As blood gushed out of the lifeless body of Juwon — who had been ranked eighth previously due to his high defense and heavy attack as well as his ability to counter even the heaviest of blows.
Laying motionless. Lifeless. Without an ounce of breath.
Doyun stood smiling, a psychopath's obsession carved onto his face as blood dripped down his hands. He gave off a strong, chilling vibe — heavy with demonic Qi.
Soon, the children began to murmur among themselves. Some questioned how one raised on the righteous path could be so brutal, especially since he was the son of Yoon Baekryeon, the sect leader of the White Tiger Hall — the very sect that always stood at the forefront whenever a war against the demonic cult arose.
Now his son — his own lineage — used the very thing his father had killed thousands to destroy: demonic arts.
Though the murmurs intensified, no one dared speak out loud. Even as they questioned the use of demonic arts, they were all mesmerized by how suddenly powerful it had made him. One thing of note was that the children where now far more welcoming to they news ways than before.
Finally, Doyun moved down from the arena. Immediately after he came back to his senses, the space once occupied by the onlookers cleared as though a beast had made its move.
****
"Next is Tang Mia, the first ranked, going against Lee Hwan the seventy-fifth. Come to the stage immediately," Red Mask said, looking toward Mia, who wore a deadly yet beautiful smile.
As she stepped onto the stage, silence followed her, and a poisonous cloud trailed behind her, making her presence felt far more stronger. Everyone knew the result — it wasn't a fair fight to begin with.
When Lee Hwan entered the arena, everyone could see his nervousness. It wasn't just fear; It was at a level beyond that, at a level where fear is too afraid to fear. It was a terror so deep it had no name. All that was left for him was to accept his fate.
But Lee Hwan wasn't one to give up so easily. Rather than lose miserably, he wanted to do at least some damage to the one who is called the poison ivy. Immediately after he launched in headfirst, his fist stretched out to strike Mia.
As if a firework had exploded, his body began to turn green. His face and limbs swelled, immobilizing him instantly. Throughout it all, Mia stood still from the beginning of the match — her usual smile carved on her face, giving off a frightening aura that matched her beauty and sending a message why she was to be feared.
"Looks like you'll be the second to leave," Mia said, walking gently toward the motionless Lee Hwan, whose face and body began to dissolve while he remained alive.
A sad ending — he had to endure the poison's potency, as well as the pain of his body dissolving slowly and painfully. As though he took an acid bath.
Everyone where both impressed or surprised. Even the guards were mesmerized. Some felt fear, others felt excitement — excited at having control over such a lethal weapon.
Just like that, without even wasting a minute, the match was already over. Though Lee Hwan had been a fearsome opponent to many of the children even those ranked in the top ten, but Mia was simply the beginning of his end.
****
The atmosphere lightened slightly as more children began their fights. Some stuck to their old, honorable ways of fighting, but it only led them to die at the hands of cheap demonic arts. A dog's death, one without honor nor worth.
Others evolved, combining their prior knowledge with the martial arts techniques they had mastered. Among them was the one who was noticeably seen as weakest — the only child originally from the Demonic Faction: Hyeolmu.
He wasn't the same as before, thanks to the Vermilion Vein Art, which he had mastered the first phase of right before the competition. He was now far stronger than he had been, but because he hadn't had the chance to test his limits, he couldn't yet judge his level.
Right now he was like a gun that might be loaded — he could only find out by testing it.
"Finally, the last match for today: Hyeolmu, ranked 267th, against Park Saeng, ranked 234th. Park Saeng — the leader of the group that bullied Hyeolmu since his stay in the cave. The one who insulted his father and everything he respected. The one who only bows to the strong but bullies the weak. Yes — that same Park Saeng."
Hyeolmu was ready. His face boiled with rage. It felt like a spike through his usually calm emotions, unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Maybe it was the martial technique, or the hatred he held for Park, but in any case his emotions were at their peak — completely consumed by rage.
"Hey, loser…" Park said with a smirk as he made his way toward the arena. "Seems like today will be your last day. I never actually got to finish what I started. Hahaha, but don't worry if you beg I will let you off lightly." Having a bright and confident smirk on his face.
Hyeolmu kept quiet, as usual. Even though his emotions were at a peak, he did his best to control them to avoid mistakes.
Irritated by the silence of Hyeolmu, Park launched at Hyeolmu immediately as the match began, knocking his head toward the floor. Due to the element of surprise, Hyeolmu suffered minor damage to his arm while trying to deflect the blow meant for his head.
"Looks like you weren't just playing these past two weeks. No wonder I never saw you…" Park spat spitefully. He had expected to knock Hyeolmu out in one blow; he never expected him to move so quickly and efficiently. It was as if this wasn't the same Hyeolmu from two weeks ago.
"Don't worry. You will die. It's not like you can keep up with those tricks forever…"
To be continued...