Agony tears through me and I let out a ragged groan.
From the impact point, more ice forms atop my chest. He’s trying to distract me as he backs away, but I notice his strategy immediately.
My shadows move forward and wrap around his feet, then his wrists and finally his throat.
He struggles against the binds and I know that with my current control over my shadows, I won’t be able to hold this restraint for much longer.
But it’s enough for another blow.
My forehead slams into his nose with a sickening crack and he staggers back.
I tear free the shadow wrapped around his throat and drive it hard across his eyes instead, blinding him for one crucial heartbeat.
Then I drive my fist straight through the frost coating his sternum.
The ice shatters with a loud, sharp sound.
Bone follows, cracking under pressure.
Serrik’s body jerks. His mouth opens in silent shock as blood spills over his lips, steaming in the freezing air. His wound attempts to heal, but his energy is too low. Just to make sure he won’t suddenly rebound, I push my hand into the hole in his chest and yank his heart out.
He collapses, and the storm begins to die with him.
I stand there in the center of the ruined frozen battlefield, chest heaving, bruised and bloodied and half-covered in frost.But even as I feel close to crumbling, I still find the energy to harvest some soul particles.
The crowd beyond the barrier erupts in shocked gasps at Serrik’s defeat.
I tune everything out as I pull the particles over to me, careful so no one sees me ingesting them. At this level, five particles of soul energy form a massive sphere in my lower dantian—bigger than anything before—now just waiting to be absorbed.
I smile to myself. Little by little, soul by soul, I will get to a place where I won’t have to worry about being bested byanyone.
Of course, the first name that comes into mind is Lis.
Just how much would I have to improve to be on her level?
I have no answer to that question. I know she’s strong, but I don’t think I’ve seen the full extent of her strength before.
The arena collapses around me in a rush of crimson light.
The cold and wind vanish. The fractured ice, the storm, the blood steaming on frozen stone—all of it tears apart and folds inward until the world snaps violently back into place.
I reappear before the obelisk breathing hard. Frost still clings to my clothes and skin but it melts in rivulets down my arms the moment it meets the default heat of Aimaxion.
The crowd around the square murmurs in approval as they stare at me, some curious, some defiant.
This new stage of Aimaxion will likely bring on more hardships…more foes. Now that everyone can see me fight—see me as a threat—things will only get worse. And for that I need to prepare even more.
My name flashes across the stone.
Winner: Nykander v’Kyro; +17 Ascension Points; Total Ascension Points: 420
I barely have time to register it before Moe rushes toward me.
“Nyk!” She throws her arms around my neck, nearly knocking me backward. “You did it.”
“Of course I did,” I mutter, though my voice comes rougher than intended as I wrap an arm around her waist. My ribs protest immediately, though, as the wounds are slow to heal now that my energy is almost spent. “I promised you, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” she says, smiling up at me. “You did.”
