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nMost of the Clouds living in the Hibye were standing or floating near the central arena.

nThey all wanted to see this warrior getting stomped out like a bug.

nEventually, it was time for the duel.

nEveryone waited with interested expressions as Lucin entered the arena.

n“Today, we will be holding one to three duels, depending on the outcome,” Lucin said. “Our first and maybe only duel will be between Cloud Erel and Cloud Shang.”

n“Shang, huh?” some of the onlookers muttered under their breath.

nSo, that was the name of the warrior.

nOf course, no one had ever heard of Shang.

n“Combatants, enter the arena,” Lucin commanded.

nA second later, Erel entered. He wore white and grey robes, his eyes and hair sharing a similar color scheme.

nIn any other place, Erel’s appearance would make him look like a once-in-a-century genius, and everyone would be able to tell that he was outstanding.

nBut here, he was just like anyone else.

nEveryone was outstanding.

nErel stepped into the several-kilometer-wide arena and waited on one end. Duels would start with both combatants on opposite sides of the arena.

nAnd then, it was Shang’s time to enter the arena.

nEveryone looked over at Shang with interest.

nShang was still using his Shroud to keep himself invisible from Spirit Senses due to habit, but Shroud didn’t work on even a single one of the Clouds. Even several of the High Mage Clouds could see through it.

nShang’s Shroud had been incredibly effective in the outside world, but here, it was useless.

nThe perception of all of these Clouds was just too insane.

nHowever, the Clouds were still intrigued by Shang.

nFirst of all, he didn’t have eyes, which was very unusual. Sure, there had been one guy that had also spent some time without eyes, but that had been only temporary to comprehend a Concept. If that person had entered battle, he would have regrown his eyes immediately.

nBut this warrior was entering a battle without eyes.

nWhy?

nWhat was the point?

nWas he so arrogant that he believed he didn’t need his eyes to win?

nBut his lack of eyes was not the only thing that intrigued everyone.

nThe other thing was his Aura.

nSure, everyone had very unique, colorful, and bright Auras here, but this warrior’s Aura was bright in a very unusual way.

nThere were plenty of outstanding Auras that cast a certain light on some people.

nSome people had this charismatic and confident Aura that made them seem like born leaders.

nSome people had this innate feeling of control around them, almost like they knew what everyone around them would do before even they knew what they would do.

nSome people had this dark and domineering Aura that made them seem like an ancient evil that had been asleep for thousands of years just to return and wreak havoc on the world.

nSome people had this heroic Aura of an extremely powerful hero chosen by the Mage God himself.

nThere were so many Auras, and all of them were outstanding and unique.

nBut Shang’s Aura was different.

nThe intensity of Shang’s Aura was just as strong as everyone else’s, but in contrast, it was like Shang’s Aura was empty.

nShang’s Aura was a very intense emptiness.

nHis Aura almost made it seem like the world around him was losing color and becoming grey.

nIt was like he was a corrupting influence on his surroundings.

nAll of this was just a mental image created by closely examining Shang’s Aura. Obviously, his Aura didn’t change the world around him or anything like that.

nIt was simply how his Aura portrayed him to be.

nAll in all, the Clouds felt like Shang’s Aura wasn’t human.

nThere was no charisma, hate, anger, friendliness, respect, disrespect, happiness, sadness, love, or anything human in his Aura.

nThere was just nothing.

nIt was like Shang had no capacity to feel emotions or make any coherent thoughts.

nIt was like he was just following his instincts like a mortal worm in the ground.

nHe didn’t know what he was doing or why he was doing it.

nHe was just doing it.

nAimless, thoughtless, brainless, goalless, emotionless.

nThis was how Shang appeared to everyone around him.

nThe Mages weren’t quite certain what they should think of him, but most of them still ended up looking down on him.

nHow did such a simple and aimless idiot enter the Hibye?

nWhat happened to the Lightning Manor?

nThis used to be a good place for only the strongest of Mages.

nLucin looked at Shang and Erel. “Are both of you ready?”

nSHING!

nErel summoned his Focus, which was taller than him and extremely ostentatious.

nThis Focus was probably incredibly expensive and powerful!

n“Ready,” Erel said emotionlessly.

nSHING! SHING!

nThen, two things appeared in Shang’s hands.

nIn Shang’s right hand was a huge and curved sword, his Addum.

nIn Shang’s left hand was a long and thin metal bar, his Subsis.

nThe Mages looked with interest at Shang’s weapons.

nThey could feel that Shang’s weapons were harder and more durable than Early Ancestral Beasts.

nFor the first time, the Mages were impressed by a warrior, but not due to his power.

nIt was just very strange and unreal to see someone on their level lift something that insanely heavy.

nThey couldn’t even attempt to lift something like that with their mind or body. It was just too brutally heavy.

nBut here, a warrior stood calmly in the middle of the arena while carrying two of these things.

nPowerful or not, Shang’s physical strength was very impressive to the Mages.

n“Ready,” Shang said.

nLucin nodded. “Then, Three…”

nErel’s Focus began to spin rapidly.

n“Two…”

nShang didn’t move.

n“One…”

nErel’s Focus sped up even more and began to shine in a bright light.

nAt the same time, Erel’s left hand moved through the air in front of him.

nThe world in front of him seemed to change.

nWaves spread out from him.

nThe wind slowed down and stopped at several places as time seemed to stop.

nThe snowflakes started to hover in the air without moving.

nThe world was stopping.

nAn irresistible feeling of age and destiny seemed to fill the arena.

nIt was like the end of times had approached.

nExistence was about to cease to matter.

nEternity in an instant.

nAnd as Erel’s Focus began to brighten, it seemed like the true end had approached.

nAn eternity in light.

nEverything is everywhere at the same time.

nPerception stopped being relevant as there was no change to perceive.

nEverything was everywhere.

n“Go!”

nAn impossibly bright light encompassed the arena.

nAll sight was taken from the onlookers along with their Spirit Sense.

nEverything was filled out with light, and their Spirit Senses stopped expanding.

nThey were blind.

nIt was impossible to perceive one’s surroundings.

nAnd then, all the Light was pulled into one tiny spot, so fast that only the Ancestral Mages could perceive it while it was happening.

nBOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

nThe barrier around the arena shook with incredible force.

nLucin took a deep breath in shock.

nThe Clouds were confused.

nThe warrior stood where Erel had once stood, covered in blood.

nBut where was Erel?

nWas this one of Erel’s Spells?

nWas he using Light to become invisible?

n“Winner: Cloud Shang,” Lucin said with a quiet voice.

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