The Arena waiting room was a cacophony of energy. Harsh white lights glared overhead, and the hum of latent Qi filled the air. Through translucent walls, I could see other cultivators preparing—stretching, meditating, practicing techniques. Some moved like water, fluid and precise. Others trembled, uncertain and inexperienced.
I glanced at my opponent's profile floating before me:
Kaelen – Qi Refining 3
Primary Element: Earth
Secondary Element: None
Arena Record: 7-3
Preferred Techniques: Stone Skin, Earth Spike
Earth. Defensive, patient, powerful. The kind of opponent my water and fire combination struggled against. My estimated win probability? A pitiful 2.3%.
Match begins in 5 minutes. Proceed to preparation chamber.
The chamber was a small, circular space with training dummies and lockers lining the walls. My heart thumped painfully in my chest, both from nerves and anticipation.
"First time?" a voice asked.
I turned. A woman leaned against a locker, her posture relaxed but alert. Wind specialty, I could tell from the faint Qi flicker around her form.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked.
She smirked. "Trembling hands, jittery stance. Don't worry. Everyone's first match is terrifying. Remember—survival first. Learning second."
"Survival," I repeated. That sounded more like reality than encouragement.
"Kaelen's predictable," she continued. "Stone Skin, Earth Spike. Your water can't penetrate him, fire can't burn through yet. Don't try. Move instead. Earth hates movement."
Movement. Mist Step. My only real advantage.
She glanced at my stats display. "F-grade root? Full Element Body? Either brave or suicidal."
"Desperate," I corrected.
She laughed, then disappeared into her own chamber. I swallowed, adjusting my VR headset.
3… 2… 1…
The world dissolved into light and reformed into the Arena.
Massive. Circular. A hundred yards across, with spectator stands stretching into virtual infinity. The floor was packed earth—perfect for Kaelen's earth techniques. Holographic displays listed our names, stats, and battle odds.
Kaelen stood across from me. Stocky, grounded, radiating confidence. No theatrics, no taunts. Just focus.
The starting bell chimed.
Kaelen immediately sank into a defensive stance. Gray, rocky Stone Skin covered his body. He wasn't taking any chances.
I activated Mist Step, letting water Qi flow through my meridians. I blurred sideways just as an Earth Spike erupted where I had been standing.
The spike would have impaled me. Another, then another. I dodged each, but the third grazed my arm. Real pain shot through my body.
Health: 85%
I needed a plan. Attacking directly was suicide. I activated Spark Palm—tiny flame, almost pathetic. Kaelen laughed.
"That's your attack? I've seen brighter embers from damp wood."
Mist Step carried me closer. Flame sputtered against Stone Skin. Utterly useless.
Kaelen seized my wrist. His grip was like iron.
"Lesson one," he said. "Don't bring a candle to a rock fight."
He slammed me into the ground. Pain flared through my meridians.
Health: 60%
Meridian Damage: 10%
Desperation became a spark of inspiration. Water and fire—usually at odds—reacted differently under stress. Steam. Steam burst from my body, forcing Kaelen to release me.
New Technique Formed: Steam Burst (Improvised)
Proficiency: 0.1%
I directed the steam at the ground beneath Kaelen, slowing his next Earth Spike. Mist Step carried me behind him, and I landed a weak Spark Palm on a vulnerable point.
The Stone Skin cracked.
Opponent Health: 99%
The crowd reacted with disbelief and excitement. Kaelen's calm composure faltered.
Then the ground shook violently. Fissures split the earth.
High-level technique detected!
Earth Quake – Unauthorized for Bronze League!
Kaelen was cheating. I had no energy left. Mist Step carried me up, just enough to reposition behind him. I punched the cracked Stone Skin.
Opponent Health: 95%
Arena systems intervened.
Illegal technique usage detected. Match forfeit.
Winner: Sovas Rovaner
The crowd erupted. I had won, but not through skill—through luck and a desperate move. Pain still radiated through my body. Meridian damage increased.
A message appeared, not from the system, but from the woman in the prep chamber.
"Interesting fight. You adapted. Meet me at Misty Peaks tavern tomorrow. Ask for Lyra."
Guild invitation. Perhaps a path forward.
I logged out, trembling but alive. Water, fire, steam. Creativity. Adaptability. Not power, but possibility.
I had survived.
And tomorrow, I would take the next step.
Stats After Fight:
Water Affinity: 35%
Fire Affinity: 8%
Techniques: Mist Step (25%), Spark Palm (15%), Steam Burst (5%)
Meridian Damage: 15%