Tangen threw the giant red star at Techxin, but Techxin smirked and dodged just in time. The star exploded behind him, sending out a shockwave that rattled the arena.
But Techxin didn't slow down.
In an instant, he dashed forward, closing the distance, and punched Tangen.
Tangen barely managed to block with both arms, revealing red bandages on his left arm and purple bandage on his right arm wrapped tightly around them. Despite his defense, the force pushed him back slightly.
He tried to look up, but Techxin was already on him.
Punch after punch, Techxin's fists rained down, hammering against Tangen's arms with relentless speed, forcing him back. Each hit sent tremors through the arena, and before long—Tangen's back slammed into the wall.
"Got yeah," Techxin grinned.
His fists blurred, moving even faster.
The wall behind Tangen cracked under the sheer force of the barrage, forming a pattern of destruction—a dance of devastation.
Tangen, still blocking, he spread his left hand fingers outwards.
Then, he closed them all once back into a fist.
Techxin's body was suddenly launched backward, as if an invisible force had struck him, sending him crashing into the opposite side of the arena.
Techxin grunted as he pulled himself out of the crater in the wall. "What was that?"
Tangen simply shrugged. "That's something you don't need to know."
Without wasting time, Tangen summoned millions of small stars in his hand and scattered them throughout the arena.
Techxin's smirk widened.
Instead of backing away, he rushed forward, weaving through the stars at inhuman speeds, his figure a motion blur. Each star was supposed to detonate the moment he passed, but he was too fast—not a single one touched him.
Tangen's eyes narrowed.
In his right hand, he formed a single star, smaller than the others but far brighter. Then, he closed his fist around it.
The moment Techxin appeared in front of him, Tangen punched forward.
The glowing red fist slammed into Techxin's stomach, sending him skidding back.
Then, the same force that pushed him back before bushed him back again then—BOOM.
The millions of stars exploded at once.
A massive smoke cloud filled the arena, hiding Techxin from view.
Tangen raised his right hand to the sky, and above it, millions of red stars aligned, forming the shape of a universe.
He pointed to the stars with his left hand, then started swirling his finger in the air.
The red-star universe spun, its movements mimicking the cosmos itself. A gravitational pull formed within it, affecting everything around them.
Tangen waited for the dust to settle.
As the smoke cleared, Techxin emerged.
A thin trail of blood dripped down his lip, but he barely seemed to notice.
From the audience, a woman stood up.
One of Maxi's stepmothers.
With a warm, soft voice, she shouted, "Come on, Techxin! You can do this!" She waved her arms frantically, trying to cheer him on.
Techxin sighed. "Mama, why do you always have to embarrass me? And in front of my siblings and my opponent?"
His mother crossed her arms. "Shut up and take my encouragement."
Techxin laughed. "Alright, Mama."
Tangen raised a brow. "Mamas boy, huh?"
Techxin wiped the blood from his mouth. His tone dropped.
"Keep my mother's name out of your mouth… or I might actually have to kill you."
Tangen chuckled. "Noted."
The king's voice boomed across the arena.
"TWO MINUTES ARE UP!"
Techxin sighed. "Two minutes already? Well... I guess it's time to get serious."
Then—
"BLESSING AWAKEN."
A red aura burst from Techxin's body.
The blood on his lip rose into the air—not just the blood from his wound, but even more poured from his mouth, forming a floating crimson sphere.
He grabbed it.
It shaped itself into an axe.
Techxin smirked, spinning the blood-forged weapon in his grip.
Across from him, Tangen nodded.
In his own hand, he summoned a red star. Then, he closed his fingers around it, reshaping it into a makeshift sword.
In an instant, it ignited—burning with bright crimson flames.
Tangen removed his cloak, revealing his muscular frame and his black shirt, decorated with strange blue writings that Maxi couldn't quite read.
He took a stance, pointing his sword at Techxin.
Techxin grinned.
Then, they charged.
BOOM!
Their weapons clashed in the center of the arena, sending a shockwave so powerful that the entire arena shook.
They pushed apart—then immediately rushed back in.
Another clash.
Another shockwave.
The arena rumbled, stones cracked, and dust fell from the ceiling.
This time, Techxin overpowered Tangen.
He forced Tangen's sword downward, slamming it against the ground.
Then, he spun his axe, switching to the bladed side—
—And slashed across Tangen's chest.
Blood gushed.
Techxin followed up by jumping slightly, then sideways-kicking Tangen in the same wound.
Tangen stumbled back, clutching his bleeding chest.
But he didn't panic.
Raising his right hand, he summoned seven stars—all of them transformed into flaming swords.
Then, with his left hand, he gestured.
An invisible force pressed down on Techxin, making him unable to move.
The seven flaming swords struck, attacking in perfect unison, their movements flawless and uninterrupted.
Yet—
Techxin laughed.
Not in pain.
Not in fear.
But in excitement.
"BLESSING LOCK IN."
The air thickened—becoming nearly unbreathable.
Maxi gasped, clutching his throat, struggling to stay conscious.
Techxin's eyes glowed red.
He stood up—completely ignoring the swords still cutting into him.
Tangen's eyes narrowed. He threw all his swords at once, trying to pin Techxin down.
But—
The moment they pierced Techxin's flesh…
Their power disappeared.
The flames vanished.
The weapons crumbled.
The blood from Techxin's wounds flowed into his axe, making it even sharper.
He swung—
Tangen barely had time to react. He summoned a giant, shining star, forcing it to explode to push Techxin back.
But Techxin only staggered slightly.
Tangen took a step back. "Fine. If you want to use that, then I'll just have to use something even stronger."
He raised his arms.
"BLESSING FULL ENLIGHTENMENT."
His body shifted.
He grew taller.
Four horns protruded from his head.
His eyes became demonic—
Two more eyes opened below them.
And a arm appeared—on his back, near his neck.
it held a red sun and hunged before his face like an anglerfish's lure.
His veins pulsed—his right arm glowing red, his left black.
The air in the arena balanced.
Maxi could finally breathe again.
He stared in horror.
"What the hell is that…?"