Chapter 8: wildclash tournament (part one).
Finally, we were here -THE WILD CAPITAL.
The outer walls of the third class city was just like I imagined. There were different races here, corpses of different races filled the streets. The weak races sold magic items for Dao coins, while the stronger race got ready to enter the capital.
Old man Morik told veyl and I to wait at an old tavern while he got us match passes. I watch him leave the tarvern, turns out I couldn't go with him the passes were being sold by the seekers clan which has the ability to see through illusions and disguise.
The tavern was dim and smelled of sour ale. Broken lanterns swayed from the beams, their flames guttering, casting long shadows across the crooked tables. A few mercenaries sat hunched in the corner, whispering over a blood-stained map. In another corner, a cloaked figure plucked at a stringed instrument, the sound discordant, unsettling.
Veyl leaned across the table, fingers drumming idly. "You know," he whispered, "the Seekers don't just sell passes. They are one of the judges in first class City, their abilities to see past illusion and deception gives them a level of authority few dared to challenge rumors had it that once judged guilty... you vanish. No one speaks of where they take you."
I smiled. looking at the weird ale in front of me.
Veyl smirked. "tastes better than it looks ." he said.
"Really???". I asked.
Adjusting my disguise, why the hell is this thing itchy I thought it was supposed to be magic.
"Yh go ahead it tastes really nice..." A weird creature added. "though not hundred percent."
I let the silence stretch, though my eyes kept drifting to the door Morik had disappeared through. Minutes bled into an hour. Each face that entered the tavern made my grip tighten on the hilt of my blade. The atmosphere was different here — heavy. Everyone moved with purpose, as if waiting for something inevitable to erupt.
At last, Veyl broke the tension with a low chuckle. "Tell me, Li Fen… what's your plan when the Wild Clash begins?
He asked.
I met his gaze, calm but steady. "i don't know how strong I am or my limits but so far no one has been able to last 50 moves from me". I said reassuring.
Before Veyl could respond, the tavern door creaked open. A group of cloaked figures stepped in, their eyes glimmering faintly in the gloom. The room grew quiet, as if the walls themselves feared them.
"Seekers," Veyl whispered, his grin tightening. "Looks like our old man is taking too long."
I adjusted my disguise and drank the awful tasting ale. And reached into the void to get my schyte.
The seekers asked the bartender some questions and walked out. Phew after hearing what veyl said about these races I have to keep my guards high
Soon after morik came in with the passes. I had to sign as the advocate for both morik and veyl.
I still had some doubt in my powers.
And also I won't be using my death law. As it would bring much attention.
But I already have a way to go about that, since I still have some highlights linked to the incomplete law of death.
We all walked out of the bar. I could feel eyes staring at me. I kept my cool and walked out.
We got to the tournament grounds. And showed our passes to the seekers. After confirmation I was assigned my opponents.
One was from an unidentified race. he was for morik's entrance.
Next was an undead. For veyl.
And the last was Prime Aris.
A prodigy from the celestial God race.
After veyl realized who I was going to take on he was left with wide eyes. And so was morik. I had a feeling the first two would be easy.
"You must be something huh" . A passerby said to me.
His eyes were empty filled with void, his face was gloomy, he had lost his smile.
" Nah.. just a normal contestant. " I said.
The passerby stopped, his boots scraping against the dusty floor. For a moment, he didn't move, only turned his head slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face. His skin was pale — not from fear, but from something colder.
"You should quit while you can," he said. His voice carried the weight of memory, not advice. "The Wild Clash isn't a stage for the living… it's where the living get mistaken for the dead."
He walked away before I could reply, disappearing into the crowd like smoke in a storm.
Veyl snorted. "What's his problem?"
Morik only sighed. "He wasn't warning you, boy… he was remembering."
We moved deeper into the tournament grounds. The air vibrated with energy, the roars of beasts and men blending into one. Stands of obsidian stone curved high above, packed with spectators from every race. Floating platforms shimmered across the arena, each glowing faintly — the battlefields for the first round.
Names were being called. Screams of victory and agony echoed from other matches.
Then mine came.
"Kull from the inner wild". That was my secret ID.
A hush fell over our section.
Veyl gave a crooked grin. "Fifty moves, huh? Guess we'll see."
I smirked, stepping forward. My hand brushed the air, and the faint shimmer of death energy coiled around my fingers before vanishing — hidden, restrained.
The gate opened, light spilling out like a challenge.
My opponent stood there already waiting. Tall, radiant, his very presence bending the air around him. Feathers of silver light shimmered behind his back. Prime Aris — the prodigy from the Celestial God race.
His gaze met mine, calm and absolute. He gave me a creeping smile and looked away.
"I don't like that smile," I whispered, fingers tightening on my schyte.
The arena was vibing with life, I raised my head to see veyl gloomy. He must be worried sick.
I smiled, after learning that my opponents weren't the average wild beast I fought to get here, my ego was being taunted
Again morik was nowhere to be found. I looked around but couldn't find him, I took a deep breath.
At that moment I saw a seeker walking out of a room following him behind morik.I looked towards him and managed to get his attention he signalled me that it was alright.
I sighed and focused on the ungoing match.