What Jin Yu saw stunned him into silence.

  Before him stood a massive building, illuminated by a glowing blue crystal that bathed the space in an eerie, mystical light.

  A towering spectator stand stretched high above, packed with valiant men of all shapes and sizes.

  Their faces were burning with excitement as they roared and cheered, their voices merging into a thunderous, heart-pounding chorus.

  At the center of it all was a colossal fighting ptform, carved from a strange, dark stone that looked unbreakable. The sheer hardness of it sent a chill down Jin Yu’s spine.

  In the ptform, two warriors cshed with bone-shaking force, their strikes splitting the air like thunder.

  He was a tall, broad-shouldered man, his frame dense with hard-earned muscle rather than sheer size. His skin was darkened from years of battle, rough and scarred, each faded mark a testament to countless wars.

  His sweat-soaked hair hung in thick locks, swaying with every movement. With each breath, his broad chest rose and fell like a caged beast preparing to pounce.

  He fought like a war god, his fists crashing down like iron clubs, each blow capable of breaking bones and shattering defenses.

  His opponent was his stark opposite. Lean but deadly, he moved with the fluid grace of a serpent, his muscles coiled and precise.

  Long, bck hair tied into a high ponytail, followed behind him with every dodge and counter. His deep, bck eyes gleamed coldly under the eerie blue light, tracking his enemy with unnerving focus.

  A fresh wound carved across his colrbone, staining his tattered robes with red, yet he remained unshaken. Where the brute wielded raw power, he was like a swift and merciless bde.

  Every strike of his was like dancing between life and death.

  The brute let out a roar and swung his meaty fist like a hammer. The air trembled as his knuckles connected with the lean man's ribs

  Crack!

  A sickening crack echoed through the hall. The impact sent the lean fighter skidding backward, his boots screeching against the stone. He staggered, his breathing sharp, but his expression didn’t waver. Instead, he smirked, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips.

  Then he struck back.

  Like a shadow, he darted forward, ducking under another incoming punch. His knee shot up

  BAM!

  burying itself deep into the brute’s abdomen. The tall man let out a pained grunt, spit flying from his lips, but before he could react, a sharp elbow smashed against the side of his head.

  BAM!

  His body lurched sideways, his vision momentarily blurring.

  But he didn’t go down.

  Instead, he growled, his massive arm snapping out like a whip. He grabbed the lean fighter by the waist and lifted him clean off the ground. Muscles flexed, veins bulged, and with an earth-shaking

  BOOM!

  He smmed the man onto the stone ptform like a ragdoll.

  The crowd erupted.

  "YAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

  Jin Yu winced as he heard the impact of a gruesome mix of crunching bones and the heavy sp of flesh against rock.

  The lean fighter coughed violently, spitting blood onto the ground, but his eyes burned with a dangerous glint.

  With gritted teeth, he gripped the brute’s wrist and twisted his body, using the momentum to break free. Then, with the grace of a striking viper, he spun and drove his heel straight into the brute’s temple.

  BAM!

  The force sent the rger man reeling. His massive frame swayed, but he steadied himself, grinning through bloodied teeth.

  This wasn’t just a fight, this was war.

  Jin Yu’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched, completely absorbed. He had never seen such raw, brutal combat before. Every strike was meant to maim, every movement calcuted to destroy.

  Their movements were raw and unrestrained, and their fists, heavy and ruthless, collided against flesh and bone with devastating force.

  Blow after blow, they struck, kicked, and smmed each other into the unforgiving stone, and threw each other across the stage, their bodies crashing against the bck rock with heavy, gut-wrenching thuds, each impact echoing like a war drum.

  Thud!

  Thud!

  Each successful strike sent the crowd into a frenzy. The cheers grew louder, shaking the entire building like an earthquake. The sheer energy in the room was suffocating.

  Jin Yu’s heart pounded wildly in his chest. He winced at every bone-crushing hit, his skin prickling with chills as if he could feel the blows himself. This wasn’t like the refined combat he had read about, this was wild and unforgiving, a fight where brute strength ruled.

  If I took a single hit of that… would I even survive?

  He thought he dread.

  Yet, despite the lingering fear, something else stirred deep within him. As he watched with bated breath, an unexpected thrill coursed through his veins.

  The sheer power, the merciless force of the fighters, it was overwhelming and intoxicating.

  Before he realized it, he had moved forward, drawn to the iron chain bridge that connected the stands to the stage. His hands gripped the railing as he leaned in, eyes gleaming with excitement.

  Such brute force. Such ferocity!

  His blood boiled with excitement.

  "First time here?"

  A light voice snapped him out of his daze.

  Annoyed at the interruption, he turned to see a young man, probably in his early twenties, with a seemingly honest expression.

  His muscur build was hard to ignore, and his firm and toned skin gleamed faintly under the blue light.

  “Yes.” Jin Yu replied, his gaze lingering on the man with suspicion.

  The world taught me to be wary of honest looking people, they'll deceive you before you even realize.

  “Lu Yucheng,” the young man introduced himself before shifting his attention back to the fight.

  “Jin Yu.”

  Jin Yu gave a curt reply and turned back as well. He wasn’t about to let some stranger ruin his moment.

  Lu Yucheng hummed in acknowledgment, then suddenly froze. His body stiffened before he whipped his head back to Jin Yu.

  “Wait, what?!”

  Jin Yu frowned at the sudden reaction. “What?”

  His irritation grew when he saw the man’s bewildered expression. What’s wrong with this guy? Why does he keep distracting me?

  “You’re surnamed Jin? And even Yu?! Wait, you’re Jin Yu?, as in the Young Master of the Jin family?!”

  Jin Yu’s gre darkened. What’s with this fool?

  “So what? Am I such a big deal that you have to act like you’ve seen a ghost?” he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

  “Whoa, whoa, calm down. That’s not it…” Lu Yucheng trailed off, his expression shifting. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took a step closer.

  Jin Yu tensed immediately. What does this guy want? I haven’t even provoked him before, have I?

  Noticing Jin Yu’s caution, Lu Yucheng chuckled. “Rex, I heard about your little show in the market this afternoon. You were pretty good.” He smirked, his innocent smile not fooling Jin Yu one bit.

  “Oh, I see.” Jin Yu remained on guard, his gre unwavering.

  For a moment, neither of them spoke, their eyes locked in a silent standoff. The tension between them thickened, as if one wrong move would set off a fight.

  Then, without warning, something shifted.....