Chapter 375: Shadows and Rot

Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Shadows and Rot

Damon watched from the dugout entrance.

Mio was already at the edge of the dugout, the Voidpiercer Bow in her hands.

The bow hummed with spatial energy, its dark wood absorbing the light around it.

"Ready?" Damon asked.

Mio grinned. "Born ready."

She stepped onto the arena floor.

The bandaged figure stopped moving as she approached.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Begin."

The figure lunged.

Mio didn’t move.

She raised the Voidpiercer Bow and released an arrow.

The arrow vanished mid-flight.

It reappeared three inches from the figure’s chest, phasing through the decay aura like it didn’t exist.

The figure twisted aside, but the arrow grazed its shoulder.

Grey mist erupted from the wound.

Mio was already nocking another arrow. She fired three more in quick succession.

Each arrow vanished and reappeared at different angles. One from the left. One from above. One from below.

The figure blocked two with its arms, but the third pierced its thigh.

It stumbled.

The decay aura flickered.

Mio didn’t let up.

She drew the bowstring back, channeling void energy into the arrow. The arrow streaked across the arena, leaving a trail of spatial distortion.

The figure raised both hands, grey mist surging to meet the attack.

The arrow punched through the mist like paper. It struck the figure’s chest and exploded.

The bandaged figure flew backward, crashing into the barrier.

It didn’t get up.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Azure Dragon Sect leads. Two to zero."

Mio lowered her bow and walked back to the dugout.

Damon met her at the entrance.

"Nice shooting."

Mio grinned. "The bow makes it easy."

"The bow doesn’t aim itself."

Mio’s cheeks flushed.

The third Nameless fighter entered the arena.

This one was different.

No bandages. Just a man in grey robes with hollow eyes and a sword made of bone.

The decay aura around him was denser than the others.

Damon turned to Mia.

"Your turn."

Mia stepped forward, the Nightshade Fang daggers appearing in her hands.

She didn’t say anything.

She just walked onto the arena floor.

The hollow-eyed man watched her approach.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Begin."

The man attacked first.

He swung the bone sword, releasing a wave of grey energy that spread across the arena floor.

Mia vanished.

The wave passed through empty air.

The man’s hollow eyes darted around, searching.

Mia appeared behind him.

Her daggers struck his back, but the decay aura flared, deflecting the blades.

The man spun and swung his sword.

Mia vanished again.

She reappeared to his left, then his right, then above him.

Each time, her daggers struck different angles. Each time, the decay aura held.

The man growled and slammed his foot into the ground.

Grey mist exploded outward in all directions.

Mia appeared at the edge of the arena, her daggers crossed. The mist was spreading fast.

Damon watched from the dugout.

’She needs to break through the aura. Not go around it.’

He sent a message through the communication ring.

’Mia. The aura is tied to his dantian. Strike there.’

Mia’s eyes flickered toward the dugout.

Then she vanished again.

The man raised his bone sword, ready for her.

But Mia didn’t appear behind him. She appeared directly in front of him.

Her daggers plunged into his stomach. The decay aura flared, trying to push her back.

But Mia had already activated the Shadow Sovereign Art.

Darkness flowed from her body, wrapping around the daggers and pushing through the aura.

The man’s eyes widened.

Mia twisted the daggers. The man fell to his knees, grey mist leaking from his wound.

Mia pulled the daggers free and stepped back. The man collapsed face-first onto the arena floor.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Azure Dragon Sect leads. Three to zero."

Mia walked back to the dugout without looking back.

Damon smiled.

"Clean work."

Mia nodded, her cheeks slightly pink.

The fourth Nameless fighter entered. This one was different.

A woman with grey hair and a staff made of bone.

Her decay aura was the strongest yet.

Damon turned to Seraphina.

"Your turn."

Seraphina stepped forward, the Tempest Azure Blade in her hand.

She walked onto the arena floor with calm, measured steps.

The grey-haired woman raised her staff.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Begin."

The grey-haired woman slammed her staff into the ground.

Grey mist erupted in a dome around her, covering half the arena.

Seraphina didn’t retreat.

She raised the Tempest Azure Blade and activated the Azure Dragon Bloodline.

Wind and lightning swirled around her, forming a barrier of azure energy.

The grey mist hit the barrier and stopped.

It couldn’t penetrate.

The grey-haired woman’s eyes widened.

Seraphina stepped forward.

She swung the Tempest Azure Blade.

A crescent of azure wind and lightning shot forward, cutting through the mist like a hot knife through butter.

The grey-haired woman raised her staff to block.

The crescent sliced through the staff and struck her chest.

She flew backward, crashing into the barrier.

She didn’t get up.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Azure Dragon Sect leads. Four to zero."

Seraphina lowered her blade and walked back to the dugout.

Damon nodded.

"Good work."

Seraphina smiled.

The fifth Nameless fighter entered.

A massive man with grey skin and fists like boulders.

His decay aura was raw and uncontrolled, leaking from every pore.

Damon turned to Flare.

"Your turn."

Flare grinned.

She stepped onto the arena floor, the Inferno Phoenix Blade in her hand.

The massive man roared and charged.

Flare raised her blade. Fire erupted around her, forming a phoenix of golden-crimson flame.

The man’s decay aura met the flames and sizzled.

It couldn’t hold.

Flare swung her blade.

The phoenix shot forward, engulfing the man in a pillar of fire.

He screamed as he collapsed, charred and unconscious.

Grand Marshal Vane raised his hand.

"Azure Dragon Sect leads. Five to zero."

Flare walked back to the dugout, her grin wide.

"Too easy."

Damon smiled.

The sixth Nameless fighter entered.

A thin man with a scythe made of bone.

His decay aura was different. More focused. More precise.

Damon turned to Lumina.

"Your turn."