Born in Blood



There was no chance of Liam being recognized.

Transfiguration changed his real flesh, unlike a simple illusion like his King's Eye.

But that didn't mean he wasn't inwardly nervous of being found out. 

Liam shoved down his fear. For one, Usan had already reassured him of his protection, and as of now, he couldn't do anything anyway.

All the Sect leaders began introducing their disciples' names. Not their real names, but their titles.

They were a stark lookalike to the Sect leaders, both with appearance and budding strength. It seemed obvious that these were the personal heirs to the patriarchs.

Even Liam was similar in that sense. Him and Usan were alike in more than one way, and Liam's changed appearance was meant to express it.

Soon, it was Liam's turn.

[What do you want to be called?] Usan asked him mentally.

[I don't know.]

[Well, think of something, can't you?] Usan responded, a little annoyed.

Liam went silent for a few seconds.

He couldn't use his truest title – Blood Demon – but he could go for a mix of the two.

[Shadow Demon should be fine.]

"Shadow Demon," Usan said with a lifeless voice. It was so anticlimactic that the crowd didn't know how to react.

They ended up roaring anyway. A name like that was rarer than usual in Ilali.

Nevertheless, after the introductions were over, everyone tensed, and the cheers loudened. 

The matches were to begin. 

Though, before that, North Star coughed in his voice to grab everyone's attention. His action was obviously amplified somehow, and everyone's gaze turned to him.

"Before these battles begin, I have a proposal."

All those present raised their brows. North Star wasn't just addressing the Sect leaders. He was addressing the entirety of Ilali.

"Since the Temple of Shadow doesn't want people to view their matches, it's natural that they don't view ours?"

The crowd cheered in agreement. It was at times like these that mass genocide didn't sound that bad to Liam.

"Honestly, I agree. Them having such a major advantage in seeing our battles is a bit dumb. Then again, tournaments are supposed to be public," Sun's Spear said placatingly. 

"I agree with North," Cerulean Dragon said with a serious tone.

"Same," Felling Wind and Unmoving Mountain stated at the same time.

Everyone was in agreement with North Star's words. Even the crowd.

For a fraction of a second, Liam felt a bit of hatred leak through Usan's shadows, despite the detached look on his face.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

[If you're confident, challenge them all to the death. Better to have no witnesses at all,] Usan told Liam. "Fine," he said to the rest.

North Star smirked. He seemed happy with that. His disciple was a young woman roughly Liam's age.

Long silver hair. Triangular face. Hooded gold eyes. Long platinum robe. And her centers of power were amazing for her age.

…A little too amazing. She was a Rank 3 Magus, had a Rank 3 core in the liquid stage, and presumably a Rank 4 body.

That was even better than Liam's, but Liam himself wasn't too worried. Battle prowess wasn't something that came with a cultivation base. 

You had to get your hands dirty for that.

Finally, Myriad Brush caught everyone's attention. He stroked the air with his giant brush a few more times, which turned into brackets displaying who would fight who.

First would be a Secondary Battle, then a Main.

Unforgiven Shadow's and Shadow Demon's battles were at the very end.

Usan was about to erect an Isolation Barrier around himself, but he was stopped by the Myriad.

"No, no. You let me do it. You can easily make it a one-way barrier." 

Usan grumbled but complied anyway.

Stroking his brush across the air, letters formed that spread and grew around the two, encasing them in an opaque barrier that rippled gently. 

All sound instantly cut off, and even smells were discontinued.

"They're afraid," Usan said, forming a platform out of shadows for Liam and him to sit upon. 

Liam sat down with a pensive look on his face.

It was pretty awkward with just the two of them. 

Neither of them could make use of the time inside the Isolation Barrier, and who knew how long those battles would take.

"How far will you go for power?" Usan said abruptly, his eyes detached.

There was silence.

Liam was a bit taken aback by the question. 

He lowered his head in thought for merely a moment before raising it.

"That's not the right question to ask," he responded. Usan glanced at him with a raised brow.

"It's: 'how far could you go for power'."

There was silence.

Usan abruptly chuckled at Liam's response. 

"I guess so," he said.

Usan spent a few hours explaining to Liam the best way to fight against each clan's martial arts.

Making the Ravenous Leash Arts wasn't the only thing Liam did. He also trained immensely for the event.

He even went toe to toe with Ryu, but that man's monstrous strength was no joke. 

Liam even consumed poison made by Elder Jane to build resistance to them.

But with Transfiguration, Liam could just close off his nostrils and toughen his skin.

After a few minutes of explanation, the pair did nothing in that barrier.

Hours passed as they idly fidgeted with their weapons or looked deep in thought.

Liam took out his Dusk Blades and inspected them. It was the new and improved version. 

Edges were coated in a mixture of sour chemicals, which Elder Aki had helped apply to his vicious weapon.

"Wait, does this classify as a sword?" he asked Usan, frowning a bit.

"I don't know," Usan replied with a shrug. "Felling Wind isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He'll probably protest."

Damn it.

Eventually, the Isolation Barrier whiffed out.

The incoherent shouts, synchronized claps and thrilled cheers entered the pairs' ears. 

Looking at the remaining brackets, the seven clans were still in the game. Each of them had 7 points.

It was now Liam's turn to fight.