell me… this is impossible…"
He gritted his teeth slightly.
"If she knows she's going to lose… then why doesn't she surrender?!"
Then his voice rose even more.
"She already proved her strength! Why does she still want to continue?!"
…!
But Daren did not reply.
He simply continued staring at the arena in heavy silence.
On the Elders' platform—
the Third Elder leaned forward slightly while laughing in obvious admiration.
"Ooooh! Mira is matching Kael at this level?!"
Then he turned toward the Sixth Elder with a wide grin.
"This is truly amazing, Sixth Elder… isn't it? Hahahahaha!"
But before the Sixth Elder could reply... a lazy voice came from the other side.
"Haaaaah…"
The Fourth Elder was leaning back as usual, his long black hair scattered behind him while he looked at the arena with half-open eyes as though bored of everything.
"No matter how long this fight lasts…"
He sighed slowly.
"We all already know who will win, so I don't see the reason for all this excessive excitement."
The Third Elder raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What exactly do you mean by that, Fourth Elder?!"
The Fourth Elder replied without changing posture:
"What do I mean…?"
Then he lazily closed one eye.
"Hah… I really don't feel like explaining."
The corner of his mouth rose slightly.
"But you'll all see later."
The Sixth Elder narrowed his eyes and said:
"Fourth Elder… you truly are strange. You always leave your words unfinished."
The Third Elder burst into laughter immediately.
"Hahahahaha! You're seriously hilarious, you lazy bastard! Hahahahaha!"
But the Fourth Elder merely sighed again as though completely uninterested in continuing the conversation.
Meanwhile, on the arena—
after that violent clash… Kael and Mira were still pressing their swords directly against each other.
The compressed silver chi around Mira's blade emitted sharp vibrations, while the red chi around Kael's swords was fiercer and more savage.
Then suddenly—
Kael pushed down with terrifying force.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Mira was forced several steps backward across the cracked ground while stone fragments rose around her.
Kael finally smiled widely while resting one of his swords on his shoulder.
"Wonderful… truly wonderful."
Then he slowly clapped mockingly.
"I'm honestly applauding you, brat. Despite your weakness… you're actually entertaining me a little. Hahahahaha."
But Mira—
simply smiled as well and raised her sword toward him.
"Your words are useless against me."
Then she narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Because I no longer care what happens to me anyway."
A brief silence filled the arena.
Then she continued while pointing her sword directly at him:
"Even if I'm throwing myself into the abyss… at the very least, I want to leave my mark before you reach Faiser."
Her smile widened gradually.
"At that point… he'll at least be able to fight you too. Just imagine it—a person at the Coherent Vessel level being challenged by someone at the Pulsing Seed level. Doesn't that sound ridiculous?"
Then she suddenly laughed while screaming:
"Tell me… doesn't that sound insanely funny, Kaaaaael?!"
Veins of anger immediately appeared across Kael's forehead.
But instead of getting angry—
he smiled.
A wider smile… a crazier one.
"So that's it…"
He lowered his head slightly before slowly raising it again.
"So this was your plan from the beginning, brat?"
Then he laughed loudly.
"You seriously think some miserable weakling at the Pulsing Seed level could even touch me?!"
His laughter grew louder.
"Just imagining it is hilarious! Hahahahaha!"
Then—
his laughter suddenly disappeared.
Kael lowered his head briefly as every expression vanished from his face.
Then he slowly raised it toward Mira again… and his eyes had become terrifyingly strange.
"But…"
A very brief silence followed.
"Do you truly think…"
The red chi around him began growing denser.
"…that you can leave me injured…"
The pressure of chi exploded violently.
"…even a little?!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A dense red aura erupted around Kael unlike anything seen since the beginning of the battle, to the point that the entire arena began trembling within the formation's boundaries.
A monstrous pressure swept through the place.
Even the disciples outside the arena felt something heavy choking their chests despite the formation blocking the direct impact.
The Fifth Elder exclaimed in shock:
"This boy…!"
Then his brows tightened.
"Does he intend to kill the girl or what?!"
A genuine killing intent appeared within the arena—
cold, sharp, and directed entirely toward Mira.
And the moment Mira felt it—
she unconsciously stepped backward.
Her eyes widened slightly as fear appeared on her face for the first time since the battle began.
On the Elders' platform—
the Third Elder's smile vanished completely.
He looked directly toward the Sixth Elder with suddenly sharp eyes.
"Sixth Elder…"
Even his voice changed.
"Control your disciple…"
A brief silence followed.
"…Don't make me interfere personally."
The Sixth Elder's expression tightened for a moment before he cursed internally:
"You idiot…!"
He gripped the armrest tightly.
"Why did he release killing intent now?!"
Veins appeared faintly on his forehead.
"Did her words affect him that much?!"
Then he gritted his teeth.
"Not now, you fool… save this until you fight that weak trash!"
Meanwhile, inside the arena—
Mira stared at Kael with obvious tension.
"What is this pressure…?!"
Her breathing became unstable.
"Do I really have to block his next attack?!"
Then her eyes widened further as she looked toward the Fifth Elder outside the arena...
"Why isn't the Fifth Elder stopping him?!"
She gripped her sword tightly.
"This already violates the tournament rules… this is impossible!"
On the opposite side of the stands—
Faiser watched silently before a faint smile appeared on his face.
"This idiot wants to end it…"
he said calmly within his mind.
"But why does he even need to release killing intent in the first place?"
His smile widened slightly.
"Can't he kill with a cold mind?"
Then he chuckled lightly.
"Showing your intent before striking… is nothing but pathetic weakness."
Whispers quickly spread among the disciples.
"What's happening to Mira?!"
"Why is she backing away?!"
"Damn it… what is this pressure?!"
As for Kael—
he stood amidst that dense red aura, both swords pointed directly at Mira.
Then—
suddenly…
the killing intent vanished completely.
Along with it, the red aura disappeared instantly.
A very brief silence fell.
A silence that made everyone hold their breath unconsciously.
And in the next moment—
chi began gathering around Kael's blades at terrifying speed, faster and denser than before, until even the swords themselves emitted horrifying vibrations.
Kael slowly raised his head toward Mira, then roared with a voice that shook the entire arena:
"Third Martial Art…"
The ground beneath him exploded instantly.
"…Throne Cross!!!"
And at that moment—
everyone inside the arena felt it…
the true catastrophe was only beginning now.