The underground arena trembled.
Ancient sword intent filled every corner of the battlefield.
Two young men stood facing each other.
One...
The child chosen by destiny.
The other...
The villain who challenged destiny itself.
High above them, the crimson Sword Emperor's Heart floated silently, illuminating the arena with a blood-red glow.
The Sword Emperor's voice echoed once more.
"No one may leave until a victor is decided."
"Fight!"
The moment the word fell—
BOOM!
Adrian moved first.
His sword shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
The techniques he had learned in the first trial flowed naturally.
Heavenly Sword Art — First Form: Flashing Horizon!
A silver sword arc split the air.
Knox didn't dodge.
He calmly raised his black sword.
CLANG!
The collision shook the arena.
A violent shockwave spread in every direction.
The ground beneath both of them cracked.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"He blocked it so easily..."
Knox looked almost bored.
"Too slow."
With a twist of his wrist—
BOOM!
Adrian was thrown backward, sliding dozens of meters before stopping himself.
Outside the sealed chamber...
Seraphina Luna stood before the barrier.
She continuously attacked it with her Moonlight Sword.
Slash!
Slash!
Nothing happened.
An elder from the Heavenly Dao Academy had also arrived.
He frowned.
"This barrier was created by the Sword Emperor himself."
"No one below the Saint Realm can break it."
Seraphina bit her lip.
"So we can only wait?"
The elder nodded.
"Their battle... must end on its own."
Inside the arena...
Adrian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He smiled.
"Again!"
He charged once more.
This time, his movements were faster.
Sharper.
More decisive.
The ancient soul inside his ring shouted,
"Excellent! Don't challenge him with strength!"
"Use your instincts!"
Adrian changed direction mid-attack.
His sword aimed directly at Knox's blind spot.
But—
Knox was already there.
Almost as if he had predicted the move.
CLANG!
Another perfect block.
Knox sighed.
"Your sword is improving."
"But your thoughts..."
"They're too easy to read."
Adrian's heart sank.
"Can he really see through everything?"
Suddenly—
Knox disappeared.
No...
He became one with the shadows.
Void Step.
The Heaven-Rank movement technique activated.
Adrian spun around.
Too late.
A cold blade rested lightly against his neck.
Knox stood behind him.
"If this were a real battle..."
"You'd already be dead."
Adrian clenched his fists.
His frustration exploded.
"I'M NOT FINISHED!"
A brilliant golden aura burst from his body.
The Sword Emperor's Heart responded.
Its crimson light poured into Adrian.
His cultivation surged.
Core Formation Realm!
The arena shook violently.
The Sword Emperor's voice laughed.
"Excellent!"
"Only under pressure does true talent awaken!"
[Ding!]
Protagonist Destiny has increased!
Warning: The protagonist has broken through during battle.
Mission Difficulty Increased.
Knox smiled instead of worrying.
"So..."
"This is how destiny fights back."
He slowly released more of his own aura.
Dark purple Void Energy surrounded him.
The temperature dropped instantly.
For the first time...
Adrian felt genuine fear.
Not because Knox looked angry.
Because he still looked calm.
Adrian roared.
Heaven-Cutting Sword Art!
Dozens of sword shadows descended like rain.
Each strike carried enough power to kill an ordinary Core Formation cultivator.
Knox finally moved.
His black sword traced a simple arc through the air.
No flashy technique.
No complicated movements.
Only one strike.
Void Sword Art — Silent End.
Everything became silent.
Even the sound of the clashing swords disappeared.
Then—
Every sword shadow shattered.
Adrian's attack vanished completely.
A thin cut appeared across his shoulder.
Blood flowed.
He had lost.
Again.
Adrian fell to one knee, breathing heavily.
His sword trembled in his hands.
Knox slowly approached.
He stopped only a few steps away.
"You've improved."
Adrian looked up.
"But..."
Knox continued,
"You still rely on destiny."
Adrian frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Knox pointed toward the floating Sword Emperor's Heart.
"Without that."
"Would you have broken through?"
Silence.
Adrian couldn't answer.
Because the answer was obvious.
No.
At that moment—
The Sword Emperor's Heart suddenly shook.
Its crimson light began flickering wildly.
Knox frowned.
"That's strange..."
The system immediately reacted.
[Warning!]
Unknown energy detected!
The Sword Emperor's Heart is being corrupted!
Cracks spread across the crystal.
A terrifying black mist leaked from within.
The Sword Emperor's voice changed.
Its calm tone became distorted.
"No..."
"It has awakened..."
A horrifying laugh echoed through the arena.
Not the Sword Emperor's.
Someone else's.
The black mist condensed into the figure of a man wearing ancient crimson armor.
His eyes burned with scarlet flames.
An overwhelming pressure crashed down upon both Knox and Adrian.
Even breathing became difficult.
The mysterious figure smiled.
"So..."
"I have finally awakened."
Knox's pupils contracted.
The system displayed a message unlike anything before.
[ERROR!]
Target Cannot Be Analyzed.
Threat Level: UNKNOWN.
Recommendation...
RUN.
For the first time since arriving in this world...
The Supreme Villain System told Knox to run.
The armored figure looked at the two young cultivators and laughed.
"Perfect."
"Two extraordinary bodies."
"One blessed by destiny."
"One blessed by the void."
He spread his arms.
"I shall take them both."
The entire tomb began collapsing.
Ancient formations shattered.
Outside the barrier, Seraphina's expression changed as she felt the terrifying aura.
"This pressure..."
"It isn't the Sword Emperor!"
Inside the arena, Knox tightened his grip on his sword.
Adrian stood beside him.
For the first time...
The hero and the villain faced the same enemy.
Knox glanced at Adrian.
"I don't like you."
Adrian snorted.
"The feeling is mutual."
Knox smirked.
"Good."
"Let's survive first."
"Then we can continue trying to kill each other."
Adrian couldn't help but smile despite the danger.
"Deal."
The armored figure took a single step forward.
The ground exploded beneath his feet.
The real battle...
Had only just begun.
End of Chapter 8