What had transpired just moments ago was enough to make one's soul tremble. Seeing Raj's katana in Parth's hand could only mean one thing: Parth had been acknowledged as the successor to the Law of Death.
Simultaneously, Dev held Lady Jasmine's Plum Blossom Blade, signaling his ascension as the successor to the Law of War.
As the crowd whispered in awe, the commentator's voice boomed across the arena.
"Well, well! The Soul Clan has passed the first level of the Battle Royale! The Dark Lotus Sect, Serpent Coil Sect, and the Huniyang Family have also qualified!"
"According to the rules: All 10 disciples of the Soul Clan are intact. Two disciples of the Huniyang Family have been crippled. One male disciple of the Serpent Coil Clan has had his blood frozen. The Dark Lotus Sect has one crippled disciple and another dealing with severe injuries."
"All crippled participants may now withdraw their names from the tournament."
As soon as the words were spoken, the injured disciples were teleported from the arena, appearing behind their respective clan thrones.
"Has everyone withdrawn?" the commentator continued. "If so, we move to the final level: the 1-on-1 Fights. Rules: You cannot kill your opponent directly during the match. However, if they succumb to their injuries immediately after the fight ends, the result stands and we do not care. You will be the winner."
"First Match: Huniyang Family vs. Serpent Coil Clan."
"Nityanshi vs. Naoei."
"Both are representatives of their clans. If the clans are dissatisfied with the results, their remaining members may challenge afterwards."
The audience roared as Nityanshi stepped into the arena to face Naoei. The arena was ancient stone—cold, cracked, and draped in rusted iron chains that clinked in the wind. It felt like an execution ground.
The bell rang.
For a second, there was silence. Then, both blurred.
The sound of shattering stone filled the air. Nityanshi dashed, her scarred blade aiming for Naoei's throat, but Naoei's body turned liquid, her spine bending at an impossible angle. Scales erupted on Naoei's skin as her fingers elongated into claws.
"Now this is fun," Nityanshi muttered.
"Let's see how long you last," Naoei hissed, her neck elongating like a snake. Her lower body transformed into a serpentine coil while her upper half remained human. She struck from three directions at once: claw, tail, and bite.
Nityanshi didn't retreat. Her sword moved in precise circles, metal clashing against scales. She landed a slash on Naoei's shoulder, but the wound closed instantly. Regeneration.
Nityanshi lunged into close combat, landing an elbow strike and a knee hit before smashing her pommel into Naoei's jaw. Naoei staggered but whipped her tail into Nityanshi's ribs, sending her sliding into the wall.
"You're getting slow," Naoei whispered, appearing as an afterimage near Nityanshi's ear.
"Just a warm-up," Nityanshi smirked. She scraped her sword against the floor, creating a spray of sparks and debris to block Naoei's vision.
Suddenly, Naoei coiled around Nityanshi, crushing her ribs. "Give up, or you won't walk again after the match," Naoei hissed.
"You're mistaken," Nityanshi laughed softly. "I end things when I choose."
Nityanshi dropped her sword. As Naoei hesitated in confusion, Nityanshi forced a gap in the coils and struck Naoei's pressure points. The grip loosened for a split second. That was all she needed. Nityanshi caught her falling sword mid-air and delivered an ultra-close, precise slash across Naoei's torso.
The bell rang. Match Over.
Naoei stood straight, laughing. "That's it? A scratch?"
Nityanshi sheathed her blade. "I didn't kill you during the match."
A moment later, the slash mark on Naoei's chest began to glow. It was a Delayed Cut—a strike on the soul path that activates only after the bell. Naoei's body collapsed from within, her serpent form crumbling into dust. She died a silent, agonizing death.
The Serpent Coil leader unleashed a wave of murderous intent, but the commentator shouted, "Winner: Nityanshi of the Soul Clan!"
The Second Match: Huniyang Kong vs. Dev
The arena was bathed in the red light of dusk. Dev stood with a tight grip, no armor, just his blade and his will. Huniyang Kong stood opposite him, hands empty, his stillness an insult.
The bell rang.
Dev attacked like lightning, his Hell Domain weighing down the arena. Kong dodged every strike with minimal movement.
"Why the rush?" Kong asked calmly.
"No time to wait!" Dev barked, activating God Death Rising. His sword coated in dark energy, he swung an overhead strike that shattered the floor. Kong simply tapped Dev's elbow, redirecting the massive energy into the ground.
Kong moved in, dismantling Dev with palm strikes and sweeps. Dev's sword slid away. He charged with bare fists, but Kong countered with a body blow that folded him in half. Kong pressed two fingers to Dev's forehead, unleashing a mental storm that forced Dev to relive every failure.
"You've already lost inside," Kong said.
The bell rang. Match over. Kong dragged a broken Dev to the edge of the arena where chained hounds growled inches from his face.
"Kill me," Dev groaned.
"Death is an escape," Kong replied, letting him go. "Become strong. Then come back."
Lady Jasmine snapped her fingers, teleporting the broken Dev back to her throne.
The Final Match: Nityanshi vs. Parth
The atmosphere was heavy. Parth stood with only one arm, his left hand gripping his sword. Nityanshi looked at him with cold disdain.
The bell rang.
Nityanshi dominated. With Parth's balance off, she broke his guard, kicked his knees, and slammed her blade's blunt side into his ribs. She wasn't killing him; she was breaking him piece by piece.
"Are you fighting or collecting sympathy?" she mocked.
She twisted his remaining arm until the joint screamed. Parth fell to his knees, looking utterly defeated. This was where most would give up.
"Just stay down," Nityanshi said, walking closer for the finish.
Parth spat blood and smiled. "Now... the real fight starts."
The air shifted. No flashy aura, just a change in stance: Phantom Swordsmanship.
Nityanshi lunged, her blade passing right through Parth's chest. But there was no resistance. An afterimage.
Parth appeared to stumble and wobble, but every "mistake" was a calculated repositioning. Using his pain as a disguise, he lured her in. As she closed the distance, Parth drew his sword in a silent, upward arc.
The bell rang. Match Over.
Nityanshi stood still, a thin line appearing on her chest. Parth collapsed, his body finally giving out.
"Was that it?" Nityanshi asked.
"You noticed too late," Parth whispered.
The Delayed Phantom Cut activated. Nityanshi's internal balance shattered, and she collapsed.
Winner: Parth.
The Conclusion
Though Parth won through a "trick," the disgrace of a pure-blooded God-lineage warrior losing to a man with no natural mana was absolute.
The commentator announced:
"The tournament ends here! The Serpent Coil Clan is disqualified from the Life and Death Tournament.
1st Rank: Soul Clan.
2nd Rank: Huniyang Family.
3rd Rank: Dark Lotus Sect.
You will face other arenas and clans in 1.5 years."
The arena began to sink back into the Dark Abyss. But before it vanished, Raj turned his chilling gaze toward the Soul Clan leader.
"There is still a matter to settle," Raj said coldly. With a wave of his hand, he teleported everyone back to the Dark Lotus Sect.
The brutal selection tournament had ended, but a new shadow was falling.