The atmosphere in the main arena was electric as Kai and Li Wei faced each other. The setting sun cast long shadows, bathing the platform in a dramatic orange glow. The murmur of the massive crowd faded into a tense silence. All eyes, from the lowest Outer Disciple to the Sect Master himself, were fixed on the two finalists.
Li Wei stood tall and proud, radiating an aura of power that pressed down on the surroundings. His Peak Level 9 Qi Condensation felt leagues above Kai's Level 7. His eyes held a mixture of arrogance and grudging respect – arrogance from his position, respect because Kai had somehow navigated his way here, defeating strong opponents along the way.
"Disciple Kai," Li Wei's voice boomed, confident and clear. "You have surprised many today. Your tricks and gadgets are amusing. But this is where your journey ends. Raw power and true mastery of the Sect's arts prevail over cheap gimmicks."
Kai simply offered a calm salute. "Senior Brother Li Wei. May the best disciple win." He drew his carbon fiber bokken, its simple black form contrasting sharply with the palpable energy radiating from Li Wei.
The supervising Elder gave the signal. "Final Match! Begin!"
Li Wei didn't hesitate. With a roar, he unleashed the power of his cultivation. He didn't bother with subtle probes; he went for overwhelming force immediately. Palm strikes, imbued with thick, churning Azure Cloud Qi, slammed towards Kai like miniature battering rams. The air crackedle around his fists.
Kai immediately activated the Combat Assistance Module. [10 Points deducted. Balance: -7. Debt: 7 Points]. He needed every edge he could get.
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He met the first palm strike not by dodging, but with a direct block, channeling his own Level 7 Qi into the carbon fiber bokken.
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted from the impact. Kai slid back several feet, his arm vibrating intensely, but he held his ground. The bokken, incredibly, didn't break. More importantly, the impact felt… lessened. The system-provided 'Reinforced Impact Sports Padding' beneath his robes did its job, absorbing a significant portion of the blunt force that bypassed his Qi defense.
Li Wei's eyes widened slightly in surprise. He had expected that first blow, carrying nearly seventy percent of his strength, to shatter Kai's weapon and possibly break his arm. The boy's resilience, and that of his strange wooden sword, was greater than anticipated.
"Impressive defense!" Li Wei conceded, but his arrogance remained. "Let's see how long you last!"
He pressed his attack, unleashing a furious barrage of Qi-enhanced strikes – fists, kicks, palm thrusts. His movements were fast, powerful, each blow carrying significant weight. Kai was forced into a purely defensive posture, constantly retreating, blocking, parrying. His 'high-grip boots' kept him stable, his padding absorbed glancing blows, and his light bokken allowed for rapid defensive maneuvers guided by the Combat Module.
He looked like he was utterly overwhelmed, dancing on the edge of defeat. The crowd murmured, most believing it was only a matter of time. Li Wei was simply too strong, his Qi too dense. Kai couldn't possibly keep this up.
But Kai knew he was keeping it up. He was weathering the storm, conserving his own Qi as much as possible while forcing Li Wei to expend significant amounts maintaining his relentless assault. Li Wei's arrogance was making him impatient, looking for a quick, decisive victory. Kai just needed to survive the initial onslaught, find his rhythm, and wait for his opportunity. The padding was crucial, absorbing impacts that would have otherwise rapidly depleted his defensive Qi or caused internal injury. Li Wei, unaware of the hidden protection, was likely misjudging the effectiveness of his own attacks. The battle had begun, and Kai, though battered, was still in the fight.
