Upon the black iron arena floors, two men stood.
One was a representative of the first branch, and the other was the sixth branch's seeded disciple.
The arena turned quiet; their sights were fixed to the battlefield.
From the sixth branch's skilled display in the first event and Vera's explosive arrival, this battle caught the full attention of the people.
Aspartese stared at the arena; deep creases formed around his eyes.
The etiquette I taught you??
His name on the line, his only hope was that Vera wouldn't go too far.
On the ninth storey, other than Aspartese, Vera's upcoming battle caught both Lin-yu's and the third branch Master's attention.
Lin-yu was made aware that Vera planned to participate in the One Law events as well. This meant that Vera would have to make a display here.
The third branch master, on the other hand, was interested in Aspartese's new core disciple. He wanted to see whether or not Vera could keep up with a disciple of the main branch.
Vera, however, watched his opponent with leisure. From the moment he greeted the man, Vera analysed his gait, breathing, and musculature. He realised almost instantly...
He's good... Similar to Alexander from the wester plane.
Vera was never one to take battle lightly, but the opponent's grade was simply too poor.
But this was perfect. He needed to make a scene, and the opponent was rather fitting. Vera thought of the most overwhelming display he could make; his head turned skywards.
The cloudless skies revealed the heavens above it. Vera lowered his gaze back to his opponent's; the method was now clear to him.
His opponent, Yong Xi, was one of the foremost third-rank disciples at the first branch. He pointed his sword at Vera; he waited for Vera to make the first move.
Yong Xi's devious grin hid from him the bumps growing over his skin.
Having made up his mind, Vera clapped his hands. "I'll start now."
Yong Xi waved his sword at Vera. "Stop wasting more time and start—"
A cold breeze engulfed his body; his gaze trembled.
Where is he...?
Just then a searing heat touched the back of his neck. A finger pressed against his spine and melted the skin over it.
Qi flooded Yong Xi's arm. He pivoted over his right foot and slashed at his back.
His sword cut through the air with immense speed. The wind screeched as his blade cleaved the space behind him.
Yet as he turned back, he realised Vera wasn't there.
His breathing grew heavy as he stared at the empty space he just cut through.
Is he behind me again...?
He wanted to be wrong.
A dull footstep formed vibrations in the black iron tiles.
Vera was behind Yong Xi again. Unable to comprehend Vera's speed, he stood still as Vera immolated the flesh over his left temple.
His hand gripping Yong Xi's shoulder, Vera asked mockingly. "Senior, why have you turned your back to me?"
Yong Xi's heart climbed to his throat; every pulse screamed inside his head. Nonetheless, he couldn't lose his calm.
Panic only meant defeat.
Before the breath passed, orbs of qi formed over his back. The orbs burst into thin needles that shot toward Vera.
His eyes sharpened.
A pace should have opened up now.
Yong Xi took a step back and pivoted over his left foot. His sword sliced through the air again.
Thankfully, Vera was in front of him this time. If there was a problem to speak of, it would be that Vera stood exactly where his sword cut through.
It became clear to Yong Xi that he wasn't in control.
Not a single cut over his robes, Vera's arm pressed into his chest. His fingertips were covered with an intense orange light.
The ashes of Yong Xi's robe sunk into the melted flesh over his chest. Nausea engulfed Yong Xi; his breathing became erratic.
At this very moment, Vera's finger was a hair's thickness away from his heart.
I need to run.
His legs turned as heavy as lead; he couldn't move no matter how hard he tried. Yong Xi's sword hung loosely from his hand as Vera gripped him by the neck.
His thumb's edge split the skin on Yong Xi's neck. From the right jugular, over his windpipe, to the left jugular vein.
I'll die if you do that... Stop.
But Vera didn't stop there. His gaze rose to Yong Xi's forehead, his eyes displayed finality.
Cold and uncaring, as though he were preparing a beast's flesh to roast over the campfire.
An acrid odour filled Vera's nose as his finger pressed into Yong Xi's frontal bone.
Vera's head leant over to his left; his brows furrowed. "Senior, why are you standing still? You'll die if this keeps going on."
Yong Xi's legs trembled.
Perspiration drenched his robes.
I'm going to die.
Vera's expression was leisurely, but even through his listless smile Yong Xi felt a suffocating intensity.
The greasy smell of his immolated flesh choked him. The warmth of blood on his neck became a noose.
If he pressed just a bit more...
His gaze obscured by tears, he could no longer see the arena.
Yong Xi fell onto his back. His frantic breaths became audible gasps for air. His sword clattered against the black iron floor as he hurriedly crawled away.
Vera stood silently and watched. A vein bulged across his temple at the sight of Yong Xi fleeing.
If he runs again, I should break his left arm.
Enough to let Yong Xi understand but still be able to retaliate.
A deafening silence filled the stands. Their bodies were overrun with cold. They watched the scene while gripping the railing.
Those on the ninth floor wanted to end it already. However, unless a fatality was to occur or the participant was to resign, they couldn't stop it.
On the battlefield, Vera leant over and picked up the sword that his opponent had dropped.
Yong Xi, who was crawling, finally got up and started running. However, Vera wasn't done yet; his visage disappeared once again.
A dull thud resounded through the air; Yong Xi crashed into Vera's chest.
He was pulled up by his collar.
Vera acted on instinct.
This was the best way for Yong Xi to understand; only death waits if you don't fight back.
Vera handed Yong Xi his sword. "Senior, I'll give you a chance. Hit me as hard as you can; I won't dodge."
Yong Xi's fingers were cold. The stiffness in his tendons didn't even let him grip his sword tightly.
The few moments he spent running had calmed him down by a bit.
I can't escape...
Realising that running wasn't an option, the chance Vera gave him was all he had.
Yong Xi slapped himself; a sharp sound filled the arena.
He gripped his sword with both hands and lifted it up to Vera's neck. All the qi he could muster filled his body.
Followed by a deathly scream, his sword hurtled toward Vera's neck.
A sharp clang sounded.
Vera stood quietly. He watched Yong Xi with widened eyes as a sword pressed against his neck.
He attacked... Did I not scare him enough?
Vera contemplated his next step as he pulled the sword away from his neck. He was disgusted by Yong Xi's incessant trembling.
I can't kill him. I'll be seen as too cruel if I break his arm now.
Yong Xi gazed at Vera's contemplative expression. The cold that engulfed his body weakened as urine dripped through his robes.
His knees sunk toward the ground as Vera's intent pressed on him.
The twenty-five years from his childhood to this day flashed through his mind. Some would feel reminiscence at those memories, but Yong Xi only felt dread.
Will I die this early? Let me meet my parents once more atleast.
Breathing became hard as mucus filled his nose.
I'm going to get married next year. My lover will be heartbroken.
If he still wanted to live, there was only one choice left to him.
His voice barely escaped him. "Don't kill me..."
Tears streamed down his cheeks as he pleaded over and over again.
At his words, Vera's gaze sharpened.
Was I going to kill him...?
The manifested qi around him reeked of blood and guts.
Vera immediately retrieved his qi.
Why am I feeling disgust? This reaction is normal when one is near death.
Vera's head throbbed as he watched Yong Xi gripping his boot.
He took a deep breath and restrained his emotions. The cold killing intent in his qi dissipated. "Senior, I... I won't kill you. Just resign from the match."
Regret filled Vera. He treated a competitor like he would an enemy.
At his words, Yong Xi screamed. "I resign!"
The chorus of mumbles in the hall burst into raucous cheers. Streaks of red engulfed their eyes as they cheered fanatically.
Two martial artists who stood outside of the stadium ran toward Yong Xi and picked him up.
As Yong Xi was taken away, Vera watched the people. They were cheering for him, but...
Why are you cheering?
Wrinkles formed around his eyes as he stared at the stands.
While loud cheers serenaded his body, his mind was engulfed by the crushing weight on his chest.
Their joyfull screams sounded as though they had escaped death; almost like the mercy granted to Yong Xi was given to them as well.
The taste of iron filled Vera's mouth as he gritted his teeth.
Why are you like this?
From the ninth storey, Aspartese watched Vera with a complicated gaze. He covered Chun's eyes and ears with his hands.
What was that?
No matter how much he thought back, Vera wasn't someone who would do something like that. The Vera he knew until now had always been genuine and somewhat inert.
But as his fight began, he became a completely different person.
In the two months he knew Vera for, they trained and drank together day and night.
For the first time he looked at Vera as though he were a stranger.
Has this always been a part of you?
It wasn't just Aspartese who was taken aback by this. The many juniors and friends Vera made in the branch sat in silence.
Their gaze toward Vera mirrored that of Aspartese's.
However, not all those who knew Vera thought the same way. Over at the private room on the ninth storey.
Someone Vera knew personally watched his fight with relish, despite its cruelty. To Long Tian the cruelty didn't even matter.
Ripples formed on the surface of his wine.
He couldn't hold back his laughter, not that he tried to.
He recalled the day he met Vera in the Five Plains.
"Did he just pay homage to me?"
He held back his wheezing for a moment. "At least try to stick to the script if you are plagiarising me."
In contrast to Long's laughter, Tao sat silently, memories of war could be seen in his eyes.
He turned to Long. His brows were furrowed as he spoke. "He fights like your father."
Long picked up his cup of Lay Mou and took a sip.
His laughter finally settled.
"Of course he would. After all, he did study one of my father's techniques."
Although he answered with leisure, his thoughts were stained with confusion.
Now that the joke had passed, Long realised something.
This much intent should have been enough for you to invert the heavens.
Following the Inverted Heavens canon, when the soul imbibes the body and the threshold of change is reached, one sheds a layer of human weakness.
Vera's intent was already entangled in his flesh, yet...
I should invest a bit more in you.