Planet Master

213- Rising Star (1)

After all the preparations were done, Tatsumi and the others were finally able to raise their ranks in the Afterlife Arena once more.“It’s been some time since we came here.” Tatsumi could still see the familiar surroundings and also the place where they were going.

“I want to test my new technique.” Chi You swung his axes, and his swing flowed around him as if he were a flowing river.

“It is still strange as to how the two of us can enter this place in the first place.” Tatsumi tilted his head, still wondering the exact reason for that.

“Maybe we will find the reason in the future. Since there was no issue the last time, then we can safely participate.” Ame stated.

Tatsumi nodded while the others had a confused look. Even Smagenrog in his humanoid form sighed, letting out a small flame before it died out.

“Heh, whatever. We are here to raise our ranks, right?” Smagenrog grunted.

“Yes, Mister Dragon. We are here to gather more Medals to be exchanged for some resources that the Father God needs. Even the newcomers are encouraged to participate.” Goto chuckled as he readied his sword.

Goto was adept with the sword, according to the person himself, but Tatsumi knew that Goto was skilled with a sword.

The Battle Colosseum was filled with cheers as usual. Even the staff who usually dealt with Dian had come to greet them. Dian was engaged with the staff, but his deceased individuals and races were already gathered around the seniors since they were the most experienced in regard of the Afterlife Arena.

The half-beast tiger staff looked at the increasing number of the deceased in Dian’s roster and felt proud to be their exclusive staff.

‘This is a thigh that I must hug no matter what!’ the half-beast tiger thought to himself while letting out a somewhat polite smile at Dian.

“Thank you for informing me of the challenges that some of my individuals' races have to face. We will immediately respond to them.” Dian said while gesturing for those being challenged to stand in front of him.

Chi You, Goto, Kudungga, Meno, Tatsumi, Ame, and Smagenrog were among those challenged. Basically, the veterans of the Afterlife Arena were challenged, while the newbies looked at them with admiration, since those who challenged them had to be strong, too.

“Look at the rate everyone wants to challenge us. It is so much.” Tatsumi shook his head while lamenting their situation.

From his observation so far, he had realized that their group had become a rising star within the Afterlife Arena.

“Well, let’s not disappoint those expectations, shall we?” Ame walked inside first followed by Smagenrog.

“Wait for me!” Tatsumi soon also trailed behind while Chi You smugly smirked and also sprinted toward the arena.

“Everyone, please go to your designated arena space.” Dian ordered, and Goto and Kudungga nodded before assigning the newer ones to their own, then proceeded to do each individual's challenge as the senior.

One by one, everyone went in turn.

For the newbies, they were right at Bronze Tier 0 and had to defeat one opponent to advance. Since this was their first time, they did not even get challenged.

For the others, they were at Bronze Tier 4. This was because the next number meant they had to defeat five opponents one-on-one, with Rank 3 transcendent as the minimum. Dian wanted them to expose part of their strength but still conceal their main strength.

Even Smagenrog played with this in mind, so the other seniors followed suit.

Then Tatsumi was doing his best to respond to the challenge one by one until the requests were all done.

The other seniors also did that, letting them gain medals for their defense.

Dian received responses that he had gained Medals for successful defense.

[Medals+60]

[Medals+60]

“Sweet, sweet medals from passive defense are good, but I want more.” Dian licked his lips as he became a bit greedy about acquiring more Medals.

The seniors then went to rest for a while since they did respond to the challenge simultaneously without stopping. But they were resting in order to test themselves on their recovery speed due to the Three Styles Breathing Technique.

“This is really good stuff.” Chi You felt that his recovery speed had increased so much. Although only at the lowest level but the help it provided was already this great.

“Yes. I have to agree with that.” Goto nodded while regulating his breath.

“After this, we will break through Bronze Tier 4 and go straight to Bronze Tier 6. That is the plan that the Father God has said.” Kudungga stated.

The others all nodded. Even Tatsumi and Ame were followed suit. Their challenges allowed them to test their own techniques and ability.

Tatsumi tested his Three Thousand Blade Intent, which could develop into the Three Thousand Worlds state.

“Hmm, to be able to develop it into the Three Thousand Worlds, I need to harmonize every single blade intent that I have discovered.” Tatsumi murmured as he defeated the last challenger. The edge of the Dragonsbane was emitting multicolored light, but it was flickering and threatening to disappear.

The might was also reduced so much that Tatsumi sighed with helplessness.

Smagenrog was enjoying the fight as his strength increased even after his physical body’s death. He even became more adept at learning and integrating things from the other seniors. He excelled in close combat but was still good at ranged attacks.

That could be seen by him using the transcendent energy as a conduit to control the wind and elements to become his weapon and helper. That made Tatsumi realized that he should do that with the blade intents he had comprehended.

‘Right, I should make them move naturally, conforming with the laws of reality.’ Tatsumi had a spark of an idea as the Auxiliary Card Advance Insight (C) started to work.

‘If I do that…’ Tatsumi then unleashed Three Thousand Blade Intent, then harmonized them, conforming to each need before integrating them in the very natural manner possible.

Although the result was not to his expectations, the combined blade intents caused the multicolored light to coalesce and form a world within the small sphere of light.

“Three Thousand Worlds…this is it!” Tatsumi then unleashed it for a fraction of a second, and even Dian looked at Tatsumi with pride.

Before Tatsumi even unleashed it, he dispelled it since it would become a surprise for whoever thought they could beat him now.

The perfected Three Thousand Worlds warranted such caution. Although previously Tatsumi could do it, it was incomplete and felt shallow. Now that he conformed to the laws, not going against it, the formation of Three Thousand Worlds became easier.

“Huh. That was intense. Any opponent with the same battle prowess will be caught off guard with this move.” Tatsumi commented. He then used the Three Styles Breathing Technique to recover.

Added to that, his might would become even more awesome, and no one could deny what he had accomplished.

Dian oversaw the individuals who had gone to respond to challenge and the win rate was 100%, meaning there was no loss. Dian felt proud of that, so he let them rest altogether before striking toward Bronze Tier 6.

Then the time came when the group was ready to rise.

The rise of the group went noticed by the spectators. Specifically, those who often tracked the human race down in this Afterlife Arena. There were some Planet Masters who were also present and when they noticed Dian and the group, they became spirited.

When they saw the seniors of the group go to answer the challenge, they could see that the power of the individuals increased so much it was noticeable.

“Did you feel that? They are stronger than before, I mean so much stronger. They must have developed so well for their Ranks.” One Planet Master said while narrowing his eyes.

“Of course. Every time they come here, there must be some sort of development on their strength. That is undeniable and even inevitable.”

“The strong swordsman and the horned one are also present. She is also here.”

The last Planet Master referred to Tatsumi, Smagenrog, and Ame by their aura, weapons, or characteristics. The watching individuals and the Planet Masters let out cheers of excitement.

Ame was known for her versatile use of weapons. She also moved like a shadow, making most enemies terrified by her.

She closed her eyes, feeling the sensation from the area surrounding her and the entire arena.

The enemy was closing in, and she then transformed her umbrella into a sword and started a sword dance. This was one that Tatsumi often did during battle, a sword dance to ritualized the act of killing in the Star Battle.

She took a step with her right foot, her grip on the hilt of the sword as she slashed at the enemy. The enemy was not to be outdone and countered, locking their weapons for a fraction of a second before the weapons separated and both of them danced offense and defense.

Ame then used Three Styles Breathing: Fire Breathing to increase her offensive power. The enemy felt the deadly attack and barely dodged it before Ame then took another step to the left and changed the way she swung her sword.

The way she swung her sword, as well as the coordinated movement of her footwork, made the space support her in her beautiful dance. Her slash was also affecting the space it slashed through, making the enemy unable to respond properly and causing his weapon to be cut along with it.

Ame let out a breath as she finished the sword dance. She returned the form of Myriad Manifestation Umbrella back to its basic form as she held it in her hand.

She was then transported back to the waiting room where everyone from Dian’s group had gathered and had watched the fight.

Each of the seniors' fights was exciting and overwhelming for the newbies. They yearned to be able to do that themselves, so they looked up to them.

“The offensive power of the Fire Breathing is good. I have comprehended it to the Proficient level.” Tatsumi commented on the Three Styles Breathing and informed the others of his current level.

“Most of the seniors are also at that level due to sharing experiences. You can also do it, but we believe keeping it as a reward for your victory is best. So earn it properly, okay?” Chi You grinned and said this to the newbies.

“Is it true? Then we will surely achieve victory.”

“We will defeat our enemy and gain experience with the Three Styles Breathing Technique.”

Chi You looked at the excited newbies and could not help but nod in satisfaction.

“That’s right. Win and you gain experience. Lose and you won’t get it. Sounds challenging, right?” Chi You said.

Then it was time for the newbies to get into the arena space. Since this was their first time, the opponents were just a Rank 2 transcendent. To the newbies trained under the Federation as well as the transcendent path of the Federation, it would hardly be a battle. But this was the perfect place to test their fighting prowess and instinct.

Tatsumi and Ame were watching since they wanted to know the battle prowess of the past individual races from numerous civilizations that they had defeated.

Although being called newbies, they were actually numerous veterans from the other races. Now that they were allowed to participate in this Afterlife Arena, they were training hard for this day.

“Looks like I am the first.” A merfolk said. He brought with him something like a giant gourd which was filled with seawater.

“Good luck.” Everyone said to him.

Then he was transported to the arena and he looked around and could hear the cheers from the spectators.

“I should go serious even when fighting the weaker ones, heh.” The merfolk then formed a bubble around his head which had gills on it. He could finally fight well even on land where there was scarce to no seawater.

Then the enemy appeared. This time it was the half-beast Croc that was present. Both had water affinity but the merfolk smiled with an intimidating aura unleashed from him.

“Well, let’s see whose water will be superior.” The merfolk then let out a large amount of seawater from his gourd that he carried on his back.

The half-beast Croc also did not want to lose and let out a roar as water started to fill in the arena. Due to the two contestants, the arena became damp and muddy.

But to the two in the arena space, it was a more suitable place to demonstrate their skills and ability.

The merfolk then slammed his hand to the mud below his feet and then large waves of seawater formed a tsunami, which the half-beast Croc countered by using the mud water as a great river’s might.

The river was large enough to cover the entire arena while the tsunami was on a smaller scale but its quality was no joke either. The two then was held back by each other’s ability.

The merfolk then used his full transcendent energy to empower the tsunami, causing it to become empowered and overpowered the river.

The half-beast Croc also let out his full transcendent energy but was losing ground instead. With a horrified expression, the half-beast Croc was washed away and was knocked out, defeated by the waves. Not only that but the tsunami gave the half-beast Croc so much pressure that he died.

Fortunately, the arena could recover the self that had died in it. The half-beast Croc then realized that he had been defeated and dejectedly left.

“I win!” The merfolk finally achieved Bronze Tier 1 and reached for the requirement to learn further of the Three Styles Breathing Technique.

Tatsumi saw that and could only shake his head.

“That is the display of overwhelming power. But as promised, we can teach you the Proficient level after your victory.” Tatsumi said while conveying the information to the merfolk.

After receiving the Proficient level Three Styles Breathing Technique, the merfolk let out words of gratitude.

“Thank you. With this, my battle prowess can be increased further.”

“No need for that. This is your just reward.” Tatsumi said while glancing at the other newbies. They fared well and even caused a sensation among the spectators.

“They are excited.” Ame commented.

“Soon their excitement will reach its peak with us climbing the ranks.” Tatsumi added.

One by one, the newbies brought about victories. They could feel that their strength had increased so much just after implementing the transcendent knowledge that the Federation had. They could not imagine what kind of transcendent the Federation had in the future if the Federation kept going like that.

In any case, the newbies were at Bronze Tier 1, and that was enough for now.

Next was the seniors' way of ascension. They needed to battle eleven times in a row total to rach Bronze Tier 6.

To make things exciting, Chi You went first.

“I am here to challenge Bronze Tier 5! Prepare an opponent for me.” Chi You then went to the arena space and shouted loudly, declaring his intent.

The Afterlife Arena responded. Dian could see through the Planet Master System that the request for rank advancement was granted and now it was going to be done.

Then, Chi You saw his opponent and grinned ferociously. He then also grasped his axes in both hands and slightly opened and widened the gap between his legs. His upper body was in a stance that was ready to pounce on his opponent.

The opponent was not losing in terms of fierceness. He also let out a killing intent and stood there with his knives on both hands.

From Dian’s observation, the opponent was actually a Killer Mushroom, a special kind of mushroom that gained sentience and could even develop into a civilization.

Its specialties were the ones Dian had bartered in the [Forum] so he knew the strengths and weaknesses of the Killer Mushroom.

Chi You then proceeded to do a melee attack, swinging both axes horizontally, his steps steady and firm. The Killer Mushroom countered by using its knives to meet the axes on its center, causing sparks to appear from the clash of their weapon.

Of course, their weapon was created based on the memory of the wielder but it was also empowered by the power of the mind. Chi You then spun while slashing, and the Killer Mushroom deflected the axes so that its swing would not be directed at his body part.

Then the Killer Mushroom started its counterattack by stabbing at a tricky angle, which Chi You dodged nimbly by sidestepping slightly; then he used his elbow to charge an attack.

The Killer Mushroom then used his knuckle a she reverse grip the knives and met the elbow with his fist.

Chi You was pushed back half a step while the Killer Mushroom took a full step back.

Their dance of struggle began, and the spectators were thrilled. But this was just the beginning, and Dian’s group knew this. Chi You was just testing himself to the level of the Killer Mushroom to hone himself.

Chi You danced so beautifully but it also held a deadly allure and a fast-tempo movement even for a Rank 3 Transcendent. The Killer Mushroom was overwhelmed by the movement and his knives could not prevent every axe’s swing from slashing at him.

Then its body was bisected and its head was beheaded. Chi You had won the battle.

Chi You breathed out, letting out some mind power as he did that.

“I win. Without even being stretching, I still managed to defeat my enemy.” Chi You murmured.

“Woah, did you see that? That fluid and fast-tempo movement…it’s unmatched in the Rank 3 transcendent.”

“Not many individuals can do that. Looks like that human is also a strong individual himself.”