The arena grew quiet.
Not completely silent.
But focused.
All attention settled on the center.
On him.
On his opponent.
Xu Tian stood still.
His breathing steady.
The children rested in his arms.
Unmoving.
The man across from him observed calmly.
His posture relaxed.
But his eyes were sharp.
"You're different," he said.
Xu Tian didn't respond.
The man took a step forward.
Slow.
Measured.
"Carrying them into the arena…" he continued. "You either don't understand this place, or you don't care."
Xu Tian's gaze remained steady.
"I understand enough."
The man smiled faintly.
"Good."
Then-
He moved.
Fast.
His figure blurred slightly as he closed the distance.
A direct strike.
Clean.
Precise.
Xu Tian reacted instantly.
He shifted his body.
Minimal movement.
The strike passed just beside him.
The air cracked softly.
Xu Tian's arm moved.
A counter.
The man blocked.
The impact echoed.
Both remained in place.
Testing.
Measuring.
The man stepped back half a step.
"…You're fast," he said.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
His focus sharpened.
The next attack came immediately.
Faster.
Sharper.
The man changed direction mid-step.
Xu Tian turned.
Blocked.
The force traveled through his arm.
Heavy.
Controlled.
"…Stronger than the others," Xu Tian thought.
The man didn't pause.
He pressed forward.
Another strike.
Then another.
Each one precise.
Each one calculated.
Xu Tian adjusted.
Step.
Turn.
Redirect.
His movements remained small.
Efficient.
He did not waste energy.
He did not rush.
The space between them shifted constantly.
Neither fully advancing.
Neither fully retreating.
The man's expression changed slightly.
"…You're not reacting," he said.
Xu Tian's voice remained calm.
"I am."
The man's eyes narrowed.
Then-
His speed increased.
Noticeably.
The next strike came from below.
Unexpected.
Xu Tian reacted.
But slightly late.
The impact brushed his side.
Not clean.
But enough.
Xu Tian stepped back.
One step.
Then stopped.
The ground beneath his foot cracked faintly.
The man didn't give space.
He followed immediately.
Closing the distance again.
Xu Tian's eyes sharpened.
"…So this is your level."
He stepped forward.
Into the attack.
Their strikes collided.
A sharper sound echoed.
The man paused.
Just for a moment.
Xu Tian moved first.
His counter came clean.
Precise.
The impact landed.
The man was pushed back.
Two steps.
Not far.
But enough.
A murmur spread through the arena.
People noticed.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He stepped forward again.
Closing the gap.
The man adjusted.
Faster now.
More serious.
The next exchange came harder.
Stronger.
Their movements blurred.
Strike.
Block.
Redirect.
Counter.
Each motion precise.
Each decision immediate.
The pressure increased.
The air around them tightened.
Xu Tian felt it clearly.
"…This is better."
The man attacked again.
A direct strike.
Xu Tian didn't dodge.
He met it.
Their forces collided.
This time—
The man's stance shifted.
Just slightly.
Xu Tian saw it.
And moved.
His next strike landed.
Clean.
The man staggered back.
Three steps.
His expression changed.
No longer calm.
Now-
Focused.
Serious.
"…You're not just surviving," he said.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
He stepped forward again.
The energy inside him moved.
Smooth.
Controlled.
The man exhaled slowly.
Then raised his hand.
The air shifted.
Heavier.
Sharper.
Different from before.
Xu Tian felt it.
"…So you were holding back."
The man didn't deny it.
The next moment-
He moved again.
Faster than before.
Stronger.
The arena floor cracked beneath his step.
Xu Tian's eyes narrowed.
He adjusted his stance.
The next exchange came instantly.
Their movements collided.
The force spread outward.
Stronger than before.
The crowd leaned forward.
Watching closely.
Xu Tian remained steady.
But the pressure increased.
This time-
The fight had changed.
And the real battle-
Had just begun.