CHAPTER 116: JAYDEN VS BLAZER 2

Chapter 115

Han was not someone who startled easily. No matter how bizarre or absurd the situation, his calm was unshakable. But right now, even his composed demeanor cracked. His eyes narrowed, not in fear—but in disbelief.

Jay had taken a stance. Not just any stance, but one that Han recognized instantly.

"The Fourth Jungle Art... Cheetah Stride?"

Han’s mind raced. That wasn’t just a random technique—it was one of the most difficult Jungle Arts to master. Of the fifteen, the Fourth, Eighth, Twelfth, and Fourteenth were notoriously complex, demanding precise control, instinctive movement, and an almost supernatural sense of timing. The Fifteenth? That one wasn’t even in the realm of discussion yet.

But that wasn’t the only thing making Han uneasy.

Even if Jay had somehow learned the technique, executing it with such confidence and control was something else entirely. From what Han had analyzed earlier, Jay’s body was at the Prime Human Stage—a peak for non-awakeners. Yet somehow, his use of the technique was... near flawless. That wasn’t supposed to be possible.

And that’s why Han silently concluded:

"Blazer is going to lose."

It didn’t matter that Blazer was an awakener, someone who wielded tremendous elemental power. Martial arts at this level, especially when mastered and used by someone with Jay’s calm precision, could close the gap between power stages—and even tilt it.

Blazer scoffed, glancing sideways at Jay, who had taken what looked like a low sprinting position. A stance.

To Blazer, it didn’t matter.

"Another flashy martial art? Go ahead, try me,"

he sneered.

"Fourth Jungle Art: Cheetah Stride."

Jay’s voice was calm, almost emotionless.

Then—he vanished.

To most of the spectators, he simply disappeared.

Blazer’s expression changed immediately. One moment Jay was several meters away, the next—his fist was already crashing into Blazer’s face.

BOOM!

The force of the blow launched Blazer across the stage like a ragdoll, his body twisting mid-air before slamming down hard. Gasps echoed throughout the arena.

Even Han’s jaw clenched in surprise.

"That speed... he’s nearly matching my own Cheetah Stride. And my body’s at the Superhuman level..."

Unknown to Han, Jay had something special—his Qi could enhance the Jungle Arts. When channeled properly, it not only amplified their force but also sharpened their precision. The more Qi infused, the more devastating the effect.

And Jay had infused a lot.

"Is he out?" someone in the audience whispered.

All eyes turned to Blazer’s limp form, sprawled across the stage like a broken puppet. For a moment, it seemed over.

Then, slowly—he moved.

Blazer pushed himself up, face twisted between rage and pain. Blood poured freely from his broken nose, painting a violent contrast against the fiery aura that still surrounded him.

Jay smiled casually, gave him a thumbs-up, and said:

"You look nice."

The audience erupted with laughter. The visual contrast between Blazer’s mangled face and his blazing, intimidating flames was too much—a horrifyingly hilarious sight.

Blazer roared, his fury exploding.

"I’ll kill you!!"

His flames surged, roaring to new heights. With a single motion, he conjured a massive fireball and hurled it toward Jay, blazing like a miniature sun.

Jay remained perfectly calm as the giant fireball barreled toward him. He planted one fist at his side while the other formed a vicious claw in front of him. With a soft, confident voice he announced:

"First Jungle Art: Wolf Clutch."

Without breaking eye contact, Jay’s leading hand slid past the flame ball. Then, with uncanny precision, his trailing hand shifted into position, mimicking the movement of someone holding the fire in place. Although his hands never touched the flames, it was as if he had captured and controlled it—pausing it for a heartbeat, spinning it gently, then hurling it back toward Blazer with perfect aim.

The arena fell silent. Blazer—and indeed, everyone watching—stood rooted, stunned beyond belief. In an instant, Jay’s display shattered all assumptions: yes, he was an awakener.

Shaking off the shock, Blazer refocused, pushing his palm toward the spinning flame, trying to defuse it. It slowly deflated but didn’t vanish completely. Burning embers still crackled, drifting toward the stage.

Summoning his last ounce of strength, Blazer formed a flaming fist and struck the ember, turning it into a spiral of smoke that finally dispersed.

A quiet sigh of relief drifted from him—until he felt a cold, powerful grip clamp around his hand.

He looked up and saw Jay standing before him, the same infuriating grin on his face.

"First Jungle Art: Wolf Clutch," Jay repeated, launching Blazer into the air. He twisted him rapidly before slamming him into the metallic stage with such brutal force that it bent on impact.

CREAK. A massive dent appeared in the stage—made of one of the strongest metals on Earth.

The crowd stared in horror. Blazer had just delivered the blow—but now he was the one broken.

In the Vip section –

The Beast shot the Undying Flame a look — smug, silent, and all too familiar.

That look said everything.

"I told you."

The Undying Flame exhaled sharply through his nose, rubbing the bridge of his brow. He hadn’t cared much about the bet earlier, but now he was caught in it whether he liked it or not.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the fight unfold. Jay, that calm, unreadable young man who looked no older than twenty, was dominating his younger brother — a fighter feared across regions.

It didn’t sit right with him.

Even the Beast, usually half-distracted during matches like this, was watching Jay with a serious expression. He’d expected strength — but not this.

The Undying Flame’s mind stirred with suspicion. No mere martial artist should be capable of this.

Jay... might not be as ordinary as he seemed.

But answers could wait.

The tournament wasn’t over yet.

But before anyone could savor the moment, a slow, ominous change washed over the arena.

Blazer lay still for what felt like an eternity, until suddenly his body lifted off the stage. Heat waves rippled outward in scorching waves as he hovered mid-air. When he regained focus, his fiery eyes blazed with unnatural intensity—no longer human, but elemental terror incarnate. The flames at his core roared in approval.

A heatwave washed over the stands; the air shimmered.

Something had shifted.

Blazer’s vented rage simmered just below the surface.

"This isn’t good," the Undying Flame muttered, his voice low with concern.

Blazer had entered his Rage Form—a state where his power surged far beyond typical A-Rankers. In this form, he was terrifyingly strong, perhaps even unmatched among his rank. But there was a cost.

He was completely unstable.

Consumed by a burning desire to incinerate everything in sight, friend or foe, logic and restraint no longer applied.

Blazer’s eyes locked onto Jay, firestorm fury behind his silent gaze. There were no taunts now. No arrogant boasts. Just cold, murderous intent.

Jay, on the other hand, stood unfazed. His expression remained flat, as if Blazer’s transformation was nothing more than a change in the weather. He could sense the surge in power, yes—but fear? Not even a flicker.

"So this is your true strength..." Jay thought, slowly exhaling. "Still not enough."

Without a word, Blazer raised a single hand.

The flames responded instantly.

A colossal blaze ignited in the air above him, rapidly morphing into the form of a fiery phoenix. Its wings beat once—twice—and then it launched toward Jay like a divine judgment descending from the sky.

The air itself trembled under the sheer heat.

Even Jay felt the pressure this time. It wasn’t an illusion—this attack could cause real damage.

But he was ready.

He slid one foot back, his hands shaping into a fierce, clawed stance—balanced, fluid, lethal.

"Second Jungle Art: Panther Strike."

To be continued....