The competition begins
The moment the group of young warriors passed by, Rehan's instincts flared. A subtle but distinct sense of danger pricked at his mind, faint yet undeniable. His golden eyes sharpened as he subtly turned his head, locking onto a particular figure walking among them.
"That young man—who is he?" Rehan asked, his tone calm but laced with curiosity.
Leon followed his gaze and frowned slightly. Turning around, he examined the group before spotting the one Rehan was pointing at. His eyes narrowed as he recognized him.
"That's Ye Han," Leon said in a low voice. "A spirit master from Base City 11."
Rehan's expression didn't change, but inwardly, thoughts swirled.
So, he's Ye Han… the so-called Spirit Master.
Now that he focused on him, Ye Han's spiritual energy was indeed remarkable. It wasn't just strong—it was oppressive, yet well-controlled, like a tightly coiled serpent waiting to strike.
He's not a controller like me. Rehan quickly deduced. Instead, he's a mind attacker. That explains the threat I sensed.
A spirit attacker was the worst kind of opponent for an unprepared warrior. If Ye Han could directly attack an opponent's mind, he could paralyze them in battle—turning even the strongest physical fighter into a helpless target.
Rehan clenched his fist slightly. He's dangerous… but interesting.
After taking one last glance at Ye Han, Rehan let the matter drop. He continued exploring the city with Leon and the others, imprinting the grand sights into his mind.
After a few more hours of sightseeing, Rehan returned to the hotel. His mind was clear, and his heart was steady—tomorrow would be the start of something big.
He sat cross-legged in his room and began training immediately. His focus was on one thing: Sword Speed.
His sword moved through the air, each strike faster than the last. His Spirit Power sharpened his senses, allowing him to grasp the flow of movement better than before. Time passed in the blink of an eye, and before midnight, he felt something shift.
Breakthrough!
His Sword Speed had advanced to Level 3.
Base Speed: 250 m/sSword Speed Multiplier (4×): 1000 m/s
His slashes were now a blur of death, impossible to follow with the naked eye. He was now four times faster than before!
Rehan smirked. With this, my swordplay has reached a new height.
Satisfied, he went to sleep.
The next morning, after breakfast, Logan called for everyone to regroup in the hotel's main hall.
"Listen up," Logan's voice boomed, "We're heading to the Alliance Hall, where the competition will take place. Stay alert."
With that, the warriors set out.
As they walked through the streets, excitement buzzed in the air. Warriors from all over the major base cities were moving toward the same destination. The tension was palpable—this wasn't just a test. This was a battlefield.
Then, after a long walk, they arrived.
And what lay before them was a sight none could ever forget.
The Alliance Hall was massive. No, massive wasn't the right word—it was colossal.
Towering at nearly a hundred meters high, the building was constructed from Titanium-X alloy, the strongest known metal used in human architecture. The entire structure radiated awe-inspiring grandeur, reinforced with energy circuits that shimmered like veins of blue lightning.
At the entrance, four colossal pillars stood, each inscribed with the names of the greatest warriors in history—legends who had once stood where these young warriors now stood.
The main gates, each towering at twenty meters high, were engraved with an intricate battle formation—depicting the great war against the first wave of evolved beasts. These doors were rumored to weigh thousands of tons, yet they opened effortlessly as warriors walked inside.
Inside, the arena stretched beyond what the eye could see. The ceiling was high, embedded with artificial lights that mimicked daylight. At the center, a floating holographic platform displayed the upcoming matches.
Warriors from various base cities had already gathered, filling the hall with an atmosphere so charged with tension, it was almost suffocating.
Rehan's gaze sharpened as he scanned the crowd.
He quickly spotted Ye Han, standing among a group of warriors, his aura calm yet dangerous.
Then, Vladimir.
Leon pointed him out. "That's Vladimir from Base City 13. He's already a Level 4 warrior."
Vladimir was tall, his blond hair flowing slightly as he stood with his arms crossed. His cold blue eyes exuded confidence, his entire posture screaming dominance.
Then, another group arrived.
At the very front was a goddess-like figure.
She walked with an effortless grace, her long silver-white hair cascading like a waterfall, her beauty almost ethereal. Her pale skin seemed untouched by the world, and her icy blue eyes carried a frost so cold, it made people shiver.
The surrounding warriors instinctively stepped aside.
"It's Elizabeth Frost, the Ice Goddess," Leon muttered.
Rehan watched her carefully. She's dangerous too.
For the next ten minutes, more warriors arrived—each radiating their own strength and ambition.
Then—
BOOM!
Suddenly, a suffocating pressure descended upon the hall.
It was like an invisible force had crashed down from the sky, pressing against their bodies like a mountain. Many warriors staggered, their faces turning pale. Some even fell to one knee, unable to bear the weight of the aura.
Rehan gritted his teeth, his Spirit Energy flaring. He resisted the pressure faster than most. Looking around, he saw that Ye Han, Vladimir, and Elizabeth had also recovered quickly.
Then, they saw him.
A tall man, clad in a sleek black combat suit with silver energy lines running across its surface, floated in the air as if standing on solid ground. His sharp gray eyes scanned the crowd, exuding an unfathomable presence.
His combat suit was reinforced with an Aegis Core, a technology only high-level warriors could access. A long blade was strapped to his back, radiating a faint blue glow.
Then, he spoke.
"My name is Damien Blackthorne," his deep voice echoed through the hall. "I am the examiner for this competition."
Silence fell.
The warriors instinctively knew—this man was on an entirely different level.
Damien continued, "The competition will be held in two phases. The first phase will take place in a virtual battlefield, where you will have one hour to kill as many monsters as possible."
He listed the point system:
Level 1 monster: 1 pointLevel 2 monster: 5 pointsLevel 3 monster: 10 pointsLevel 4 monster: 40 pointsLevel 5 monster: 80 pointsLevel 6 monster: 120 points
"You will be graded based on your score, which will determine your contract level—E, D, C, B, A, or S, which you will get after choosing a faction."
Damien's gaze darkened.
"But be warned. If you die in the virtual world, your test is over."
The warriors stiffened. This was no game.
"And the top 100 will move on to the second phase—a one-on-one battle."
Then, the rewards were revealed.
Damien's sharp eyes scanned the crowd before he continued, his voice steady and unwavering.
"The top 100 warriors will move on to the second phase, a one-on-one battle tournament. Your final ranking will determine the rewards you receive."
Then, he listed the prizes:
Rank 11–100: 100 million credits and a suitable weapon based on your fighting style.Rank 4–10: 150 million credits, a weapon, and a high-level skill.Rank 2–3: 200 million credits, a weapon, a skill, and a Spirit Fruit—a rare treasure that can increase a warrior's level by one below level 6.Rank 1: 300 million credits, a weapon, a skill, a Spirit Fruit, and—most importantly—Spirit Liquid Baptism.
The last reward sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd.
Damien's voice grew heavier. "The Spirit Liquid Baptism will refine your constitution, elevating it by an entire level. Your future cultivation will become far easier."
A moment of silence followed as warriors processed the significance of this prize.
It wasn't just a reward. It was a transformation.
Only one person would obtain it.
And every warrior in the hall wanted it.
Rehan's golden eyes flickered with determination.
The first place is mine.