NOVEL WEB Chapter 18: Chapter 18
Chapter 18: Into the Arena
The morning air was thick with anticipation.
Even from a distance, I could hear the faint roar of the Soto Grand Soul Arena — a sound that seemed to hum in the very bones of the city.
I had never been fond of places like this. Crowds. Noise.
But power… was drawn to such places.
And power was the only constant in this world.
---
The Road to Strength
When Grandmaster first mentioned the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, I knew immediately what it meant.
A proving ground.
Not just for strength, but for the alliances and rivalries that shaped the soul master world.
Shrek Academy was a small name in a large world.
But Grandmaster wasn't aiming for recognition.
He was testing us.
Testing me.
---
Arrival at Soto City
We arrived in Soto City just before noon, the streets bustling with activity.
The city's energy was different — sharper, hungrier.
Everyone here chased power, money, or both.
The Soto Grand Soul Arena was its heart, and as we approached, I could feel the pulse of it — a constant, thrumming tension that made the air seem heavier.
"First time here?" Tang San asked, falling into step beside me.
I glanced at him.
"Yes."
He seemed curious but didn't press further.
Of everyone in the group, Tang San was the only one who could sense there was more to my past… but he respected silence.
I appreciated that.
---
The Arena
The Soto Grand Soul Arena was a massive structure, its imposing walls adorned with banners displaying the symbols of various soul master academies and independent fighters.
As we stepped inside, the sheer scale of the place hit me.
The arena floor was massive — designed to host battles that were both brutal and theatrical.
The crowd above was a sea of noise, anticipation rolling off them in waves.
I could see it clearly: the hunger for spectacle.
For blood.
"Stay close," Dai Mubai warned, leading the way toward the registration area.
Even he seemed on edge — which said something.
---
Registration
The registration hall was quieter but no less tense.
Dozens of soul masters waited in line, the air thick with unspoken challenges and simmering aggression.
As we approached the counter, the clerk barely looked up.
"Name of your team?" he asked, bored.
Dai Mubai exchanged a glance with Tang San.
"Shrek Seven Devils."
The clerk's pen paused midair.
"Shrek?"
His tone was incredulous — the same reaction we'd been getting since day one.
"Just register us," Dai Mubai snapped, impatience flaring in his eyes.
The clerk shrugged, writing down the name and handing over seven iron badges.
"Good luck. You'll need it."
---
The Waiting Game
We were escorted to a private preparation room — a small, sparsely furnished space with a view of the arena floor through a narrow window.
The distant roar of the crowd was muffled but constant.
I sat near the window, watching the matches below with detached interest.
Two teams were fighting — both around the thirty-level mark.
Their tactics were crude.
Predictable.
Victory here wasn't about power… it was about control.
I could already see how this place worked:
Strength earned respect.
Ruthlessness earned fear.
Fear… was more useful.
---
The First Fight
When our turn came, we entered the arena to a mix of curiosity and amusement.
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"Introducing… the Shrek Seven Devils!"
The laughter from the audience was immediate.
A small, unknown academy with a ridiculous name — we were a joke to them.
I could feel the impatience in Dai Mubai's stance, the tension in Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders, even the quiet, simmering anger in Tang San's eyes.
But for me…
The noise meant nothing.
Only the battle mattered.
---
The Opponents
Our first opponents were a mid-tier team called Fierce Wolf Squad — seven soul masters, all between level 27 and 30.
They were experienced.
But predictable.
The leader, a tall soul master with a Wolf Spirit, sneered as he looked us over.
"Children? They're sending children now?"
Dai Mubai's eyes flashed dangerously, but I spoke first.
"Talking won't help you win," I said quietly, my gaze locking with the wolf spirit master's.
There was something in my voice — cold, absolute — that made his sneer falter for just a moment.
---
The Battle
The match began with a deafening roar from the crowd.
The Fierce Wolf Squad attacked immediately, counting on aggression and speed to overwhelm us.
A classic mistake.
"Formation four," I said, my voice cutting through the chaos with the precision of a blade.
Dai Mubai took point, his White Tiger spirit roaring to life.
Zhu Zhuqing vanished into the shadows, her speed a blur.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread out like a living trap, subtle and deadly.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar stayed back, shields of support.
Xiao Wu circled left, eyes locked on her prey.
And me…
I waited.
---
The Turn
The Fierce Wolf Squad was strong, but disorganized.
I saw the flaw immediately — their leader overextended, relying too heavily on his speed.
"Zhu Zhuqing — now."
She struck like lightning, cutting through their formation and throwing them into disarray.
The moment they hesitated, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass locked them down.
Dai Mubai and Xiao Wu closed in, relentless.
I didn't even need to move.
The battle ended in under three minutes.
---
The Aftermath
The crowd, so quick to mock us before, was silent as we left the arena.
Fear… was beginning to replace amusement.
Good.
"Nice call," Tang San said quietly as we returned to the preparation room.
I gave him a brief nod.
"Fear lasts longer than respect," I murmured.
He didn't respond, but I knew he understood.
---
The Road Ahead
As the sun set over Soto City, casting long shadows across the arena, I stood at the window again, watching the next match with cold interest.
The tournament… was just beginning.
But in this place, there was no glory.
Only survival.
And I… knew how to survive.
---