The Combat Simulation Chamber was a cathedral of glass and steel. Hundreds of students watched from the tiered balconies, their murmurs creating a low hum that filled the arena. Arthur stood in the center, his black suit pristine, his white hair falling over eyes that remained as calm as a frozen lake.
Across from him, Leo Helios was practically vibrating with golden energy. This wasn't just a spar; it was a reclamation of pride.
"Begin!" Director Vance's voice thundered.
Leo moved instantly. He was a Rank 3 (Core Awakening) – Peak Stage cultivator, and he didn't hold back. He channeled his Solar Root into a massive, concentrated beam of golden fire. "Solar Execution!"
The beam tore across the arena, melting the reinforced floor. Arthur didn't dodge. He didn't even raise his guard. In his mind, he whispered a single command: "D-3: Void Filter."
To the audience, Arthur simply reached out and caught the beam with his bare hand. There was no explosion, only a terrifying slurp sound, as if the universe was drinking the energy. The golden fire turned grey the moment it touched Arthur's palm and then vanished into nothingness.
"Is that all the Sun has to offer?" Arthur asked, his voice cutting through the silence.
Before Leo could react, Arthur was in front of him—not through speed, but by subtly folding the space between them (D-2). He tapped Leo's chest with two fingers. A jagged spark of grey lightning flickered.
The impact was silent but devastating. Leo's golden armor shattered. He was launched backward, crashing into the obsidian wall with such force that cracks spider-webbed across the entire stadium. He fell to the ground, unconscious, his Solar Qi completely drained.
Arthur adjusted his cuffs and looked at his hand. "It seems my lightning has a unique... grounding effect," he lied smoothly to the stunned Director.
Inside, he was already calculating. He had used less than 5% of his actual power, yet he had nearly killed a peak Rank 3. The world was small, and he was quickly outgrowing its walls.