Chapter 12: Bloodforge City

Bloodforge City was a place soaked in history, drenched in ambition, and ruled by the clash of blood and power. Located at the heart of neutral lands between the four continents, it was both a battleground and a beacon—a monument where the young elites of the world came to forge their names in the blood of others.

At its core stood the Arena of Ascension, a colosseum so vast it could house millions of spectators. Towering stone walls engraved with ancient battle runes loomed over the grounds. The sands were stained red from eons of combat, for here, mercy was weakness, and strength was survival.

The rules were brutal, yet fair: every battle required both parties to wager treasures of equal worth. Winner takes all—the spoils, the glory. Death was not merely permitted; it was celebrated. The crowd, drawn from every corner of the world, roared with anticipation before each fight, their spirit stones and rare treasures feeding the ever-growing betting pools.

Four subsidiary clans held dominion in Bloodforge City, each representing the will of their continent:

The Doominy, a branch of the great Doom Clan from the Central Continent, were brutal and unrelenting.

The Celestials, elegant and radiant, carried the honor of the Celestial Hall from the Heavenly Continent.

The Primals, fierce and bestial, hailed from the Divine Beast Alliance of the Primal Continent.

The Nobles, cunning and prideful, bore the banner of the Sacrum Empire of the Eastern Continent. Though there are also Supreme land subsidiary clans in Bloodforge.

Each Holy Land sub-clan held territory within the city, complete with its own fortress-like manors, arenas for private duels, cultivation chambers, and training fields. They were governed by powerful early Paragon Realm beings, each appointed to uphold the dignity of their faction within the savage neutrality of Bloodforge.

At the top of the city's power structure stood Orien Solcrane, the current City Lord of Bloodforge. A scion of the royal Solcrane Clan of the Sacrum Empire, Orien had held the seat for a decade, maintaining a fragile balance of order and bloodlust. His presence was subtle yet sharp, like a sword hidden in silk.

Yet, beneath the surface politics and rivalries, Bloodforge City was more than an arena. It was a proving ground. The top-ranking fighters gained access to hidden Realms of Power scattered throughout the city. These were ancient spaces where time flowed differently, where heaven and earth converged in chaotic harmony:

The Obsidian Crucible: A chamber of molten fire that could temper one's physical strength.

The Celestial Cascade: A gravity-defying waterfall that purified one's spiritual sea, enhancing clarity and control.

The Silent Void: A pocket dimension of absolute stillness, where divine sense could be honed to terrifying precision. And many others.

These sacred training grounds were accessible only to the top ten on the individual rankings—a list constantly shifting with every battle fought in the Arena of Ascension.

Today, the crowd's murmurs hushed as shadows loomed over the city. Above the Doominy stronghold, a massive warship descended from the skies, forged of black iron and wreathed in crimson lightning. Horns howled across the city, announcing the arrival of the Doom Clan's young generation.

Awaiting them was not the head of the Doominy Clan, but the current leader of the young generation of Asuras—Agiel, a peak Spirit Folding Realm cultivator and direct descendant of Aamon's lineage. On the individual rankings, he held the second position, surpassed only by the enigmatic Uriel of the Celestials. Agiel rarely fought now, his battles few and far between, but when he did, the arena trembled. Arrogant to the bone, clad in obsidian armor trimmed in gold, his crimson eyes scanned the arrivals with cool indifference.

"Welcome to Bloodforge," he said, his voice rich with disdain and amusement. "If you're lucky, you might make it past your first battle. If not... well, at least you'll entertain the crowd. Remember: only strength is remembered."

Without another word, he turned and vanished into the inner halls, leaving the air heavy with his presence.

Servants stepped forward, silent and disciplined, leading the Doom juniors through the vast stronghold.

Among them, Malikai Doom walked in silence, his presence calm yet storm-bound. Behind him, Iris followed like a shadow, eyes cold and vigilant.

They passed through dark corridors lined with ancient carvings and flickering runes, arriving finally at a secluded courtyard assigned to Malikai. Carved from black volcanic stone and marked with warding formations, it was both a private sanctuary and potential battlefield.

The others dispersed to their quarters, but Malikai paused at the threshold.

Bloodforge City had opened its gates.

The slaughter would soon begin.