The arena floor still carried the cracks from the previous match.
Fragments of stone littered the ground where Liu Ren had fallen. Servants quickly cleared the debris, but the tension in the hall remained.
Forty-eight commanders had entered.
Now only thirty-two remained.
And the fights were getting harder.
Much harder.
I stood near the edge of the arena, watching the next battles unfold.
Two commanders clashed at the center.
One wielded a massive hammer.
The other used a long spear.
Every impact shook the floor.
Shockwaves rolled through the hall.
These weren't regional fighters.
These were true capital elites.
The system panel hovered before me.
[DING!]
Capital Evaluation Round 2 in progress.
Remaining participants: 32
Peak commander count: 7
Threat density: Very High.
Estimated survival probability:
Event completion — 44%
My lips curved slightly.
The lower the survival chance—
The more interesting it became.
The spear-wielding commander struck with a final thrust.
The hammer-user flew backward and crashed into the arena wall.
"I surrender!" he shouted.
The announcer raised his hand.
"Match over!"
Murmurs spread across the hall.
Another strong fighter eliminated.
Another potential threat gone.
The announcer's voice echoed again.
"Next match," he called.
"Zhang Wei versus… Yan Kuro."
Silence followed.
The name carried weight.
Several participants stiffened.
A tall man stepped forward from the crowd.
Black robes.
Long tied hair.
Calm, emotionless eyes.
His aura was heavy.
Dense.
Like a coiled serpent waiting to strike.
The system chimed immediately.
[DING!]
Opponent detected.
Name: Yan Kuro
Estimated rank: Commander Level 7
Threat level: High.
Combat difficulty: Severe.
Recommended approach:
High-pressure domination.
My blood stirred.
Good.
Finally, someone worth fighting.
Yan Kuro stepped into the arena.
He didn't speak.
Didn't smirk.
Didn't provoke.
He simply drew a thin, curved blade.
The metal gleamed under the arena lights.
Sharp.
Deadly.
Precise.
I stepped in across from him.
The announcer raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Yan Kuro vanished.
No warning.
No buildup.
Just gone.
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Extreme-speed opponent detected.
Reaction boost active.
I tilted my head.
A blade sliced through the air where my neck had been.
Too slow.
Shadow Step.
I disappeared.
Reappeared behind him.
My fist drove toward his back.
He twisted mid-motion.
Blocked.
Our attacks collided.
Shockwave.
We both slid back a step.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Fast," he murmured.
First words.
Calm.
Cold.
He attacked again.
Faster this time.
His blade carved through the air in fluid arcs.
One.
Two.
Three.
Each strike aimed at a vital point.
I dodged.
Blocked.
Countered.
Shadow Step activated repeatedly.
The world blurred around us.
Our figures flickered across the arena.
The crowd leaned forward.
No one spoke.
This wasn't a one-sided fight.
This was a clash of equals.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
High-pressure combat detected.
Growth acceleration active.
Power +10.
Heat surged through my body.
My aura thickened.
I stepped forward.
My fist struck toward his chest.
He deflected with his blade.
But the impact still forced him back.
His feet scraped against the stone.
His expression shifted slightly.
Surprise.
He raised his blade again.
This time, his aura sharpened.
The air around the weapon distorted.
A killing technique.
The system flashed red.
[DING!]
High-risk technique detected.
Survival probability: 61%
Recommended action:
Counter-domination strike.
He lunged.
His blade moved like a streak of black lightning.
Too fast.
Too precise.
I stepped forward.
Not back.
Forward.
Our attacks collided at point-blank range.
Explosion.
The arena floor cracked.
Dust filled the air.
When it cleared, both of us stood several meters apart.
But this time—
A thin cut appeared across my arm.
Blood dripped onto the floor.
Yan Kuro studied me.
"You didn't dodge," he said quietly.
"No," I replied.
He nodded slightly.
"Good."
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Combat damage detected.
Adaptive growth surge.
Power +18.
My aura flared.
Stronger.
Heavier.
The air around me grew dense.
Yan Kuro's eyes sharpened.
"You're growing again," he murmured.
I stepped forward.
Shadow Step chained.
Left.
Right.
Above.
My strikes came like falling thunder.
He blocked.
Countered.
Dodged.
But this time—
Not all of them.
A punch landed on his ribs.
Crack.
His breath hitched.
I followed with a knee to his side.
He staggered.
For the first time—
He lost ground.
The crowd erupted into whispers.
"He's pushing Yan Kuro back!"
"That's a Level 7 commander!"
"He's dominating him!"
The system chimed rapidly.
[DING!]
Extreme Domination condition approaching.
Power +14.
Rank threshold nearing.
Yan Kuro steadied himself.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away.
Then—
For the first time—
He smiled.
A thin, cold smile.
"So you're that kind of opponent," he said.
His aura surged.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
Even the elders leaned forward.
"This is his real strength," someone whispered.
Yan Kuro vanished again.
But this time—
Even faster.
The system pulsed urgently.
[DING!]
Extreme-speed technique detected.
Reaction limit approaching.
I closed my eyes for a split second.
Then moved.
Shadow Step.
Our attacks collided in the center of the arena.
Blade against fist.
Power against power.
The impact shattered the arena floor.
Stone fragments flew everywhere.
When the dust cleared—
Yan Kuro stood on one knee.
His blade lay several meters away.
His breathing was heavy.
My fist hovered inches from his chest.
Silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Yan Kuro looked up at me.
Not with anger.
Not with hatred.
But with calm acceptance.
"…You win," he said.
He raised his hand.
"I surrender."
The announcer quickly stepped forward.
"Match over!"
The hall erupted.
"That was incredible!"
"He beat a Level 7!"
"He's not just a regional tyrant!"
"He's a capital-level monster!"
The system pulsed.
[DING!]
Commander Level 7 opponent defeated.
Evaluation progress: Major.
Power +32.
Rank threshold reached.
My aura surged.
Stronger.
Denser.
Closer to the next stage.
Yan Kuro stood slowly.
He retrieved his blade.
Then looked at me.
"You'll go far," he said.
I didn't answer.
He nodded once.
Then walked away.
Up on the platform, the elders watched in silence.
One of them leaned toward Elder Han.
"His growth rate is abnormal," he said quietly.
Elder Han nodded.
"Yes," he replied.
"And that's exactly why he was summoned."
The system pulsed one last time.
[DING!]
Evaluation Round 2 complete.
Remaining participants: 16.
Next opponent:
Peak Commander.
Threat level: Extreme.
Reward potential: Massive.
I smiled faintly.
The fights were only getting better.
And the stronger the enemy—
The closer I got to my next evolution.