The man's roar shook the air as he lunged forward, his battle axe raised high. Behind him, the massive phantom of a bull surged forth, its hooves thundering across the platform, eyes burning with primal fury. The Iron Stampede made the earth tremble, each step amplifying his speed and strength until he became an unstoppable force.
Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. Lightning flickered along his limbs as his body tensed. Lightning Steps. His form blurred, the crackling arc of electricity visible as he shifted to evade. The bull's shadow passed over him, heat and force rolling off it in waves, but even his speed wasn't enough to escape unscathed. The axe howled past, missing his neck by a hair's breadth, but the sheer force of the charge clipped his side.
A sharp, burning pain tore through his ribs. The impact sent him spiraling through the air, lightning crackling off his body as he crashed onto the arena platform. Stone shattered beneath him, cracks webbing outward from the point of impact. Blood dripped from his lips as he pushed himself up, eyes cold, breath ragged.
The bull's phantom faded into mist behind his opponent, but Lin Shu barely spared it a glance. Pain was irrelevant. His gaze locked onto the man, and slowly, he rose to his feet, lightning dancing once more across his battered frame.
Lin Shu spat blood onto the cracked arena floor, his breaths ragged. Across from him, the axe wielder stood tall, his broad frame casting a long shadow beneath the sun. The boy's lips curled into a sneer, twirling his massive weapon with ease. "What's the matter, little rat? Too scared to fight head-on?" He rested the axe on his shoulder, eyes gleaming with mockery. "Or do you only know how to scurry around and pick at scraps?"
Lin Shu wiped his mouth, his expression cold. His body ached. His Qi reserves were a little low because of his lightning steps usage but it was enough for now,the flames of his will burned hotter than ever. His gaze settled on the axe wielder's smug face, and something inside him twisted. He couldn't lose. Not to this fool. Not after coming this far.
The axe wielder chuckled, voice dripping with disdain. "What, no clever tricks this time? No running away?" He raised his axe high, slamming its head into the ground with a deafening crash. "Come on then! Show me what you've got, you spineless bastard!"
Lin Shu's claws curled into fists, bone scraping against bone. "You want me to break your bones that badly?" His voice was low, cold, barely more than a whisper. "Fine. I'll gladly do it."
The bone armor thickened, plates shifting and reforming. His bone blades retracted, leaving only the jagged claws of his gauntlets. His body grew heavier, each step sinking into the stone as the weight of the Ivory Monolith settled over him. No longer a predator. No longer a hunter.
Now, he was a fortress.
The axe wielder scoffed. "Hiding behind your bone shell again? Pathetic." He shifted his stance, muscles bulging as a phantom bull roared to life behind him. "Let's see if that armor can withstand this!"
He charged, axe raised high. "Ironhide Stampede!" The bull's roar echoed through the arena as the ground cracked beneath his feet. Lin Shu braced himself, lowering his stance. When they collided, the impact shook the platform. Cracks spiderwebbed through the stone. The shockwave hurled dust and debris into the air.
Lin Shu felt the force ripple through his body, his heels digging into the ground as he slid backward. Pain shot through his arms, but he remained standing, armor cracked but not broken. He exhaled slowly. The axe wielder snarled. "Still standing? Fine! Let's see how long you last!"
The axe came down again and again, each swing heavy enough to shatter stone. Lin Shu weaved between the strikes, his movements sluggish but precise. Each time the axe grazed his armor, sparks flew, bone chipping away but holding strong. The axe wielder roared with frustration. "Stop dodging, you coward!"
Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. "Coward?" Lightning flickered along the cracks in his armor, mending them bit by bit. "Let's see if you still think that when I tear you apart."
He dashed forward, claws flashing. The axe wielder swung wide, but Lin Shu ducked under the blow, his gauntleted fist slamming into the boy's ribs. The axe wielder grunted, staggering back, but Lin Shu gave him no room to recover. He struck again and again, claws raking across flesh, targeting the boy's joints and tendons. Blood splattered across the ground.
The axe wielder howled in rage. "I'll kill you!" He raised his axe, muscles straining, veins bulging. The bull phantom roared once more, horns gleaming in the sunlight as the boy unleashed his strongest attack. Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. He had no more time to hold back.
He lunged, driving his shoulder into the boy's chest. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and before he could react, Lin Shu tackled him to the ground. Bone claws sank into flesh as Lin Shu's fists rained down, punching, tearing, gouging. The axe wielder thrashed beneath him, but Lin Shu was relentless. Every strike was fueled by rage, by desperation, by the need to survive.
"Enough!" A hand caught his wrist, stopping the next blow cold. Lin Shu's head snapped up, eyes blazing with fury — only to meet the instructor's calm, commanding gaze. "You've won."
Lin Shu blinked, his breath ragged. Slowly, he stood, body trembling. The bone armor flaked away, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. Without another word, he stumbled off the platform. His steps were heavy, but his heart burned with determination.
One more fight. Just one more… and the institute spot would be his.
When His turn came again Lin Shu stepped onto the platform, his cold gaze locking onto his next opponent. The instructor's voice rang out. "Number eighteen — Lin Shu. Number twenty-two — Zeng Qiang."
A boy strode onto the stage, taller and broader than Lin Shu, his frame thick with muscle. He looked around twelve, but the hardness in his eyes belonged to someone older. In his hands rested a heavy war hammer, its head worn from use. Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. A hammer-wielding opponent — and from the Zeng Clan no less.
The Zeng Clan was one of Greenwood Hollow's ruling powers, despite being only a small-sized clan. Their techniques focused on endurance and defense, turning their cultivators into immovable bulwarks in battle. Lin Shu had heard the rumors — fighting a Zeng meant chipping away at a stone wall while trying not to get crushed under its weight.
Zeng Qiang swung his hammer onto his shoulder, smirking. "I've seen you fight. Always running, sneaking around, hoping for a lucky strike." His eyes glinted with mockery. "What's wrong, little rat? Scared to fight head-on?"
Lin Shu's expression darkened, fingers curling into fists. That word — "rat." He'd heard it too many times, back when he was just a beggar scrounging for scraps. Even now, it followed him like a shadow. His heart burned with quiet fury, but he forced it down. Rage wouldn't help him win. He'd kill this bastard — but on his terms.
The instructor raised his hand. "Begin!"
Lin Shu didn't waste time. Bone burst from his skin, encasing him in thick, ivory armor. This time, he didn't form any blades—just the clawed gauntlets, heavier and more fortified than before. His whole body was now a moving fortress, built to endure and crush anything in his path.
Zeng Qiang charged, hammer raised high. The ground shook with each step, the hammer whistling through the air in a wide arc. Lin Shu darted back, lightning flickering at his heels. The hammer smashed into the ground, shattering tiles where he'd stood moments before.
Lin Shu didn't counter. Not yet. He circled his opponent, each step light and calculated. Zeng Qiang sneered. "Running already?" He stomped his foot, Qi surging through his body as his muscles swelled. The veins along his arms darkened, a faint metallic sheen covering his skin.
Lin Shu's eyes narrowed. A battle skill — one that hardened the body and enhanced strength. The hammer came crashing down again, forcing Lin Shu to dive aside. He rolled to his feet and sprinted around the edge of the arena, eyes sharp, mind racing. He needed a plan.
The crowd jeered. "Look at him! Running again!"
"Rat! Rat! Rat!"
Lin Shu ground his teeth, heart pounding with rage, but he pushed it aside. This wasn't about pride. It was about survival. He kept moving, forcing Zeng Qiang to chase him, waiting for the right moment.
Zeng Qiang snarled, hammer sweeping in wide arcs, each swing faster and more vicious. "Stop running and fight, you coward!" He stomped the ground, tiles cracking beneath his feet. Lin Shu felt the tremor but kept his footing, leaping back just as the hammer smashed into the ground where he'd been standing. Dust and shards of stone flew into the air.
Lin Shu darted in, claws flashing — but Zeng Qiang spun, the hammer nearly taking his head off. Lin Shu ducked, retreating once more. His heart pounded. The boy was stronger than he'd expected, and that battle skill made him a walking fortress. Any direct attack would be suicide.
He needed to wear him down.
Lin Shu circled, each step carefully placed. Zeng Qiang followed, hammer at the ready, his eyes burning with frustration. Lin Shu feinted left, then dashed right, claws scraping against the boy's arm. The cuts were shallow — barely more than scratches — but Zeng Qiang roared in fury, swinging his hammer wildly.
"Stop running!" he bellowed. "Fight me, you rat!"
Lin Shu felt the fury rising again, cold and bitter. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay calm. The longer the fight dragged on, the more Qi Zeng Qiang burned. His swings grew heavier, slower, each missed attack chipping away at his reserves.
Another swing came — wide, desperate. Lin Shu ducked under it, claws raking across Zeng Qiang's thigh. The boy stumbled, blood spraying across the tiles. Lin Shu darted back, watching carefully. The boy's breathing was ragged now, his movements slower.
Almost there.
Zeng Qiang roared, Qi flaring once more. He raised his hammer high, muscles straining. "I'll crush you!" he bellowed, slamming the hammer down with all his strength.
Lin Shu moved. Lightning flared, his body blurring as he darted past the hammer's path. The ground shattered behind him. He lunged, claws finding purchase in Zeng Qiang's side, carving deep into flesh. The boy gasped, hammer slipping from his grasp.
Lin Shu didn't stop. He struck again and again, claws tearing through muscle and bone. Zeng Qiang collapsed to his knees, blood pooling beneath him. He coughed, spitting crimson onto the ground.
The instructor stepped forward, raising his hand. "Winner — Lin Shu!"
Lin Shu stood over his fallen opponent, chest heaving. His claws retracted, blood dripping from his fingers. His Ivory Dominion armor remained, cracked but unbroken. He had taken hits, but they had never been enough to stop him.
As he turned away, a smirk crept onto his lips, stretching wider until he was grinning from ear to ear. He had done it.
Top ten. His place in the institute was secured.
He wiped the blood from his knuckles, laughing under his breath.
"Now it doesn't matter if I lose or win. But it'd be great if I won the next round, I'll get more gold, and a Rank 1 low-tier battle skill of my choice."