Thousands of students filled the stands and outer walkways, so leaning against the stone railings overlooking the arena floor, others sitting in clusters and whispering excitedly about the matches to co. This was the Jianghe Hunter Academy Tournant. For many students, it would be the first real combat they experienced against opponents of similar strength. For others, it was simply a stage to prove what they already believed about themselves.
Lin Yi and Wang Hao found seats in the lower spectator section with a clear view of the arena floor. The arena itself was massive, at least two hundred ters across, its circular walls reinforced with steel and embedded with faintly glowing runic arrays. These formations existed for one purpose: to prevent combat abilities from spilling into the stands and turning spectators into casualties.
Wang Hao leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring down at the empty arena floor.
"...Brother Lin."
"Yes?"
"This place suddenly feels very serious."
"That’s because people will start hitting each other soon."
Wang Hao rubbed his face. "Please don’t say it so calmly."
Then a loud tallic bell rang out across the arena.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The crowd gradually quieted. At the center of the arena floor, a tall figure stepped onto the circular combat platform with his hands behind his back. Instructor Han Ming. Even from a distance, the quiet authority in his posture was enough to settle the remaining noise without a word. When the arena finally fell silent, he began.
"Students. Welco to the Annual Jianghe Hunter Academy Combat Tournant."
A wave of cheers rolled through the stands. Han Ming waited for it to fade before continuing, his voice carrying the unhurried weight of soone who never needed to raise it to be heard.
"This tournant exists for one reason. To determine the strongest awakened fighters among this year’s students." He raised one hand slightly. "But strength alone is not enough. A true hunter must possess combat awareness, adaptability, and courage."
The students listened without interrupting. Han Ming’s tone shifted slightly, becoming harder at the edges.
"Many of you will eventually leave this academy. You will step beyond the city walls. You will face monsters that do not hesitate. You will fight battles where hesitation ans death."
The arena was unusually still. Everyone understood what was underneath those words.
"This tournant will prepare you for that reality." He gestured toward the arena floor. "The rules are simple. First: combat ends when one participant is unable to continue. Second: killing blows are strictly forbidden. Any attempt to intentionally kill an opponent results in imdiate disqualification and disciplinary action." He raised a third finger. "Third: once a participant surrenders, the match ends imdiately."
He paused, then continued in a slightly louder voice.
"Matches will take place one at a ti. Victory advances you. Defeat eliminates you." He lowered his hand. "The qualification battles will now begin."
Excitent surged through the stands. The large display screens mounted above the stadium lit up simultaneously, nas scrolling across them in long rolling lines. Students imdiately craned their necks searching for their own.
Wang Hao leaned forward with visible anxiety. "Where’s mine... where’s mine..."
Lin Yi looked up calmly. His na hadn’t appeared yet. Then the first match locked into place on the screen.
Match 1 — Su Qinghan vs Zhao Ming
The crowd reacted at once.
"Su Qinghan?"
"The Frostblade user!"
"She’s fighting first?"
Wang Hao slapped his knee. "Brother Lin! Look!" Lin Yi had already seen it.
One of the side gates along the arena floor slowly opened. A slender figure walked out into the light, silver-blue hair catching the sun, a long frost spear resting in her hand with practiced ease. Su Qinghan moved to the center of the arena at a steady, unhurried pace, and the crowd leaned forward almost as one.
"She’s beautiful..."
"And terrifying."
"Her blade techniques are insane."
Her expression remained completely calm throughout. Monts later, the opposite gate opened and a tall boy entered carrying a heavy axe across his shoulder. Zhao Ming, D-Rank Berserker. He glanced across at Su Qinghan and scratched the back of his head with a sowhat resigned expression.
"...Looks like I’m unlucky. I didn’t expect to fight the Frostblade user in the first round."
Su Qinghan looked at him quietly. "Are you surrendering?"
Zhao Ming blinked. "...That direct?"
She didn’t answer. The referee instructor stepped between them, his voice cutting across the arena.
"Both participants. Prepare."
The stands went tense. Even Wang Hao stopped talking. The referee raised his hand, held it for one breath, then dropped it.
"Begin!"
Zhao Ming roared and drove forward imdiately, his heavy axe swinging down with surprising force and speed. But Su Qinghan was already moving, her body shifting sideways like water redirecting around a stone. The axe slamd into the arena floor with a crack that echoed through the lower stands. Before Zhao Ming could pull it back, a cold flash of silver-blue cut through the air. The blade hilt struck his wrist cleanly. The axe spun away across the stone. Then the blade tip ca to rest directly at his throat.
The arena froze. The match had lasted less than three seconds.
Zhao Ming stared at the blade with wide eyes. "...That was fast."
Su Qinghan withdrew the blade without a word. The referee raised his hand.
"Winner. Su Qinghan."
The crowd erupted. Wang Hao shot to his feet imdiately.
"Beautiful!"
Then he sat back down and cleared his throat. "...I an her technique."
Lin Yi smiled slightly. On the arena floor below, Su Qinghan was already walking toward the exit. But just before she passed through the gate, she glanced up toward the spectator section. Her eyes t Lin Yi’s briefly, carrying nothing readable in them. Then she was gone.
Above the arena, the display screens shifted to the next match.
Wang Hao Vs....
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