CHAPTER 213: SPORTING MATCH

The great hall had been quickly rearranged to accommodate Shen Lao’s proposed combat demonstrations.

Servants had moved furniture to create an open space in the center while guests formed a loose circle around the impromptu arena.

The atmosphere was electric with anticipation as various attendees whispered about who might step forward to challenge Lord Ambrose.

"This should prove interesting," Ambassador Lín observed to his daughter, unable to completely conceal his excitement. "A chance to assess the Empire’s rising military talent firsthand."

Near the edge of the makeshift arena, the marriage candidates had positioned themselves strategically.

Princess Liona maintained her composure while clearly fascinated by the prospect of seeing Grim’s abilities demonstrated.

Lianna looked concerned, as if she sensed something dangerous in the air.

Mira watched with interest, while Ruxi’s golden eyes held predatory anticipation.

"Who will be first?" Shen Lao called out, his scholarly demeanor replaced by the enthusiasm of someone genuinely excited to see combat. "Surely among our distinguished guests, someone wishes to test their skills against our host?"

For a moment, silence stretched across the hall as guests exchanged glances. Then a voice spoke up from the international delegations.

"I will step forward," came a clear declaration. A young man emerged from the Colere group, his bearing suggesting military training and his expression carrying obvious determination.

"Jin Wei," Ambassador Lín said with apparent surprise. "Are you certain this is wise?"

"I am, Uncle," the young man replied respectfully. "House Jin has produced warriors for ten generations. I would be honored to test myself against Lord Ambrose’s legendary abilities."

Jin Wei appeared to be in his early twenties, with the lean build of a trained fighter and movements that suggested considerable skill.

He wore formal robes that were clearly designed to accommodate combat, and the sword at his side marked him as a serious practitioner of martial arts.

"Jin Wei of House Jin," Ambassador Lín announced formally. "He is in the Colere Royal Guard."

"An honor," Grim replied, though the dark mana in his body was already responding to the prospect of violence with anticipation that felt almost hungry.

Thanks to Ruxi the pulsing and the change of his eye color had ceased.

"Shall we establish rules for this demonstration?"

"First to yield or first blood?" Shen Lao suggested. "Nothing lethal, of course—this is entertainment, not warfare."

"First blood," Jin Wei said with a confident bow. "Though I warn you, Lord Ambrose, I am not easily overcome."

As the two fighters moved to the center of the improvised arena, Grim felt the dark mana surging through his bloodstream like liquid fire.

Every sense was heightened, every muscle felt coiled with predatory energy, and the urge to not just defeat but dominate his opponent was becoming overwhelming.

[Be careful,] Caius warned urgently. [The corruption is affecting your judgment. This should be a friendly demonstration, not a battle to the death.]

"I know what it should be," Grim replied silently, drawing Echo from its sheath. The blade seemed to respond to his altered state, its steel reflecting light with unusual intensity.

Jin Wei drew his own weapon—a curved blade typical of Eastern fighting styles—and settled into a stance that spoke of years of disciplined training. "Ready when you are, Lord Ambrose."

The moment Shen Lao signaled the beginning of the match, Jin Wei launched into an aggressive assault. His blade work was impressive, combining speed with precision in patterns that clearly represented advanced technique.

The Eastern Mountain Style emphasized flowing movements that could shift from attack to defense seamlessly.

But Grim barely registered the technical skill of his opponent’s attacks. The dark mana was singing in his blood, making every movement feel effortless while simultaneously filling him with an almost overwhelming desire to hurt something.

He parried Jin Wei’s opening strikes with casual efficiency, his enhanced reflexes making the young warrior’s attacks seem sluggish.

Each deflection was precise but carried more force than necessary, sending vibrations up Jin Wei’s blade that clearly surprised him.

"Impressive speed," Jin Wei acknowledged, shifting to a more defensive approach. "But let me show you the true strength of Eastern technique."

"Mountain’s Foundation!" Jin Wei called out, his movements suddenly becoming more grounded and powerful. Each strike now carried significantly more force, and his defensive posture became nearly immovable.

The technique was genuinely skillful, and under normal circumstances, Grim might have been impressed.

But the dark mana whispered that such displays were meaningless against true power, that Jin Wei was simply delaying his inevitable defeat.

Grim’s response was a sudden acceleration that caught his opponent completely off guard. Moving with speed enhanced by corruption, he stepped inside Jin Wei’s guard and struck with the pommel of his sword, catching the young warrior in the solar plexus.

Jin Wei staggered backward, his breath coming in gasps, but managed to maintain his grip on his weapon. "Well struck," he admitted. "But the match isn’t—"

His words were cut off as Grim pressed his advantage with a series of attacks that were far more aggressive than any friendly demonstration required.

Each strike was aimed not just to score a hit but to cause damage, to inflict pain that would demonstrate the futility of resistance.

The crowd began to murmur with concern as it became clear that something was wrong with the tone of the combat. What had begun as an exhibition was rapidly becoming something much more dangerous.

"Lord Ambrose," Jin Wei called out, desperation creeping into his voice as he struggled to defend against the increasingly vicious assault, "this was meant to be a demonstration—"

"It is a demonstration," Grim replied. "A demonstration of what happens when someone challenges House Ambrose."

The dark mana surged as he spoke, and Grim felt his last restraints dissolving. Jin Wei wasn’t just an opponent in a friendly match—he was prey to be hunted, an enemy to be crushed, a symbol of everyone who had ever dared to question his family’s strength.

Jin Wei attempted one final defensive maneuver, trying to create distance while calling out, "I yield! I yield the match!"

But yield was a word that the corruption didn’t recognize. Grim’s response was a devastating overhead strike that shattered Jin Wei’s guard and sent his sword flying across the improvised arena.

The young warrior fell to his knees, defenseless and clearly surrendering, his hands raised in the universal gesture of submission.

"The match is over," Shen Lao called out urgently. "Jin Wei has yielded—"

Instead of accepting the victory, Grim grabbed Jin Wei’s extended arm and twisted with ruthless efficiency. The sound of snapping bone echoed through the suddenly silent hall as the young man’s forearm broke cleanly in two places.

Jin Wei’s scream of agony cut through the air like a blade, and several guests cried out in shock and horror.

Ambassador Lín startled forward, his diplomatic composure shattered by his suffering.

"Enough!" Princess Liona’s voice carried imperial authority as she stepped toward the arena. "The match is concluded!"

Grim looked up at her, his dark eyes holding no recognition of restraint or mercy. For a moment, it seemed he might challenge even the imperial heir’s authority. Then, slowly, he released Jin Wei’s broken arm and stepped backward.

"The demonstration is complete," he said with cold satisfaction, his voice still carrying those unnatural harmonics. "I trust our guests have learned what they came to learn."

Jin Wei collapsed completely, cradling his shattered arm while Ambassador Lín and several other Colere delegates rushed to provide aid. The young warrior’s face was pale with shock and pain, and it was clear that his arm would require immediate medical attention.

"Perhaps," Ruxi’s voice cut through the shocked silence, "we should thank Lord Ambrose for such a comprehensive display of ability."

Her tone carried approval that was audible to everyone present, and several guests turned to stare at her with expressions ranging from shock to disgust.

"Medical attention," Chen Xing said quickly, moving to take control of the situation. "Jin Wei needs medical attention immediately. And perhaps we should return to the evening’s other festivities."

As servants rushed to assist the injured warrior and the crowd began to disperse in uncomfortable silence, Grim found himself standing alone in the center of the arena.

The dark mana continued to pulse through his system, and he realized with growing horror that he felt no remorse for what he had done.

If anything, he felt satisfied—as if breaking Jin Wei’s arm had fulfilled some deep need that the corruption had created within him.

[What have you become?] Caius asked with anguish that cut through even the dark mana’s influence.

"Stronger," Grim replied silently, though even as he said it, he wasn’t entirely certain the answer was his own. "He would have played dirty eventually. You should recognize his name. I killed his brother in the tournament a few months ago."