The battles continued, but the crowd's focus lingered on my victories. It was within my expectations though as I was someone with little to no powers in past 18 years so,it's not wonder they talk about me.
Whispers of my name flowed through the arena like wildfire.
In the preparation hall, I sat cross-legged, eyes closed, replaying my last battle. Though I won, I sensed a limitation—Phantom Edge drained more energy than I expected. I needed refinement. Evolution.
Just then, footsteps echoed. I opened my eyes to see a familiar face entering the preparation hall—the chief disciple of the main clan branch: Rin Kyro.
A genius. Ruthless in combat. As for his cultivation it is Peak of Foundation Establishment. Some even whispered he had touched the threshold of Core Formation.
"You're causing quite a stir, Kai," Kyro said, arms folded. His sharp eyes scanned me like a predator sizing up prey. "Two wins. Impressive. But you're not the only one who's changed."
"Well,' this is the real me" i replied cooly
He chuckled. "Good. I like breaking things that shine too brightly. I'll see you in the final round—if you make it though."
He turned and left.
I stood up. My next match was approaching. But before that—I had one thing left to do.
I found a quiet spot near the mountain spring behind the waiting hall, a sacred area where few dared to train due to unstable energy. Perfect.
Sitting cross-legged, I took a deep breath and focused. I called forth the Phantom Edge and slowly molded its energy into different shapes—whip, spear, shield—each form breaking apart seconds later as I was trying various things and failed.
Then an idea hit me.
"What if the edge flows instead of cuts?"
I shaped the energy into a thin thread and spun it like a ribbon. It shimmered—then wrapped around a nearby boulder.
With a snap, the boulder shattered silently.
[ New Skill Variation Created: Phantom Veil]
[Type: Energy Thread – Undetectable]
[Effect: Can bind, cut, or disable spirit energy pathways on contact.]
I opened my eyes, feeling a thrill rise in my chest. This… was it. Not just power, but control.
Just as I stood up, a announcement was echoed:
[Next Match: Kai vs Rin Nara]
Another prodigy with Fast. Tactical. Known for her twin daggers and shadow movement.
I smiled. "Bring it on, Nara."
---
The arena buzzed with excitement as my name was called. I stepped into the battleground, the sun casting long shadows across the stone platform. On the opposite end, Rin Nara emerged—slender, sharp-eyed, her twin daggers already drawn. The very air around her shimmered faintly, bending unnaturally as she activated her shadow movement technique.
Her presence was quiet, almost ghost-like. No theatrics. Just deadly calm. It's like ocean before the Strom
This won't be a head-on clash, I thought. Let's see who has the last laugh.
Start ;
As the announcer's voice echoed, then faded but Silence cover the arena.
Then suddenly she vanished.
Fast!
Extremely fast;i thought
I tilted my head to the side instinctively and her dagger grazed my cheek. Then there is a disturbance in the air which told me where she might reappear next. I reacted quickly and swung Phantom Edge mid-pivot, but the moment strike was landed. she was already gone.
Then she comes attacking at my right side but this time I barely managed to dodge as she continues attacking my body.
I was also started receiving some damage. I tried to attack her but every time she dodge with her speed. She was moving her body so swiftly that even I was barely keeping up with her. Like this we exchange several moves i realised
This isn't going to work...
I closed my eyes for a heartbeat, breathing in. Let the edge flow.
Phantom Veil hummed to life in my hand, a barely visible thread of energy. I spun it low across the ground, letting it spread across the platform.
Another flicker.
I ducked and stepped aside—not to avoid her strike, but to guide her into the trap. She stepped forward, unaware. As she was moving the threads move towards her ankle and finally, the thread brushed her ankle.
She froze mid-step.
"Wha—"
Before she could react
Her body trembled slightly, as dagger slipping from her fingers.
Phantom veil special ability [stop or disable spirit energy pathways on contact.]
]
I didn't attack. I didn't need to.
"You rely too much on speed, Nara," I said sarcastically, walking toward her. "But no matter how fast the shadow moves—it can't escape a thread it can't see."
Her eyes widened as she fell to her knees, trying to recover her disrupted energy flow.
The match was over.
Cheers erupted from the stands—but I barely heard them. My focus had already shifted.
Two wins, now three. That makes the final round inevitable...
Kyro.
The predator waiting in the dark.
I know from my memories kyro was a ruthless fighter with instincts far surpassing those of ordinary cultivators.
A ruthless, methodical, a fighter whose instincts even outmatched most seasoned cultivators.
He didn't just fight with strength—he hunted with precision. Like a beast toying with its prey.
And stronger the prey is --
the more brutal, powerful, and unforgiving he became.
To take him down I would need more than skill.
I would need everything
I need to use my full power without holding back.
Kyro,' i will beat you to avenge my predecessor soul