The cheers hadn't stopped.
Even minutes after the match ended, the Grand Hunter Arena was still roaring with excitement.
"KAEL! KAEL! KAEL!"
The name echoed like thunder across the stadium.
At the center of the battlefield stood Kael Varyn.
Bloodied.
Exhausted.
Victorious.
Medics rushed toward him, but Kael raised a hand.
"I'm fine."
He wasn't.
But he needed to stand.
Because something told him—
This wasn't over.
High above the arena, in the VIP section, the strongest hunters in the world watched in silence.
Among them was Kaizer Stormborn, his sharp eyes locked onto Kael.
"He broke a void domain," Kaizer muttered.
"That's not normal."
Beside him, a woman with silver hair and golden eyes leaned forward slightly.
Seraphina Lux.
"He didn't just break it," she said calmly.
"He adapted to it."
Another figure spoke from the shadows.
Low.
Cold.
"And that makes him dangerous."
A pair of crimson eyes flickered in the darkness.
Draven Bloodfang.
He smiled faintly.
"Our kind has always thrived in battle."
Back on the battlefield—
A soft chime echoed in Kael's mind.
System Notification
New Skill Available
Would you like to review?
Kael blinked.
"…Now?"
Another notification appeared.
Tournament Progress Update
Advancing to Round 4
Remaining Participants: 32
Kael exhaled slowly.
His body still ached.
But his mind was clear.
"Show me."
A glowing interface appeared before him.
New Skill Unlocked
Void Resistance (Passive)
Grade: Rare
Effect: Reduces incoming void damage by 15%
Additional Effect: Improves perception within void-based domains
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"That'll be useful."
But that wasn't all.
Hidden Evolution Condition Met
Bloodline Synchronization: 10% Required
Current Progress: 8%
Kael frowned slightly.
"So close…"
Before he could think further—
The arena lights dimmed.
The announcer's voice boomed again.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
"THE NEXT ROUND WILL BEGIN SHORTLY!"
The massive screens lit up.
Names began appearing.
Match pairings.
The crowd grew louder again.
Kael looked up.
Searching.
Then—
He saw it.
Kael Varyn vs Zarek Voidborn
Silence.
For a brief moment—
The entire arena went quiet.
Then chaos erupted.
"VOID HYBRID?!"
"He's fighting Zarek?!"
"That's one of the top ten!"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"So it's him…"
High above—
Zarek Voidborn stood slowly.
Tall.
Calm.
Terrifying.
His aura alone caused the air around him to distort.
A perfect fusion of two powers.
Void…
And something else.
Something deeper.
Something ancient.
Moments later—
Kael stood back on the battlefield.
His wounds were partially healed.
But his fatigue remained.
Across from him—
Zarek descended slowly from above.
Not jumping.
Not walking.
Floating.
His feet touched the ground softly.
He looked at Kael.
Expression unreadable.
"So," Zarek said.
"You're the one everyone's talking about."
Kael rolled his shoulders.
"And you're the one they're afraid of."
A faint smile appeared on Zarek's face.
"Good."
"I prefer it that way."
The referee stepped forward.
"Both fighters ready?"
Kael clenched his fists.
Zarek simply nodded.
"BEGIN!"
The moment the match started—
The air exploded.
Zarek vanished instantly.
Faster than Nyx.
Faster than anything Kael had seen before.
Kael's instincts screamed.
He barely raised his arm—
BOOM!
A crushing force slammed into him.
The ground beneath his feet shattered.
Kael was sent sliding backward violently.
His arm trembled.
"…That strength…"
It wasn't just void.
There was something else.
Zarek appeared again.
Right in front of him.
"Surprised?"
Kael smirked slightly.
"Not really."
Then—
He stepped forward.
And punched.
BOOM!
Zarek blocked it with one hand.
But the force pushed him back slightly.
His eyes flickered.
"…Interesting."
Kael grinned.
"Yeah."
"I hit hard."
The system pulsed rapidly.
Opponent Analysis
Name: Zarek Voidborn
Bloodline: Void Hybrid (Void + Unknown)
Threat Level: Extreme
Zarek raised his hand slowly.
Dark energy gathered.
But unlike Nyx—
This wasn't just void.
There were streaks of crimson within it.
Like blood.
Like destruction itself.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…Another berserker?"
Zarek smiled.
"Half."
The energy exploded outward.
A fusion of void and berserker power.
Wild.
Unstable.
Devastating.
Kael's aura surged in response.
Skill Activated
Berserker Impact
Rage Burst
The two forces collided.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The arena shook violently.
Shockwaves rippled across the battlefield.
The crowd screamed.
The air itself cracked under the pressure.
Kael was pushed back again.
But this time—
He didn't stop.
He stepped forward again.
And again.
And again.
Each step cracking the ground beneath him.
Zarek's smile widened.
"Yes…"
"That's it."
The two clashed again.
Fists.
Energy.
Bloodlines.
Power against power.
Neither backing down.
Neither yielding.
High above—
The strongest hunters watched with intense focus.
Seraphina Lux spoke softly.
"This isn't just a match anymore."
Kaizer Stormborn nodded.
"…It's a clash of monsters."
Back on the battlefield—
Kael's breathing grew heavier.
But his eyes burned brighter.
His bloodline roared louder.
Something within him was awakening again.
Stronger.
Fiercer.
Closer to something…
Ancient.
The system reacted.
Bloodline Synchronization Increasing
8% → 9% → 10%
Kael froze for a split second.
Then—
A new message appeared.
Evolution Condition Met
Primordial Berserker — Partial Awakening Initiated
Power exploded from his body.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
Overwhelming.
The ground shattered beneath him.
The air distorted violently.
Even Zarek stepped back.
His eyes widened slightly.
"…So it begins."
Kael slowly lifted his head.
His aura had changed.
It was no longer just powerful.
It was primal.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
The crowd fell silent.
Because at that moment—
They all felt it.
The presence of something beyond normal bloodlines.
Kael took a step forward.
The ground cracked.
"I was just getting started."
Zarek smiled.
For the first time—
Genuinely excited.
"Good."
"Because so was I."
The battlefield trembled.
Two monsters stood facing each other.
And this time—
Neither was holding back.