Ryo watched the next matches unfold, mind still on his own previous fight.
The wind gale… he could spam it, but in terms of raw damage? Practically useless.
He frowned. Secondly...
"Next match! Lutiana Rafkat vs Tian Ye!"
Ryo's eyes narrowed. Hmm?
Both had already won two duels. That meant they'd passed. The next two were optional. Three wins meant an excellent pass. Four wins — perfect marks.
The two girls walked to the center.
Lutiana stood tall, purple hair cascading down her back, green eyes gleaming with casual disdain.
Tian Ye was shorter, but her icy blue eyes locked upward with quiet resolve — like frost itching to be unleashed from her palm.
"BEGIN!"
No spears this time.
Ten smaller, sharper ice arrows shimmered into existence, forming around Tian Ye and slicing through the air like razors.
Heavier attacks can be dodged. Let's see her dodge this...
To everyone's surprise, Lutiana ran straight at them. Her eyes flicked between arrowheads — memorizing each one.
"Flame Detonation."
She curled her hands into claw shapes. Ten fire orbs launched from her fingertips — each striking an arrowhead and exploding mid-air.
Smoke billowed around.
Tian Ye stepped back, vision obscured.
Out of the smog, ten flame arrows shot forward blitzing towards Tian Ye — Lutiana walking from behind them a smirk on her face.
She stopped.
"My turn now Ice doll" she spoke, moving her fingertips side to side like a conductor.
Tian Ye slammed a palm to the ground — ice wall!
Thicker than usual, her defence surged up.
But Lutiana's arrows weren't fired in a volley — they moved in a line, single file, surgically aimed.
The first hit the wall — BOOM — and shattered it.
The second struck Tian Ye directly.
She tried to tear it off — tossed it — too late.
BOOM.
Another slammed into her and exploded on impact — launching her into the air like a ragdoll. She crashed down, unmoving.
Before the rest of the arrows could land, Jiang Lu appeared in a blur — forming a dense earth wall in front of Tian Ye. The remaining explosions hammered the barrier, cracking it halfway down.
Ryo's eyes widened.
She's a beast.
Even if she was peak Qi Gathering, that power was approaching Qi Refining.
The healer rushed in to treat Tian Ye. Moments later, she stirred.
"Lutiana Rafkat wins!" Jiang Lu announced.
Gasps rippled through the crowd — and yet, the murmurs weren't of surprise. People had expected this. Lutiana's reputation preceded her.
Ryo looked up at the viewing platform again.
That middle-aged man beside the elder — probably her master.
She was a prime candidate to be accepted as a noble clan disciple.
Not yet official — marriage or mind changing talent were the only paths — but she was close.
Ryo watched a few more matches. Then paused.
He caught two gazes — Peng Fu and Lutiana — both staring at him.
Huh? What do they want?
He just smiled, then turned toward Tian Ye.
She stood again, seemingly fine — the healer truly was skilled.
But Ryo noticed the tension in her shoulders. The way she looked at the arena.
She hated losing.
He could smell it — the ambition, the pride. Bruised, but not broken.
A few more matches passed. Blows exchanged. Words shouted. Outcomes settled.
Until—
"Peng Fu vs Ryo Tanaka!"