The arena fell silent.

  Then the announcer’s voice rang out, sharp and clear:

  “Next match — Samye versus Astral!”

  A wave of cheers surged through the crowd.

  But they weren’t for Samye.

  They were for Astral.

  Astral stepped into the arena with confidence carved into every movement. His physique was massive, muscles dense and refined through countless battles. A faint, distorted shimmer surrounded him — not elemental, not spiritual, but physical.

  Raw enhancement.

  Astral had earned his name through recent victories. His ability granted him heightened strength, speed, and — most dangerously — the power to read an opponent’s combat potential.

  He turned his gaze toward Samye.

  And frowned.

  “…That’s it?” Astral muttered.

  Where others radiated clear power signatures, Samye appeared different — his presence flickered with dark, unstable energy, impossible to measure.

  Astral smirked.

  “An unstable one. This will be quick.”

  The signal was given.

  Astral charged first.

  The ground cracked beneath his feet as he closed the distance in an instant.

  Samye barely dodged.

  The shockwave of the missed strike still tore through the air, sending Samye skidding backward. His heart hammered violently in his chest — fear and excitement colliding at once.

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  Astral attacked again.

  This time, Samye reacted.

  He planted his spear, twisted his stance, and blocked the blow head-on.

  The impact sent pain exploding up his arms — but he held.

  Astral’s eyes widened slightly.

  “…You stopped that?”

  Samye didn’t answer.

  He countered — a sharp spear thrust aimed at Astral’s ribs.

  Astral leapt back just in time, genuinely surprised.

  Six months, Astral realized.

  In just six months… he’s grown this much?

  The crowd murmured.

  Astral’s smirk returned.

  “Interesting,” he said. “You’ve got potential. But don’t misunderstand.”

  He stepped forward.

  “You’re still no match for me.”

  Astral unleashed a flurry of strikes — fists, knees, sweeping blows — each one heavier than the last. His enhanced strength and speed surged as his irritation grew.

  Samye fought back with everything he had.

  Footwork.

  Timing.

  Spear control.

  He blocked.

  He deflected.

  He endured.

  But Astral’s power kept rising.

  “You’re irritating me!” Astral snapped. “Fine — I’ll get serious.”

  His aura flared violently.

  His speed doubled.

  His strength spiked.

  Astral vanished—

  —and reappeared directly beside Samye.

  A crushing blow slammed into Samye’s arm.

  CRACK.

  His spear fell from his grasp.

  Pain screamed through his body as one arm went completely numb.

  Before Samye could react, Astral grabbed him and smashed him into the arena wall.

  Stone shattered.

  Blood sprayed.

  Samye collapsed to the ground, barely conscious.

  Silence fell.

  So this is it… Samye thought hazily.

  After all that training… maybe I really wasn’t meant to be strong.

  Then—

  A memory surfaced.

  His own voice, long ago:

  I’ll be just like my father.

  Then another voice — steady, firm.

  Kayal.

  We never know what the future holds for you.

  Samye’s fingers dug into the dirt.

  “…Then I guess,” he whispered, forcing his body to move, “I can’t give up now.”

  Against every expectation —

  Samye stood.

  Broken ribs screamed.

  His arm hung uselessly.

  Blood blurred his vision.

  But he stood.

  The crowd erupted.

  Astral stared.

  “You… dare to stand again?”

  Samye reached down, picked up his spear with his good hand, and planted its base into the ground to support himself.

  “I’ll give up,” Samye said through blood-stained breath,

  “when I’m dead.”

  Something in Astral snapped.

  “You’re really pissing me off now,” he growled.

  His aura exploded outward.

  “If you want it that badly,” Astral said coldly,

  “I’ll end your suffering with the next strike.”

  He lowered his stance.

  Then vanished in a burst of speed — faster than before.

  A strike like lightning.

  The impact was catastrophic.

  Samye was launched across the arena, ribs shattering, bones cracking, body skidding to a brutal halt far from the wall.

  But—

  He was still breathing.

  Still conscious.

  Still alive.

  Astral turned toward him slowly.

  “This time,” Astral said, voice dark,

  “I will make sure you don’t get back up.”

  And somewhere deep inside Samye —

  Something stirred.