The Obsidian Throne's Grand Coliseum pulsed with energy, its rune-carved stands packed with Higher Realm nobles clad in living armor. The air smelled of ozone and burning metal. At the center of the pitch, floating ten feet above the ground, hung the tournament bracket—written in fire.
Ibukun's name glowed beside Zyrax's.
***SYSTEM MISSION UPDATE***
**Event:** Qi Proving Tournament (Single Elimination)
**Primary Objective:** Reach Quarterfinals
**Secondary Objective:** Land 3+ "Qi-Infused Strikes"
**Reward:** 8,000 SP + "Boneforge Regeneration" Scroll
**Failure Penalty:** -20% Qi Absorption (1 Month)
Valentina materialized beside him in a swirl of shadow—her new Realm-walking ability courtesy of a warlord's favor.
*"Try not to die before I collect my broker fee,"* she murmured, adjusting her obsidian-ringed gloves.
---
### **The First Round: Trial by Lightning**
Opponent: **Kylthar the Stormborn (Academy Rank #42)**
The bell rang.
Kylthar moved like a hurricane, his feet leaving crackling afterimages. Ibukun's **Field Eye** (Mastery: 23%) barely tracked the first strike—a lightning-charged tackle that sent him tumbling.
***SYSTEM ALERT***
**Qi Disruption Detected:** Muscles spasming (-5% Reaction Speed)
But the System's training held.
- **Minute 12:** First "Qi-Infused Step" dodged a killing strike
- **Minute 34:** A "Thunder Strike" shot shattered Kylthar's guard (1/3 Qi Strikes Landed)
- **Minute 89:** Victory via **Field Eye** predicting a storm-dodge
The nobles murmured. Zyrax's eyes narrowed.
---
### **The Blood Quarterfinal**
Opponent: **Voryn Duskfang (Academy Rank #19)**
Voryn didn't bow. Just smirked and **vanished**.
The match was brutality distilled:
- **Dribbles Attempted:** 14
- **Dribbles Completed:** 2
- **Bones Broken (Ibukun):** 3 (Radius, 2 Ribs)
Yet in the 87th minute—
***FIELD EYE TRIGGER (Mastery: 31%)***
Ibukun **saw** the pattern. Voryn always blinked left after a feint.
The "Qi-Infused Strike" shattered his ankle.
**Final Score:** 1-0 (Overtime)
***MISSION COMPLETE***
**Rewards Claimed:** 8,000 SP + "Boneforge Regeneration"
**New Stat:** Qi Reserves 45 → 58
---
### **The Aftermath**
Krazith's voice boomed across the coliseum:
***"The mortal advances."***
Valentina handed Ibukun a bloodstained scroll—**"Realm Broker Contract."**
*"Sign. Now. Before they realize you're still just meat."*
The System's newest alert pulsed:
***NEXT TIER UNLOCKED***
**"Celestial Reflexes" (15,000 SP)**
**Requires:**
→ Qi Reserves 80+
→ Field Eye Mastery 50%
→ 1 Divine Blood Sacrifice (???
Jay-Jay's hologram flickered, his form now threaded with Qi.
*"You feel that? The game's changing."*
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