Chapter 1080 Ji'Han vs Jaxus
"You missed today's ceremony," Araxus said. John looked at him for a moment, then walked over and sat down on a couch opposite his next opponent. "I figured my presence would be in bad taste," John replied after taking his seat and relaxing for the first time in a full day. "So, what have you come here for?"
"No idea," Araxus said while shrugging. "So, how are you feeling?" "How am I feeling? About what? About Ishnai?" John asked, to which Araxus nodded.
John shrugged. "I'm not really feeling any particular way. While sad, Ishnai's death was her own doing."
"Agreed," Araxus nodded, then leaned forward. "But a lot of people are blaming you, despite the Mage-Sovereigns' words. Mostly fans of the Mage-Dao Sect, or other disciples of the sect."
John shrugged again, not concerned about how others, especially those from the Mage-Dao Sect felt about him. Silence filled the room for a short while before Araxus spoke again.
"So, I've been curious. What kind of Fate Karma do you have to be able to cause Ishnai to explode like that?" Araxus asked curiously. "I've heard of her Mage Art, and I'm pretty sure its the first time anyone's ever died to brutally and so quickly when using it."
John gave Araxus a level look, one eyebrow raised. "Do you think it's wise to ask about the thing that killed someone just a day ago?"
"Hahaha, I guess not," Araxus laughed. "Still, I can't help but be curious. What are you, the son of the Heaven's or something?" he joked.
Rumble!
A deep rumbling boomed out for an instant before fading away, causing Araxus to sit up straight in his chair.
"What the?...Was that…That felt like Heavenly Daos!" he said, eyes wide with surprise. "Is someone undergoing Heavenly Tribulation?" he asked, then shook his head, realizing the aura had been far too brief, and also…angry…for it to be such a thing.
He looked at John, who was sitting there calmly, undisturbed by the heavens' brief appearance.
"The Heavens and I…don't see eye to eye to say the least," John said wryly, "so calling me its son probably pissed it off."
Araxus stared at John with wide eyes, in complete disbelief of what had just happened. He remained silent for a short while, then burst out into boisterous laughter.
"Hahaha! I knew you were a nutjob, but I didn't know you were crazy enough to piss off the Heavens to such an extent! A mere comment draws their ire? I've never heard of such a thing!" Araxus said between bouts of laughter. "No wonder the crowd has been unable to get under your skin even slightly. Compared to the Heavens, they're nothing. In fact, you've pissed them off more than anyone I've ever seen before. They stand no chance at all against someone like you!" he said, his laughter continuing for some time before dying out.
"Thanks…I guess?" John replied, unsure if that was a compliment or not.
Araxus composed himself, then stood up. "To be honest, I came here to check on you and make sure you were going alright. After all, our battle is tomorrow, and I wanted to make sure you were ready and not in some bout of depression or something. It seems my concern was not needed."
"I see," John replied, then stood up. His impression of Araxus was quite good, and this brief interaction only made him like the man even more. "Now that I know my concerns were misplaced, there's only one thing left to say before I leave," Araxus said. "And what's that?" John asked curiously.
"Don't disappoint me tomorrow," Araxus smirked confidently. "I expect our battle to be a thrilling one, so you better not let me down in that regard."
"I'd say the same thing to you," John replied with a small smile.
Araxus grinned upon hearing this, then nodded and patted John firmly on the shoulder.
"Then I'll see you in the arena tomorrow, and I'll come at you with everything I have," Araxus said, meeting his gaze with confidence, then stepped past John and walked out of the room. "He's quite confident," Naelia said from the side, having listened to their conversation. "He's strong, so he should be confident," John replied while giving her a quick look. He thanked her for her ongoing help, then retreated back to the training room.
…
Another day passed by, heralding the start of the semi-finals. The roar of the crowd boomed out with vigorous power, shaking the arena and stadium as if a stampede of beasts were approaching. All eyes were on the two contestants standing in the middle of the arena, as the tournament's most anticipated fight was finally about to start.
"We're just minutes away from the most anticipated fight in millenia!" the announcer exclaimed to another roar of the crowd. "The fight between the two powerhouses of the Three Dao Sects. The fight to finally put to rest the argument of who is stronger! The fight to determine who advances to the final round! We all thought this fight would be in the finals, but fate had other plans! Nonetheless, let me hear you all roar for Jaxus and Ji'Han, the two scions of the Three Dao Sects!"
The crowd exploded into a calamitous frenzy of cheering, as the fight between Ji'Han and Jaxus was about to start. This had been the fight everyone assumed would be the grand final, but John's presence had thrown a wrench into all of that. In the arena, Ji'Han and Jaxus stood several hundred yards apart, both staring at each other. Jaxus looked at Ji'Han with a heated expression on his face, as if he were ready to pounce at the moment the round started. Ji'Han looked back with calm indifference, as if his opponent was not the number two genius of the human race. His calm demeanor only ignited Jaxus' ire and battlelust even further, who hoped to prove once and for all that he was the king of the geniuses, and not Ji'Han.
The Yang-Dao Sect Elder landed on the arena, then inquired from both participants if they were ready. Both nodded, at which point the Elder reached down and touched a tile on the arena, one glowing with bright formation runes.
As he did so, the arena began to rumble, then sprung to life as the ground began to surge up from below. Before everyone's eyes, the lifeless arena surged to life, with mountains, valleys, streams, forests and more springing to life beneath the two youths' feet. Both ignored the sudden change of events as if expecting it, their gazes still locked onto the other. The process continued for a full minute before finally coming to a halt, at which point an entire land of natural wonders filled the arena grounds, transforming the arena into a true battlefield.
Standing on the peaks of two small mountains opposite each other, the two youth's auras slowly began to churn, ready to explode at a moment's notice. In the Prime Shadows room at the top of the stadium, Naelia, Zuri, John, and Araxus sat, looking down at the battle about to begin. Just minutes before the battle, Araxus had invited himself into John's room and pulled him out of training, urging him to watch the battle. John had begrudgingly obliged, and looked down at the two youths, one which was to become his opponent in the final round.
"The semi-finals between the third ranked Jaxus of the Yang-Dao Sect and the second ranked Ji'Han of the Sword-Dao Sect….begins!"
