Vergil caught the sword thrown by the guard and looked at Sierra.
“Let’s begin.”
For a brief moment, Sierra vanished from his vision.
Then she was suddenly in front of him.
Vergil barely had time to react before a sharp pain erupted from his abdomen.
The impact felt like being struck by a charging ram.
The breath exploded from his lungs as he was launched backwards, crashing heavily into the arena wall.
Aside from the initial impact, he felt little pain.
After breaking through to the Star Master Realm, his body had already surpassed the limits of a mortal physique.
The transformation was not even complete yet.
Vergil immediately pushed himself to his feet.
Sierra looked at him and said, “From your attitude, I thought you would at least be able to block that strike.”
Disappointment was evident in her voice.
“I see nothing has changed.”
Vergil neither argued nor tried to defend himself.
It was a fact.
He had failed to block her attack.
Besides, there was little point arguing with one’s owner.
Although he possessed far more freedom than most captives, he remained a slave.
His life ultimately depended on the whims of others.
Becoming a Star Master had not made him arrogant.
Within the cavern alone, the kidnappers possessed more than ten Star Master cultivators.
Compared to them, he was still weak.
“Again,” Vergil said.
This time, he paid close attention to the sand covering the arena floor.
Sierra vanished once more.
But she still left traces behind.
The disturbed sand revealed her path.
The moment the traces approached, Vergil swung his sword.
His timing was perfect.
Unfortunately, Sierra simply caught the blade with one hand.
The sword was of fine quality by mortal standards, but it was still only a mortal weapon.
Against cultivators above the Apprentice Realm, such a blade could not even pierce their skin.
Vergil immediately activated the new ability he had gained after advancing to the Star Master Realm.
Inner energy surged through his body and flooded into the sword.
Sierra released the blade at once.
Vergil stepped forward and slashed.
Compressed sword energy wrapped around the blade, greatly increasing its power.
The strike landed.
Sierra crossed her arms and blocked it head-on.
Her inner energy protected her skin from being cut, but the force behind the attack still pushed her backwards several steps, widening the distance between them.
For the first time, a trace of surprise appeared in her eyes.
Vergil did not hesitate.
He unleashed his new ability repeatedly.
Sword Energy.
Wave after wave of compressed sword energy shot toward Sierra.
The ability allowed him to release sword energy even without a weapon.
Anything could become a sword in his hands.
A finger.
A hammer.
A leaf.
Anything capable of carrying his intent could be used to launch sword energy.
However, when channelled through an actual sword, the power of the technique doubled.
Sword arcs tore through the air one after another, forcing Sierra to defend continuously.
At the same time, Vergil felt his inner energy draining rapidly.
He silently calculated the consumption.
I can use this ability around twenty times before exhausting my reserves.
Another sword arc flew toward Sierra.
He narrowed his eyes.
I wonder if the consumption remains the same when I use it without a sword.
That was something he would have to test later.
Vergil continued attacking, using Sword Energy repeatedly to keep Sierra at a distance.
He never believed he could defeat her.
He had only recently entered the Star Master Realm, specifically the First Level, which was considered part of the Entry Realm.
The First and Second Levels formed the Entry Realm, where Star Masters gradually became familiar with their newfound power.
The Third and Fourth Levels belonged to the Middle Realm.
The Fifth and Sixth Levels were the Late Realm.
The Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Levels were collectively known as the Peak Realm.
Beyond that stood the Ultimate Star Master Realm.
Vergil estimated Sierra to be either a Late Realm or Peak Realm Star Master.
In either case, the difference between them was overwhelming.
He could not defeat her.
Sierra did not even bother using a weapon.
She casually blocked every incoming sword energy attack with her inner energy alone.
After deflecting another strike, she asked,
“A new ability?”
Vergil understood what she meant.
Abilities were normally kept secret.
Once an opponent learned the details of an ability, they could formulate specific counters against it.
Unfortunately, he was not a free man.
Concealing his ability would only create suspicion.
And suspicion from his owners rarely ended well.
Furthermore, the past year of training had taught him an important lesson.
Enduring pain was preferable to attracting attention.
More importantly, the Mercury City Gladiator Competition was only a few months away.
During the past month, he had learned far more about the event.
The competition was hosted by the Mystic Silver Clan.
The clan belonged to a branch of humanity whose ancestor had reached the Saint Realm and altered the bloodline itself.
As a result, only daughters were born within the clan.
To continue their lineage, they selected outstanding males from outside families.
The gladiator competition existed for that purpose.
The most exceptional competitors would be chosen by the Mystic Silver Clan.
Others would be recruited by powerful academies, noble forces, merchant organisations, and high-realm cultivators searching for talented disciples.
For Vergil, the tournament represented something far more valuable than prestige.
Freedom.
If a powerful force selected him, he might finally escape slavery.
Therefore, he could not afford to anger Almus or Sierra over something as simple as a hidden ability.
“Sword Energy,” Vergil answered honestly.
“Even without a sword, I can release sword energy attacks.”
“If I use an actual sword, the power doubles.”
Sierra nodded.
Then she attacked.
Vergil raised his sword and defended.
Clang!
The impact nearly numbed his arms.
Again.
Clang!
Again.
Clang!
Every exchange felt as though he were striking an iron wall.
Sierra’s body was reinforced by inner energy to an absurd degree.
No matter how perfectly his attacks landed, they failed to inflict meaningful damage.
The gap between them was simply too large.
The spar continued until Vergil exhausted every last drop of inner energy within his body.
Only then did Sierra finally lower her guard.
“The test is over.”
Vergil breathed heavily and lowered his sword.
Sweat soaked his clothes.
His energy reserves were completely empty.
Yet despite his exhaustion, satisfaction lingered within him.
At the very least, he now possessed a rough understanding of his new strength.
Neither Vergil nor Sierra noticed that two figures had been observing the entire battle from a concealed viewing platform high above the arena.
One was Almus.
The other wore a dark hood that concealed his features entirely.
The hooded man watched the empty arena silently for several moments before speaking.
His voice was hoarse and rough.
“I want him.”
Almus glanced sideways.
“How much?”
The hooded man remained silent for a moment before naming a price.
Far below, completely unaware of the conversation determining his future, Vergil returned to the residential district.
The moment he arrived, Aaron, Basil, Damien, Gregory, and many others gathered around him.
Congratulations echoed from every direction.
After all, he had become the first member of their generation to break through to the Star Master Realm.
Eventually, after enduring the flood of questions and praise, Vergil finally escaped back to the privacy of his room.
The door closed behind him.
Silence returned.
Vergil sat down on the edge of his bed and closed his eyes.
His consciousness descended into his Soul Space.
It was finally time to examine the changes his breakthrough had brought properly.
The familiar space appeared before him.
Four Skill Seeds floated silently within the darkness.
Vergil’s gaze immediately settled on the Visualisation Skill Seed resting at the very centre of his Soul Space.
A faint frown appeared on his face.
“Is it just me, or is the Visualisation Seed shining brighter than before?”
Curious, he extended his mental power toward it.
The moment his consciousness touched the seed, a stream of information flowed directly into his mind.
A new ability.
Self-Analysis.
The ability allowed him to examine himself and receive detailed information similar to the status panels from the games of his previous life.
Vergil’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Without hesitation, he activated the ability.
Name: Vergil
Race: Human
Age: 17 / 122
Realm: Star Master (Level 1 – Entry Realm)
Life Force: Healthy
Inner Energy: 5 / 100
Mental Power: 127 / 127
Combat Rating: Tier 1 Star Master
Skill Seeds:
Visualisation Seed ★ (Damaged)
Rank: Star Seed
Abilities:
• Perfect Memory
• Accelerated Comprehension
• Self-Analysis
Origami Seed
Rank: Skill Seed
Abilities:
• Paper Manipulation
• Shared Vision
• Paper Explosion
Sword Seed ★
Rank: Star Seed
Abilities:
• Sword Energy
• Water Wave Sword Technique
• Chaos Water Wave Sword Technique
• Water Cut
• Chaos Water Lion
Boxing Seed
Rank: Skill Seed
Abilities:
• Rock Wolf Howl
Techniques:
Water Wave Sword Technique
Mastery: 100%
Chaos Water Wave Sword Technique
Mastery: 100%
Rock Wolf Boxing Technique
Mastery: 100%
Paper Creation
Mastery: 64%
Anatomy
Mastery: 68%
Painting
Mastery: 84%
Vergil studied the information carefully.
The first thing that drew his attention was his lifespan.
When he had arrived at the underground camp, he had been sixteen years old.
Now he was seventeen and would turn eighteen within a few months.
Yet according to the status screen, he still had more than a century remaining.
One hundred and five years.
And that number would continue increasing as his cultivation advanced.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
This was one of the few moments when he genuinely felt happy.
His goal had never been to become the strongest cultivator.
Nor had it been fame, glory, or conquest.
Even his desire to lie flat was often misunderstood.
He did not want to lie flat for a few decades.
He wanted to lie flat forever.
After all, reincarnation clearly existed.
He was living proof.
If he died, there was no guarantee he would awaken his memories again in the next life.
Perhaps he would be reborn in an ordinary mortal world.
Perhaps he would lose all memory of this life.
Perhaps he would never touch extraordinary power again.
Vergil hated uncertainty.
Therefore, he only saw one true solution.
Eternal life.
Only immortality could guarantee that he would never have to start over again.
His gaze moved downward.
Inner Energy.
Mental Power.
He glanced over them briefly before continuing.
Then his attention shifted toward the Skill Seeds.
The Visualisation Seed had already advanced to Star Rank, yet the status panel displayed a single troubling word.
Damaged.
Vergil frowned.
That meant he still had not witnessed the full potential of the seed.
Something about the Visualisation Seed remained incomplete.
Perhaps it had been damaged before he was even born.
Or perhaps it had suffered damage during his reincarnation.
Either way, it represented untapped potential.
Next came the Origami Seed.
Three abilities.
Only three.
Vergil immediately noticed the pattern.
Both of his Star Seeds possessed significantly more developed structures than his ordinary Skill Seeds.
If he could unlock one more ability related to Origami, the seed might advance into an Origami Star Seed.
His attention then shifted toward the Sword Seed and Boxing Seed.
Neither displayed any obvious abnormalities.
Finally, he examined the mastery section.
Paper Creation: 64%.
His eyes lingered there for several moments.
If Paper Creation reached one hundred per cent mastery, there was a good chance he would gain another ability.
And if that happened, the Origami Seed might finally evolve.
After that, his gaze shifted toward Painting.
Eighty-four per cent.
Only sixteen per cent remained before it reached complete mastery.
Considering how rapidly his comprehension speed had increased after advancing to Star Master, he doubted the remaining progress would take very long.
A Painting Skill Seed would significantly strengthen his future plans for Origami.
The ability to create lifelike appearances, colours, and details would greatly enhance his paper creations.
After memorising every detail on the status panel, Vergil slowly withdrew his consciousness from the Soul Space.
His exhausted body relaxed against the bed.
The breakthrough, the battle with Sierra, and the constant mental calculations had drained him completely.
Within minutes, sleep claimed him.
For the first time since becoming a Star Master, Vergil slept with a faint smile on his face.
The following morning, he woke before dawn.
After washing and eating breakfast, he left the residential district and headed toward one of the training caves near the edge of the underground town.
The moment he entered the quiet cavern, he took out paper, ink, and a brush.
Then he resumed his daily routine.
Painting.
Origami.
Painting.
Origami.
His brush moved steadily across the paper as he studied proportions, shadows, and anatomy.
Whenever he completed a painting, he folded the paper into various creations, experimenting with the interaction between his Painting and Origami Skills.
Meanwhile, elsewhere within the town, Sierra entered Almus’s office.
The young noble stood beside a large window overlooking the settlement below.
Workers moved through the streets while stone buildings continued rising throughout the expanding underground town.
In only a few months, the settlement would officially open to the public.
Sierra approached and stopped beside him.
“I heard you found buyers for the mediocre ones.”
Almus continued looking outside.
“Yes.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“The Hell Blood Tower recently discovered a Secret Land.”
Sierra’s eyes narrowed slightly.
A Secret Land.
Those isolated pocket spaces were treasures coveted by countless factions.
They often contained rare resources, inheritances, cultivation materials, and ancient ruins.
But they were equally notorious for consuming lives.
Every opportunity came accompanied by danger.
“The Hell Blood Tower wants cannon fodder to explore it,” Almus continued.
“So, apart from the best prospects, I sold the rest.”
Sierra nodded.
That sounded exactly like the Hell Blood Tower.
To them, expendable cultivators were merely resources.
“When are they leaving?” she asked.
“In a week.”
Sierra silently calculated the remaining training schedule.
“I’ll start making preparations.”
She turned to leave but paused halfway to the door.
One final question remained.
“What about Vergil?”
Almus shifted his gaze from the town below.
“The Deputy Chief of the Hell Blood Tower wanted him.”
Sierra’s expression tightened slightly.
“So?”
Almus smiled faintly.
“I declined.”
That answer surprised her.
Almus rarely rejected profitable offers.
“I found a better buyer.”
Sierra remained silent, waiting.
“The Spider Elves.”
For the first time during the conversation, genuine emotion flashed across Sierra’s eyes.
The Spider Elves.
One of the most influential races in the Underground Realm.
Powerful.
Wealthy.
Dangerous.
“What are their conditions?” she asked.
“They’ll watch his performance during the first Mercury City competition.”
“The final price will depend on the results.”
Sierra slowly nodded.
The arrangement made perfect business sense.
Vergil was talented enough to attract attention.
If he performed well, his value would increase dramatically.
Yet instead of satisfaction, an uncomfortable feeling settled in her chest.
Part of her felt relieved.
The Spider Elves possessed immense resources and could provide opportunities that even the Hell Blood Tower could not.
But another part of her felt strangely disappointed.
Because unlike human academies or noble families, the Spider Elves never purchased talented humans for freedom.
Anything they bought became property.
Permanently.
If the Spider Elves acquired Vergil, his chances of ever becoming a free man would become nearly nonexistent.
For several moments, Sierra remained silent.
Then she turned and walked toward the door.
Neither she nor Almus noticed the irony.
While they discussed his future value like merchants negotiating over livestock, Vergil sat quietly inside a distant cave.
Completely unaware that powerful factions were already competing to purchase him.
His entire focus remained on a single brush stroke.
One step closer to completing his Painting mastery.
One step closer to strengthening his Origami Seed.
One step closer to freedom.