Danial stared at the fading soul of the swordsman, his mind swirling with questions. "What did he mean?" he thought. The cryptic words echoed in his head: "I hope we meet again, young man." He wanted to call out, to ask about the technique, about the realm, about the nature of the swordmaster's existence—but it was too late. The soul dissolved into shimmering wisps of light, drifting into the infinite void of the Realm of Broken Stars, leaving Danial alone.He exhaled heavily, the weight of the intense training and the surreal experience settling in. The silence of the realm wrapped around him once again, and he turned his attention to the floating System, its familiar presence a small comfort in this strange place."Can I leave now?" Danial asked, his voice flat with fatigue. He could feel every muscle in his body aching from the relentless training, despite the rapid recovery cycles the realm had provided.The System emitted a soft ding and its cold, emotionless voice answered, "The
Danial hurried out of the hall, finally coming to a stop just outside its entrance. He leaned against the stone wall and exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of the near confrontation with Master Howland lift from his shoulders. As the cool breeze from the academy grounds swept over him, he glanced down at his hands, lost in thought. The memories of the Realm of Broken Stars flickered in his mind, and his fingers twitched reflexively as he recalled the sword drawing technique he had practiced there.“All those years in the Realm… It was real,” he mused, flexing his fingers. “But would I be able to replicate that Sword Drawing technique here?” The thought gnawed at him. “I couldn't use internal energy while performing the technique there, but I could when I was recovering. What would happen if I used it now?”His curiosity burned stronger than ever. He needed to test the technique. Without hesitation, he made his way to one of the training halls reserved for swordsmanship and other physi
Sara stood across from Danial with a smirk, clearly amused by his confidence. "I hope you have a suitable technique," she teased. "If you think you can even scratch me with your little sword trick, you're dead wrong."Danial’s lips curved into a mysterious smile, his gaze steady. "We'll see about that."In the audience, Alex sneered at the sight, his eyes flashing with disdain. "Does Danial seriously believe he can compete with Sara in swordplay? The guy must be out of his mind." He crossed his arms, chuckling to himself.Leonard, more familiar with Danial’s odd resilience, shrugged, his tone cautious. "Let’s just watch first. There might be more to him than we’re seeing."Alex scoffed but kept his focus on the duel, mumbling, "It’ll be entertaining, at least. Can’t wait to see him humiliated."Just as the audience was settling in, two more people entered the dueling hall—Elysia and Oliver, both engaged in an important conversation. Elysia, known as one of the academy’s “Gods of War,”
With a sharp cry, Sara swung her saber downward, unleashing a massive golden arc of energy that roared toward Danial, splitting the air like a comet blazing through the sky. The platform trembled under the force, and the watching students could only stare in awe at the spectacle of raw power. The golden arc, now a radiant force of destruction, sliced through the air, closing in on Danial with terrifying speed.Danial’s expression hardened, but he remained motionless, waiting. His eyes, fierce and focused, calculated every second, every inch, measuring his moment to act.Buzz.His sword trembled violently as he swung upward with incredible precision. The blade cut the air with such ferocity that it seemed to slice through the atmosphere itself, creating a vacuum behind it. The force of his upward swing crashed into the golden arc, and for a single, blinding moment, there was silence.Then—BOOM.An explosion rang out, loud and violent. The golden arc was split cleanly down the middle, i
Back on the platform, Danial lowered himself into a stance, his eyes blazing with both frustration and raw determination. His hand hovered over the hilt, his muscles straining as he gripped the heavier sword. Without hesitation, he summoned his internal energy, and the room seemed to darken as the force around him intensified. The pressure radiating from him became palpable, making the air feel dense, like thunderclouds gathering within the hall.His whole body shook, the energy coursing through him in turbulent waves.Alex, watching from the sidelines, could hardly believe his eyes. “Is… is he actually forcing that much internal energy into the sword?” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.Leonard, equally wide-eyed, nodded a hint of awe creeping into his tone. “No wonder he’s struggling. That level of force… it’s insane. He looks like he’s going to tear himself apart at this rate.”As Danial continued to pour energy into the sword, blood began to seep from his palms and tr
Danial struggled to his feet, his body still trembling from the energy he had unleashed, but he accepted Elysia’s steadying hand. He released the shattered remnants of the sword from his grip, letting it clatter to the ground with a dull, hollow sound.Just then, Sara approached, her face creased with worry. “Danial, why were you so frustrated? It was like… like you weren’t satisfied with anything you’d done. The power you showed is beyond impressive—no one at your cultivation level even comes close.” She searched his face for an answer.Danial laughed, but there was no joy in it, only bitterness. He stayed silent, but his frustration was plain. In the realm of Broken Stars, he’d trained relentlessly, pouring his heart into mastering the Sword Drawing Technique. He had thought that training would yield a powerful, undeniable result here. But reality was a harsh teacher; the power he summoned was flawed, lacking control. It stung more deeply than he’d anticipated.Elysia watched him cl
Danial frowned at Elysia’s words. She seemed adamant about him revealing everything he knew, her expression unwavering as if trying to see right through him. He knew, of course, he couldn’t let her get any closer to his secrets—not if he wanted to stay safe. With a steady gaze and a practiced blank expression, he replied, “I’ve told you what I know, Miss Elysia.”For a brief moment, Elysia’s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing as if attempting to sift through his every word. Danial held his breath under the weight of her stare, wondering if her instincts would lead her to what he was trying to hide. Then, just as suddenly, her look softened, and she gave a small, satisfied smile as if allowing him this bit of mystery.He seized the chance to redirect her attention. “When exactly is this tournament? And what’s its purpose?”Elysia’s expression brightened slightly, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes. “This tournament is unlike anything you’ve seen, Danial. It’s held in preparation for
The day of the tournament had arrived, and Phoenix Academy buzzed with an energy unlike anything before. People poured in from every region of Somerland—high-ranking officials, esteemed warriors, wealthy merchants, and curious civilians—all here to witness the beginning of what was promised to be an unforgettable competition. The academy grounds were fortified with unparalleled security, displaying the gravity of the event. Convoys of military jeeps circled the perimeter, and officers patrolled every corner, ensuring only authorized guests set foot inside.Hmmmm!Security was unmatched; the air practically hummed with a sense of strict order. Military jeeps lined the pathways leading to the academy, each vehicle filled with alert soldiers scanning the area with hawk-like vigilance. Hundreds of officers patrolled with intensity, eyes sharp for any sign of disturbance. It was clear that for an event of this magnitude, nothing was left to chance. This wasn’t merely a tournament—it was a