The red sky of the Dark Abyss was covered with thick black clouds. Crows flew through the air while the roars and growls of monsters echoed from every direction.
Then a voice boomed across the sky.
"Welcome to the Selection Round, Day One."
"As you already know, this Selection Tournament decides who earns the right to participate in the Life and Death Tournament. Those who qualify will gain rank, power, and even three wishes."
"So today is Day One. In Arena One, four sects and clans will compete."
"Dark Lotus Sect.
Soul Clan.
Serpent Coil Clan.
Huniyang Family."
"This round will be a battle royale. Before that, all leaders and representatives, please step forward."
Suddenly—
Above the Huniyang Family's throne, a golden sword tore through the clouds and sky and crashed down like lightning.
Dust exploded.
When it cleared, a tall, muscular man with an overwhelming presence stood there, carrying a massive sword.
Beside him stood his mistress, Miss Huniyang.
She had a graceful and elegant figure, her beautiful face half covered with a thin veil.
Behind them were ten disciples.
All of them had blindfolds over their eyes and carried short knives and long blades. Their height, weight, and body shape were almost identical. Only their hairstyles and aura were different.
The audience burst into applause.
The commentator's voice rang again.
"Second, Serpent Coil Clan."
As soon as the name was spoken, lily blossom petals began falling from the sky.
From within the petals, a woman appeared.
Perfect figure. Fair skin. Green eyes. Pink lips.
She looked flawless.
Beside her stood her boyfriend, tall, lean, muscular, and handsome, carrying a massive war hammer.
Behind them stood five female and five male disciples.
The females carried swords.
The males carried spears and hammers.
Their beauty and physique were unnatural. The more one looked at them, the more perfect they seemed. With their looks, their muscle size and strength also increased.
The crowd reacted wildly.
Some stared shamelessly.
Some girls grew jealous.
Martial artists simply watched with respect, sensing their strength.
The commentator spoke again.
"Soul Clan."
Space tore apart in front of their throne.
A sword pierced through the rift and ripped the space open.
A deadly energy spread instantly.
A small teenage-looking boy stepped out.
He was the Soul Clan leader.
Cruelty on his face. Calmness in his eyes. A quiet smile that felt dangerous.
Beside him stood his two daughters.
The elder daughter, Nityanshi, beautiful, long legs, slim waist, strong presence.
The younger one, Kyra, looked only twelve or thirteen but carried a strange, unsettling aura.
Behind them stood nine male disciples.
The tenth position was empty, as if they were waiting for someone.
Nityanshi stepped forward and took the lead.
The audience clapped nervously.
But most of them could barely breathe under the pressure released by the Soul Clan.
Then the commentator's voice echoed again.
"And now, the final competitor of Day One, Arena One… Dark Lotus Sect."
The entire stadium exploded with cheers.
The other three leaders' faces darkened.
They clearly remembered what Mr. Raj had said in the meeting.
Next quarter… someone would die.
Cracks formed in space.
A golden presence emerged.
The suffocating pressure of the Soul Clan instantly disappeared.
Space turned into a flowing fabric.
Mr. Raj, his wife Mrs. Nidha, and his elder sister Lady Jasmine walked across that space like royalty.
An ideal family.
Elegant. Beautiful. Untouchable.
On the left stood Raj himself.
Master of the Law of Death.
Rank: True God.
The undefeated and invincible ruler of the Dark Abyss.
The three of them sat on their thrones.
Immediately, eight space rifts opened.
Inner disciples of Dark Lotus Sect stepped out.
Teenage boys with relaxed smiles while looking at their own people.
But the moment they faced forward—
Their expressions turned cold and merciless.
Soul Clan leader Huang Chen smirked.
"Looks like Mr. Raj is short on disciples."
Raj stood up calmly.
He pulled out a long black blade from space.
The commentator panicked.
"Lotus Leader, please—"
"Relax," Raj said. "It's not mine anymore. It belongs to my successor."
He threw the katana toward the disciples.
The blade pierced the ground and cracked the earth.
Lady Jasmine did the same.
Two swords stood planted before them.
A strange red energy flowed from Raj's blade.
Crimson mana surged from Jasmine's blade.
When the pressure settled—
Both swords disappeared.
They reappeared in the hands of two boys.
Parth.
Dev.
Each holding their master's blade.
The energy coming from Parth's body wasn't mana.
Not similar.
Not opposite.
Just something else.
Something unknown.
Everyone fell silent.
A manaless boy and a fallen beggar… holding such terrifying power.
Parth looked at the Soul Clan with disgust, as if they were insects.
The commentator spoke one final time.
"Tournament rules: killing is not allowed."
"But crippling, torturing, and breaking opponents is permitted."
"Your first objective…"
"Reduce your numbers to half."
"So now…"
"Your competition begins."