2nd round
"What impressive fight from such youngsters. What a promising seed we have in this festival!" Shining Light shouted to the audience.
There was a flash of light over the arena, 8 young people appearing over there. They were the 8 people that had passed the first trial.
"Congratulations on passing the first trial" Shining Light smiled at them "I hope that you treasure this time and help you improve to the future."
Before the participants could even move, a strange force surrounded them pushing them throwing them to the air. The arena under them changed, becoming four identical stone made arena's floor.
"Without further delay let's start the second round and the true tournament that everyone is waiting for" Shining Light presented "For this round, the battles would be decided by the order of classification."
The floating participants were pushed towards the arena, two of them landing over each arena "Here are the matches!"
1- Darkness vs Hunger
2- Stargod vs Pure Flame
3- Skyfrost vs Bubbles
4- Golden Dragon vs Killer
The eight participants were a little dizzy, having not recovered from the shock of being brought there from the previous round, it was especially true for Hunger who had a pale face having experimented death. However, before they could even recover Shining's voice came.
"Start!" The lights from the stadium turned all of them towards the rings.
"I surrender!" A shout came across the stadium, creating a silence. It was Hunger. He had his hand lifted in a sign of surrounded as he looked towards Darkness and her greatsword with fright, not even invoking his sword.
"It's impossible for me, I want to surrender and quit the tournament" Hunger said. It was normal. Hunger had trained countless hours the sword but to show his intent he needed more people. Against some as Darkness in a 1vs1, it was impossible for him. He even doubt if it would be possible with his maximum capacity, nevermind without anyone. This place wasn't the previous ground were only the feeling would remain. Here he could be maimed or killed. He didn't want to be injured in a fight without any possibility to win if he could choose.
"Buuuu!" Shining Light booed puffing her cheeks "What a boring boy. You could at least tried and made an spectable" She said disappointed "Not like you have a possiblity, but at least..." She waved her hand and a light surged at Hunger, him disappearing from the ring.
"First Battle, Darkness vs Hunger. Darkness wins by abandonment!" She declared. The people at the audience made angry and bored expression, having come to see some fight, and members flying over were always a good plus.
"Let's hope to see more interesting fight on the other rings" She said trying to cheer, but she looked away and said in low voice "But I really doubt it for today."
On the second ring, Stargod was facing Pure Flame. Pure Flame was a red-haired boy about 14 years that had long hair tied in a ponytail. He had brown eyes where it seemed to be flames blazing in them.
"Don't think I won't hit you because you're a girl" Pure Flames shouted excitedly "I will finish this quickly!" In his hand, a pure red long sword appeared. He clenched his sword, flames surging from it.
He swung his sword, over the trail, flames came off from his sword, floating around him "
"You can also surrender, little girl!" Pure Flame laughed.
Stargod looked at him like scum, at her hand her Stargod Sword appeared. Her sword started shining brightly, a starry aura surging from it and extending over her body.
She kicked the ground and jumped forward. Like as she had become a meteor, she traveled forward, her path continuously changing instantly rebounding in mid-air, precisely passing through the Flame Rain, avoiding every hit.
"W-w-wha-? HGh!" Before Pure Flame could react for the shock of his strongest technique being easily avoided, Stargod had already reached him, her sword hilt already stabbed over his stomach. Pure Flame vomited and fell to the ground, letting go his sword that disappeared as it touched the ground.
"Second Battle, winner Stargod!" Shining Light announced "Pure Flame directly went with his strongest technique that had finished a great number of people in the last round, but Stargod had expertly avoided every hit, wrapping herself in her concept. Not only she won, she had used far less energy and hid most of her progress. I look forward to her future fight in the Arena. Let's cheer it all, guys!" Cheers surged from the stadium with some grunge in there. It had been too fast and bloodless, at least, it had been far better than the first surrender.
"Oh, it seems that another fight is about to finish. Let's focus over the third ring" Shining Light said, focusing more light over that ring. On there was a boy about 10 years old with short blue-iced hair and an emotionless expression with a long sword colored the same as his hair and eyes was charging against a girl about 12 years old. She had brown long hair and a short sword gray in her hand. The boy was Skyfrost and the girl was Bubbles.
"Be attentive, this is the only fight between two Inner Valley members. Both being great geniuses." Shining Light proclaimed.
Skyfrost charged against Bubbles, finding himself completely surrounded by 20 bubbles of water. The bubbles were hitting between each other, spinning all around, fusioning and separating making extremely difficult to detect. Even if the bubbles seemed weak and unable to hurt anyone, the truth was that they were highly concentrated water, each one weighing more than 20 kg.
Skyfrost ignored them, cold air left from his sword freezing all the bubbles that fell to the ground with a loud *pang!* as Bubble lost the control over them.
Seeing Skyfrost's sword approaching her, Bubbles focused all her strength over her sword, bubbles surging from her sword as she thrust her sword at Skyfrost.
Skyfrost calmly swung his sword, hitting Bubbles's sword "Crack!" All the bubbles over the sword froze over and cracks appeared all over the blade, Skyfrost's sword slashing it in half, half of the sword flying over.
Before the half-sword fell to the ground, Skyfrost's sword was already pointing at an inch distance to Bubbles's neck, she could feel the cold air over it.
"I surrender" Bubbles said with a sad voice. She wasn't sad for having lost, it was due to her inability to use and show all her strength, she had a bad opponent.
"Third Battle, winner Skyfrost" Shining Light announced "It was truly a bad match for Bubbles who was unable to show her full control where she excels. Because both intents are so similar, she was unable to face the deeper understanding of Skyfrost, being very suppressed by him. Let's make a warm clap for Bubbles." A round of claps sounded from the audience.
Bubble went to recover her broken sword. Unlike people like Skyfrost, she didn't have a sword spirit. Since little she had been fascinated by the swords since she was saved from some grunts by a masked swordsman who gifted her a plain and normal sword, wanting to follow its path. had swung it countless of times, even reforging it to be able to stand her intent, always keeping that gift as the core. Last month finally being able to pass the Gate Trial, being recognized as an Inner Valley member.
"I'll become stronger" Bubble hugged her broken sword very caringly, looking very determined "I will make you the strongest sword." Light surged from her and she disappeared from the ring.
"How strange" Shining Light tilted her head as she focused all the light over the last ring "They haven't even moved yet."
Xueqin and Killer stood in the same position that they had appeared, not having moved an inch. Killer was waiting for something and Xueqin couldn't see any danger from Killer, letting him do the first move.
Killer was a black-haired boy of 18 years old, his height towering over Xueqin's little body. He was the oldest participant, with the age limit. Over his hands, a red sword stood. However, red wasn't its actual color, the truth was that it was tainted by the blood of all his victims, some drops even leaking out from it.
"What are you waiting?!" Shining Light demanded "If you don't start immediately, I will disqualify both of you."
"Calm down, girl" Killer stepped forward "I only wanted to make a spectacle for everyone to enjoy. I was only waiting for the others to finish so all the attention is in me."
Killer turned to the audience "It might have been boring seeing such innocent battles, of brats fighting between each, not even a drop of blood touching the ground. But, do not fray!" He extended his arms "I will show what a true slaught is!" He grinned.
Killer quickly turned towards Xueqin, charging as he thrust his sword at him. "You are dead!"
Xueqin opened his mouth "Don't think of surrender, little boy!" Killer interjected, not letting him talk, a red aura surging from his sword "
Killer continued charging with a grin in his face "What happens little boy? Too scared of dying! Hahaha" That was the expected result, little boys were unable to cope with a true killing intent, frozen as the mere touch with his Sword Intent.
Killer thrust his sword towards Xueqin, aiming at his neck "I will cut first your vocal cords, avoiding you to even surrender. Hahah!"
"Clank!" Xueqin appeared with his Golden Dragon Greatsword lifted, pointing at the sky. He had swung with incredible speed, completely impassive to Killer's Sword Intent.
Killer found his sword being thrown from his hands, due to the clash with Xueqin's. Killer's grip not strong enough as he truly didn't expect the little boy to move.
"You are an idiot" Xueqin said with a cold voice as he looked at Killer, his sword descending towards him.
"Agggggg!" Shouted Killer in pain as Xueqin's greatsword sliced over his shoulder, Killer's right arm flying over.
Xueqin twisted his waist, leaning down and kicking upwards to Killer's stomach, throwing him over 10 meters until it landed on the ground.
"H-ho-how c-could it be?" Killer in shock as he held where his right arm was before, blood surging like a fountain.
"You're nothing comparing with master" Xueqin had spent 1 year of his all life with Mucheng, experimenting his killing intent in daily basis. Comparing to Mucheng, Killer's killing intent was completely negligible.
Xueqin pointed his greatsword at Killer "What did you say about a slaught?" he said looking coldly at him.
"Hiiiiii!" Killer shivered in fright, quickly lifting his arms in surrender "I-I surrender!" A flash of light after, his body disappeared from the ring, leaving a complete silence, the audience blinking. They hadn't expected such a little boy to win so easily against the other who doubled his age and had a strong killing intent that would paralyze most of them.
"Fourth Battle, winner Golden Dragon!" The one that break the silence was Shining Light who had been smiling at Xueqin (Like is expected from Abysm's pupil).
"Woaaaw!" A roar of cheers surged from the audience, that recovering from the battle.
"Who could have thought that such little boy could win? He showed a great mental strength, not even needing his own intent to break through, easily beating his rival!"
The light separated from Xueqin, three rays of light pointing at the other three victors "Congratulation to the top 4 for passing this round!" Shining Light congratulated "The next round would be tomorrow followed by the fight of the 3rd place. Look forwa-" "I'll kill you!"
A voice surged cutting Shining's speech. Darkness charged towards Xueqin, swinging her greatsword surrounded by darkness at him. Xueqin was shocked, but he as able to lift his greatsword to try to block Darkness's strike, golden aura surging from his sword.
However, no clash was made. Between both of them, Shining Light had appeared. With a single finger, she had completely stopped Darkness's greatsword. Darkness being unable to move it an inch.
"Who do you think you are?" Shining Light said with a cold expression, shivers surging to Darkness as she looked at Shining. Light surged from Shining Light's finger, the darkness disappeared completely and Darkness was pushed over 20 meters away.
"Clap! Clap!" The steps of Shining resounded all over the stadium as she approached Darkness who was shivering under Shining's pressure. "I won't allow any outer fight between contenders during the tournament. If you want to kill him, wait for your opportunity when is your turn to fight him."
Shining's body flashed and she appeared over the ring floating "Like I was saying" She cheerfully said smiling like nothing had happened "Let's look forward to tomorrow's matches. See you tomorrow!" She waved her hand disappearing with a flash, the light of the tournament returning to normal. The audience started leaving the stadium.
Xueqin gulped (Too strong! How can a host be so strong?!) Shining Light was simply much stronger that he had expected. For that instant where she stopped Darkness, Xueqin was unable to see any shine from her, showing that her profoundity surpassed even his sight. He didn't know that it was even possible.
"You had been lucky" Darkness passed next to Xueqin pushing him with her shoulder before leaving the stadium.
"What had you done to her, brother Gold?" Stargod had come next to Xueqin and asked.
Xueqin tilted his head "I don't know."