CHAPTER 18 THE SHADOW WITHIN
883 Words
Black Spirit Qi erupted from Kaden's body.
The stone platform trembled beneath his feet.
A cold pressure swept across the arena.
The cheerful atmosphere instantly vanished.
Every disciple instinctively took a step back.
"...What is that?"
"His Spirit Qi..."
"It feels terrifying."
Raizen narrowed his eyes.
The Spirit Qi surrounding Kaden was no longer pure.
Black strands twisted through it like venom.
Every breath he took became heavier.
The Origin System immediately reacted.
Warning.
Corruption confirmed.
Hostile energy rapidly destabilizing target.
Current Threat Level: High.
Kaden slowly raised his head.
His eyes had changed.
The whites of his eyes were now laced with crimson veins.
His pupils flickered between black and red.
He smiled.
But it wasn't his usual arrogant smile.
It was...
Unnatural.
"You were right..."
Kaden muttered.
"This power..."
"...is incredible."
He clenched his fist.
The surrounding air exploded.
BOOM!
A shockwave spread across the arena.
Several disciples in the front row nearly lost their footing.
Elder Han immediately stood.
"This match is over!"
"Kaden, stand down!"
But Kaden didn't respond.
It was as if he hadn't even heard him.
Far above the arena...
Elder Tian silently watched.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his eyes had become ice cold.
"So..."
"The corruption has already reached this stage."
Kaden slowly pointed his sword toward Raizen.
"You..."
"...are the reason."
"If you had stayed weak..."
"If you had remained the clan's laughingstock..."
"I wouldn't have needed this."
Raizen sighed softly.
"No."
"You chose this path yourself."
"Don't blame others for your decisions."
Those words struck Kaden like a blade.
His face twisted with rage.
"SHUT UP!"
Boom!
He disappeared.
The stone platform shattered beneath his feet.
"So fast!"
Jin Wu shouted.
Even Su Ziling could barely follow his movements.
Clang!
Raizen barely raised his sword in time.
The impact sent him sliding several meters backward.
Cracks spread beneath his feet.
His arms trembled violently.
"So much power..."
Kaden attacked again.
His sword descended like a bolt of lightning.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Every strike carried overwhelming force.
Raizen didn't attempt to overpower him.
Instead...
He remembered Elder Tian's lesson.
Be like the bamboo.
He yielded.
Redirected.
Waited.
Each attack narrowly missed.
Each step was measured.
Each movement conserved energy.
The spectators gradually realized something.
"He isn't losing..."
"He's enduring."
"No..."
"He's waiting."
Kaden's breathing became increasingly ragged.
Black mist continued pouring from his body.
The more power he used...
The more unstable he became.
Analysis Complete.
Corruption accelerating energy consumption.
Target's control decreasing by 4% every ten seconds.
Recommendation: Continue defensive strategy.
Raizen's eyes flashed.
"So that's your weakness."
"You think you can hide forever?"
Kaden roared.
He raised both hands.
Spirit Qi gathered around his sword.
The black energy expanded into a giant crescent blade.
Several elders gasped.
"Impossible!"
"That technique requires perfect Spirit Gathering control!"
The hooded man hidden among the spectators smiled.
"Do it..."
"Kill him."
Kaden swung his sword.
The black crescent tore through the arena.
Everything in its path split apart.
Raizen inhaled deeply.
Instead of retreating...
He stepped forward.
Just one step.
Then another.
He moved directly toward the attack.
The crowd screamed.
"He's insane!"
At the last possible moment...
Raizen twisted his body.
The black crescent missed him by the width of a finger.
BOOM!!
It crashed into the Spirit Barrier surrounding the arena.
The barrier shook violently.
Cracks spread across its surface.
Kaden stared in disbelief.
"How..."
Raizen calmly answered.
"You've become stronger..."
"But you've stopped thinking."
The words pierced deeper than any sword.
Kaden roared in fury.
His Spirit Qi erupted uncontrollably.
Black veins spread across his neck.
His heartbeat echoed throughout the arena.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Then...
His body suddenly froze.
Crack.
A strange sound echoed from inside him.
His expression twisted in pain.
"Agh..."
"My body..."
The corruption had begun devouring its host.
Raizen didn't attack.
He simply stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Deep inside Kaden's mind...
A sinister voice whispered.
"Give me control..."
"I'll destroy him for you..."
"Accept me..."
Kaden clutched his head.
"No..."
"Get out..."
The whispers only grew louder.
Suddenly...
A powerful pressure descended over the arena.
Every disciple felt their knees weaken.
Elder Tian had moved.
He appeared between Raizen and Kaden in a single step.
No one had seen him move.
He simply...
Was there.
Kaden looked up.
"E-Elder..."
Elder Tian's eyes held neither anger nor hatred.
Only disappointment.
"You were given talent."
"You chose corruption."
He slowly extended his palm.
Golden Spirit Qi flowed from his hand.
It instantly suppressed the black energy surrounding Kaden.
The violent aura disappeared.
Kaden collapsed onto the stone platform.
Unconscious.
Silence filled the arena.
Not a single person spoke.
Elder Tian looked toward the crowd.
His voice echoed across the entire clan.
"Today's assessment..."
"...is concluded."
"No victor."
"No loser."
"What occurred today..."
"...must never be forgotten."
As healers carried Kaden away...
Raizen looked toward the spectators.
For the first time...
The mocking eyes were gone.
In their place...
Were respect...
Curiosity...
And admiration.
The discarded heir...
Had stood against someone stronger than himself...
And never yielded.
Far beyond the Rizz Clan...
Inside the depths of Black Pine Forest...
The ancient chained creature slowly smiled.
"...Excellent..."
"...The Heir has chosen the path of light."
Its crimson eyes glowed brighter.
"Now..."
"...let us see if the light can survive what comes next."
- Writer
