Ascension King

**Chapter 21: The Fall**

The lethargic swordsman, ranked tenth, found himself seething with rage as he faced the unassuming Eli, a mere fifteen on the hierarchy. In a swift motion, he unleashed waves of sword energy, cleaving through everything that stood in his path. Yet Eli, already attuned to the thrill of combat, focused his energy into his legs, propelling himself into the air. As he soared above the lazy swordsman, he proclaimed, "I, Eli, am no man to be trampled upon!" With his declaration echoing in the air, he descended with force, his legs colliding with the swordsman in a powerful strike that disrupted his balance.

However, the lazy swordsman, quick to retaliate, wielded his scabbard to strike Eli, sending him hurtling backward. "You will prove yourself, won't you?" he taunted as he charged forward, unleashing a furious slash. Yet Eli's reflexes were unmatched; he evaded the blow with a swift shuffle, embodying a playful spirit that was evident to all onlookers. "More, more, more! I can't contain myself!" he exulted, tattoos spiraling across his skin as he surged forward, striking with unrelenting fervor.

"What in the world is this wretched fool? If I don't give it my all, he will surely best me!" The lazy swordsman's thoughts spiraled into chaos. "Hahaha! Shall we finish off this swordsman?"

Eli, the hopeful scion of the Shiba family and one of the three zenith children, was anything but ordinary. He was a whirlwind of energy, haunted by an insatiable craving for speed—an unquenchable thirst for heavenly velocity.

"This battle has turned out to be more intriguing than I anticipated," mused the third elder, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

With a deep exhale, Eli entered a trance, gazing skyward, just as the lazy swordsman dove in with his sword, executing "Sword Rotation" and "Lonely Sword." Aware of his own limitations in speed compared to the madman before him, he aimed to maximize his damage. Yet, Eli vanished from plain sight, leaving only confusion in his wake.

"You truly are a lazy swordsman, hahahaha!" Suddenly, twenty distinct Eli figures filled the arena, a spectacle that defied belief. "Why did he choose to reveal such talent now?" the spectators rose from their seats, captivated by Eli's undeniable prowess, destined to be etched in their memories.

One elder observed closely, discerning that these were not mere clones but afterimages conjured by Eli's extraordinary speed. The lazy swordsman steadied himself, entering a state of deep concentration as he unleashed his "Sword Series," one of his deadliest techniques. With "Sword Dance," he approached each afterimage, slicing brutally in search of the real Eli. Yet Eli, resolute and unyielding, retaliated with waves of sword energy emanating from his horns.

"I have had enough of your nonsense!" the lazy swordsman declared, tearing a jade pendant from around his neck and shattering it, manifesting a jade sword. He had no intention of further dialogue; instead, he executed the "Sword Devil Art: First Strike." A torrent of sword blades surged toward Eli, catching him momentarily off guard. But Eli, brimming with confidence, rotated his body and lunged toward the onslaught, chanting, "O ancestors of the antelope bloodline, bless me, bless me, bless me!"

As the two forces collided, a deafening explosion reverberated through the arena, sending both combatants sprawling off the stage, resulting in a draw. The lazy swordsman, grappling with disbelief and frustration, returned to his seat, disheartened. Thus, only two qualifiers emerged from this round: "Tang Feng" and "Nora."

The initial match had ignited a fervent anticipation for the ensuing confrontation, and every contestant present understood the imperative to exert their utmost effort. Damon surveyed the crowd, his gaze seeking out "Tang Chen," driven by a relentless pursuit that left no room for hesitation or mercy. Upon locating his quarry, he sprang from his seat with a predatory grace, seizing Tang Chen's face with his gauntleted hand. A murmur of horror rippled through the onlookers as they bore witness to his audacity. "How dare he make such a brazen move?" thought the elders, their instincts urging them to intervene, yet they found themselves restrained by the silent command of the celestial figure, Blaire. They were left with no choice but to observe the unfolding drama.

"Do not struggle," Damon instructed Tang Chen, a sinister calm enveloping his words as he activated "Void Walker." Instantly, he opened a portal to his void space, casting Tang Chen into its depths before stepping in himself. The fourth elder, sensing the urgency of the moment, vanished from his seat in a desperate attempt to thwart Damon, only to be met with a playful smirk from his adversary as the void sealed itself before him.

"Welcome to my void space, dear specimen," Damon declared, laughter echoing ominously, sending chills coursing through Tang Chen's very being. "He easily overpowered me without anyone even noticing. Who is this beast?" Tang Chen pondered, locking eyes with Damon, only to be met with an abyss that reflected his own despair. Realizing that salvation would not come from anyone but himself, he began to expel poison from his mouth, desperate to escape and formulate a strategy against this madman. Yet, before his very eyes, Damon stood unfazed by the toxic vapors.

As Damon squatted to meet him at eye level, Tang Chen seized the moment to unleash a flurry of needles aimed at the side of Damon's skull. But in an instant, the needles shattered upon contact, leaving Damon unfazed, a smile curling upon his lips. "I see we need not engage in conversation," he remarked before swiftly clamping his hand over Tang Chen's mouth, forcefully introducing the "Willow Virus" into his system.

A piercing scream erupted as grotesque branches sprouted from Tang Chen's head, the agonizing transformation leaving him bewildered. He glanced down in horror, realizing his legs had morphed into roots. In a final, desperate look, he met Damon's gaze, pleading for mercy, yet it was too late. He was irrevocably transformed into a tree, his face contorted in eternal anguish.

"Vivi, escort him to the void garden," Damon commanded, addressing the ethereal entity known as the Willow Tree of Imagination. As if obeying a divine decree, Vivi shifted the very fabric of space, transporting the tormented figure to the garden of despair, where his fate would be sealed.