The arena had not yet recovered from Ashara’s eclipse.
Cracks still traced the stone.
Residual demonic essence lingered faintly in the air.
And beneath everything—like a distant heartbeat—Jin’s suppressed Supreme Demonic Qi pressed against the world’s skin.
Three more matches passed in explosive succession.
Steel clashed.
Qi roared.
Pride shattered.
Then—
The overseer’s voice rang out once more.
“Next match!”
He unrolled the scroll slowly.
“Seraphine Veyra of the Heavenly Demonic Sect… versus Ellis Scarlet of the Pioneer Sect.”
A murmur followed the second name.
The Pioneer Sect.
A sect infamous for their research, experimentation, and cultivation of the strongest poisons known in the eastern territories. Their disciples were not brute fighters—they were architects of slow, exquisite deaths.
Ellis Scarlet stepped into the ring first.
Slim. Elegant. Crimson hair tied back with surgical precision. Her robes were white with faint green embroidery—harmless looking.
Her smile was not.
Thin glass vials clinked at her waist.
Across the arena—
Seraphine Veyra descended from the Heavenly Demonic platform.
Silver-blonde hair cascading behind her. Crimson eyes sharp with irritation more than excitement. Her dark attire was regal, fitting her title—
Demon of Judgment.
Around her neck hung the Necklace of Sinbound Will.
A forbidden artifact.
Its dark gem pulsed faintly.
Rank: Forbidden.
Function: Converts mental resistance into structural reinforcement.
The stronger the will against her…
The harder she became to break.
Ellis bowed lightly.
“An honor,” Ellis said pleasantly. “I’ve heard you’re quite the prodigy.”
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Seraphine stopped several paces away.
“Save the flattery,” she replied coolly. “You smell like chemicals.”
Ellis giggled softly.
“Oh, I do hope you’re not sensitive. Some of my creations are airborne.”
The crowd stiffened.
The gong struck.
Ellis moved first—not forward, but back.
She snapped her fingers.
Three glass vials shattered at her feet.
A pale green mist erupted, spreading unnaturally fast across the arena floor.
“Blooming Widow’s Kiss,” Ellis said sweetly. “Inhale too much and your lungs begin to liquefy.”
Gasps erupted from the stands.
Seraphine did not retreat.
She stepped forward.
The mist curled around her legs.
Ellis’ eyes narrowed slightly.
Why isn’t she holding her breath?
Seraphine lifted her chin.
“You rely on preparation,” she said calmly. “Predictable.”
Ellis smiled thinly.
“Poison is never predictable.”
She vanished into the mist.
Seraphine closed her eyes.
The Necklace of Sinbound Will pulsed.
Ellis reappeared behind her—needle-thin blade coated in violet toxin thrusting toward Seraphine’s spine.
CLANG.
The blade struck—and stopped.
It didn’t pierce.
Ellis’ pupils shrank.
Seraphine slowly turned her head.
“You thought mental warfare would weaken me?” she asked softly.
Ellis felt it then.
The more she intended harm—
The more she focused—
The stronger Seraphine’s aura condensed.
The necklace glowed brighter.
Ellis leapt back, throwing six needles in rapid succession.
Seraphine raised her arm.
Each needle struck—and shattered.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the arena beneath Seraphine’s feet.
Her structure was reinforcing itself.
Ellis’ expression shifted from playful to serious.
“Interesting,” Ellis muttered. “Then let’s escalate.”
She slammed both palms against the ground.
The mist darkened instantly—turning deep crimson.
“Scarlet Plague Field.”
The air thickened. Even spectators behind the barrier felt faint dizziness.
Seraphine’s skin tingled.
Not from weakness—
From irritation.
She stepped forward again, this time releasing her own aura fully.
Demonic qi erupted outward in a spiraling wave, pushing back portions of the poisonous field.
Ellis darted in and out of the crimson haze, blade flashing, poison dripping.
Clash.
Clash.
Clash.
Seraphine blocked with bare hands, forearms, shoulders—each time the necklace pulsed brighter.
Ellis’ voice echoed from within the mist.
“You’re resisting everything… how much mental strain can you handle?”
Seraphine smirked.
“You misunderstand.”
Her crimson eyes sharpened.
“The more I resist… the stronger I become.”
She planted her foot.
Demonic qi surged through her body, reinforced by the artifact’s conversion of mental fortitude into physical dominance.
The mist began to tremble.
Ellis reappeared overhead, blade glowing toxic violet.
“Then let’s see if your will can withstand this!”
She descended like a falling dagger.
Seraphine didn’t dodge.
She stepped forward and punched.
Their attacks collided midair.
The impact detonated the poison field, sending shockwaves through the barrier.
Ellis was blown backward, coughing.
Her blade shattered.
Seraphine walked through the dispersing mist like a judge entering court.
“Your poisons are clever,” Seraphine said calmly. “But you lack conviction.”
Ellis tried to stand—
But her body trembled.
When Seraphine had punched her, a pulse of demonic judgment had traveled through her meridians—not lethal, but overwhelming.
Seraphine stopped in front of her.
“Judgment,” she whispered.
A final pulse struck Ellis’ chest.
The poison specialist collapsed.
The overseer quickly checked her pulse.
“Winner—Seraphine Veyra of the Heavenly Demonic Sect!”
The arena roared once more.
From the stands, elders stared in unease.
“She walked through Scarlet Plague Field…” “That artifact—what is it?”
Seraphine turned and walked back toward Jin, flicking a strand of hair behind her shoulder.
As she passed Ellis, she paused briefly.
“Improve your foundations,” she said quietly. “Your toxins deserve better technique.”
Ellis groaned faintly.
Back at the Heavenly Demonic platform—
Seraphine crossed her arms.
“See?” she said smugly. “Efficient.”
Jin glanced at her.
“Not bad.”
She blinked.
“…Not bad?”
Kaelaric chuckled under his breath.
Ashara smirked.
Nyx watched silently.
Seraphine huffed, turning away.
But a faint, satisfied smile touched her lips.
Below them—
The other sects were beginning to realize something terrifying.
The Heavenly Demonic Sect did not simply fight.
They dominated.
And the competition… was far from over.
