An hour had passed since the thunderous conclusion of the first semi-final battle between the Sanatan Flame Sect and the Situ Family. The battlefield, once a fractured ruin of scorched stone and shattered earth, had been painstakingly restored by the array masters and spiritual engineers. Not even a scar of the devastation between Situ Hang and Muo Qian remained; the wide arena gleamed anew under the sunlight, awaiting the next clash.
The Sanatan Flame Sect had already secured their place in the finals, their disciples seated proudly in their reserved section of the arena. While In thier VIP. Shaurya sitting with Lin Shu and elders beside them. Shaurya, his eyes shining with restless energy. He leaned forward, almost trembling, while beside him Lin Shu rested with her usual calm composure.
Lin Shu let out a soft laugh, her voice light as a breeze.
"You’re excited as if you didn’t know we were bound to qualify for the finals. From the very beginning, it was already decided."
Shaurya grinned, his excitement refusing to wane.
"Yes, I knew that," he admitted eagerly, "but still, I can’t help it! The thrill is real. Especially the last battle—Muo Qian against Situ Hang. She gave everything she had to make sure we didn’t lose even a single round."
Leaning back, Lin Shu tilted her head, the corner of her lips curving upward.
"You’re right."
Shaurya mirrored her, reclining against the stone bench with a long sigh. "Now there’s only one match left—the finals. That’s where everything will be decided."
They both closed their eyes for a moment, faint smirks touching their lips as though already savoring the promise of glory.
High above, the referee drifted into the air on a surge of spiritual energy, his robes fluttering in the wind. A bright, mischievous smirk played across his face as his voice echoed throughout the grand coliseum.
"Yo, yo, yo! I hope you haven’t been waiting too long!" He spread his arms wide, drawing the crowd’s full attention. "The battlefield is ready, and so are the participants. But..."
His finger swung toward the audience, his grin widening.
"Are you all ready?"
The stands erupted with deafening cheers. The ground itself seemed to tremble under the thunder of countless voices.
The referee roared above the uproar.
"Now! Let us begin our second semi-final round! Howling Abyss Sect versus Jade Phoenix Sect! Let us see who will face the Sanatan Flame Sect in the finals!"
As his voice faded, ten figures appeared in motion, five from each side, leaping gracefully into the staging area. Their robes fluttered like banners in the wind as they landed near the battlefield’s edge.
From Howling Abyss Sect, Zia Bailey, locked eyes with Zang Han, From Jade Phoenix Sect. A silent tension sparked between them, visible even to the spectators.
The referee raised his hand toward the sky, then slashed it down with a resounding scream.
"Begin—Round One!"
Two figures leapt onto the battlefield. One was a bulky man from the Howling Abyss Sect, his muscular frame radiating raw strength. The other was a lean, fragile-looking young man from the Jade Phoenix Sect, a sheathed sword resting lazily at his waist.
The swordsman’s lips curled into a smirk as his eyes roamed over his opponent.
"Your body is too big," he sneered. "Seems like I’ll have to cut it down."
The bulky man tilted his head, his voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"Killing is not allowed."
But the smirk on the swordsman’s face only widened devilishly.
In the next instant, both rushed forward. The bulky man swung a massive fist downward with crushing force, the very air shrieking from the motion. The ground cracked as the blow landed—but his opponent had already stepped to the side with effortless precision. The heavy fist struck stone, shaking the battlefield. The bulky man’s eyes widened in shock. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ NoveI(F)ire.net
With a devilish grin, the Jade Phoenix disciple unsheathed his sword. Steel gleamed under the sunlight as he slashed upward in a brutal arc.
Blood sprayed into the air, scattering crimson droplets across the white stone as the bulky man’s arm was slashed open. His agonized scream tore through the arena.
The swordsman didn’t pause. He ducked low, his body flowing like water, and swung horizontally. The blade sang as it carved through flesh—slicing the bulky man’s right leg.
More blood spilled, dripping onto the once-pristine battlefield. The bulky man collapsed, crying in pain, his eyes wide with horror.
The swordsman threw his head back, laughing wildly at the sight of his opponent’s suffering. The audience froze in stunned silence; some disciples trembled where they stood.
Zia Bailey clenched his fists in fury, but before he could act, the wounded bulky guy cried out.
"I lose! I surrender!"
The referee, shaken by the brutality, blinked rapidly before regaining composure. He raised his voice.
"Round One is over! Victory goes to the Jade Phoenix Sect!"
The swordsman calmly sheathed his blade, still chuckling, and sauntered away. The disciples of the Howling Abyss Sect rushed forward, helping their grievously injured brother and escorting him off the stage.
Zia Bailey’s jaw tightened as he turned to the next fighter—a girl with flowing blue hair and gentle light-blue eyes. His voice was firm but heavy with worry.
"Xia Coco. It’s your turn. But the Jade Phoenix Sect is ruthless." He grabbed her hands tightly, his brows furrowed. "I don’t want you to get hurt. Please... retreat."
Her cheeks flushed pink at his words, but she quickly pulled her hands free, shaking her head with resolve.
"No, Bailey. Even if I lose, or even if they hurt me—it’s better than retreating before the battle. I don’t want to let my sect down."
He hesitated, pain flickering across his face, but she gave him a small, tender smile.
"Don’t worry, Bailey. If something happens to me... even if I become crippled, I have you."
A faint blush spread across his face as he struggled to respond. But before he could, Xia Coco stepped forward, her back straight, and entered the battlefield.
Her opponent was a tall girl with crimson hair that blazed like fire. A jagged scar ran across her left cheek, deep and raw against otherwise striking features. Her eyes glimmered with resentment as she glared at Xia Coco’s elegant, graceful beauty.
Grinding her teeth, she unsheathed her sword with a sharp hiss.
"I hate beautiful girls like you the most."
Xia Coco blinked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Huh? But... aren’t you also a beautiful girl?"
The red-haired girl—Zhu Wie—froze, stunned by the words. Her grip on her sword tightened until her knuckles whitened.
"You... how dare you mock me!"
Xia Coco quickly drew her sword, her voice calm.
"I’m not mocking you. I’m just telling the truth. You don’t think of yourself as pretty because of that scar on your face, right?"
Zhu Wie’s expression twisted with rage. She bit down so hard that blood seeped from her gums.
Xia Coco lowered her stance, her sword gleaming as she readied herself. Her tone softened.
"I know appearance matters. But what matters most is your character—your nature."
Zhu Wie’s lips curved into a devilish grin.
"Oh, you talk too much. That’s only because you have a pretty face. Let’s see if you still talk like this after this match."
Xia Coco sighed, a wistful sadness in her voice.
"Even if something happens to me in this match..." Her gaze softened further. "I know I still have someone who will love me."
Her aura flared as she finished speaking. Blue light swirled around her body.
Zhu Wie roared, crimson energy bursting outward like wildfire. She lunged.
Xia Coco’s blue aura surged in response, and the two girls clashed mid-air, their swords colliding with sparks that scattered like shooting stars.
The audience held its breath as blue and crimson slashes tore through the arena, each strike sending shockwaves and clouds of dust spiraling outward. Their screams and roars mingled with the ring of clashing steel, a relentless duel of willpower and hatred. Both pushing eachother with countless slashes. Blue sword slashes with crimson sword slashes.
The battle raged—slashes, counters, sparks—until a massive shockwave hurled both fighters backward. Blood welled from cuts on both their bodies as they staggered to their feet.
Zhu Wie laughed, mocking.
"You call those strikes?"
Xia Coco, trembling and drenched in sweat, only tightened her grip. With a roar, she charged again, her speed increasing, her sword burning with blue light.
The ground cracked beneath them as their blows collided again and again. Blue energy sword arcs clashed with crimson.
The stadium shook. They are pushing eachothers. Or both got repealed simultaneously. But still again and again. They rushed and strikes with eachother. Blood riplled in air from their bodies. Zhu Wie laughing. While Xia Coco struggling. But still not stopping. Coco increased her speed. Using her full powers to its limits. Dust covered around them.
Audience jaw dropped. Shock, Excited. Curious. Middle in the dust. Crimson and Blue slashes are flashing.
Xia Coco roars. "Peirceing Abyss Slash." She swung her Sword vertically downward.
Zhu Wie laughs. "Blazing Cutter." She swung her Sword glowing with flames Horizontally.
There sword clashed. Shockwaves errupted outward. Ground trembled. Dust emerged. Xia Coco went backward.
Then, in from dust emerged, Zhu Wie’s blade slashed across Xia Coco’s right cheek, cutting through her right eye and forehead. Blood erupted in a spray.
Xia Coco’s scream pierced the arena as Zhu Wie spun and delivered a brutal kick, hurling her backward. She hit the ground hard, blood flowing down her face.
"Coco!" Zia Bailey’s horrified scream rang out. "No! Surrender!"
Zhu Wie sneered cruelly.
"What do you say now, Xia Coco? Do you still think you’re beautiful with that scar? Do you still think anyone will love you?"
Xia Coco, clutching her bleeding face, turned her head toward Bailey. Despite the pain, she forced a fragile smile.
"Am I still beautiful for you?"
Tears streamed down Bailey’s cheeks. His voice cracked as he roared back.
"What nonsense are you saying! No matter what, you are the most beautiful in this world to me!"
Zhu Wie froze, her eyes widening. Her body trembled. After hearing him.
She stared at the two of them—at Bailey’s tears, his worry, his love that wasn’t shaken by appearance. And for a moment, her heart wavered.
Memories surged, haunting her.
She saw the past—friends whispering cruelly behind her back after she received her scar, mocking laughter, shallow kindnesses offered only for her family’s influence. And worst of all, the boy she once loved, sneering as he said, "Love? With you? Have you seen your face? Why would I ever love a girl with an ugly scar?"
Her hands trembled as she shook her head, unable to accept it.
On the battlefield, Xia Coco stood again, steadying herself with spiritual energy to stop the bleeding. Despite her injuries, she raised her sword, trembling but unwavering.
Zhu Wie screamed.
"Why?! Why is he still caring for you? Even after your face is ruined! Your scar is far worse than me, yet why?"
Xia Coco’s voice was firm, her tone gentle even through pain.
"Because he loves me. Not my face. He loves Xia Coco—not my appearance. When you truly love someone, it’s not the face that matters, but the person inside."
"Shut up!" Zhu Wie’s aura flared crimson. "That’s nonsense! There is no true love in this world!"
Xia Coco shook her head softly.
"If you haven’t found it, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Love isn’t something you plan. It just happens."
She slid her foot backward, raising her sword over her shoulder. Blue aura surged violently, coiling around her like a rising storm.
"I hope you understand this someday. But for now—I promised him I would win. For him. For my sect. For myself. This is my duty."
Her remaining eye burned with light. She screamed her declaration.
"I am Xia Coco! I will fulfill my duty!"
Her blue aura erupted like a volcanic blaze.
The audience sat frozen in awe, the sheer weight of her will gripping every soul in the arena.
Her voice thundered:
"Sword Strike—Rising Dragon Dash!"
Blue energy surged around her blade. Her figure transformed into a soaring blue dragon, its mighty aura roaring as she charged.
Zhu Wie’s eyes widened in disbelief, but she countered, crimson flames bursting forth.
"Shining Phoenix Strike!"
Her blade ignited, a crimson phoenix wrapping around her form as she dashed forward.
Dragon met phoenix. Blue clashed with crimson. The air split open with violent shockwaves as the two powerful strikes collided.
The battlefield cracked in spiderweb patterns. The explosion that followed shook the entire coliseum, dust and light swallowing everything.
Inside the storm of power, Xia Coco whispered to herself.
I must do this. I cannot let my sect down.
Her aura surged even higher, the blue dragon growing monstrous, overwhelming Zhu Wie’s phoenix.
"No..." Zhu Wie’s voice trembled as her blade shattered in two.
The dragon swallowed her whole.
The explosion thundered, hurling Zhu Wie out of the battlefield. She crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Xia Coco, bleeding heavily, dropped to one knee. Her sword planted in the ground kept her upright as she trembled.
The referee rushed to Zhu Wie’s side, checked her condition, and raised his voice with authority.
"Xia Coco wins! The Howling Abyss Sect claims Round Two!"
For a heartbeat, silence ruled the coliseum. Then the crowd erupted, roaring in disbelief, in awe, in wild exhilaration.
Zia Bailey rushed towards Coco. Other sect memebers also. Zia Bailey grab her.
Xia Coco Smiles and said. "I done it. Right?"
Zia Bailey with tears hug her and nooded.
Audience are Erupting in Cheers. The battle had shaken their hearts.
To be continued...