The atmosphere in the Martial Hall crackled with excitement as the draws were completed for the day's competition—a blend of fate and fierce skill was about to unfold.
On the martial arts stage, combatants wielded an array of weapons, from gleaming swords to the menacing heft of guns and staves, as they faced off with grit and determination.
Strength among the contestants varied, yet the distinctions were often resolved in a single, deft move.
Among them was a young man named Daxton, who brandished his knife without removing it from its scabbard, an intentional display of confidence.
Only those who had reached at least the seventh level of body refinement dared to take part in this contest, showcasing talents well beyond that of ordinary martial arts students.
A wave of spirited cheers and chatter erupted from the crowd, with students from the Martial Hall voicing their unwavering support for their favored participants.
The first knockout round progressed rapidly, and it wasn't long before Dustin's name rang out."Contestant number three, platform Ninety-eight!" In a breathtaking display of agility,
a young man leapt from the ground, rotating elegantly mid-air before landing gently upon the competition stage.
The applause echoed around him; to the discerning eye, his movements hinted at mastery of a third-grade Body Technique coupled with exceptional light-footedness.
In stark contrast to his opponent's flashy entrance, Dustin approached the stage with a calm demeanor, his landing understated yet purposeful. The thin, nervous young man opposite him squinted, a flicker of apprehension evident in his gaze.
"You're the Dustin who just got promoted to intermediate class and took down Jude Zhang?" he questioned, doubt peppering his voice.Dustin only nodded, allowing his silence to speak volumes instead.
Yet to his opponent, that silence felt like a slight—a prelude to a bold underestimation. "I'll show him!" the young man thought, determination hardening within him.With that, he surged forward, fists raised, and launched a quick attack, sending a flying knife straight toward Dustin with lethal intent.
But with a mere sidestep, Dustin evaded the blade, which whistled inches from his chest.To the spectators, it might have seemed a stroke of luck, but those with sharper instincts recognized the finely-tuned skill at play."Remarkable body technique! Within mere millimeters?" Jeremy, an elder observing from the sidelines, couldn't contain his surprise. The essence of this technique lay in its precise movements, allowing one to evade attacks effectively while minimizing risk—an accomplishment requiring years of dedicated practice.
Just as the knife zipped past him, Dustin's counterattack was swift and decisive. He closed the distance and struck.
"Bang!"
The dull thud echoed, and his opponent was sent tumbling from the stage.
"Dustin!" announced the referee with booming authority.Fuming silently, the young man who had just been dispatched glared at the ground, unwilling to accept his defeat. "I was nearly successful! That knife was so close…".
"Don't be disheartened," a companion offered sympathetically. "Losing to Dustin, especially after he took down Jude Zhang, isn't a disgrace."Dustin stepped off the platform, bemused at the ease of his victory. The seventh-level opponent had posed no real challenge—he hadn't even drawn his sword.
As the competitive rounds pressed on, a new wave of contestants emerged. Dustin returned to the fray, drawing the number 'Thirteen' for his next battle. Yet again, he found himself faced with another seventh-level martial disciple.Much like the previous match,
Dustin wasted no time; he advanced swiftly, unleashing a single palm strike that sent the challenger sprawling off the stage before they even had time to react. Once more, no techniques were necessary—only the sheer finesse of his movements.From the sidelines, whispers began to circulate.
"This kid is insufferably arrogant! Does he think he's invincible?"
"Perhaps he relies too heavily on his movement skills. Against a true master, he'll find speed alone isn't enough."By the end of the second round, the number of contenders had dwindled to just over seventy, as Dustin prepared for his next match—now entering the third round.
This time, he faced an arrogant young man clad in a cyan military uniform, a black iron spear slung casually across his back.Beside Emery Liu, Jeth remarked with a smirk, "Dustin has truly drawn the short straw with Ozzy!"Emery frowned in disapproval.
"At least Dustin has the courage to step into the ring. Winning two matches isn't something to scoff at."Jeth's resentment boiled over, if only out of envy that the girl beside him could see Dustin as a worthy competitor.
"Lucky streaks mean nothing. Both of his previous opponents were nothing but weaklings."The elder Jeremy observed with concern, knowing full well Ozzy's strength. A peak ninth-level disciple, he was ranked fifth overall and known for his prowess with the spear.
Yet even as he assessed the challenge that lay ahead for Dustin, his attention was drawn by Maeve, the enigmatic and beautiful teacher known as the Ice and Fire."Patience, Elder Jeremy. Dustin is not as simple as he appears," Maeve asserted confidently.Jeremy's eyebrow quirked in surprise, curiosity piqued. "Could it be this young fighter indeed holds some undiscovered talent?".
The duel commenced, tension permeating the stage as Ozzy issued his warning. "You're no match for me. If you're wise, you'll surrender now."Dustin shook his head, irritation coursing through him. It wasn't the first time arrogance had faced him; he was all too familiar with the disdain of those born into privilege.
Ozzy's expression grew stern. "I see you prefer to learn the hard way."With a burst of speed, he advanced, inner energy radiating around him as he unleashed a powerful punch—the Po Shan Fist—aiming directly for Dustin's chest.
Dustin stepped back calmly, narrowly avoiding the blow.
Ozzy's fist grazed his side, leaving room for doubt to creep into his adversary's mind. Could Dustin have anticipated this near miss?Summoning a ferocity of his own, Ozzy followed with a furious flurry of strikes—the Double Shadow Fist.
Fists blurred in a whirlwind of motion, but to the crowd's surprise, Dustin danced effortlessly through the tempest, each movement executed with tranquil precision."What remarkable control!" Jeremy observed, impressed by Dustin's ability to read and respond to Ozzy's aggressive techniques.Yet, deep down, he knew his opponent's true strength lay in the lethal art of the Moon Spear, prompting concern for Dustin's potential vulnerability.
Just as he began to lose himself in contemplation, a pulse of inner energy erupted from the stage—a brilliant glow emanating from Dustin, illuminating him with newfound intensity."What?!""Is that…?! Ninth Body Refinement? How is that possible?"Gasps echoed through the crowd as they grappled with disbelief.
Less than two months prior, Dustin had lingered at the eighth level! How had he ascended to such heights in so short a span?For observers, this was not merely extraordinary; it was historically unprecedented. Five months prior, he had barely attained the second level of body refinement!Normalcy shattered,
Jeremy and the elder spectators jolted upright, their focus riveted on the youth standing at the center of the chaos."This is extraordinary—how can he cultivate so rapidly?"The Lord of the Martial Hall maintained an observer's calm, quietly confident as Maeve nodded, her conviction unwavering.
For those seasoned in the arena, rapid progress, though rare, was not impossible.Just then,
Ozzy unleashed his own devastating spear techniques, the black iron point moving like lightning.
Yet instead of unsheathing his sword, Dustin remained poised, redirecting the attack with a mere surge of his palm.With a ferocious thrust, he struck Ozzy's chest, unleashing an explosion of power that sent Ozzy hurtling back—a broken kite amidst the storm.
"Bang!"
Shockwaves of awe coursed through the spectators as Dustin vanquished a celebrated marksmanship expert using only his grace and force.
The stadium erupted in pandemonium, applause and cries of disbelief mingling in a thrilling cacophony.
Now, securely in the annals of Novaridge City Martial Hall history,
Dustin's name was destined to inspire legends.Amid the roaring applause and jubilant exclamations, a wave of motivation washed over his fellow martial students.
Each shared a spark of aspiration: if Dustin could rise from humble origins, then surely others could follow in his monumental footsteps.
As Dustin stood triumphantly on the stage, a beacon of resilience and skill, his posture resonated within the hearts of many—an indelible symbol that hard work and determination could conquer all. And in that moment,
they silently vowed to strive harder, aiming for greatness in the realm of martial arts.