Born in Blood



The final battle. 

One that determines who was to achieve the Rank 6 item, and potentially become a powerhouse.

The Temple and the Moyong family.

And it was today.

Truth be told? 

Liam was just a little nervous.

Usan was weakened.

And Liam would fight with just one arm.

And this was against the most powerful clan in all of Ilali.

Before all that, Liam patched up his arm with some inscribed, plain-looking bandages made by the Golden Cranes.

It helped rid the pain and keep the arm hidden.

Liam couldn't afford to show the deformity.

If Twilight focused on his arm, she'd be able to end the fight pretty easily. It was a major weakness, after all.

For that exact reason, the bandages were wrapped around his left arm, as well.

Liam's fighting style also had to change a bit.

In his ring, there were dozens of Abyssal Needles, Parasite Worms and defensive items.

'I have to avoid getting physical. My Blood Arts and Blood Bonds will have to do most of the work.'

For this fight, Liam would go all out.

***

The atmosphere within the Main Lands had never been wilder.

But not because of excitement, no.

Because of anger.

The final battle was not going to be broadcasted!

Due to the Temple's stupid rule, nobody could watch it!

This made Ilalians seethe inside.

But their pleas were not taken care of.

The Seven Clans flew above each of their domains.

Myriad Brush, Miasma Queen, Cerulean Dragon, Sun's Spear, Unmoving Mountain and Felling Wind… had all lost.

It was as Jargon said.

Each of them forfeited their battles to look 'gracious' and 'save time' for the victors.

Only North Star and Unforgiven Shadow remained. 

As their gaze connected, sparks of battle-intent lit their narrowed eyes.

North Star's real name was Riy, which meant light in Ilalian.

On the other hand, Usan meant dark in Ilalian.

Light versus dark.

Poetic, almost.

Liam's gaze connected with Twilight.

The woman looked 19 to 20. 

Maybe a little older than that? 

Ages were a bit hard to discern when it came to cultivators.

Twilight's face was nonchalant.

But when her silver eyes connected with Liam's, she expressed subtle disdain. 

"The final battle!" Myriad Brush announced with a dramatic voice. 

If he was bitter about losing, then he didn't show it.

The millions who watched went silent.

"The Temple and the Luminous Light clan will now battle for the Miracle Fruit!"

The atmosphere changed.

It turned heavy very fast.

The only ones not affected by such an air were, ironically, the four cultivators who were about to fight with each other.

The Temple had 24 points.

The Luminous Lights had 21 points.

This meant that, in order for the Moyong family to win, they needed to win both fights instead of one.

"So it's come to this," Riy said with a cold voice. "I'm appalled at how far you've come."

"What's wrong?" Usan said. "Scared?"

Riy laughed tersely with mock.

"You'll see."

When the bickering stopped, Myriad Brush chose to cut in. 

"For the finals, the Main Fighters must go first," Myriad Brush said. "Followed by the Secondaries."

Liam didn't know why they added that rule, but he shrugged it off.

"Please choose your rules," Myriad Brush said.

Please.

Myriad Brush said 'please'!

It was obvious he was bootlicking!

But no one called him out on it.

"I won't make a rule if you don't," North Star said to the Unforgiven. "What's the point if we don't go all out, right?" he smiled.

Usan was silent.

Usan knew where to restrict.

As a young child, he had studied the Luminous Light Arts. 

Together with his brothers and sisters.

But that was ages ago, and there was bound to be improvements to it.

'He might know about the Inner World, too.'

Usan glanced at Liam from the side, then looked back at his brother.

"Fine. The same applies to the Secondaries, though."

Riy shrugged.

"I don't mind."

"Please enter the battlefield," Myriad Brush said 'respectfully'.

The Unforgiven and North Star did exactly that.

Before the Isolation Barrier was erected, Usan made a pointing gesture.

The Monolith Lion rumbled and approached him, towering over Usan's back.

Liam hid a laugh as North Star and Twilight's faces twisted to a grimace.

They completely forgot about the Monolith Lion!

It was always in the background.

They just assumed Usan didn't plan on using it with his battles.

"I'm fighting with this," Usan said as he flew atop the giant lion's head. 

North Star shook his head.

The two parties created space between each other.

The Isolation Barrier was put up.

There was silence.

Neither of them said anything.

No words needed to be exchanged.

The fight began instantly.

Riy raised a hand.

Little stars started to flicker within the Isolation Barrier, filling the area with bright light.

Usan made a single sweeping gesture.

Spheres of darkness and shadow combined to match each one of those little stars.

At the same time, the Monolith Lion let out an ear-splitting roar, but the shockwaves produced from its throat didn't do much.

As they neared North Star, they simply… negated and disappeared.

Riy waved his hand downward, and the stars turned to streaks that shot towards Usan in a flurry.

The spheres of darkness flew upwards to intercept the blinding streaks of light.

The forces of light and dark combined, merging together before exploding into a dazzling display of iridescent light.

Both the attacks negated each other!

Riy repeatedly snapped his fingers.

Every time he did, a beam of blinding light would pierce through the air and shoot towards Usan.

The lion provided defense against those beams.

But as it absorbed attack after attack, it was getting riddled with see-through holes.

Usan grew determined.

If he dragged it out, he would lose.

His core was already damaged, and all Riy needed to do was defend.

Instantly, Usan used all the 'Ora' in his core to form a myriad of attacks.

Volatile spears, arcs of darkness, clouds of noxious gas, tendrils of shadow, and countless others.

In an instant, all of it shot towards North Star with incredible speed!

However, a blinding shield of light grew around Riy's body, encasing him.

One after the other, it absorbed the explosions and attacks.

Slowly, the shield was fizzling out!

Some attacks went through!

...But soon, the barrage ended.

The shield opened, and Riy was covered with gruesome and bloody wounds.

Just then, North Star snapped his finger again.

A beam of light shot towards Usan…

…incinerating his right arm from the shoulder.