CHAPTER 1: The Fist That Penetrates Heaven

'Do you sense this unstoppable force? That oppressive weight consuming your mind? And still, you have no choice but to press on. Press on, even if it means your total annihilation.'

His vision was suffocated in the darkness of his closed eyes as the complexion of porcelain gray skin darkened, escalating until his entire body became obsidian black that dimmed the lights that shined on his invincible body.

The function of his body multiplied rapidly, layers of strength overlapping the frailties and imperfections of flesh, body and soul until the sensitivity of all his senses were multiplied several-fold. The cheers of thousands of voices from the surrounding stadium hitting his ears with a deafening clarity as his eyes finally opened.

His brilliant golden pupils contrasted sharply against the pools of black that were his sclera, blending seamlessly with the rest of his body. He stared ahead of him and heard the thuds of dozens of blows throughout the arena as well as the scent of fresh blood spilling on the rough cement floor. Every kick, fist, elbow or knee landed encouraging bouts of triumphant cheers from the spectators on the outside of the barriers of energy sealing the combatants on the inside.

'Disgusting.'

The gaze of the Unrivalled swept through the arena, prancing along the dead bodies on the floor and the exchanges of blow that dictated who's life would be lost and which would continue to live in this tournament.

Above, in the shadowed balconies, the Overseers watched, they were the true masters of this game, orchestrators of fate who thrived on the blood spilled below. Their wealth, power, and lives were sustained by the chaos they engineered. What was the purpose of all this? Was this the destiny he had forged for himself, or was he merely a pawn in someone else's game?

His snow white cape and hair fluttered ominously as the energy of a star effluxed through every cell in his body, the energy overflowing from his body suffused the surrounding environment with his mere presence. With a single footstep forward a gust of wind rose from underneath his feet and several men who approached him to orchestrate his death were knocked back by the dreadful force.

He watched as all of them were flung back, the air travelling like a physical wave broke their fragile human bodies, even if empowered by Aetherion he saw their bones rupture through their flesh in open fractures and heard their organs imploding like a song of broken rhymes because of the pressure placed upon them.

The cheers of the crowd were silenced by the brutality that seemed random to them.

"What… just happened?" a spectator blurted out, his voice shaking with confusion. "Did he even touch them?"

"How did they all fall like that? I didn't see him do anything!" another shouted, eyes darting across the arena, searching for an explanation.

"It looked like the air itself crushed them," a woman murmured, her brow furrowed in disbelief. "But… how?"

"Was it some kind of invisible attack?" a man nearby speculated, though his uncertainty was clear. "I didn't see any weapon or movement… nothing!"

"Did you see the way they were thrown back? Like their bodies just gave out…" another voice added, trailing off in confusion. "But what could cause that?"

Three of the Four Overseers from above watched uninterested but knowing for certain who it was that caused the sudden death. The Fourth , older woman with piercing green eyes, that had seen countless warriors rise and fall, a red dress that promoted promiscuity and flawlessly straight blonde hair remained silent as she watched the man with a look of profound disappointment. "We hoped for something more, but he is still driven by base instincts, just like the rest. All that power, and yet… no purpose."

The ground trembled as another combatant fell, his skull crushed under the weight of a titanic fist. The crowd roared, their voices merging into a deafening wave of sound as the man armoured in white medieval gear utilised the weight of his relic to pulverise another opponent. The four remaining individuals, safe for Unrivalled himself in the arena found strength in their numbers trying to overwhelm the shining night.

The first to strike was a man with a mane of fiery red hair. He charged with a flaming battle axe, swinging it with all his might toward the Shining Knight's head. The axe descended in a blazing arc, intent on cleaving through the knight's armour and flesh.

But the Shining Knight moved with a speed that belied his heavy armour. He sidestepped the blow and before the red-haired man could recover, the knight's gauntleted fist shot out, connecting with the man's chest devastatingly. Bones cracked and organs ruptured as the man's body was hurled backward, lifeless before he even hit the ground.

In the same breath, a beautiful woman with raven-black hair emerged from the Shining Knight's shadow, a dagger aimed at his Achilles tendon. Without even turning, he pivoted on his heel, the edge of his relic blade sweeping out in a deadly arc. The blade met the woman's midsection, cleaving her in two before she could react. Her severed body fell to the ground, her lifeblood staining the arena's ground.

The final attackers were identical twins. They wielded sharp rapiers, their tips glowing with a holy light. With perfect synchronisation, they lunged from two corners, their weapons emitting beams of radiant energy. The golden rays of light coiled around the Shining Knight, forming a rope of pure energy meant to bind even an angel, restricting his every movement.

But it was all for nothing.

The Shining Knight let out a guttural growl, his muscles tensing as he resisted the binding energy. With a brutal twist of his body, the golden ropes snapped like fragile threads, their power utterly useless against the unstoppable force within him. In a blur, he advanced on the twins, his blade flashing in the dim light of the arena.

The first twin barely had time to scream as the relic blade severed his head from his shoulders, the blood spraying like a crimson fountain. The second twin faltered, terror freezing him in place, but the Shining Knight relentlessly plunged his blade into his chest, driving through muscle, bone, and heart, pinning him to the ground like an insect to a board.

And now it was just two remaining on the battlefield. The Shining Knight like a fallen angel covered in the blood of his fallen enemies. His white armour was stained crimson as he stood upright almost mechanically. He swung his blade in the open air, shedding it of the blood the relic was soaked in and stared towards the one remaining fighter in the arena and noted his features.

'Obsidian skin…'

'Golden eyes..'

'White cape and white hair..'

'Tall, shirtless with the build of a warrior.'

"I'll give you this—you've got the strength to have lasted this long, to be the final obstacle. In another life, we might've been friends, even rivals. But now… tell me your name. I'll remember it for eternity when I ascend as the Exalted."

The chivalrous knight levelled his blade at the man before him, the one who had barely moved since the qualifiers began. The crowd silently placed their bets on who would live and who would die; even the Overseers watched with keen interest, their minds already made up about the outcome. To them, the answer was obvious.

"Rival? My name?"

The golden-eyed man spoke as he lifted his head slowly, his fingers curling into fists, each knuckle cracking with ominous finality. His face was shadowed beneath his white hair, but his intent was clear. With a deliberate, almost menacing calm, he raised his fists and settled into a fighting stance.

Red lines crisscrossed over the body.

Distended muscles bulged to the limit

Darkened black skin contrasted the red magma coursing across his body, with a head crowned by a corona of liquid darkness and crimson flame.

"I am Unrivalled."