Godslayer's Legacy: THE PATH TO SUPREMACY

Rui's silver eyes remained unwavering as he studied Fenrir and his companions, the weight of their gaze not lost on him. Their presence was deliberate, commanding, and he could sense the years of experience they carried with them. They weren't here to intimidate, nor were they here to fight without reason. These were professionals, cultivators of the highest order—obviously from the Central Continent, given their manner and energy. It wasn't just a test of strength. This was something more.

"Test me?" Rui repeated, his voice calm, betraying none of the curiosity he felt. "What kind of test are we talking about?"

Fenrir met his gaze with steady resolve. "A duel. 1v1. To assess your strength and determine whether you are a threat to the balance we maintain in this region. We've heard the rumors—of mountains crumbling and villages shaking. This level of power is rare. Too rare to be ignored."

Rui stood still for a moment, considering their words carefully. His power had grown beyond anything he could've imagined, but he wasn't foolish. A duel with these cultivators was not going to be a simple display. This was not just an opportunity for them to test him; it was also an opportunity for him to gauge how far he had come, to see how he measured up against someone from the Central Continent.

He could feel the pulse of his aura under his skin, a steady rhythm that had become almost a part of him. The bone hardening elixirs had already made his body into a more formidable vessel for the power within, and he could now channel his mana more smoothly, more precisely. His body felt grounded, each movement more calculated and purposeful than ever before.

"I have no intention of being a threat," Rui said calmly, "but if this is the only way for you to see for yourselves, then I accept."

Fenrir's lips curled into a slight, approving smile. "Very well. We'll go to the arena. You're familiar with it, I assume?"

Rui nodded, stepping away from the cracked ground of the training area. His silver eyes gleamed with a quiet confidence, a sharp contrast to the pounding heart beneath his chest. The arena was a place where his previous battles had unfolded, where he had pushed himself and felt the limits of his abilities tested. This time, however, he felt a different kind of energy flowing through him. His aura and mana were no longer chaotic. They were sharp, focused, and in perfect harmony.

As the group walked toward the arena, Rui allowed himself to imagine what this duel would feel like. He had faced opponents who pushed him before, but none had truly tested the extent of his control over his newfound strength. This wasn't about brute force anymore—it was about precision, timing, and knowing when to unleash his power.

The path to the arena was quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps echoing off the stone walkways. The high walls of the academy rose on either side, the hum of energy from within the buildings mingling with the rising anticipation in the air. Rui was keenly aware of the eyes watching him as he walked. Students were murmuring, the news of a duel already spreading through the academy.

The arena itself had been rebuilt, stronger than ever. It had been a place of spectacle and challenge for years, but after the destruction Rui had caused during his previous sparring session with Amara, it had undergone an intense overhaul. Reinforced stone and energy barriers now lined the walls, a clear indication that they were preparing for something far more powerful than ordinary sparring.

As they entered the arena, the air felt different. It was charged with the collective energy of the gathered students who had heard the whispers and were eager to witness the clash. Rui noticed the stands were full, their focus entirely on him as he stepped into the center of the arena. Fenrir and his companions stood across from him, waiting for the signal to begin.

Rui took a deep breath, feeling his aura pulse with quiet intensity. His eyes swept over the crowd, sensing the mix of curiosity and tension. This was no ordinary duel. This was a test of everything he had learned, everything he had become.

"Whenever you're ready," Fenrir called out, his voice calm, but carrying an undercurrent of anticipation.

Rui gave a short nod. He didn't need to say anything. This wasn't just about showing off—it was about proving that he had control over the storm of power within him. He focused, grounding himself in the center of the arena. The air thickened with energy as he let his aura expand outward, a wave of raw, controlled force that rippled through the arena, sending a tremor across the stands. The audience stilled, sensing the build-up of power.

In the blink of an eye, Rui's body moved. His steps were fluid, calculated, and his aura surged forward like a crashing tide. Fenrir, who had been standing stoically, immediately responded, his aura flaring to life in a sharp, defensive motion. The clash of their energies created a shockwave that reverberated through the arena, shaking the very ground beneath them.

Rui's mind focused entirely on the duel. He wasn't thinking about raw power anymore. He was thinking about control—about using every ounce of his strength with precision. Fenrir was fast, his movements almost too quick to follow, but Rui was faster, his training and honed senses allowing him to predict Fenrir's every move.

They collided in a flurry of blows, their auras clashing with the force of two storms. Rui could feel the impact of every strike, but he was no longer overwhelmed by it. His body, hardened and prepared, absorbed the force. He moved with grace and power, each strike an extension of his will, his aura and mana pushing out in waves that Fenrir could barely contain.

Fenrir, for his part, was an expert in manipulating his mana and aura. He wasn't just reacting—he was testing Rui, probing for weaknesses. With a swift strike, he unleashed a barrage of external mana-infused energy that Rui hasn't seen before, forcing Rui to backpedal. But Rui was ready. His concentrated mana pulsed once more, pushing Fenrir's energy aside as he closed the distance between them.

The crowd held its breath as the two forces continued to clash, their battle a spectacle of raw energy and perfect technique. Rui could feel his control growing stronger with each moment, his power no longer a chaotic force, but a finely-tuned weapon, wielded with purpose.

For the first time in this duel, Rui allowed a brief smile to play at the corners of his lips. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the moment when he truly realized how far he had come.