"Begin—!"
The announcer's shout cracked through the arena like thunder.
Drevin moved first.
A burst of wind exploded beneath his feet as he launched forward, blade glinting with sharp azure Qi. His speed was impressive—worthy of a Top 20 disciple. His sword carved a clean diagonal arc, slicing through the air with whistling force.
Many disciples gasped.
"He's fast!"
"That's Drevin's Gale-Edge Step!"
"He's not holding back!"
Arin didn't move.
Not at first.
He simply inhaled, the faint shimmer of silver gathering around his skin like a quiet halo. His eyes followed Drevin calmly, tracking the angle, the timing, the intention behind the strike.
At the last instant—
Arin stepped sideways.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just… precise.
Drevin's blade cut nothing but air, a gust exploding behind Arin where the strike passed.
Drevin skidded, pivoted sharply, eyes narrowing.
"…You read that too easily."
Arin tilted his head slightly.
"I saw the strike in your shoulders before your feet even moved."
A few disciples in the front row gasped at the confidence in his tone.
Drevin grinned.
"So you do think you're hot shit. Good."
He surged forward again, faster this time—his Qi flaring brighter. Azure light wrapped around his sword, forming an edge so sharp it hummed.
"Wind-Cleaving Arc!"
The slash came horizontally, wide enough to force Arin to choose—retreat, block, or evade.
But Arin didn't choose.
His body flickered.
In an instant, he vanished—
—and reappeared behind Drevin.
A collective shout erupted from the stands.
"He TELEPORTED!"
"No way—! How far was that?!"
"That wasn't movement—he just disappeared!"
Drevin spun in shock, stumbling a step.
"What—how—?!"
Arin didn't attack.
He simply stood there, watching Drevin recover, silver aura swirling faintly.
"This is Rank 1, Stage 3 teleportation?" Drevin muttered, gripping his sword tighter. "That's not normal. That's not ANYTHING normal."
Arin's voice carried softly but clearly:
"I told you… we'll see who shakes who."
Drevin snarled.
"Then stop running!"
Azure Qi burst from his feet as he lunged again, faster than before, striking in a furious cascade—six blows in a heartbeat.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Shhk! Clang!
Arin parried three.
Dodged two.
And teleported past the last.
Each movement was smooth, flowing, effortless—like Arin already knew where each strike would land before Drevin even swung.
The crowd was losing its mind.
"What is that footwork?!"
"He's reading Drevin's entire style!"
"He looks… calm. TOO calm!"
The elders leaned forward at the high platform.
Elder Miaro's eyes narrowed sharply.
"That's not just physical speed. His perception has multiplied."
Elder Lishen nodded.
"And his Qi signature… it's rotating outside his body. Like rings of light."
Elder Soren's expression turned grave.
"A mutated element indeed. That is Silver-Light."
Many disciples overheard the name and erupted in shocked whispers.
"S-Silver-Light?!"
"That's a real element?!"
"I've never heard of it!"
"It feels overwhelming… like it's crushing the air!"
Down in the arena, Drevin finally lost patience.
He roared, stabbing his sword into the ground.
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted outward, sending dust flying.
Arin slid back lightly, arm raised to shield his eyes.
As the dust settled, Drevin stood in the center of a swirling vortex of wind Qi. His robe whipped around violently, hair crackling with energy.
"You're not the only one with surprises," he growled.
He tightened both hands around his sword.
"Gale Spiral—Second Form!"
Wind compressed around the blade, forming a spiraling drill of azure force.
The crowd shouted in fear and excitement.
"That's Drevin's trump card!"
"He only uses that when he intends to END the fight!"
Arin watched with steady composure.
Drevin charged.
The spiral blade tore through the ground, leaving a gouged path of crushed stone. Arin braced himself, silver light flickering in his eyes.
At the last second—
Arin stepped in.
Straight forward.
Drevin's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
Arin raised his hand—
And silver light exploded outward in a circular wave.
SHOOOM!!
Where Drevin's wind spiral tore space forward, Arin's silver wave expanded in all directions, swallowing the attack whole.
The two forces collided—
BOOOOOOM!!
Wind screeched.
Light roared.
The entire arena trembled.
Dust shot into the sky in a towering pillar.
The watching disciples shielded their faces; robes whipped violently in the blast.
"WHAT IS THAT POWER?!"
"LIGHT SHOULDN'T BE THAT STRONG!"
"That wasn't light—it was SILVER LIGHT!"
Elders stood up from their seats.
"Impossible! A mere Rank 1 shouldn't produce force this dense!"
"What kind of constitution does this boy possess?!"
When the dust settled—
Arin stood unmoved.
Drevin was thrown halfway across the arena, coughing violently, barely keeping hold of his blade.
He staggered to his feet, shaking.
"That… that wasn't normal. That wasn't ANYTHING normal."
Arin stepped forward.
His voice was calm.
"You rely too much on force. Your technique is good, but your foundation is shaky. Wind shouldn't be rigid."
Drevin's face twisted between fury and disbelief.
"How dare you lecture me—while we're in the middle of a fight?!"
The crowd roared at the audacity.
Arin continued calmly:
"Wind should flow freely. Constantly adjusting… unpredictable. Yours is loud. Violent. It wastes energy."
Drevin's breath caught.
"You… you analyzed my style while fighting me?!"
Arin raised his sword.
"I told you already. I saw your strike before your feet moved."
Of course that thanks for his talent infinite sword comprehension
A shudder rippled through the crowd.
"That's what his elder meant—Infinite Sword Analysis!"
"No wonder he's reading Drevin like an open book!"
Drevin grit his teeth and raised his sword again.
"No… I can still fight!"
He summoned every last drop of Qi he had—
Azure whirlwinds erupted around him, forming a violent cyclone.
His blade glowed intensely, brighter than at any moment before.
"Gale Spiral—THIRD Form!"
The air pressure spiked dangerously.
Arin inhaled deeply.
Silver light flickered along his arms, condensing at his fingertips, swirling into the sword.
His aura grew unnaturally bright.
Calm.
Steady.
Unbreakable.
Drevin roared and charged.
Arin whispered:
"Silver Step."
Time twisted.
Arin vanished—
—and reappeared directly in front of Drevin, too close for him to adjust.
Drevin's eyes widened in terror.
"How—how are you—?!"
Arin's sword moved once.
A clean, elegant arc.
Simple.
But perfect.
CHING.
The silver light trailed behind his blade like a crescent comet.
Drevin's spiral shattered instantly—exploding into harmless wisps of wind.
Drevin froze.
A thin line of torn fabric appeared across his chest—nothing fatal, but enough to signal defeat.
His sword fell from his trembling hand.
Clang.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Then—
The arena erupted in screaming chaos.
"HE DEFEATED DREVIN IN ONE STRIKE—!!"
"That was Rank 1 Stage 4 peak NO WAY!"
"His teleportation, his sword, his aura—he's a monster!"
"Infinite Sword Analysis… Silver-Light Element… Moon-Forged Body… HOW MANY TALENTS DOES HE HAVE?!"
Up on the platform, the elders stared in open disbelief.
Elder Miaro whispered:
"This… this boy might surpass the entire Outer Court."
Elder Lishen clenched his jaw.
"No. He may surpass the Inner Court."
Even Elder Soren, usually composed, murmured:
"Righteous Sky Sect… has found a legend in the making."
Down below, Drevin's legs gave out.
He dropped to his knees.
"I… lost. Completely. Totally."
Arin stood over him, sheathing his wooden practice sword.
"You fought well," Arin said gently.
Drevin looked up, shocked.
"You… you're not mocking me?"
Arin shook his head.
"You pushed me to use my new power. That deserves respect."
(Of course that not true Arin just testing his new power )
Drevin lowered his gaze, fists trembling.
"You're stronger than anyone here gives you credit for."
Arin extended a hand.
"In the future… let's fight again."
The crowd murmured in shock.
"He's… respectful?" not arrogant at all!" actually decent."
Drevin took the hand slowly, pulled himself to his feet.
"…Next time, I'll give you a real fight," he muttered.
Arin smiled slightly.
"I look forward to it."
The announcer, finally remembering to breathe, raised his trembling arm.
"V-Victor—ARIN of the Outer Court!!!"
The arena shook with deafening cheers.
Arin stepped away, silver aura flickering faintly around him.
His breakthrough had given him strength.
But his calm—the unshakeable heart beneath it—was what truly stunned the audience.
As he walked toward the exit gate—just as he had the previous round—the disciples parted before him like opening tides.
Whispers followed him like shadows.
"He's unstoppable…"take the whole tournament…"
"He might become something terrifying…"
Arin didn't pay attention.
His mind was already on the next battle.
The path forward was long