The cheers from the arena continued to echo in Souta's ears as he stood there, basking in the admiration of those around him. His golden eyes swept over the crowd, drinking in the applause. It was something he'd grown accustomed to by now. Every time he triumphed, he felt the adrenaline rush of victory, but it was always quickly followed by the sting of boredom. He was too powerful. No one could truly challenge him anymore.
The artifact he had won lay at his feet, its shimmering surface reflecting the bright light of the arena. He picked it up casually, inspecting it with little more than mild curiosity. This so-called artifact that could amplify one's cultivation by tenfold was nothing more than a trinket to him. He could have reached those heights without it in a heartbeat. But the challenge… The challenge was what excited him.
He turned his attention back to the woman from the Celestial Empress faction. She was still standing at the edge of the arena, watching him with an unreadable expression. There was something about her that intrigued him—her unyielding spirit, the way she had fought despite knowing her defeat was inevitable.
"You," he called, his voice echoing across the arena. "You fight with heart. I respect that."
Her eyes flickered slightly, and she took a step forward. "And what is it that you want, Souta Akihiro? I've seen your power, and it's clear you have no equal. What do you truly desire?"
Souta smirked, walking toward her slowly. "What I desire?" He chuckled, his tone playful yet dangerous. "I desire everything. I desire to become the greatest. To claim what is mine and to leave nothing untouched."
The woman's gaze didn't waver. "Then what of us? What of the people you have defeated?"
Souta stopped just in front of her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "You are all part of the game. I've already won. But that doesn't mean the fun has to stop. I'll take what I want, when I want, and no one will stand in my way."
She looked at him, seemingly pondering his words. "Then what will you do now? You've beaten the strongest, and yet… you are still not satisfied."
Souta chuckled again, this time a little darker. "That's the problem, isn't it? Everyone here is strong, but none of them are strong enough. They lack something. And I intend to show them what true strength looks like."
He reached out and lightly touched her chin, tilting her head up slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "But first, I want you. You've got the fire in you. The potential. You could be something more than just another challenge."
She stiffened, but didn't pull away. "And what would you do with me?"
Souta's grin widened. "I'll make you my queen. My partner in this world I'm shaping. A kingdom of my own."
The woman didn't speak for a long moment, the silence heavy between them. Finally, she spoke, her voice low and steady. "I don't serve anyone. But… I'll consider it. If you can prove to me that you're more than just a conqueror."
Souta's golden eyes flashed with interest. "Consider it, huh? That's the first interesting thing anyone has said to me all day."
He stepped back, looking around at the arena, at the massive crowd still roaring with excitement. It was clear that they had all witnessed the birth of a legend. A legend that would soon change the very foundation of this world.
"Let them watch," Souta said, raising his hand toward the sky. "Let them see what it means to challenge me. Let them see what happens when someone dares to defy the King of the Arena."
The crowd went silent, waiting for his next move. He didn't disappoint.
With a snap of his fingers, the ground beneath them trembled. Massive cracks appeared in the earth, and energy rippled through the air as his aura expanded outward like a tidal wave. His cultivation surged once again, effortlessly climbing higher and higher with every passing second. The pressure from his power was so intense that it caused the entire arena to shudder.
One by one, the cultivators in the stands began to bow their heads, unable to withstand the overwhelming presence that Souta emanated. His eyes glowed with an otherworldly golden light, the sheer might of his cultivation causing the air to distort around him.
Even the woman, who had been calm and composed up until now, felt a chill run down her spine. The power he wielded was like nothing she had ever seen before.
And that was when Souta spoke again, his voice calm yet full of authority.
"I am no longer just a player in this world. I am its ruler. And this… is just the beginning."
The crowd erupted into cheers, but this time, they were no longer cheering for a tournament winner. They were cheering for a king—a king who had no equal, who stood above everyone else.
---
Later that evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Souta stood atop the highest tower of the Heavenly Jade Sect, overlooking the vast expanse of the world before him. The wind blew gently through his hair, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of satisfaction. He had conquered the tournament, crushed every opponent, and had even earned the respect of the woman from the Celestial Empress faction.
But more importantly, he had claimed the power that came with being the strongest. And now, the world was his to shape as he pleased.
The question remained: what would he do next?
Souta smirked, his golden eyes gleaming in the fading light. The world had never seen anything like him. And it never would again.
"Let them come," he muttered to himself. "I'll crush them all."