The atmosphere in the Butokuden (Hall of Martial Virtues) was suffocating.
Ryuzaki Haruto, eight years old, stood with his small hand raised. Around him, golden Ki surged like a tsunami.
Inside his body, the Divine Elephant Force roared. Over the past five years, his power had grown exponentially. From 1,000 particles, he had awakened 20,000 Giant Elephant Particles.
In simple terms: 200 Million Kin of physical force.
It was enough to crack a moon.
"Go down," Haruto said calmly.
He pressed his hand down. The golden Ki condensed into a massive palm—the Hand of God—that covered the sky, blotting out the sun.
Prince Seiryu looked up, his face draining of blood. The pressure alone was crushing his bones.
"How is this possible?!" Seiryu roared, panic rising in his throat.
But he was a Protagonist template. He wouldn't die without a fight.
"Azure Dragon Sky-Shattering Fist!"
Seiryu channeled all his Mana into his right arm. A phantom of a roaring Azure Dragon coiled around him as he punched upward to meet the falling palm.
Boom.
It was like an egg hitting a rock.
The golden palm descended with unstoppable momentum. It obliterated the dragon phantom instantly. It crashed into Seiryu's defense, shattering his Ki barrier like glass.
Pfft!
Seiryu coughed up a mouthful of blood. He felt like he had been kicked by a titan. He was swatted out of the air, crashing into the arena floor with a sickening thud. A crater formed around him.
Silence.
The hundreds of Ryuzaki disciples watching were stunned.
"My Kami..." "One palm? He defeated a Divine Palace expert with one casual palm?" "The Divine Son is eight. The Prince is sixteen. This... this is bullying." "I almost feel sorry for the guy. Almost."
Scornful laughter rippled through the crowd. Even Princess Suzaku, standing on the sidelines, covered her mouth in shock. She knew Haruto was strong, but this? This was a massacre. Her eyes shone with fanatic adoration.
In the crater, Seiryu lay paralyzed, his mind blank.
'Why?' he thought dizzily. 'I have the Ring. I have the legacy. I am supposed to be the hero who slaps the arrogant young master. Why am I the one eating dirt?'
"I let you make the first move to give you a chance," Haruto's voice floated down from above, filled with disappointment. "I thought you would be more... interesting. I overestimated you."
Those words pierced Seiryu's heart deeper than any blade.
"Ryuzaki Haruto!" Seiryu screamed, struggling to his feet. His face was flushed red with shame and rage. "Don't be so arrogant! It's not over!"
He clutched the Dragon Ring on his finger.
'Master! Lend me your power!'
RUMBLE.
A terrifying Dragon Aura erupted from Seiryu's body. His Mana began to skyrocket, breaking through limits instantly.
Divine Palace: Second Stage! Third Stage! Fourth Stage! ... Sixth Stage!
In the blink of an eye, Seiryu's cultivation jumped five minor realms.
"Oh?"
In the viewing box, Ryuzaki Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Surging power from an external source? That boy has a powerful soul artifact on him. He has good fortune."
"Hehe," another Elder chuckled. "Too bad he provoked your grandson. His luck has run out."
On the arena, Haruto watched the power-up with an amused smirk.
'Using a cheat in front of me?' Haruto thought. 'I was born with a System. I have the Sacred Body. I have the Divine Elephant Force. You are trying to cheat in front of the Admin?'
It was laughable.
"Jun Xiaoyao! Kneel down!"
Seiryu roared, intoxicated by the surge of power. He leaped into the air, his Mana condensing into a massive, square seal made of azure light.
"Azure Dragon Heavenly Throne Seal!"
It was a Quasi-Saint technique, meant to suppress all enemies. He threw it down at Haruto, intending to crush the boy into the ground and force him to kneel.
Haruto looked up at the descending seal. He sighed.
"Sad."
He waved his hand.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The air filled with the sound of metal. Golden Mana poured out of Haruto, instantly forming thousands of solid weapons.
Katanas. Yari Spears. Naginatas. War Hammers. Axes.
[The Art of a Thousand Soldiers].
Haruto stood amidst the storm of steel like the God of War.
"Go."
He pointed a finger. The torrent of golden weapons surged upward like a reverse waterfall.
BOOM!
The collision shook the floating island.
The Azure Dragon Seal held for a microsecond before being shredded by the endless barrage of weapons.
"Impossible!" Seiryu shrieked.
The weapons didn't stop. They tore through the seal and slammed into Seiryu.
Slash. Stab. Crunch.
"Gaaah!"
Seiryu was turned into a pincushion. Blood sprayed from his shoulders, thighs, and ribs. He fell from the sky, crashing into the rubble, covered in wounds.
He tried to stand, but his legs gave out. He vomited blood, looking up at Haruto with eyes full of despair and hatred.
Haruto floated down, landing softly. His white robes were spotless. Not a speck of dust.
"That's it?" Haruto asked, tilting his head.
"You...!" Seiryu choked, coughing up more blood. The humiliation was worse than the pain.
He glanced at Suzaku. She was looking at him not with love, or even anger, but with pity.
That look broke him.
"There are always heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people," Haruto said, looking down at the broken Prince.
"Before me... even if you are a Dragon, you must coil up. Even if you are a Tiger, you must lie down."
Haruto turned his back, signaling the end of the farce.