Gravity grip

Bai Hong's block sent a sharp vibration through my arms, nearly knocking the katana from my grip. His sneer deepened, and his fists flared with fiery intensity, causing the ground beneath him to crack from the force of his aura.

"You're fast," Bai Hong said, cracking his knuckles. "But flashy tricks won't save you."

He charged, his fists leaving trails of fire in the air. Each punch he threw exploded with heat, so close I could feel the burn on my skin. I activated Flash Step, vanishing and reappearing at his side.

I aimed for his leg, hoping to throw him off balance. The katana sliced cleanly, leaving a shallow wound. Bai Hong winced but only grew angrier.

"Nice try," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Without warning, he slammed his fist into the ground, unleashing a fiery shockwave. Chunks of earth erupted into the air, forcing me to leap back just in time. The shockwave rattled the ground beneath me, and I nearly lost my footing.

"Alright, new plan," I muttered, gripping my katana tighter.

I had to outthink him. Bai Hong's strength was formidable, but his attacks were all about overwhelming force and speed. If I could just outmaneuver him, I might stand a chance.

His steps faltered, his movements slowing as if he were struggling through thick mud. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the hell?" he snarled, struggling to lift his legs.

"Gravity's a pain, isn't it?" I smirked, my gravity spell working just as planned.

I darted forward, my blade glowing faintly as I channeled the last of my essence into a decisive strike. Bai Hong raised his arm to block, but the added weight made him sluggish.

With a clean motion, the katana sliced through his reinforced arm.

For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. His severed arm hit the ground with a dull thud, and the crowd gasped in unison. Blood sprayed across the arena, stark against the swirling dust and flames.

Bai Hong let out a roar of pain, clutching the stump of his arm as his aura flickered. He staggered backward, his body shaking with rage.

The gong rang, signaling the end of the match.

I stood there, panting, my heart racing as the reality of what I'd just done set in. The crowd's deafening cheers barely registered in my ears.

Bai Hong glared at me through gritted teeth, his face twisted with pain and fury. "This isn't over," he spat, collapsing to his knees.

Medics rushed to the stage, their glowing hands working quickly to stabilize him.

I sheathed my katana, my legs shaking as I made my way off the arena. Leeon was waiting for me, a mix of surprise and amusement on his face.

"Well," he said, clapping me on the shoulder, "that was... dramatic."

"I didn't mean to..." I began, but Leeon cut me off.

"Don't sweat it. You did what you had to do," he said, his grin widening. "And hey, you won. That's what matters. But what are you going to do if your next opponent has ranged attacks or worse can fly?"

The realization hit me hard. If this was only the second round, what kind of monsters were waiting for me in the next rounds?

"Come on," Leeon said, dragging me along. "Let's get you patched up and find something to help you handle ranged attacks. You're going to need all the strength you can get for the next match."

Great. My stomach sank.

The medics worked quickly, their glowing hands leaving a warm, tingling sensation where my cuts and bruises had been moments before. Leeon watched, his usual smirk replaced by a more focused expression.

"You're lucky, you know," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Bai Hong could've crushed you if you hadn't pulled off that gravity trick."

"Yeah, lucky me," I muttered, rubbing my arm where a bruise had already formed, despite the healing. "Let's not talk about how I nearly lost my head literally."

Leeon snorted. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

Before I could respond, the announcer's voice boomed again, calling the next pair of contestants. The crowd's cheers felt distant now, muffled by the pounding in my chest.

We reached the waiting area, where other fighters were preparing in their own ways some meditated, others sharpened their weapons, and a few looked like they regretted every life choice that led them here. I slumped onto a bench, letting out a long sigh.

"Don't get too comfortable," Leeon said, leaning against the wall. "You've got one more match today, and from the looks of it, they're pulling out the big guns."

"Big guns?" I repeated, my stomach twisting. But I thought this was supposed to be a fantasy novel?

Leeon's smirk faded, replaced by a rare seriousness. "Her name's Ying Yue. They call her the Shadow Lotus."

The name sent a chill down my spine. I'd heard rumors she was a prodigy who combined speed, precision, and deadly magic. Some said she could end a fight before her opponent even knew what hit them.

"Shadow Lotus?" I forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow. "No worries. I'll easily deflower this lotus."

"Elegant, until she has her blade at your throat," Leeon said. "She's not like Bai Hong. She doesn't rely on brute force. She's tactical, fast. If you don't go in with a solid plan, you're done for."

"Great," I muttered, burying my face in my hands. "Any other good news?"

Leeon shrugged. "Not really. But hey, at least you've got me cheering for you."

"Fantastic," I grumbled. "That's all I need-a cheerleader to survive a murdering flower."

Leeon chuckled, but his eyes stayed serious. "I'm not joking, Amon. If you want to win this, you've got to be smarter. Use your abilities to control the fight's pace. Don't let her dictate it, or you're dead."

I nodded, though my confidence was quickly slipping. The medics had done their job, but they couldn't erase the sense of dread creeping up inside me.

Before long, the announcer's voice rang out again. "Final match of the day: Amon versus Ying Yue, the Shadow Lotus!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as I stood, my legs feeling like lead. Leeon gave me a pat on the back.

"Good luck," he said, his tone light, but his expression serious.

"Yeah, thanks," I muttered, gripping my katana tightly as I made my way to the arena.

Ying Yue was already there, standing in the center as if she owned the place. She was smaller than I expected, her slender frame almost fragile-looking, but the aura around her was anything but. A black mist swirled at her feet, and her eyes gleamed like polished obsidian.

"Ready to dance?" she asked, her voice soft but dangerous.

"Uh… sure," I said, trying to steady my breath. "But I'm not much of a dancer. Hope you don't mind improvising."

She smiled, a cold, sharp thing that sent shivers down my spine. "Don't worry. I'll lead."

The gong rang, and the fight began.