The young team leader was a well-trained tank. His skin lit up with a brilliant golden glow — like he was wrapped in armor made of pure gold. It was a unique and flexible defensive blessing.

At the same time, red marks spread across his body, and a dense, powerful Yang energy flared to life.

He pulled out a crimson spear that synced with that Yang. His empire's powerful physique, combined with that weapon, gave him a seriously scary offensive boost. That, along with his training and talent, was why he was known as the empire's top genius.

But...

Darian didn't even spare him a glance.

*BANG!*

A black fist full of killing intent slammed into him. Under that violent force, his golden defenses shattered completely — like a thin layer of fragile glass.

Everyone watching froze in shock. The tank's whole body trembled like he'd just been smashed in the chest by a massive hammer. Blood burst from his mouth uncontrollably.

Only afterward did people notice... there were black streaks in his blood.

"Poison! That support guy's using some kind of venomous dark power!" people quickly concluded, shocked.

*BANG!!!*

Darian didn't let up. He attacked again — and this time, the sound of breaking bones echoed terrifyingly through the arena.

The opponent was launched into the air, but Darian wasn't done. With a cold smile, he followed up instantly, grabbed the guy by the neck mid-air.

The young man trembled — his body looked paralyzed by some invading wicked force.

"You called me a clown earlier, didn't you? So what the hell does that make you?" Darian growled, staring him down. "Consider yourself lucky. I don't have time for trash."

His voice was low and heavy — then his fist moved…

*CRACK!*

The sound of bones snapping filled the dead-silent arena.

The right side of the guy's jaw exploded into a bloody mess, his bones and teeth shattered on impact.

He screamed in agony, then his body was flung off the stage, spinning wildly before slamming into the arena's barrier with a heavy crash.

The arena stayed locked in stunned silence.

Everyone stood wide-eyed, frozen — like their brains couldn't process what just happened.

It was too fast. Darian had moved... and hit like a freaking tsunami. In seconds, the most powerful group from the Aurora Coalition was crushed — thrown aside, bloodied and broken.

It didn't even last a minute... maybe thirty seconds? In that short time... one person... took out all the prodigies of an entire empire.

Those who mocked him, laughed, ignored him, didn't even look his way… were now totally speechless.

"H-How... is this real?" a younger military officer stared at Darian, unable to believe what he'd just seen.

"He only has two rings... and alone... he just wiped out all of them... instantly..."

The voice shaking like crazy came from a high-ranking officer of New Arcadia. His heart was pounding like mad, and his eyes were glued to Darian — like he was seeing some otherworldly being.

Everyone cheering for the Aurora Coalition had gone dead quiet. Their eyes were stuck on Darian — the same guy they laughed at and called a joke — who just casually sent all their prodigies flying like fallen leaves in a storm.

"Darian! Darian!! Darian!!! That's our empire's freakin' healer, you dumbasses!! Are you SEEING THIS?!"

New Arcadia's supporters finally snapped out of their shock. They shot to their feet, overwhelmed with emotion, yelling at the top of their lungs. Even people from the Red River Pact clan couldn't hold back their excitement.

All the mockery, all the humiliation, every ounce of shame — washed away in a flash. What replaced it was raw, burning pride that filled their hearts and spirits.

Now... who'd be stupid enough to look down on this one guy?

"That was... inspiring," Barod murmured in the VIP suite.

Udynes nodded. "What a monster... Darian really loves playing it small, just so he can hit 'em all with the shock of a lifetime."

"Alright then... hehehe!" Irana laughed, clearly hyped, then turned to her mother — the leader of their planet — who was standing right behind her.

"Those slaps in the face were loud. It's the first time I've seen something this refreshing! Everyone in the arena looks like they just swallowed crap or something... Oh? Mom, why do you look like that? Hehehe..."

Inside the VIP room, right behind those three… all six Earth emperors and the leaders of the three visiting planets were staring with the exact same shocked expressions as the crowd outside. That was supposed to be a healer?

Meanwhile, the five who had just lost were quickly treated. Their condition wasn't exactly light, but it wasn't fatal either. Honestly, the damage was way more psychological than physical.

They came to after taking a powerful pill, but didn't move — just sat there frozen, eyes locked on Darian still standing on the stage like he was some kind of ghost.

Darian hadn't even hit them that hard — if he had, their heads would've popped. Most of them hadn't even activated their rings in time, so they'd taken the full hit while defenseless.

A middle-aged high-ranking military officer from the Aurora Coalition checked the kids' injuries. Then suddenly turned and glared at Darian with killing intent in his eyes.

"Your heart is seriously twisted... This rookie tournament is supposed to be about honor and glory for all the empires. But you... you went and acted so damn cruel and unfair!!"

"Oh? What a joke. Dan, I told you you went way too soft. If you're not even more brutal, clowns like that are just gonna keep showing up," Niara muttered with a mocking tone.

Darian snorted. Then let out a cold laugh and said:

"They weren't even strong enough to help me warm up, and now I'm being blamed for hitting too hard? According to the rules your empires all agreed on, there's not a single line about holding back. Even if the guy had ended up half-dead — as long as he didn't die, I'd still be within the rules. Maybe instead of whining, you should blame yourselves for being so p... weak. Knowing your limits — and your enemy's — is just basic survival, isn't it?"

"You little—!"

That arrogant reply made the officer so furious his whole body started shaking. If this were anywhere else — anywhere at — he probably would've already attacked to kill.

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