Sector D2?
"Mhm..."
Seething with a strange sense of melancholy, Su Min sighed. He grabbed the book by his side and held it on his lap, shifting his gaze to the sky where the countdown still stood. Surprisingly, he could see a minuscule spark gathering above the countdown, making him squint.
*PSHEW*
Out of nowhere, a rapid undulation of starlight streaked through the atmosphere. A breathtaking display of supernatural waves and streaks interwove and strung together, performing a symphony of unprecedented proportions.
Seconds passed and before Su Min realised it a table had formed in the sky. It would dazzle the eyes of anyone who saw it, even Su Min. Not taking heed to this, a muffled roar pounded at the atmosphere as a list was inflamed onto the table.
' 1ST: Sector D2 500 POINTS
2ND: Sector A2 456 POINTS
3RD: Sector A1 448 POINTS
4TH: Sector A3 400 POINTS
5TH: Sector B1 378 POINTS
.... '
'...'
"W-what?!"
The sword youth was the first to go wide-eyed as he stared at the list, with emotions iterating between joy and trepidation.
Nevertheless, without any warning, numerous sparks in the sky were roused by a mystical force. Countless pillars of light enveloped the whole forest, some small and some large.
The largest, though, was right above Sector D2, and resounding in an awe-inspiring manner, the pillar pierced through the air. Su Min didn't even get a chance to see its descent as it arrived at the ground instantaneously before dissipating just as quickly.
*PSHEW*
Countless rays shot through the sky and in the blink of an eye, everything returned back to normal. Su Min was surprised to see that a small metal box hovered right in front of him, blowing faint hymns in the room.
Above the box flickered a light hologram, emanating a mystical presence
'1st Prize Box'
Below the hologram, shining with a faint gold, a mystical button shone, glimmering with the word 'Open'.
The sword youth, sitting at the side, gulped at the unexpected prize then looked at Su Min eagerly.
Pondering, Su Min went and pressed the button with a light touch, and without delay, the crate threw itself open.
"Huh?"
What revealed itself was a rough black jacket, outlined in gold. It emitted an eery murderous aura as everyone felt danger arise in their hearts. It was in fact intense enough that it forced Yi Zan to lapse out of unconsciousness.
The sword youth looked startled for a moment as he murmured "W-wha..?".
Su Min eyes dazzled with a strange glint, and without delay, he went and picked up the jacket. He looked at the sword youth and asked. "Do any of you want it?"
The sword youth coughed as he shook his head, speaking with sincerity.
"It'd be rude for me to ask you, as you are the reason we obtained it anyway."
Pondering for a second, Su Min proceeded to drape himself in the rather stylish black jacket. This in turn cause murderous aura to envelop Su Min, emitting a chill that crawled in the room and into the hearts of everyone.
Muttering under his breath, the sword youth grumbled with a wry smile.
"He looks even scarier..."
...
"What is this bullshit? How come we're only second?!"
A skinny man with a boney face raged in a similar metal room. He didn't look weak though, as a creepy aura enveloped him and shrouded over everyone.
A majestic necklace was draped on his neck as he held a worm in his hand, which was screaming in agony.
In front of him, two burly men shone with fearful expressions.
"Sir, the Dojo won't lie-"
"So you're saying that someone more talented than me appeared in that shithole?"
A maddened expression roused on skinny man's face, frightening the two men. One of them, trembling, spoke in a reassuring manner.
"There's still wave two, sir, so... We can just wait and see!"
...
'0:20'
'0:19'
"Hmm..."
Placing the book in the conveniently large pocket of the jacket, Su Min nodded with praise.
'Now I can carry it around with me.'
In no time at all, the countdown was already in the nearing completion so Su Min got up. The subtle tussle of the jacket created a strange but dignified appearance, and shifting the door open, he strode out.
Behind him, a red-faced girl glared angrily at him as the sword youth grinned, recounting what happened. Nevertheless, after a while a shocked expression overtook it, and with twinkling eyes, she spoke: "We're first?".
...
'0:01'
'0:00'
*BOOOOOM*
A crackling smack resounded far, far away as the countdown hit zero. Silence didn't prevail, though, as numerous roars followed afterwards. They weren't majestic nor frightening. Instead, they shrieked, shrieked atop their lungs.
"ROAAR!!"
A spring of light wind fluttered around Su Min as two, bright red eyes locked on him. The air seemed to shiver as a beast the size of a tiger trudged towards him. Its back was pierced with an uncanny amount of razor-sharp spikes, piercing with an ink black. A dense cover of grey fur covered it as a head that resembles a tiger growled with ferocity.
Su Mins pupils contracted an unnoticeable amount as alarm bells rang in him, but instead of making him waver, a fierce battle intent erupted from the blurred symbol on his chest.
'Win...'
Crouching, a crackling sound exploded out of his joints as a light wind sprung out from him. A faint but ancient aura shrouded him as a beastlike nature exuded out from him.
The beast's eyes quivered as it felt something that made it feel like it was facing its ancestor, yet its maddened eyes only grew more bloodshot as it pounced with an inhuman quickness.
Fluttering in the wind, the ground beneath Su Min's feet crunched under a sudden force, and in no delay, a blurred human silhouette shot with a rumble, diving straight at the beast.
Two figures, heading straight at each other, both formed two concave whirlwinds as a thick layer of dust spurted around them.
*SSSH*
A muffled boom reverberated as a whoosh of air from both sides struck at each other, causing the dust to part. Paying no heed, Su Min clenched his right fist and thrashed out. The beast growled in response as it leapt at Su Min, exposing its razor-sharp mouth.
*CRASH*
A fist that possessed a brutal power crashed onto the beast's head with a swift motion, resounding with a smack. A fierce shockwave spewed out from the collision, blowing a gush of air outwards that made unstable trees sway.
The beast's eyes grew bloodshot and its muscles twitched under the relentless force that threw it to the ground. The dirt compressed beneath its feet with a choked crunch as its legs shook under the relentless force. Eyes shining with hatred, it slowly started to push back up!
Su Min, with an emotionless gait, lifted his foot and sprung it back without hesitation.
His muscles convulsed as he, with a terrifying glare, breathed deeply. Then, with a wild smack, tossed it at the beast's stomach.
*SMACK*
An unmovable foot shoved itself right into the beast's gut, and due to it being unable to contend with the overwhelming strength, the beast cried out as its body attempted to shoot into the air.
However, Su Min didn't let this happen as he threw his free hand at the beast and clutched at its spiked back, pressing it back down.
*GUH*
The pain of getting stabbed didn't seem to faze Su Min at all as he continued to push the beast into the ground, driving his foot right into its stomach.
Having nowhere to exert the force, the foot punctured into the beast's abdomen and, with an anguished moan, shattered its ribs. Yet, it didn't seem to stop as Su Min continued to thrust up.
Silence invaded as the beast, unable to cry, gurgled with agony whilst its spine bent at a creaking angle. Su Mins eyes grew a tinge of bloodshot as he shoved all his weight onto the beast's backbone, gouging his leg into the beast's abdomen.
The beast seemed to reach a breaking point as its breath began to became unsteady and a writhing splatter of blood spewed out of the beasts choking mouth, flailing and trying to bite at the arm that held it down. Yet, Su Min clenched his other fist again and pounded at its back.
*CRACK*
A crack vibrated out at the beast's back, splitting it in two with an anguished grunt. Blood drenched Su Min as the struggling beast collapsed onto the ground with a stifled bang. Both his hands were dripping with red and green blood, and his breath was ragged.
He looked at the twitching beast, then at the sky.
"This should be it..."