An Understated Dominance

Though Dalen had been defeated, his fanbase didn’t seem to care. His female supporters were still going wild, chanting his name. It was a scene unlike anything the other contestants had experienced.

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“Mr. Shade, are you alright?” Ruby asked with genuine concern as Dalen returned to his seat.

“It’s just a minor injury. Nothing serious.” He shook his head with a smile, though a hint of melancholy and regret lingered in his eyes.

Dalen had entered the tournament to make a name for himself and prove he was as good as anyone. Finishing in the top eight was respectable, but he had aimed for more.

Unfortunately, his strength had fallen short, and he stumbled at the threshold of the final four. Still, losing to Fenley was something he accepted wholeheartedly.

“You’ve done well, Mr. Shade. Many disciples from the major guilds are nowhere near your level. Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Crystal comforted him.

“Yeah. You’re way better than me. I didn’t even make it to the top sixteen. Just look at you. You’re famous and have a ton of supporters. You’re impressive,” Miles chimed in.

In this tournament, not only had he failed to achieve a good ranking, but he was also gravely injured. Half of his body was wrapped in bandages.

By comparison, Dalen had already made a name for himself in the martial world. On the other side, Aurora beamed at Fenley. “You were amazing! You won that match without breaking a sweat.”

“My opponent was strong, but I had the advantage in cultivation level. If we’d been on equal ground, it would have been a tough fight.” He didn’t let his success go to his head. His earlier opponents were nothing more than warm-ups, but today’s match had truly tested him.

“Either way, you won and made it to the semifinals. Just two more victories and the championship is yours.”

Aurora had unwavering confidence in him.

“The path to the championship won’t be easy,” Fenley said. His gaze drifted toward Glenn, who sat calmly with his eyes closed in meditation.

Glenn was his biggest challenge. Defeating him was the only path to claim the championship. The rest of Fenley’s wins wouldn’t mean a thing without that victory.

After the first match ended, there was a break. With plenty of time today, things moved at a steady pace.

The crowd stayed engaged with performances between matches, giving the contestants time to prepare for the next round. Once the music and dance performance ended, the second match was ready to start.

Oron stepped onto the battle ring and scanned the matchup list before announcing, “The second match is between contestant number two, Glenn Hadley, and contestant number seven, Emeret Dwight.”

As soon as the match was announced, murmurs swept through the crowd. Glenn and Emeret were Sword Union disciples, so this was an internal showdown.

“Oh dear, Mr. Hadley. Looks like your guild isn’t having the best luck. Your disciples are set to face each other. What a tragedy!” Alloy said sarcastically, shaking his head. After being humiliated by Cyrus earlier, he saw his chance for revenge.

At this point, even disciples from the same guild couldn’t afford to hold back. The chance for glory was right in front of them, so who would let that slip away? If they clashed, there would be bloodshed. Alloy could only sit back and watch the drama unfold.

“Hmph! Luck may not be on our side, but at least we’ve got the skill to back it up, unlike your guild. Even if one of us gets knocked out, we can still take the championship. As for you, making it to the finals is far from guaranteed,” Cyrus retorted sharply.

He had been sure of their chances, with two Sword Union disciples making it to the top eight. Both seemed to have had the opportunity to reach the semifinals, but that certainty was fading fast with them facing off in the second round.

“Ha! Instead of worrying about my disciples reaching the finals, maybe you should be concerned about your two prized disciples tearing each other apart,” Alloy smirked. “They’re both geniuses. Losing one would be a real shame!”

“Life and death are out of our control, and luck plays its part. Once they enter that ring, they must be ready for anything. If they aren’t strong enough, they get what’s coming,” Cyrus said coldly.

“Wow! You’re heartless.” Alloy shook his head.

“Gentlemen, the contestants are already in the ring. Let’s just watch the match,” Penelope interrupted.

Cyrus and Alloy exchanged glares before turning their attention to the battle ring.

Glenn was the first to enter the ring, and his sword case was strapped to his back. With a cold expression, he stood like a drawn blade, radiating sharp intensity.

In contrast, Emeret had a much softer presence. A natural smile graced his face, reminiscent of a spring breeze.

If Glenn was the biting chill of deep winter, Emeret was the sun’s warmth breaking through the cold.