Dust swirled around Atticus's feet as he unleashed a whirlwind of attacks. His blade, a blur of silver, whistled through the air, each strike carrying a force that seemed to defy his usual agility. Xu Hua watched, mesmerized and wary, from the edge of the arena. This wasn't the same Atticus she sparred with before. His movements were sharper, his strikes infused with a power that sent shivers down her spine.Hesitantly, she stepped onto the training floor, drawing her own sword. "Alright, Atticus," she called out, her voice echoing in the vast arena. "For some reason you asked for a spar, I'm here to whoop your ass. I hope you are prepared."A glint of amusement flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a predatory focus. "Always," he replied, his voice a low rumble.Xi Hua didn't waste any more time talking and swiftly took out her weapon and approached Atticus.The clang of steel marked the start of their duel. Xu Hua lunged forward, her blade flashing in a practiced seq
A sharp clap echoed through the arena, shattering the moment that had formed between Xu Hua and Atticus. All eyes turned towards the source of the interruption - Ling Yue"Splendid," Ling Yue purred, her voice dripping with mock sincerity. "Atticus darling. Time's up!" Her crimson robes billowed dramatically as she sashayed across the training ground, her entourage of admirers trailing behind like a gaggle of sycophantic geese.A scowl darkened Atticus's features. He had completely forgotten about Ling Yue's advances, and her presence now served as an unwelcome reminder of the unwanted attention he'd received earlier. He had hoped to avoid this encounter. The last time they crossed paths, Ling Yue had declared him her "property," sending shivers of unease down his spine. He'd managed to brush her off then, but her presence here now was a stark reminder of her unwelcome interest. Her position as a senior and the leader of the prestigious Phoenix Division, known for their brutal fire-
The rhythmic clatter of chopsticks against ceramic bowls filled the air as Atticus and Xu Hua dug into their dinner. The tension that had hung heavy between them earlier had dissipated somewhat, replaced by a quiet camaraderie. Despite the impending Bloodfest, Atticus couldn't help but appreciate the normalcy of sharing a meal with his friend."You shouldn't have held me back." Xu Hua finally said, her voice laced with concern. "About Ling Yue. I could have helped you, you knew that you didn't have to entertain her nonsense."Atticus sighed, setting down his chopsticks. "I know, Xu Hua. I just… This is something personal I guess. And honestly, I don't think there was much you could have done. Besides," he added with a hint of a smile. "It's not like I'm at her mercy of anything."Atticus juggled his takeout container precariously as his spirit transmission disc buzzed to life. He winced, shoving a stray sesame noodle back into its plastic prison before excusing himself from Xu Hua. "
A few days when by and the day of the blood fest finally reached. Atticus went towards the venue and so did other students. The entire academy was looking forward to this twisted yearly event.The anticipation hung heavy in the air as students from all corners of the academy converged upon the Blood Coliseum. Whispers of excitement and nervous energy crackled like static electricity, a palpable buzz that set the atmosphere alive. Atticus navigated through the throngs of eager participant's, his mind a whirlwind of anticipation and strategy.An oppressive blood-red sun hung low in the twilight sky, casting an ominous glow over the colossal Blood Coliseum. Gleaming obsidian spires pierced the heavens, their tips converging to form a jagged maw at the arena's apex. The air crackled with a morbid energy, a cacophony of nervous murmurs and bloodthirsty roars emanating from the stands that snaked their way around the coliseum's inner rim.Atticus, along with the other participants, stood hu
As Atticus and the last of the participants pass through the gates, A white fog filled everywhere and Atticus felt space warp, it seems like he teleported.In the next moment Atticus was met with a blinding white flash. Weightlessness.Fuck, he was falling!Below him he could see a vast forest mixed with wastelands, It was a very weird terrain.Around him in the air were several other participants, this was certainly some sort of grand entrance.As Atticus approached the ground, he tried to rotate his cultivation so as to slow down the fall...Oh shit!There was nothing to rotate as their cultivation had been completely suppressed. How were they supposed to survive this fall!Then – bam! Atticus landed hard on something soft. Disoriented, he blinked his eyes open.Of course, the landing was going to go well, it would be weird if they all died just right off their landing.He looked around him and all he could see was trees. Lots of trees. The air was thick and silent, not a whisper
In a different part of the forest was one of the twisted criminals known as the Blood dragon. Xue Long's crimson eyes scanned the forest, his grin widening as he spotted a group of students huddled together. Pathetic. A weak alliance formed in the desperate hope of survival. He saw the coward in the group, a tremor in his hand as he nervously licked the edge of his dagger. Perfect. Time for a little bloodshed.A cruel amusement flickered in Xue Long's eyes. With a silent chuckle, he activated his devil fruit power. The air shimmered for a brief moment, then Xue Long was gone, his form dissolving into invisibility. He became a phantom, a predator stalking its prey.The devil fruit was one of the power ups one could get from the forest just like the enchanted weapon. Of course it was much more rare and Xue Long had been lucky to come across one and even more lucky to get one that gave him a useful skill.He crept closer, his movements silent and fluid. He watched them, savoring their
In the next moment a change was made known to all the participants as an holographic display flickered to life in front of them. The previous map they could call upon to navigate through the terrain had become something more. It was no longer just a map for it now displayed every remaining participant – a red dot pulsating faintly above a miniature figure. This unexpected shift sent a wave of shock through the audience. No more hiding, no more tactical maneuvering; now, it was a brutal game of cat and mouse, predator and prey, laid bare for all to see.Fen Yifan gritted his teeth as his location was revealed. Atticus on the other hand stole a glance at the map, his eyes expression then turned grim. Xue Long, a crimson blight on the digital landscape, was mere miles away, his path a gruesome trail of extinguished red dots.A new wave of worry washed over several students, but it was quickly replaced by a steely determination. They weren't exactly weak and in the blood fest, nothing w
The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, a grim counterpoint to the chirping crickets that had timidly resumed their nightly chorus. Jin Sohae, her body wracked with pain and terror, watched as the cloaked figure towered over the last whimpering brother. The figure in black lowered his sword, its tip dripping crimson. He turned towards Jin Sohae, his shadowed face unreadable. In the flickering moonlight, she caught a glimpse of a single, piercing blue eye. "You're hurt," he stated, his voice a low rumble that sent a tremor through her. "Just a few scratches," she lied, forcing a weak smile. The adrenaline was fading fast, replaced by a dull throbbing pain that radiated from every part of her body. Internally, she winced. A lie wouldn't do. These weren't scratches, they were injuries that would take weeks to heal, even with proper medical attention. "Can we stick together?" Jin Sohae continued, her voice gaining strength. "There's safety in numbers, at least until we find