Han's eyes narrowed, his gaze now sharper, as Wu and Lin readied themselves once more. The fight had reached a new level, one where every move counted. His palm remained steady, a quiet confidence radiating from him. Across from him, Wu and Lin exchanged another glance, their expressions hardening with determination. There was no going back now.
The ground beneath them hummed with tension as Wu and Lin moved in synchronized motion. Wu's fan snapped open, a gust of wind flowing out with the force of a raging storm. Lin's spear followed, aimed with precision toward Han's chest. The air crackled as the two fighters pressed their advantage, pushing Han back with a flurry of coordinated attacks.
Han, however, was far from being overwhelmed. His body swayed with fluid grace, dodging and deflecting the barrage of strikes with ease. With every movement, he was more like a force of nature than a man—unpredictable, unstoppable. His palm flicked through the air, deflecting Lin's spear, his aura radiating calm precision. There was no panic, no hesitation in his movements, just a relentless forward momentum.
The crowd watched in awe, their attention shifting between the combatants, but some among them noticed a subtle shift in Han. A faint glow in his eyes, a renewed sharpness to his movements. It was clear to those with discerning eyes that he had consumed something—a technique, a secret of sorts, that would replenish his spiritual energy. It was a silent but undeniable advantage.
Wu, always calculating, reacted with a gust from his fan, hoping to disorient Han. Lin took advantage of the opening, moving in with a thrust that was faster than before. But Han was already there. His palm met Wu's fan once more, deflecting the wind, and in a blur, he was beside Lin. His hand, sharp and relentless, pushed forward, sending a pulse of energy that staggered Lin.
With a grunt, Lin stumbled back, his ankle still sore from earlier, but he caught himself just in time to meet Han's next strike. Wu followed suit, his fan swinging with even more force, creating another powerful gust. But Han was always one step ahead. His movements were not just reactions but a strategy unfolding before them. It was like a dance, calculated yet deadly.
The air between them seemed to hum with spiritual energy, each of them pushing their limits. The ground beneath them cracked with the force of their clashes, sending dust into the air as their techniques collided. There was no holding back now. Han's aura flared as he pressed forward, his Iron Palm once more ripping through the air. It was far stronger than his previous move, a direct counter to their pressure.
Wu and Lin exchanged a brief look, and as if on cue, they both consumed a small pill—an energy-regenerating Vital Essence Pill. The change was immediate. Their eyes lit up as a surge of spiritual energy revitalized them, fueling their bodies for the next phase of the battle. The crowd, noticing the subtle exchange, grew even more tense, the air crackling with anticipation.
With renewed vigor, Wu and Lin moved again. Wu's fan, now glowing with an intensified aura, unleashed a powerful gust of wind, sharper and more concentrated than before. His new technique, Tempest Fan, created a barrier of wind so thick it nearly cut the air itself. Lin's spear followed, the blade of his weapon now infused with an extra burst of energy, his strike aimed directly for Han's heart. Vortex Spear was faster, sharper, a deadly combination of power and precision.
But Han was prepared. His aura shifted, adapting to the change in their attacks. His Iron Palm met the gale-force winds, the impact sending ripples through the air. It was clear he had upgraded his defense, pushing the winds aside with a sheer force that left Wu reeling. Lin's spear came down with renewed force, but Han sidestepped the attack with grace, his Iron Palm striking the spear's shaft, sending it flying from Lin's hands.
For a moment, both Wu and Lin were taken aback. Their techniques had evolved, but it still wasn't enough to break through Han's unyielding defense. They backpedaled, taking a moment to reassess. The crowd, too, watched in stunned silence, realizing that the battle had reached a crucial turning point.
But Han's expression remained calm. The faintest flicker of admiration crossed his face as he acknowledged their persistence.
"You're not bad," Han said, his voice low but full of respect.
Wu and Lin, their bodies pushed to the limit, nodded in acknowledgment. But they were far from giving up. They had learned from their previous mistakes, and now they would press on. They consumed their second pill, their spiritual energy being replenished once again, their eyes gleaming with renewed determination.
….
As the tension between the three fighters reached its peak, a sudden shift rippled through the arena. The crowd, who had been caught in the spectacle of the intense battle, now felt the subtle change in the air. The sounds of combat, once sharp and clear, began to fade, replaced by an ominous silence.
The guardian, a tall figure cloaked in flowing robes, stood at the edge of the arena. His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the three combatants, his expression unreadable. The weight of the situation seemed to press down on him, and for a moment, his focus seemed to tighten. The energy around him pulsed, and with a deep, controlled breath, he raised his hand.
A ripple of power surged through the arena, distorting the air as if the very fabric of reality were bending. The energy around them shifted, and suddenly, an invisible barrier expanded, surrounding the combatants like a bubble. It was an isolation array—something designed to keep the battle contained, to prevent any external interference, and to ensure that no matter what happened, no outside force would affect the outcome.
The crowd gasped in unison, realizing what had just occurred. The isolation array hummed with an almost imperceptible force, and the space inside the arena felt more contained than ever before. There would be no escape, no distractions. Only the fight.
The guardian spoke, his voice a calm, authoritative force that seemed to command the very air around them. "This battle must proceed without interruption," he said, his eyes sweeping over Han, Wu, and Lin. "You will fight until the limits of your strength are reached. No external interference. No retreat. Only victory or defeat."
The words settled like a weight in the air, and with a final flick of his wrist, the isolation array shimmered into full effect, sealing the arena from the outside world.
Wu and Lin exchanged a brief glance. They both knew what this meant. There would be no turning back now.
…
Inside the arena, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The moment the Isolation Array activated, everything outside of the combatants' immediate circle faded into obscurity. The world beyond them seemed to blur, the crowd's murmur quieting as they became spectators to something much larger than themselves. Only the three fighters stood in the center, the air around them vibrating with the intensity of their battle.
A moment later, a voice from the crowd, shaky with excitement, broke the silence. "The array was opened! It seems like the Elders are now serious!" The words echoed through the arena, and a ripple of shock spread across the onlookers.
Another voice, filled with awe, quickly followed, "That's right! I heard these techniques could only be used by Rank 2 Seniors! I'm so lucky to witness this kind of strength!" The words hung in the air, heavier now, as the spectators realized the magnitude of what they were witnessing.
From another corner, someone with sharp eyes gasped, "Didn't they just eat a Vital Essence Pill? I saw those in a high-end shop before! They're extremely expensive!" The realization hit the crowd hard. The pill wasn't just for anyone. It was reserved for the elite.
A voice from the back of the arena, full of disbelief, joined in, "Exactly! The shopkeeper said it could restore half of your peak spiritual energy! But the cost—it's astronomical!
The whispers grew louder, filling the arena with a hum of anticipation. The power in the air had shifted. The fighters, too, seemed to feel it—the weight of the spectators' expectations, the significance of their next moves.
Inside the array, Han, Wu, and Lin stood on the precipice of something much greater than a simple fight. The crowd held its collective breath, fully aware that they were witnessing not just a battle—but the unveiling of raw, untapped power.