Amon, The lowest tier disciple in the Insanity Sect

Bai Hong's block sent a jarring vibration through my arms, almost knocking the katana out of my grip. His sneer deepened, his fiery fists igniting with renewed intensity. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the sheer force of his aura.

"You're quick," Bai Hong said, cracking his knuckles, "but flashy tricks won't save you."

Okay, maybe naming my move after a cool anime wasn't the best omen.

Bai Hong charged again, his fists leaving trails of fire in the air. Each punch he threw was a miniature explosion, the heat was close enough to make me sweat buckets. I activated Flash Step once more, vanishing and reappearing at his side.

This time, I tried to aim for his leg, hoping to throw off his balance. The blade sliced cleanly, leaving a shallow wound. Bai Hong winced but didn't slow down. If anything, my attack seemed to make him angrier.

"Nice try," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Without warning, he slammed his fist into the ground. A fiery shockwave erupted, sending chunks of earth flying in every direction. I barely managed to jump out of range, stumbling as the ground quaked beneath me.

"Alright, new plan," I muttered, gripping my katana tighter.

I needed to outthink him. Bai Hong was powerful, sure, but his moves were straightforward brute strength and speed. If I could just outmaneuver him, I might stand a chance.

As he came at me again, I focused on my gravitational magic. This time, instead of lightening my weight, I increased his.

Bai Hong's steps faltered, his movements slowing as if he were wading through thick mud. His eyes widened in surprise.

"What the?" he snarled, struggling to lift his legs.

"Gravity's a pain, isn't it?" I said, smirking.

I darted forward, my blade glowing faintly as I poured the last of my essence into a decisive strike. Bai Hong raised his arm to block, but the increased weight made him sluggish.

The katana sliced cleanly through his reinforced arm.

For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Bai Hong's severed arm hit the ground with a dull thud, the crowd gasping in unison. Blood sprayed across the arena floor, a stark contrast against the dust and fire.

Bai Hong let out a roar of pain, clutching his stump. His aura flickered, then dimmed as he staggered backward.

The gong rang, signaling the end of the match.

I stood there, panting, my heart racing as the reality of what I'd just done sank in. The cheers from the crowd were deafening, but I barely registered them.

Bai Hong glared at me through gritted teeth, his face twisted in pain and fury. "This… isn't over," he spat before collapsing to his knees.

Two medics rushed onto the stage, their hands glowing with healing magic as they worked to stabilize him.

I sheathed my katana, my legs trembling as I made my way off the arena. Leeon was waiting for me, his expression a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Well," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "That was… dramatic."

"I didn't mean to" I started, but Leeon cut me off.

"Don't worry about it. You did what you had to do," he said, his grin widening. "And hey, you won. That's what matters, right?"

 The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: if this was just the second round, what kind of monsters were waiting for me in the next?

"Come on," Leeon said, dragging me along. "Let's get you patched up before you keel over. You're going to need all the strength you can get for the next match."

Great, I thought, my stomach sinking. Can't wait.