Abruptly, Nie Yang pulled back, shaken by the unsettling vision. "Illusions," he muttered under his breath, though the threat still lingered in his mind. "Do you think I won't kill you right here?" he growled, his voice filled with menace.
"You're smarter than your coward brother," Yan Jin replied coolly. "You won't do anything rash that could destroy all the years of work you've put into the tower."
Nie Yang's eyes narrowed. Yan Jin's unwavering calm was more provoking than any insult. In a flash, Nie Yang's aura shifted—vicious and deadly—and his hand shot out, gripping Yan Jin by the throat, lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"I may not be as despicable as Nie Li," Nie Yang sneered, tightening his grip, "but I am just as vicious. So tell me, will you give me what I want, or do I have to squeeze it out of you?"
Yan Jin's breathing became shallow under the pressure, but his expression didn't change. Even with Nie Yang's hand constricting his throat, his eyes remained locked, unflinching, as if the violence around him were nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Pfff!" Yan Jin spat a mouthful of blood onto Nie Yang's face. Furious and disgusted, Nie Yang let go for a moment to wipe his eyes, and in that instant, Yan Jin made a break for it. He grabbed Scara and bolted toward the door, but the power gap between them was too large.
Nie Yang, faster and stronger, reached out, grabbed the back of Yan Jin's head, and slammed it against the wall with brutal force, breaking Yan Jin's nose.
"You little shit," Nie Yang muttered, slamming his head against the wall again. And again.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Blood streamed down Yan Jin's face as his vision blurred, each hit making his world darker. Just as Nie Yang prepared to strike again, a powerful voice echoed through the room.
"Enough!" it commanded. In an instant, a single glowing purple eye ball appeared, seemingly materializing out of thin air, halting Nie Yang mid-strike.
Nie Yang paused, recognizing the eyes. "Why are you interfering in my business?" he spat, his fury still simmering.
"He holds a token from my master," the voice replied, its presence cool and authoritative. "You are not allowed to touch him."
His mind focused, Yan Jin walked briskly to the reception to find Lee Ann. She noticed his battered, bloodied face and hurried over, her eyes wide with concern.
"What happened to you?" she asked, staring at him in shock as she watched his injuries slowly healing before her eyes.
Yan Jin didn't break his stride. "I need you to do me a favor," he said, his voice calm but cold. "Schedule my promotion challenge for tomorrow."
Lee Ann hesitated for a second, sensing the weight of his words and the raw intensity in his tone. "Yes, of course," she replied, instinctively knowing that now was not the time to ask questions. Yan Jin clearly wasn't in a mood to explain what had transpired.
"Also," he added, stopping for just a moment to meet her gaze. "Find me a list of every Golden Warrior member in the tower—floor, rank, all of them."
Lee Ann's breath caught in her throat as she saw the smoldering fury in his eyes. "What are you going to do?" she asked, though a part of her already knew the answer.
"A bloodbath." Yan Jin's voice was icy, resolute. Without waiting for her response, he turned and walked away, the weight of his vengeance trailing behind him like a shadow.
As Yan Jin left, Lee Ann stood frozen for a moment, watching his retreating figure, her heart pounding
--
The news of the promotion match spread like wildfire. Yan jin's reputation as the super rookie that could fight veterans, and ascend the tower was enough to attract all the partisan to watch his promotion match.
The arena was a grand spectacle, an immense circular structure with towering stands that stretched high above the combat floor. Thousands of spectators filled the seats, eager to witness the much-anticipated promotional match.
The stage itself was made of hardened stone, reinforced by ancient runes to withstand the devastating clashes that often took place within. In the center was a pit of sand, an intimidating battlefield for the match against the Sand Crocodile, a vicious beast known for its near-impenetrable defenses and resistance to elemental attacks.
The atmosphere was electric. Banners of various divisions fluttered in the wind, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. Conversations swirled through the air as onlookers speculated about Yan Jin's chances against his formidable opponent. To them, the super rookie was walking into a fight against a creature designed to counter everything he excelled at.
The tension only added to the anticipation.