Rise of The Demon General

The battle royale continued haphazardly. Amon remained at the edge and threw anyone who came his way out of the arena. He saved a lot of energy by fighting this way. He also did not have to worry about his back.

Amon watched the ongoing fights. Everything was in chaos. Those that fought honorably in the inner part of the arena, exhausting their energy to win a fight, only to be hit from the back by others who saw the perfect opportunity. Such a scene was laughable.

Those that were unconscious, surrendered, or unable to fight anymore, were carried by an invisible energy up in the air before being sent to the outside of the arena. Although Amon could not see nor sense this invisible energy, he had no doubt it was Pai Kuan's doing. This chaotic arena was getting less crowded as time passed.

However, this chaotic condition slowly changed. Humans were orderly creatures. Despite their tendency to descend into chaos, they always somehow found a way to organize themselves. That's how civilization started. And as it appeared, this order slowly took shape within this chaotic battlefield.

Some people started to band together. Maybe because they know each other, or because of their similar backgrounds, or simply just because they stood next to each other and decided to work together.

They realized that one hundred survivors would be picked. In other words, there were ninety-nine participants who they didn't need to fight. So, if they worked together, they could pass this preliminary round together.

The most obvious were the clans' youths. They had better influence, they also had a better circle of friends. Once they saw someone they knew from the other clans, they discussed and banded together. In retaliation, the commoner youths also started to band together. The once chaotic battlefield turned into the battles between several hastily formed factions.

Amon stayed at the edge, not joining any of these so-called groups. Still, being alone meant easy picking. A group of twelve youths came to him.

A large-sized youth who seemed to be the leader of this patched-up group bellowed, "You! I see you are still without a team. Follow me and we will battle ourselves to be amongst the one hundred winners of this preliminary round."

Amon looked at this rag-tag group, they seemed to be a collection of commoners, except for the large youth who claimed to be the leader. His attire showed that he was amongst those of a higher class, but not at the level of the Lin or Wei clan.

"I don't mind joining your pathetic group," Amon said. "But you all have to listen to me and do exactly what I tell you."

The large youth seemed to be taken aback. He didn't expect a lone youth dared to assert dominance when he was backed by so many others.

"You seem to don't understand your situation," he said. "I am Lau Kabun from the Lau clan. I am the fittest to take charge. I offer you the chance to join because I pity you for being alone, while we could have easily beat you up. Is this how you repay my goodwill?"

"No, this is how I repay your goodwill," Amon said as he disappeared. Before Lau Kabun registered anything, Amon had reappeared in front of him. Amon had applied the essence of Silence Swift Stab art without using a dagger. His arm thrust out and his fist buried deep into Lau Kabun's belly. Lau Kabun's body curled from the punch before a strong shockwave threw his body tens of meters back.

Amon did not use the full strength of Bone Shattering Shadow Fist because he didn't want to kill the boy and get disqualified. Still, the punch was enough to render Lau Kabun unconscious. He was lying on the floor not moving.

The others that were with him only stared at Amon in fear.

"Is there anyone else who thinks you are more fit to be the leader than me?" Amon asked as he stared at them.

They didn't respond.

"Good, now follow me!"

*

Lin Gai had also found a team to hang around with. They consisted of twenty people with a leader named Xin Wuming. He was a youth from the Xin clan, which was a subordinate clan of the Lin clan. Just like how the Wei clan was subordinate to the Lei clan.

Lin Gai had used his status as a Lin youth to demand Xin Wuming accept him. Didn't want to bring trouble to his clan, Xin Wuming could only comply.

Under Xin Wuming's leadership, they had managed to defeat several other groups that had tried to take their chances on them. However, after Lin Gai joined. He had irresponsibly asserted dominance and disrupted their cooperation, resulting in the loss of several members, which annoyed Xin Wuming greatly. Yet, he didn't dare to show too much defiance. The other youths still chose to listen more to Xin Wuming though, as they could tell who was a better leader.

"That's Lin Mo!" Lin Gai uttered when he saw Amon some distance away. "Come!" He said to Xin Wuming. "We will increase our team numbers. Replacing those useless ones who got knocked down."

The others were irritated by Lin Gai's insensitive words by calling the friends who had fought together with them useless. They turned to Xin Wuming, who unwillingly followed after Lin Gai.

"Lin Mo!" Lin Gai called out. "Come. Have your team joined mine. With more people, we will defeat the others and pass this Preliminary round together."

Amon replied, "Good. Then all of you have to listen to me."

Lin Gai who heard, immediately yelled, "What do you mean?! I am more senior than you. Of course, I am the leader! You have to listen to me."

"A leader needs to be the strongest one. Let's fight then, we see who wins," Amon said.

Lin Gai spat. "You are just like what I heard. A mad dog! If you are not of the Lin clan, I would have gladly taught you a lesson. If you don't want to cooperate, then forget it. We are leaving!"

Lin Gai had turned around but Amon's shout stop him. "Hold! Those of you who had come, stand with me and I will bring you to pass this Preliminary round. Otherwise, I will put all of you down!"

The youths were taken aback by Amon's aggressiveness. Their team had slightly more numbers, but this boy was talking as if they were the ones at disadvantage.

"Don't be ridiculous! No need to entertain him. We are leaving," Lin Gai said.

Xin Wuming however, was impressed by Amon's character. Still, he won't submit to one who only boasted but had no ability. He said to Amon, "Exchange one move with me. If you come out on top, I will join you and follow your command."

"What are you doing? I said let's leave!" Lin Gai exclaimed.

Xin Wuming ignored him. The one in front of him was also from the Lin clan. So, he would not be seen as disrespecting the Lin clan by disobeying Lin Gai. He was rather annoyed by that kid, after all.

"I'll let you start first," Amon said as he put one arm in front pointing at Xin Wuming.

The others gave them some room, as well as formed a defensive perimeter to take care of any lone youth that dared to come at them. Lin Gai was still shouting, but when he saw everyone was ignoring him, he felt embarrassed. He gritted his teeth and swore he would get Amon back for this.

Xin Wuming assumed a stance. They were deciding winner and loser in one move, so he would use his strongest art from the get-go. He focused his mind on his art. Aether accumulated at the tip of his finger. His finger turned as hard as iron. When he was ready, he thrust out.

His finger appeared to be elongating. Until it became long enough as if he was holding a very long needle. This needle thrust at Amon with high speed. Xin Wuming targeted Amon's shoulder so as to not deal him with a fatal wound.

When the sharp end of the needle was about to stab, Amon's extended arm moved.

*CLANG!*

A sound of metallic impact was heard. Before he knew it, Xin Wuming's found that half of his iron needle had disappeared. While right in front of his neck was a rotating ring of water held by Amon's hand. If Amon drove the ring forward, his neck would have been sliced off, just like how his iron needle had been cut into two easily.

"I… I lost," Xin Wuming said.

The ring of water disappeared from Amon's hand.

A cold sweat rolled down his forehead. Despite the tournament rule ensuring his safety, Amon's move just now could have easily taken his life. He had never been defeated this swift and this utterly against an opponent of equal cultivation. Yet, his current opponent's mastery of arcane art was extraordinary. That sharp ring of water had been formed instantly when he himself still needed time to focus on executing his arcane art.

"You follow my words now?" Amon asked.

"During this preliminary tournament, yes," Xin Wuming replied.

"Good," Amon stared at the others. "The rest of you. Do you follow? Or do you want to be put down right here?"