The arena was still in chaos. Murmurs spread like wildfire—who was Ochieng? How could he defeat a Peak Martial Arts Master so effortlessly?
As the crowd buzzed, Ochieng simply stood in the center, his expression unreadable. His plain clothes fluttered slightly as the wind carried dust and echoes of astonished voices.
Su Lian, still seated in the VIP section, took another sip of her wine, her golden eyes never leaving Ochieng's figure. A storm was coming, and she wanted to be right at the center of it.
---
Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard miles away from the tournament, a group of cloaked figures sat around a burning brazier. Their faces were shadowed, but their auras crackled with overwhelming power.
"The Silent King's heir has revealed himself," one of them finally spoke, his voice low and gravelly.
Another figure scoffed. "A brat playing at power. Shall we erase him before he grows into a threat?"
"No," a third voice interjected. This one carried the weight of centuries, a voice that could freeze even the boldest warriors. "We shall test him first. Let him grow… and when the time comes, we will either claim him—or crush him."
A black scroll was laid upon the table, the seal of The Grandmasters' Circle shimmering ominously.
"Send the invitation," the voice commanded.
"If he refuses, then the blood of the Silent King's heir shall stain our hands."
---
Ochieng had just left the tournament grounds when a delicate fragrance wafted toward him.
A soft chuckle followed. "Are you always so ruthless?"
Ochieng turned.
Su Lian stood behind him, her black silk dress clinging to her curves, her golden eyes watching him with playful amusement.
He remained silent.
Su Lian smirked. "Do you not find me interesting?"
"I don't care for games," Ochieng replied coolly.
She took a step closer, her slender fingers brushing against his arm. "Then let's not play. Join me instead."
Ochieng's eyes flickered with a dangerous glint. "Join you?"
"The Tempting Devil Sect has long sought someone like you," she whispered. "You're powerful, mysterious… and undeniably special."
"And what do I gain?"
She smiled, her lips mere inches from his ear. "Power. Knowledge. Women. Wealth beyond imagination."
Ochieng's lips curled into a smirk. "Tempting."
Su Lian's eyes gleamed. "Then accept—"
Before she could finish, Ochieng vanished.
She blinked.
A voice echoed from behind her.
"You're not the first to try. And you won't be the last."
She spun around, but he was already gone.
For the first time, Su Lian felt a thrill of excitement—and perhaps, just a hint of fear.
---
That night, as Ochieng sat alone beneath the moonlit sky, a black envelope fluttered onto his lap.
He opened it.
"You have been invited to The Grandmasters' Circle."
Ochieng's eyes darkened.
This was no ordinary challenge.
This was a battle between kings and monsters.
A battle… where only one could walk away alive.
---
Ochieng knew he needed more power. His current abilities were strong, but against the true overlords of the martial world, he was nothing.
He needed to ascend.
The path of Martial Arts Mastery had clear stages:
Martial Arts Master – 1 Star
Martial Arts Master – 2 Stars
Martial Arts Master – 3 Stars
Martial Arts Master – 4 Stars
Martial Arts Master – Peak
And beyond that? There were legends, myths, and beings who defied the heavens themselves.
Ochieng clenched his fists.
"I need to reach Peak Master before the challenge," he muttered.
With that, he vanished into the night, heading towards the Forgotten Valley, a place where warriors either emerged as gods… or never returned at all.
---
As Ochieng disappeared, another figure entered the city.
Dressed in crimson robes, with a sword wrapped in silk, the man's presence alone made the very air feel suffocating.
The guards at the gate instinctively stepped back.
The man's cold gaze swept over them.
"Where is he?" he demanded.
A trembling official stammered, "Wh-who, sir?"
"The boy in plain clothes. The one who humiliated my brother."
The official swallowed hard. "You mean Ochieng?"
The man's eyes flashed with bloodlust. "So that's his name."
He stepped forward.
"Ochieng… You've taken something from me. Now, I'll take everything from you."
---
Ochieng had barely begun his training in the Forgotten Valley when he noticed something was wrong.
His breath came in short gasps. His vision blurred.
Poison.
His body trembled.
Someone had poisoned him.
His mind raced. Could it be Su Lian? The Grandmasters' Circle? Or that crimson-robed man?
Whoever it was, they had made a mistake.
Ochieng gritted his teeth and forced his body into meditation.
He would not fall here.
He would not die.
He would survive—and make them pay.
---