Before entering the ring—
Reyax began speaking to Lumian from within.
"I'll finish this tournament myself," his voice echoed calmly yet dominantly. "After that, you can grow stronger as you wish. What do you say? Either way, you'll be in trouble once the tournament ends."
Lumian fell into brief thought.
There was logic in those words.
"…You're right," Lumian replied slowly. "Then… Master, you finish it."
The moment those words were spoken—
Control shifted.
Lumian's body no longer belonged to him.
Reyax took over.
---
Reyax—within Lumian's body—stepped into the ring.
The ground beneath his feet felt solid yet distant, as if this place meant nothing to him. His long hair swayed slightly with his movement, partially covering his face, making it difficult to read his expression.
Across from him—
Saima stood.
A trace of fear lingered within her eyes.
Her previous observation still haunted her.
This boy…
He hadn't even given his opponent a chance to strike.
A single move—
And it was over.
That alone was enough to shake her confidence.
---
At first glance, Saima had mistaken Lumian for a girl due to his long hair and slender frame.
But now—
She knew.
He was not.
---
Outside the ring—
In a private viewing chamber—
Sumian sat, his gaze locked onto Lumian's ring.
His fists were tightly clenched.
The anger from earlier still burned within him.
---
Back in the ring—
Lumian looked directly at Saima.
His eyes were calm.
Empty.
Saima hesitated, her voice slightly trembling as she spoke—
"You… won't defeat me that easily."
Lumian replied without emotion—
"Then… should I defeat you the hard way?"
---
Those words—
Simple.
Yet cold.
Saima's expression changed.
A hint of fear surfaced more clearly now.
She belonged to a notable family within the Kla Clan.
If something happened to her—
Lumian would face serious consequences.
At least—
That's what she believed.
---
But Reyax—
Didn't care.
Not even a little.
To him, these so-called "problems" were meaningless.
He had only one goal—
To leave this cage.
This place—
This tournament—
It was nothing more than a small patch of leaves.
And he—
Wanted the entire tree.
---
The announcer signaled the start.
Saima immediately leapt backward, creating distance between them.
Her movements were quick, cautious.
---
Reyax stood still.
His face carried no visible emotion.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Then—
Slowly—
He began walking forward.
Each step steady.
Measured.
---
Saima reacted instantly.
As a water path cultivator, she gathered moisture into her palm. The surrounding air seemed to condense slightly as water formed under her control.
With a sharp motion—
She launched the attack.
---
The strike landed.
Directly on Lumian's shoulder.
---
Bang!
---
The force sent him flying backward.
His body slammed against the ground, sliding across the arena floor.
---
From the stands—
Misa had been watching him the entire time.
Her eyes never left him.
She expected something inhuman again.
Something abnormal.
---
But—
This time—
She was surprised.
"…Was I wrong?" she thought. "He can… actually be hit like this?"
---
Mili, who had been observing another ring, shifted her gaze the moment she saw Lumian being thrown back.
Jeju remained expressionless.
Cross, however, burst out—
"Good! That's exactly how you deal with that bastard!"
---
Inside the ring—
Saima herself seemed confused.
It felt too easy.
Too… normal.
---
Meanwhile—
Inside Lumian—
Reyax frowned slightly.
"…Tch. Using even a fraction of my power causes this level of soul damage in this body?" he muttered internally. "What path should I even use?"
He asked—
"What path do you cultivate?"
Lumian replied from within—
"Water… and Ice. Rank 1. Peak stage."
---
Outside—
Saima attacked again.
This time—
Lumian moved.
He dodged.
Sliding to the side with minimal movement.
---
Saima narrowed her eyes.
"What is he thinking…?"
---
Then—
Lumian began walking.
Slowly.
Calmly.
He started circling around Saima.
One step at a time.
A quiet rotation.
---
Saima couldn't understand it.
Something felt wrong.
---
In the viewing room—
Nel suddenly stood up from his seat.
His voice trembled.
"This boy… is he an Ice path cultivator?!"
Behind him, Sumian answered—
"Yes, sir. Water and Ice path."
Nel turned sharply.
"What rank?"
Sumian hesitated.
"…Probably Rank 1."
---
Nel's eyes widened.
"That technique… 'Lost Veil Ice'… It's a famous technique of the Yenex Sector!"
His voice shook.
"How is this possible…? How can he use this?!"
---
Before anyone could respond—
Inside the ring—
---
A coldness spread.
---
It surrounded Saima.
The temperature dropped instantly.
A snowy fog began forming, thick and suffocating.
Her vision narrowed.
Beyond a small radius—
She could see nothing.
---
"This… is a sub-domain technique," Nel whispered.
---
Shock spread among the elites.
None of the members from their minor clans should even have access to such sect-level techniques.
Yet—
A mere Rank 1…?
---
Inside the fog—
An ice spike shot forward.
---
Thud!
---
It pierced Saima's shoulder.
---
Another one—
---
Struck her waist.
---
Blood flowed—
But quickly froze.
Her body weakened.
Her senses faded.
---
Then—
She collapsed.
---
The moment she fell—
The sub-domain disappeared.
The coldness faded.
The fog dissolved.
---
Near the edge of the area—
Lumian stood.
Blood trickled from his mouth.
His body trembled slightly.
This fragile body—
Could not handle such a high-level technique.
His soul was already heavily injured from earlier attempts.
---
Slowly—
He dropped to one knee.
Then sat down.
Breathing uneven.
---
Jeju and the others watched—
Surprised.
Confused.
---
Saima was quickly taken away to the medical hall.
---
In the viewing room—
Sumian froze.
"What… is happening…?" he muttered.
"How did Lumian change this much…?"
His thoughts were deeper than most.
Because his past with Lumian—
Was not good.
---
Medical Hall—
Saima was brought in.
Dali examined her injuries carefully.
Then—
Her expression changed.
"God…" she muttered. "Is this boy a serial killer?"
Her voice carried shock.
"These strikes… perfectly targeted."
She pointed.
"If these had gone just a bit deeper… she would've been paralyzed."
"Incredible…"
"But since the attack wasn't too deep… she survived."
---
Beside her stood a young girl—
Kazumi, her assistant.
"Will she recover?" Kazumi asked softly.
---
Dali nodded.
"Yes. It's not too severe."
Then paused.
"But if it were… her nerves would've been severed."
She didn't finish the sentence.
---
Back in the arena—
Lumian was declared the winner.
---
He stood up slowly.
Unstable.
Dizzy.
As if his body no longer belonged to him.
---
"It feels like… using a goat to do a bull's work…" he thought.
---
No one dared to approach him.
No one dared to stop him.
---
And he knew it.
---
So—
He walked forward.
Alone.
In this wrold a 'Rise of Evil' is a greatest book and most of the people know about in.
Rise of Evil
Chapter 1 Verse:7-19 (Summary)
A broken man and a peaceful man are the same.
Yet—
They are completely different.
---
Nature turns humans into slaves.
It defines their morals.
And there is no escape from it.
---
Throw stones at a street dog for ten days—
It will remember.
Feed it for ten days—
It will stay loyal.
---
Liku—
Grew up witnessing oppression, pain, and cruelty.
Within him—
Only hatred remained.
For people.
For society.
---
One day—
He broke a bamboo.
From within it—
A strange black light emerged.
It spoke
"O King of Destruction… what do you desire?"
Liku was stunned.
Then answered—
"…Freedom."