Chapter 30 – Like A Storm
The next day arrived with golden morning light creeping into the waiting room. Flux sat silently, polishing the edge of his flying sword. His robes were neatly arranged, his wide-brimmed hat resting on the bench beside him.
Flux murmuring to himself"The tournament's finally almost reaching its end..."
He looked up at the ceiling, his expression calm, thoughtful. There was a faint breeze in the still air, carrying the distant roar of the crowd.
Then a voice echoed through the chamber.
"Flux, prepare to enter the arena."
He stood without a word,he take a deep breath and walk. His sword floated behind him as he walked forward with slow, steady steps.
---
The Arena
Flux was the first to step into the arena that day.
The audience stirred the moment they saw his familiar silhouette.
Spectators
"Hey, it's him again—wearing that hat as usual!"
"Too bad! I saw his face yesterday—it was otherworldly!"
"He looked like some immortal prince descended to the mortal world..."
Flux ignored the chatter. His eyes shifted to his opponent as she entered from the other side of the arena.
Mona Dentaras.
Tall, poised, and wrapped in dark violet robes embroidered with silver lotus patterns. Her long black hair was tied in a clean braid, and her cold expression revealed nothing. A 9th-level Foundation Establishment cultivator—strong, sharp, and unshaken.
Their eyes met.
No words were exchanged.
The tension between them buzzed like drawn steel.
Referee Elder"Begin!"
---
Clash of Wind and Ice
Steel rang as both cultivators moved at once.
Flux drew his sword in a blur of wind, his Miststep Flow making his movements fluid and swift. His strikes were elegant and unpredictable, carried by air and grace.
Mona's blade met his with a chilling sting. Her sword radiated cold energy—precise, sharp, and unrelenting.
CLANG! CLANG! WHOOSH!
Their blades danced in the center of the arena, crossing and parting with blinding speed.
There was no dialogue. No banter. Only the sound of steel clashing and the roar of Qi exploding between them.
Suddenly, Mona stepped back and unleashed a burst of frosty Qi, freezing the tiles beneath her. Then, in an instant—she vanished.
She reappeared beside Flux in a flash of cold light.
But he vanished too—leaving behind a fading afterimage.
Flux reappeared mid-spin and unleashed his Whirling Crescent, his blade forming a twisting arc of compressed wind energy.
Mona responded with a horizontal strike wrapped in frigid force. The attacks collided, shaking the entire stage.
She quickly threw a talisman.
BOOM!
A loud explosion erupted, releasing a thick cloud of smoke that engulfed the arena.
Spectator:
"Where'd they go?!"
Out of the smoke, Mona struck fast—her blade slicing toward Flux's side. He stepped back, but not far enough.
Slice!
A shallow cut marked his arm. Blood seeped into his sleeve.
Now on the defensive, Flux gritted his teeth.
Flux thinking
"She's fast. Precise. If this continues, I'll be overwhelmed."
"I can't afford to hold back now."
He exhaled deeply, and silver light burst from his body as his aura flared to its peak.
Wind coiled around him, forming visible trails.
With a single step, he launched forward like a gale.
His sword howled as he swung again and again—forcing Mona onto the defensive.
She narrowed her eyes and tossed another talisman toward him, but Flux shifted aside in a whirl of wind, narrowly dodging the resulting blast.
Then Mona's expression changed.
She unleashed her full power.
A bone-chilling cold erupted from her core, coating the arena in frost. The stone tiles cracked under the sudden drop in temperature.
Now they clashed with full power—blades colliding at the heart of a storm.
Wind and ice exploded with each strike.
The audience leaned in, some trembling from the cold radiating beyond the barrier.
Flux's hat flew off mid-spin.
It landed at the edge of the arena.
The crowd gasped.
Spectator
"There! That's his real face again!"
Another whispering girl:
"He's so... beautiful..."
But Flux didn't even glance at the hat. He advanced with unwavering focus.
Mona flinched. Just for a heartbeat.
Flux didn't miss it.
With a burst of Qi, he delivered a fierce Whirling Crescent straight at her chest.
Mona barely managed to block, but the blow forced her back, her stance broken. She stumbled, struggling to regain her footing.
Flux didn't let up.
He pressed forward—strike after strike, wind slicing through the frost. Mona's defenses weakened with each clash. Cuts appeared across her arms and sides.
Blood trickled from her lip.
Still, she refused to retreat.
She parried, dodged, countered—but the pressure was too much.
Finally, her knees touched the arena floor.
She dropped her sword and lowered her head.
Mona"…I surrender."
---
Aftermath
"Winner—Flux!"
The crowd exploded into cheers and murmurs.
Spectators
"That was insane!"
"The intensity… they didn't even talk once!"
"Wind and frost! They clashed like rival forces of nature!"
"Is it weird that I'm just thinking about how handsome he looked when the hat flew off again?"
"He's strong and mysterious... I swear I'm joining his fan club."
The medical team rushed onto the stage and carefully carried Mona off to the recovery wing.
Flux quietly walked to the edge, picked up his hat, and dusted it off. He placed it back on his head and returned to the waiting room.
He sat down, breathing calmly.
Flux thinking
"I used too much Qi… nearly half my dantian is drained."
"If Mona hadn't flinched… I might've needed more than that."
He touched the brim of his hat.
"Did revealing my face really that good of a distract ? That's the second time now…"
"Maybe I should learn a technique that uses appearance as part of its effect?"
A faint smile touched his lips, then vanished just as quickly.
He leaned back and turned to watch the arena.
---
Later Matches
The second match featured Selina of the Crimson Vail Sect. Her techniques were aggressive, unpredictable, and wipe her opponent with her chain. She crushed her opponent in mere minutes.
The third match showcased Rai, the top inner disciple of the Iron Thunder Sect. Sparks of lightning danced along his arms as he battered his foe with blunt, thunderous strikes. The crowd roared as he stood victorious, a smirk on his face.
---
Healing Room – Mona
Mona sat quietly on the bed, bandages wrapped around her arms and ribs. A cold expression returned to her face.
The staff bowed slightly.
Medic"Lady Mona, we'll leave you to rest."
Mona flatly"…I want to be alone."
The staff exchanged glances, nodded, and left.
Once the door shut, silence filled the room.
Mona remained still for a moment. Then her expression changed.
Her cold eyes brightened into a gleam of excitement.
Mona "…Ahhhh… that fight was so good!"
She leaned back, grinning to herself.
"That Flux… he's beautiful, mysterious, deadly. Like a silent storm in human form."
"…He didn't even blink when I flinched. Ahhh—why is that so cool!?"
She hugged her pillow, kicking her feet slightly.
"I want a rematch…"