Chapter 5: Frostbear vs. The Undefeated Sword
(MC Perspective)
Liu Feng didn't walk into the arena—**the world bent around him.** Mist coiled at his feet like a living thing, and the temperature dropped so fast my nose hairs froze. The crowd's laughter died. Even Elder Liang looked tense.
The Sect Master's voice boomed: "Begin!"
Liu Feng moved.
One second he was twenty feet away—the next, his sword was a hair's breadth from my throat.
CLANG!
My claws met the blade in a spray of sparks. The impact rattled my teeth, but I held. Barely.
Liu Feng's eyes flickered with something almost like… *interest.*
"Fast," he murmured. "But can you dodge **this?**"
His sword *blurred.*
Blade Storm (Or: Why Core Formation is Bullsh*t)
The attack wasn't a strike—it was a **tempest.** Dozens of icy slashes lashed out faster than thought, each one carving grooves into the enchanted arena floor. I backpedaled, fur flying as I twisted mid-air to avoid a decapitating swing.
[Frost Claw Activated!]
I retaliated with a sweeping slash—only for Liu Feng to *phase through it*, his body turning to mist for a heartbeat before reforming behind me.
"GOT YOU."His pommel smashed into my spine.
PAIN.
I hit the ground **hard**, skidding across the ice like a hairy boulder. The crowd roared.
[Warning: Minor Internal Damage Detected]
[Qi Circulation Disrupted!]
Liu Feng didn't press the advantage. He just… waited.
*"He's toying with me."*
The Fish Gambit (AKA: Distraction 101)
I still had the frozen fish clutched in my other paw.
Pathetic? Yes.
But sometimes, ridiculous works.
I hurled the fish at his face with all my strength.
Liu Feng, consummate professional, **sliced it mid-air.**
Which was exactly what I wanted.
SPLAT.
Fish guts exploded across his pristine robes. For one glorious second, the great genius froze in sheer *disgust.*
"NOW!"
I lunged, claws wreathed in blue frost.
[Glacial Rend: Full Power!]
The ground **erupted** in a jagged tsunami of ice, swallowing Liu Feng whole—
—until a **golden light** split the wave apart.
Core Formation Strikes Back
Liu Feng stood untouched, a shimmering aura of condensed Qi surrounding him. His robes were spotless again. Because of course they were.
"You fight like a beast," he said. "But I've hunted spirit wolves with more finesse."
Then he flicked his sword.
A crescent of condensed frost-energy ripped toward me—too fast to dodge.
I crossed my arms.
BOOM!
The force sent me sliding to the arena's edge, my paws digging trenches in the ice. My fur crackled with lingering frost, muscles screaming.
[Qi Reserves: 40%]
Liu Feng raised his sword for the finisher—
—when my vision pulsed red.
Bloodline Awakening: Frostbear's Wrath
Something *primal* uncoiled in my gut. A voice that wasn't mine snarled in my skull:
*"PREY DARES CHALLENGE US?"*
The world sharpened. Every flake of snow hung suspended in the air. Liu Feng's movements slowed to a crawl.
[Bloodline Ability Unlocked: Arctic Dominance]
[Effect: Time Perception Slows for 10 Seconds]
I moved.
One slash—Liu Feng barely twisted away, but my claws grazed his ribs. *First blood.*
Two—his sword met my claws in a shriek of metal, but I *pushed*, leveraging all 800 pounds of bear muscle.
Three—
"ENOUGH."
The Sect Master's voice *shattered*the trance. A pressure like a mountain crushed me to the ground. Liu Feng's blade halted an inch from my eye.
The crowd was **silent.**
The Verdict (Or: How to Win by Losing)
The Sect Master stood. "The match is concluded. Liu Feng remains champion."
Boos and cheers erupted. Liu Feng sheathed his sword, then did something unexpected—he **bowed.**
"You fight with honor, beast. I look forward to our next bout."
Elder Mei looked ready to combust.
The Sect Master's gaze lingered on me. "But it seems our guest has… *outgrown* the tournament's limits."
[Quest Complete: Survive!]
[Reward: Bloodline Insight +15%]
[New Title: "The Frostbear Who Fought a Core Formation and Lived"]
As I limped out of the arena, Elder Liang fell into step beside me.
"Told you you'd need strength." He tossed me another glowing fruit. "Eat up. Mei's going to try killing you properly now."
I crunched the fruit, core and all.
"Bring it on."