Chapter Two: Between Life and Death

The Lost City had been abuzz these past few days, with everyone talking about a duel.
“Have you heard? A demon is going to duel a human!”
“Demon-human duels aren’t all that rare, are they?”
“Not usually, but this demon has developed about fifty percent of his brain domain, and was once the director of an institution in Zone Nine.”
“A powerhouse like him entering a duel—now that’s almost unheard of!”
“And the human—is he from the Lost City?”
“No, the human isn’t from Zone Two at all, but from Zone Nine.”
“How could that be? Why would the Lost City allow a human from Zone Nine to enter?”
“It seems to be the will of the elders up above. No one really understands the reason.”
“How old is that human?”
“He’s only sixteen or seventeen, apparently.”
“That can’t be right—a teenager facing an ex-director in a duel? Is there any suspense at all?”
“Suspense aside, the point is this: in our demon territory, a native is dueling an outsider human. That’s fundamentally wrong.”
“I get it. Maybe some elders want to humiliate the human—rather than killing him outright, they want him to die before a crowd, suffering disgrace.”
“I suspect as much.”

Many people discussed the upcoming battle between Xia Yan and Ayu, the former director. The duel was shrouded in mystery, leaving everyone perplexed.
An outsider human, facing off against a demon powerhouse—what qualifications did he have to do so?
Was it strength? Or connections?
Either way, he seemed a laughingstock.
Strength? A sixteen-year-old human child, matched against a director-level powerhouse?

Connections? He was a human, and an outsider from Zone Nine. What connections could he possibly have?
Precisely because of these mysteries, the debate was fierce, and Xia Yan’s name became widely known. Yet everyone understood—the fate of this outsider was to be killed before the masses, a cruel execution.
Death itself might not be terrifying, but to be sentenced publicly in the arena, under countless eyes, was a tragic end.
Arenas like these were commonplace; every city had them, often more than one—official, certified venues for such matters.
Conflicts among the gifted were inevitable, but private fights were forbidden by the authorities.
If both sides agreed, they could apply to duel in the arena; the victor had the right to dispose of the loser—either defeat them or kill them.

The match between Xia Yan and Ayu would take place in the Radiant Arena, using the largest combat zone. It was said to accommodate over two hundred thousand spectators.
Truth be told, few wanted to attend—the duel was unequal, and the battle might be over before anyone even warmed their seat.
Those interested could simply tune into the broadcast via their light-brain, as the duel was widely publicized and all footage would be available.
Even so, over fifty thousand people flocked to the arena that day—not to witness Xia Yan’s execution, but to admire the strength of Ayu, the former director.
Ayu, with fifty percent brain domain development, was a rare sight. They came to bask in the glory of such a figure.

Xia Yan entered the Radiant Arena accompanied by the steward, Lily.
“Human,” Lily halted, her expression grave. “The mistress asked me to remind you—do not kill Ayu.”
“Why doesn’t she tell me herself?” Xia Yan joked.
“Silence,” Lily snapped with anger. “Human, no one wants you to survive—not even me. I’m delivering this message only because the mistress instructed me.”
She shot Xia Yan an angry look and walked toward a private suite high in the tower, where Emilia sat, watching the arena intently.
It was hard to believe that this powerful pureblood would attend the duel in person.

Inside the luxurious suite, Emilia asked,
“Lily, who do you think will win?”
“That human could never win,” Lily replied firmly. “Though I’m merely relaying the mistress’s orders, I believe Ayu cannot lose. The message seems pointless.”
Though she respected Emilia, she refused to lie without reason. To her, the human was doomed, with no chance of survival.

“I see,” Emilia narrowed her eyes, teasingly. “Then in the end, did he agree to my request?”
“He didn’t answer directly,” Lily said.
Emilia glanced sidelong at Xia Yan in the arena, displeased.
Xia Yan, if you dare defy me this time, you will surely die. I hope you know your limits.

Zone Nine, Ability Training Institution, Miyagi’s office. She had easily hacked into Zone Two’s systems, since the duel was publicized by the demon race.
She could see Xia Yan and Ayu, the crowds, even the expressions of disdain, rage, and bloodlust among some spectators.
The world was filled with enemies—not a single ally. It was a dead end.
“What will you do, Xia Yan?” Miyagi watched him. “Ayu’s strength is formidable—even stronger than most directors. You may not be able to defeat her now.”
“To kill her outright gives you hope of victory. Or you could hold back, avoid killing her, and just aim to win the fight—but then you’d be hesitant, unable to use your full power. Even a certain victory might slip away, and you could lose, or die.”
Miyagi sighed softly. Facing Ayu, to not go all out was tantamount to suicide.
“Killing Ayu would prove your identity—we could always accept you. But if you spare her, even if you win, no human would ever trust you again. There would be no turning back.”
She understood well—this was a difficult choice, with little hope either way. No matter what, he might bear the title of traitor.
You’re a human, not a demon. Forever seen as a betrayer, forever hunted—that is a bitter fate.

Miyagi gritted her teeth. “Xia Yan, but I believe you can find your way out, as you always have.”
“Go on, Xia Yan. Don’t bow to the demons. You’ll always be one of us.”
“But if I lose my bet, will you become our enemy?”
Miyagi had sacrificed much. She was no mere observer.
Without her, Xia Yan would never have become a disciple of the Thousand Sects, never have developed his body to thirty percent, never have awakened his demon abilities.