My Kinetic Shield Is For Emotional Support Only

The crimson flames surged towards our viewing box, a terrifying, beautiful wave of destruction that promised to turn us all into very crispy, very dead cultivators.

My [Minor Kinetic Shield] was already screaming, about to give up the ghost. I braced myself, squeezing my eyes shut.

But the searing heat never quite reached us. Instead, it seemed to hit an invisible wall, dissipating into nothingness just feet from our faces. I opened my eyes, blinking. The arena was still a maelstrom of golden light, crimson fire, and consuming shadows, but our box, miraculously, was safe.

King Theron, astride Dravo, roared, unleashing another torrent of golden dragonfire to counter the Human Qilin's relentless assault.

Fwoom! The two streams of fire, one golden, one crimson, clashed in mid-air, creating blinding explosions of light and heat that rocked the entire arena.

Valerius, the Demonic Cultivator, was a blur of inky blackness, dancing around the Human Qilin. His shadows surged, not just as a defensive wall, but as a weapon. They lashed out, forming colossal, shadowy fists that slammed into the Human Qilin's rocky hide.

Smash!

The Human Qilin roared, a sound of pure, frustrated fury, as it was sent skidding across the arena floor. It retaliated with a burst of concentrated crimson fire, but Valerius simply absorbed it into his swirling cloak of shadows.

BANG!!

Valerius reappeared directly behind the Human Qilin, a shadowy blade materializing in his hand. He plunged it into the beast's back, and the Qilin shrieked, a sound of agony that made my teeth ache.

"He's actually hurting it!" Urg bellowed, his voice filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. "The Demonic Qi… it bypasses its defenses!"

The Human Qilin, enraged, spun, its crimson wings beating furiously, sending waves of scorching heat in all directions. It was a terrifying sight, a child-like form wielding cataclysmic power. It lunged at Valerius, its glowing eyes fixed on him.

Grunt....! Valerius met the charge with a chilling grin. His shadows twisted, forming a massive, multi-limbed construct that grappled with the Human Qilin. It was like watching a shadowy octopus wrestle a fiery lion-dragon.

King Theron, seeing his brother engage the beast, pressed his attack. His golden aura flared, and his glowing white sword became a blur of light, striking at the Human Qilin's exposed limbs. Dravo, the Mighty Dragon, unleashed another wave of golden fire, forcing the Qilin to shield itself.

Wham The shadowy construct slammed the Human Qilin into the arena floor, creating a crater. The Qilin roared, a desperate, pained sound, but it was far from defeated. It burst forth in a nova of crimson fire, pushing back the shadows, forcing Valerius to retreat.

"It's relentless!" Lyra murmured, her face tight with worry. "Its regenerative capabilities are legendary!"

The fight continued, a dizzying ballet of destruction. King Theron and Dravo, majestic and powerful, fought with noble fury, their golden attacks clashing against the Qilin's crimson inferno. Valerius, chillingly precise, used his shadows to bind, absorb, and strike, his movements fluid and unpredictable.

I watched, utterly captivated. My [Minor Combat Prowess System] was screaming tactical advice at me, even though I was just an observer. "Dodge that! Counter with a flank attack! Aim for the weak point!" I mentally yelled at the King, knowing he couldn't hear me.

The Human Qilin, despite its power, was slowly being worn down. Its movements became less fluid, its fiery blasts less intense. Valerius, however, seemed to thrive on the chaos, growing stronger, his shadows becoming even denser, even more consuming.

Finally, Valerius let out a chilling laugh. "Enough, beast! The void hungers!"

His shadows surged, forming a colossal, swirling vortex of pure, inky blackness. It wasn't just a physical attack; it was a force that seemed to rip at the very fabric of reality.

The Human Qilin, exhausted and battered, tried to resist, but its desperate roars were swallowed by the void. Its crimson flames flickered, then died. Its colossal body was pulled inward, compressed, until with a final, desperate Gurgle!, the legendary beast vanished completely, swallowed by the swirling blackness.

The shadows then receded, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared. The arena was left in a state of stunned silence, scarred and smoking, but intact. The Human Qilin was gone. Vanished. As if it had never existed.

Valerius, the Demonic Cultivator, floated calmly in the center of the arena, his black cloak fluttering gently. His crimson eyes swept over the stunned crowd, a triumphant, almost bored expression on his face. He looked utterly untouched.

The silence was absolute. 

King Theron, still floating on his sword, his golden aura flickering, stared at his brother, his face a mask of shock, disbelief, and a dawning, complex emotion. Dravo, the Mighty Dragon, let out a low, rumbling growl, a sound of both awe and wary respect.

"...."

After a long moment, King Theron finally found his voice. He descended slowly, landing on the arena floor, his gaze fixed on Valerius. "Valerius… you're truly back. And your power… it is beyond what I could have imagined."

Valerius merely smirked. "Indeed, brother. While you played king, I forged true power."

The arena, which had been silent, now erupted in a cacophony of whispers, murmurs, and frantic speculation. The Demonic Cultivator was back. And he was strong enough to swallow a Qilin.

King Theron, gathering his regal composure, raised a hand. "Cultivators of the realm!" his voice boomed, cutting through the din. "Today, we witnessed a terrifying threat averted! The Crimson Qilin, a legendary beast of destruction, was banished from our realm!" He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, then settling on Valerius.

"And the one who saved us all… is my brother, Prince Valerius!"

A hesitant cheer rippled through the crowd, growing into a thunderous roar. Relief, awe, and a healthy dose of fear mixed in the air.

"Therefore," King Theron continued, his voice firm, "by my decree, the winner of this year's Grand Sect Tournament… is Prince Valerius!"

My jaw dropped. The winner? Just like that? No more points for me?!. Not a single point gained from that epic, world-saving battle. The System was a cruel, cruel master.

"And now," King Theron announced, "the prize! The Fifth Layer Dragon Egg! It belongs to Prince Valerius!"

A golden pedestal rose from the arena floor, and upon it, nestled in a bed of shimmering silk, was a colossal, iridescent egg. It pulsed with a faint, golden light, radiating an ancient, powerful aura. A dragon egg. The ultimate prize. And it was going to the guy who just swallowed a Qilin with shadows.

Valerius merely gave a casual nod, a flicker of triumph in his crimson eyes. He walked over to the pedestal, picked up the Dragon Egg with surprising gentleness, and then, with another theatrical flourish of his cloak, he vanished.

The King then announced, "Tonight, there will be a grand feast in the Royal Palace! A celebration of our realm's survival, and a welcome back for my brother, Prince Valerius!"

The arena slowly began to empty, the cultivators buzzing with the news. Sect Master Gu Ran, though still a bit shaken, managed a tired smile. "Well, Alex. That was… unexpected. But at least we're alive. And Valerius is back. This changes everything."

"Yeah," I muttered, my mind reeling. My points were stagnant. The tournament was over before it really began. And the guy who just won the Dragon Egg was a terrifying, void-wielding Demonic Cultivator who thought Kings were weak.

Later that night, the Royal Palace was a dazzling spectacle of lights, music, and food. Cultivators from every sect mingled, discussing the day's events in hushed, awestruck tones. The air was filled with the aroma of exotic dishes and the clinking of cups.

Sect Master Gu Ran, Lyra, Urg, Zephyr, and our twelve disciples were all present, enjoying the feast. I, in my white robe, looked the part of a mysterious Sect Master, but inside, I was a mix of confusion and a strange sense of unease.

I saw King Theron, looking weary but regal, accepting congratulations. And then I saw Valerius. He was holding the Dragon Egg, a chillingly satisfied smile on his face, surrounded by a small group of cultivators who seemed to gravitate towards his shadowy aura. He looked like a storm, calm on the surface, but with immense power brewing beneath.