The final day of the provincial tournament began with the skies clear and the arena packed. Thousands had come to witness the final rounds, where eight contestants remained—the cream of the crop, chosen by battle, grit, and talent.
But not all eight had earned their place.
Ethan Walker, hiding under the alias "Kael," stood alone near the edge of the arena platform. His golden eyes scanned the space, noting each aura, each breath of mana, each heartbeat that echoed in the tense silence. His cloak fluttered in the wind, the silence of his presence almost eerie compared to the loud banter around him. No one truly knew who he was—but after today, no one would forget.
---
The Final Eight (Quarterfinals)
The announcer's voice boomed across the field:
"The final eight contestants! Kael, Austin Duskvalley, Nessa Virell, Marin Dace, Jorrel Kinn, Sariya Thorn, Bellan Teric, and Lira Ivera!"
Ethan's expression didn't change. He knew already that two of these names had no business being here. Bellan Teric and Lira Ivera had been eliminated earlier. Their inclusion was purely political.
The real threats were Torren, Nessa, and Sariya. The others would fall quickly.
His senses stretched. He felt Nessa across the arena. She stood still, her silver hair catching the light, her aura cold and disciplined. Unlike others, she wasn't putting on a show. She didn't have to.
---
Quarterfinals: Match 1
"Kael the Ghost vs. Marin Dace!"
Marin, a burly youth from the southern cities, was well-liked at level 9 mana Condensation realm. Known for his brute force and explosive strikes, he had bulldozed through early rounds. The crowd roared in support.
He grinned at Ethan. "Heard you're quick. Let's see if you're also tough."
Ethan said nothing. The bell rang.
Marin launched forward, arms wrapped in thick condensed mana. The ground cracked under his feet. His first strike came with the force of a battering ram.
Ethan ducked.
A twist of the hips, a pivot, and Ethan delivered a precise jab to Marin's ribs. Marin grunted. Then another blow, this time to the sternum, knocking the breath from him.
Marin raised both arms in a guard, but Ethan was already behind him. A sweeping kick took Marin's feet from the ground. Before he landed, a palm strike sent him crashing to the edge of the ring.
He didn't rise.
Time: 27 seconds.
Ethan turned and walked back without looking.
---
Quarterfinals: Match 2
"Nessa Virell vs. Jorrel Kinn!"
Jorrel tried. He really did. But his strikes barely grazed Nessa. Her aura pulsed faintly as she sidestepped, redirected, and punished every movement. Her control was flawless.
She ended the match with a wave of pressure that slammed Jorrel into the ground.
Time: 2 minutes, 12 seconds.
Ethan watched from the sidelines. He narrowed his eyes. She's not even trying yet.
---
Quarterfinals: Match 3
"Austin Duskvalley vs. Bellan Teric!"
Bellan looked nervous. He should be. He hadn't fought since round one, and it showed.
Austin didn't waste time. A savage roundhouse kick knocked Bellan down. A brutal stomp to the chest ended it.
The crowd cheered, but some looked uneasy at the violence. Ethan just shook his head. He's still too wild. Too emotional.
---
Quarterfinals: Match 4
"Sariya Thorn vs. Lira Ivera!"
Lira moved with grace, tossing vials and summoning mist, but Sariya was a ghost. Her daggers cut through the illusions and misdirection like paper.
In under two minutes, Lira was pinned and disarmed. Sariya bowed once and walked off without a word.
---
Semifinals: The Final Four
Kael (Ethan Walker)
Nessa Virell
Austin Duskvalley
Sariya Thorn
The crowd was electric. These four were all rising stars in their own way.
---
Semifinal Match 1: Kael vs. Austin
Austin frowned as he looked at kael. He had seen enough not to underestimate thus boy even though he had a lower cultivation. Austin brother Torren has fought kael earlier in the tournament and Torren, his brother, was till nursing a grudge. Even though Austin did not want to underestimate Kael his half-step into the Foundation Realm cultivation made it hard for him to imagine losing this fight.
But Ethan wasn't the same boy as when he fought Torren, his cultivation had grown since then and his body was still absorbing some energy.
Austin launched a heavy barrage. Ethan blocked and sidestepped, reading the patterns. He let Austin overcommit, then countered.
A strike to the knee. A twist at the waist. An elbow to the throat.
Austin dropped, choking.
Time: 39 seconds.
Vesrik, Ethan's mercenary friend in the stands, cackled. "That's it, lad! Break their bets!". Versik had placed a bet on Ethan to win it all. He knew it was a long shot but something about Ethan made him want to root for him. As Ethan progressed through the tournament, Versik couldn't help but let his imagination run wild. 'What if the lad actually wins, with the odds on him, I'd make enough to not have to go on missions for the next year, if I invest well I can actually start up a business and quit my life as a mercenary '.
---
Semifinal Match 2: Nessa Virell vs. Sariya Thorn
Sariya struck like lightning. Her daggers flashed, her movements unpredictable.
But Nessa was the eye of the storm.
She calmly blocked, deflected, and countered with mana manipulation that reshaped the battlefield. At one point, she turned Sariya's attack against her using raw pressure alone.
A final pulse of force sent Sariya skidding unconscious across the tiles.
---
Final Match: Kael vs. Nessa
The two stood across from each other in silence.
Nessa gave a nod. "You're fast. And you're clever. But that won't be enough."
Ethan smiled faintly. "We'll see."
The bell rang.
Ethan exploded forward.
His punch connected, cracking her guard and sending her skidding. Nessa landed, spun, and retaliated with a barrage of mana lances.
Ethan danced between them, slicing through the attacks with palm strikes and kicks. They clashed again, and again. Each moment faster than the last.
Then Ethan caught her off-balance. A knee to the ribs. A shoulder slam. A sweeping blow.
Nessa hit the ground outside the arena.
Silence. Then cheering.
---
Aftermath
Nessa stood slowly, stunned. "You..."
Ethan offered a hand. She took it.
---
Top Five Results
1st Place: Kael (Ethan Walker)
10,000 Gold Coins
50 Low-Quality Mana Stones
Tier 1 Grade Sword
Academy Recommendation Letter
2nd Place: Nessa Virell
5,000 Gold Coins
20 Low-Quality Mana Stones
Academy Recommendation Letter
3rd Place: Sariya Thorn
1,000 Gold Coins
Academy Recommendation Letter
4th Place: Lira Ivera (Despite elimination in Quarterfinals)
Academy Recommendation Letter
5th Place: Bellan Teric (Eliminated in Quarterfinals)
Academy Recommendation Letter
From the balcony, Countess Lagertha smiled faintly. The game changes now.
Ethan stood, the recommendation letter clutched in hand.
He had crossed the divide. Now he would rise. But then a creepy smile appeared on his face as he remembered the body of the Countess and the bet he had made with her. He looked towards the Countess and he saw her smile freeze when she saw his gaze, she probably has just recalled the bet as well.
'I'm coming for you'.
End of Chapter 9