His body radiated a brilliant light as it transformed into a skill based on the "disaster" it had just endured firsthand.
That wasn't the sole reward bestowed upon Storm.
Valor, a power born from courage, faith, and pride, had the potential to grow and evolve when one cultivated and practiced these qualities.
Storm certainly did. He faced death head-on without fear the very moment he decided to directly receive the power of the vicious black wind tornado. This was because he possessed unwavering faith in his physique and immense pride in its abilities.
His valor was already exceptional due to his father's inheritance, but his physique was the key to him having ultimate level talent with this power and his rapid advancement beyond his actual level.
His valor responded with fervor, undergoing significant transformations to align with the intensity of his growth in these qualities.
It became more intricate, with more features emerging. The seals on his valor became much more enigmatic and unique.
Furthermore, the new skill forming within him granted his valor remarkable resistance against the skill currently attempting to annihilate him.
The dreadful sound of valor colliding with black wind echoed, but it was short-lived.
A viscous, opposing centrifugal force pulsed from his advanced valor. Then, the seals on his valor flashed black for a mere blink before devastating black winds formed in response to the force it emitted.
The force of his black winds countered the centripetal force of Okan, and with the boost from his valor and aura, his vicious black wind tornado completely dismantled Okan's.
Okan's ragged, scorched figure was visible. He was still injured from the previous lightning strikes, and his most powerful technique had been dispelled. Just like Storm, he understood that there was no point in using any other trump cards since it would only ensure his passage through this round, even if he succeeded.
He said, "Ughhh, what a cheat physique. It must be of the divine grade, I don't have a chance competing against something of that caliber therefore I forfeit."
Hearing Okan concede, Storm immediately dispelled all of his abilities and skills before speaking.
"Thank you for such a wonderful battle and the gift you granted to my physique. Even though it wasn't intentional on your part, it is still beneficial to me and I hope to repay the favor someday" He said.
Okan's response fitted his ever bland personality, "Oh please, there's no need considering my skill nearly killed you."
Storm just smiled and gave him one last nod before they both parted from the stage.
....
The tournament continued at a decent pace after Storm and Okan's match.
Sadly none of the remaining matches were as dreadful as Horo and Hendrix's, or as thrilling as Storm and Okan's.
But, those with a more keen perception easily spotted hidden tigers among the "fodder".
Horo had his eye on a few contestants, but watching Okan and Storm's match he understood the current him didn't stand a chance in making it into the top ten with his current strength.
He decided to test alma's solution for the formation of his Nascent Soul while using the break afforded to contestants between rounds.
If he succeeded he would be entering the next realm of cultivation which came with extraordinary benefits.
Not only that entering the Nascent Soul realm was his Trial, which was the only thing keeping him from becoming a Lord Stager which came with tremendous boons as well.
Yet Horo's wasn't even looking forward to the two breakthroughs as much as he was looking forward to receiving the last portion of his origin and soul from his last tragic life.
That's right. Horo was well aware that progressing in Azure Moon's main power system was the key to receiving his "Tragic Souls", if they were to actually make it through the calamitous life.
He noticed after the first time he progress in stages and the second only confirmed it.
He was also well aware that receiving said "tragic souls" was not guaranteed, and they had to have evolved their Tree of tragedy into a soul guide, or obtained certain boons and blessing that could help the "tragic soul" with its journey back to him.
If those tragic souls didn't have what was required they would be trapped in whatever reality or plane of existence they were bound to upon birth, leaving the original Horo who is now Horo Trueheart forever incomplete.
Besides all of that there was one serious issue.
His evolution in stages was totally abnormal due to being accompanied by the reception of his "tragic souls".
Every time he progress he went into a hibernation. The first time it was only a week. The last time it was months.
There was no telling how long this one would be, but he only had a day before the tournament resumed.
He could only hope that this advancement would be different.
He began the process of forming his nascent soul.
After attempting to form it numerous times, he could effortlessly complete each step until the final one, which he could also do easily. However, it simply wouldn't form as if something unprecedented had to be done.
After nearly completing the formation of it he did what Alma suggested.
With her help he removed a piece of his origin and installed it within it the supposedly "incomplete" nascent soul.
Immediately after doing so it shine brighter than a star within his perfect golden core, as if announcing the true completion of his nascent soul.
And before Horo knew it everything went black again.