The arena pulsed with tension as Lassim and Joryk stood across from one another, the storm above churning with an almost malevolent energy. The rain hammered down in relentless torrents, turning the smooth arena floor into a glistening, treacherous surface. Lightning flashed, illuminating the combatants' forms.
Joryk's towering, armored figure stood resolute with his nine-layered cultivation halo glowing above his head. The liquid metal mana of his [Fortress] shimmered and rippled like quicksilver, ready to solidify into a shell at Lassim's first move. His arms were crossed as he gazed at Lassim with irritation.
Lassim, in contrast, exuded a calm intensity. The storm seemed to emanate from him, his fused mana swirling around him in chaotic eddies of lightning, water, and spatial distortion. His halberd rested lightly in his hands, and above him, the constellation of the Leviathan loomed, the mythical beast's crimson-tinged eyes glowing.