Swallowed Star : Sign in to Become a God

There were no words to describe the duel with Ai Chen. The clash of will and power seemed almost futile—it was simply to make her death a little easier. Yet, in her final moments, Ai Chen's determination left an indelible mark on the battlefield, one that no spectator could easily forget.

Rong Jun's bout against Bolan, however, was a stark contrast. Offering no resistance, Rong Jun fell decisively to the cold and calculated Bolan. To those who watched, the fight was over before it began, Bolan's dominance undeniable.

The only close matches came when Luo Feng faced Long Yun. In the original timeline, Luo Feng had lost to Long Yun, not because Long Yun was inherently stronger but due to a confluence of circumstances: exhaustion, tactical missteps, and underestimating his opponent. However, the current Luo Feng was far more formidable than his earlier counterpart. Armed with heightened insight and tempered strategy, Luo Feng overcame the odds. Long Yun, though strong, faltered against Luo Feng's unconventional but highly effective tactics. Victory was Luo Feng's, a hard-fought and well-earned triumph that left the spectators buzzing with excitement.

As the duels concluded across the five arenas, the final victors emerged: Bolan, Wang Yi, Luo Feng, Qianshui, and Waka. Each stood as a beacon of exceptional skill and potential, their names already etched into the annals of the genius wars.

With the preliminaries complete, the next phase was announced: the first five rounds of battles. The rules were straightforward yet ruthless. Each member of the top five would face the remaining four. A victory earned one point, and the cumulative points would determine the rankings. The top two contenders would ascend as overall champions, earning glory, prestige, and opportunities few could dream of.

The first match pitted Bolan against Wang Yi, and the arena buzzed with anticipation. This was a clash that transcended mere competition; it was a duel between two peerless geniuses whose potential reached into the cosmos itself.

Wang Yi stood on the dazzling stage, his dark red suit contrasting sharply with his short black hair. His expression remained composed, but within his eyes, a destructive energy simmered, like a dormant volcano moments from eruption. His aura was both intimidating and magnetic, drawing the gazes of everyone present.

Opposite him was Bolan, clad in a pristine white suit with a blood-red longsword strapped to his back. His white hair fluttered in the faint breeze, his demeanor colder than the iciest tundra. He radiated an unyielding indifference, a being of pure calculation and precision.

The contrast between the two could not have been starker. Yet, both exuded an immense power that seemed to distort reality around them. Spectators were transfixed, unable to look away from the two titans preparing to clash.

"Wang Yi and Bolan..." an immortal in the crowd murmured, awe evident in their tone. "How many years has it been since we've seen a peak duel like this?"

"Too long," another replied. "To witness two such geniuses in the same generation is a rarity. Even the Virtual Universe Company acknowledged their extraordinary potential by expanding the secret realm quota to three instead of the usual two."

"Most geniuses aspire to immortality, but Wang Yi and Bolan... they're different. They carry the spark of those who might ascend to venerable status."

The immortals speculated on the outcome. "Bolan has the edge," one said confidently. "His mastery of the Law of Space is unparalleled, and his speed is nothing short of terrifying."

"Perhaps," another countered, "but Wang Yi's mastery of the Yan Shen Armament and his raw destructive power make him equally formidable."

As the debates continued, the combatants locked eyes, their silent determination speaking louder than words. Then, as though by mutual agreement, they moved.

"Defeat him!"

Boom!

A violent red air current erupted from Wang Yi, clashing with the ferocious blue currents radiating from Bolan. The arena trembled as the two forces met, the shockwaves rippling outward and forcing weaker spectators to shield their eyes.

Whoosh!

Bolan moved first. In an instant, his figure blurred, splitting into thousands of identical phantoms that surrounded Wang Yi. This was the pinnacle of the Law of Space in action. Each phantom carried the same presence, the same aura, making it impossible to discern the real Bolan. Together, they converged on Wang Yi with overwhelming momentum.

The spectators held their breath. "Thousands of phantoms..." someone whispered in awe. "Bolan's mastery of spatial manipulation is truly beyond comprehension."

But Wang Yi remained unfazed. As the phantoms closed in, the red energy around him intensified. He raised his hand, and fiery glyphs materialized in the air, spinning rapidly like gears in a cosmic machine. The glyphs expanded outward, forming a blazing dome of energy that incinerated any phantom that dared to come too close.

"Infernal Glyph Array," an immortal muttered. "But it's been refined. He's fused it with the Law of Destruction."

The clash escalated as Bolan's true form reappeared, his longsword glowing with spatial energy. With a single slash, he tore through Wang Yi's defenses, the blade's edge distorting the air as though slicing through the fabric of reality itself. Wang Yi countered with a strike of his own, his fists imbued with the third level of the Yan Shen Armament. The impact sent both combatants skidding backward, neither willing to yield.

The arena erupted in cheers and gasps as the battle raged on. Each exchange was more intense than the last, the sheer power of their techniques shaking the very foundation of the stage. The immortals watched in silence, their expressions a mixture of awe and reverence. They knew this duel was more than a mere competition; it was a glimpse into the future of the cosmos, a preview of the greatness these two warriors were destined to achieve.

As the battle reached its crescendo, both Wang Yi and Bolan prepared their ultimate techniques. The air grew heavy, charged with energy so dense it was almost suffocating. Time seemed to slow as the two geniuses launched their final attacks, their powers colliding in a blinding explosion of light and energy.

When the dust settled, the arena was in ruins, the once-pristine stage reduced to a battlefield of scorched earth and jagged debris. Wang Yi and Bolan stood at the center, both breathing heavily but refusing to fall. The outcome was still undecided, but one thing was clear: this duel would be remembered for generations as a defining moment in the history of the genius wars.

And it was only the beginning.