"Firstly, please welcome this tournament's favorite competitor, Axel Heart!"

OOOHHHHHHHH!

Frederick shouted as it was replied by the loudest bellow of the day by the crowd as one can see the figure of a boy with shoulder-length brown hair jumping from the stand and into the battle arena.

BOOM!

Impacting onto the metallic battle arena, a loud explosion went on to take place as it also cause the whole stadium to rumble...

As the dust cleared Saber's eyes lit up in surprise when the entire appearance of this Axel figure revealed itself to his eyes.

"Now, it is time to welcome a figure who had only entered the sect a few days ago.

A rogue cultivator who goes by the name of Blade Pure-Heart, and shockingly is already a Meridian Opening realm cultivator at the tender age of 16!"

RUMBLE!

Such shocking words drummed in the minds of those present as Blade hopped tens of feet away from the back row and onto the battle arena!

"Huh? You sure are a big one!"

Blade's slightly shocked voice drummed in the silenced battle arena.

In front of Blade was a humungous figure standing proudly at two hundred and thirty centimeters tall with the physique of a bodybuilder!

His broad chest and massive biceps made it known that he was someone who relied on pure brute strength...

It was clear since Blade knew that his waist was smaller than those arms of this figure.

As Blade's shock subsided, so did the shock of every other person present who felt speechless by Blade's cultivation realm, and more importantly, his age.

16 years old...!

After the appearance of Athena, these people didn't expect to meet someone who would enter the Meridian Opening realm at such a young age.

And what made it even more shocking was the fact that this 'kid', entered the sect a few days ago...

This meant that all this time, he was a rogue cultivator, unable to truly gain the benefits that came with being part of a sect such as resources to quicken one's cultivation.

Yet, this shock subsided rather quickly since the current event properly registered in their mind.

Even if Blade Pure-Heart was soo young.

Even if Blade Pure-Heart was soo talented.

Even if Blade Pure-Heart was soo attractive.

What would any of those things do to help him in his current predicament?

They had the name Demonic Sect, yet they still were fair to those in it.

So even though Blade was a truly talented cultivator, he needed to enter the Inner Sect Qualification Tournament, to enter the Inner Sect and gain many resources.

With such a fact in mind, what was Blade to do when his first opponent ended up being the favorite to win the whole competition.

It wasn't as if this was the round where killing was forbidden, and knowing how wild and bloodthirsty the human known as Axel was, Blade's situation wasn't looking good.

These spectators already had in mind scenes of Blade's inevitable demise.

In their minds, Blade was a dead man!

That was simply how large the reputation of the human known as Alex was.

His gifted physical strength and quick speed which he cultivated allowed him to become the most well-known figure in the Outer Sect in a matter of three years after joining.

...

"Huh? You sure are a big one!"

As Blade's words entered Axel's ears, a wide smile formed on his face as he replied.

"Heh, and you sure are a young one."

With his casual tone of speech and goofy-looking smile, it made him look like a kind fellow in Blade's eyes.

It was a Blade who had not properly awoken as he didn't suspect this kind-looking figure to have any ulterior motive.

"Ok, now fight!"

Frederick's voice thrummed in the surroundings as the spectators waited patiently for the commencement of what was meant to be a bloodbath.

Blade also took a fighting stance that he had copied from fighting Latin as he awaited his opponent's next move.

"Huh?!"

But, the event to take place shocked him along with everyone present as they all watched as Axel stretched his hand outward seemingly awaiting a handshake.

And seeing Blade's shock, Axel stated righteously.

"What, did you expect that because we are opponents, we need to be life-&-death enemies?

In this dog-eat-dog world, is it not better to have one more friend rather than one more enemy...?"

THRUM!

His words shocked Blade as Blade realized that his words made sense.

In a world where one has to devour others to survive, why would one not try to seek out companions so they could have a higher chance of surviving?!

This was a world where there were many slouching tigers and hidden dragons.

If one was to wantonly kill everyone they see, would they not eventually meet someone who isn't simply another side-character that could be sacrificed.?!

Thinking this, Blade, who was pleasantly surprised didn't realize it but a slow seed had been planted that if blossomed, would restore his hope in the humans of this world, and by extension the universe.

Yet, it was a seed that if blossoms while corrupted, would be the downfall of humanity itself!

Still not in his right mind, Blade stretched his hand out as he welcomed the greeting with a smile.

...

"Ah, what a foolish person...

I wonder, is he going to die like all others caught in the grip of Axel, or would something truly unexpected take place here today.?!"

Athena muttered to herself as she sat in the crowd.

The people around her shivered by the aura she released as she awaited unknowingly with slight excitement to see the outcome of what she deemed as a troublesome situation for Blade.

...

Somewhere else in the crowd, another figure was present who commented on the scene taking place in the arena as he commented something truly peculiar.

"Hmm, to think this Blade is soo naive. Is this an act, or is he truly this stupid to trust someone he has just met. If it is truly his naivety, I wonder why the master has taken up soo many measures just to kill this kid?

Surely, with the master's great strength, simply a breath would be enough to wipe this idiot out of existence!"

...

In the middle of the arena, the expressions of the two who locked in a handshake changed as while Axel's previous kind smile morphed into a feral smile, Blade's smirk disappeared as a slightly more serious expression came forth.

Yet, it was simply too late as before he could register what happened, he suddenly felt as if he was flying through the skies.

BANG!

A loud bang shook the floors of the battle arena as the very metallic ground cracked.

Blade's body could be seen laying motionlessly inside a crater made by the contact between his back and the floor as his pupils dilated.

BAM!

Slamming his foot into Blade's chest, Axel smiled when he saw Blade's eyes bulge in shock and pain from his attack.

Bending over, Axel grabbed Blade's neck as he picked him up from the crater and held him tightly in the air.

"Well, little genius, it seems as if this is the end of your short little and truly trivial life!"

His words resounded throughout the battle arena as those present bellowed in expectation as they expected Blade's head to pop out of his neck in a show of brutal blood and guts.

Athena could only shake her head in disappointment and berate herself for expecting a shocking show by the person responsible for killing the two people who used her like a doll...

On the other hand, the mysterious figure could only smile demonically as it seemed he didn't even need to do anything and his master's orders would be completed.

Sigh!

"Even though I wasn't in the right state of mind since I was forced to sleep by those boring fights, and was foolish enough to trust you, what you are doing now is a bit too much!"

THRUM!

Blade's casual tone reverberated throughout the battle arena as the shocking sight of Blade gripping Axel's wrist with one hand, caused Axel to release his grip on Blade's neck.

Landing gently on the battle arena, Blade then uttered while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Isn't this like that saying... Give you an inch, and you want to take a mile!

I allowed for this to happen, and you overdo it by slamming my attractive body on this ground."

As he said these words, he shifted his attention toward Axel who had been rooted to the ground shell shocked by the sequence of events that had just taken place.

It wasn't just him who was left shocked as the spectators were left with their mouths gaped.

Athena's eyes brightly lit up as a dazzling seductive smile appeared on her face creating the illusion that her appearance was that of a divine red-haired fairy.

On the other hand, the figure in the crowd could only coldly smirk and mutter.

"So it seems this idiot isn't as weak as I once thought!"