126: Chapter 125 Certification of the Cosmic Will! The Arena Begins

Ten people stepped off the bus.

Their feet stepped on gravel and sand, making a "crunching" sound. The wind blew from a distance, carrying dust and a dry scent, along with an indescribable... smell of rust? Or was it the smell of blood? Lin Feng couldn't tell. He only knew that this land had not belonged to humanity for ten years.

He looked around. Below the high ground was a wide, open plain. Nothing grew on the flat ground, only yellow sand and gravel. In the center of the plain stood a stone pillar. The pillar wasn't tall, about three meters, entirely grayish-white, and its surface was covered with densely packed text. Lin Feng didn't recognize those characters, but he could feel that they contained some kind of... power. That was a marker left by the universe will—the marker of the Arena Tournament.

The General stood at the edge of the high ground, his back to them, looking at the stone pillar. The wind whipped the hem of his clothes, making a snapping sound. He remained silent for a long time before turning around.

"Are the rules clear to everyone?"

"Clear."

The General nodded, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces. It lingered on Lin Feng for a moment before moving on. "I'll repeat them once more. The Arena Tournament is ten against ten, gauntlet style. The winner continues, and the loser leaves the stage, until all ten people on one side are defeated." He paused. "If you die on the arena, you are eliminated. But you won't truly die."

Su Xiaoxiao blinked. "Won't truly die?"

The General nodded. "The rules of the Arena Tournament are set by the universe will. On the arena, your lives will be protected by the universe will. When you receive a fatal injury, you will be forcibly teleported out of the arena and judged as eliminated. You won't actually die." He glanced at Su Xiaoxiao. "But it will be very painful."

Su Xiaoxiao shrunk her neck. "Painful... that's still painful..."

Zhao Tiejun laughed. "Afraid of pain?"

Su Xiaoxiao glared at him. "Who's afraid of pain! I was just... just saying!"

Xiao Yutong ignored them and looked at the General. "General, who will the Iron Bone Clan send?"

The General shook his head. "I don't know. But according to intelligence, the ten people sent by the Iron Bone Clan this time are all Rank 50 elite warriors. They are battle-hardened and highly experienced. They aren't comparable to second-rate trash like the Gazi Race."

He paused and looked at them. "What you need to do is win. No matter who is on the other side, no matter how strong they are, you must win."

"Yes!" the ten people answered in unison.

The General turned and looked toward the stone pillar. He raised his hand, palm facing up. A golden light rose from his palm and shot into the sky. The light grew brighter and thicker, finally turning into a golden pillar of light that pierced the clouds.

The sky began to change. The clouds were torn open by the pillar of light, revealing the... starry sky behind them. It wasn't the blue sky, but a starry sky. Densely packed stars twinkled in the sky, brighter than any stars seen at night. Then, a voice echoed in everyone's minds. It wasn't any language, but every word was as clear as if it were carved into their brains.

"Earth Federation, applying for an Arena Tournament. Opponent: Iron Bone Clan. Location: Yanjiao. Rules: Ten against ten, gauntlet style. Do you confirm?"

The General spoke. "Confirm."

The voice was silent for three seconds. Then, it spoke again.

"Application approved. Arena, open."

In the sky, the pillar of light began to spread. Like ripples on water, it expanded outward circle by circle. Everywhere it passed, space began to twist and deform. Those stars were pulled into lines of light by the distorted space, like countless glowing ribbons. Then, those ribbons began to converge, condensing into a massive... arena.

The arena floated in mid-air. It was at least a kilometer in diameter, composed entirely of an unknown silver metal, and its surface was covered with complex runes. The runes flowed with golden light, emitting terrifying energy fluctuations. At the edge of the arena stood ten stone pillars, each carved with a number—from one to ten.

[Cosmic Arena · Yanjiao Arena]

[Contending Parties: Earth Federation vs Iron Bone Clan]

[Rules: Ten against ten, gauntlet style. The winner continues, and the loser leaves. Until one side has no one left to fight.]

[Current Status: Pending Activation]

The General looked at the arena and remained silent for a few seconds. Then, he turned around and looked at the ten people.

"Go."

The ten people nodded simultaneously.

alternate character name was the first to walk out. He wore ordinary sportswear and carried no weapon. He walked to the edge of the high ground and looked up at the arena. Then, he turned back and glanced at Lin Feng. That look was as calm as a pool of water. Lin Feng nodded to him. alternate character name also nodded, and then his figure vanished from the spot.

The next second, he was already standing on the arena.

Su Xiaoxiao was the second. She took a deep breath and clenched her fists. "I'm going!" She jumped off the high ground, and with a flash, she also appeared on the arena, standing next to alternate character name.

Zhao Tiejun was the third. He stretched his muscles and bones, his joints popping. "It's my turn." He walked up with large strides, his figure vanishing and reappearing on the arena.

Li Mo was the fourth. He didn't say a word, just quietly walked up. His figure vanished onto the arena.

Xiao Yutong was the fifth. She tidied her hair and stepped forward. Her figure vanished.

Zhou Tianyu was the sixth. He straightened his collar, a smile on his face. "Watch me." He walked up the high ground, and his figure vanished.

Li Mingze was the seventh. He walked to Lin Feng's side and stopped. "Lin Feng, let's do our best together." He smiled, a gentle smile like a spring breeze.

Lin Feng nodded. "Yeah."

Li Mingze stepped forward, and his figure vanished.

Ye Xinyi was the eighth. She smiled at Lin Feng. "Don't be nervous." Then, she also vanished.

alternate character name was the ninth. He looked at Lin Feng. "It's your turn."

Lin Feng nodded and stepped forward. His feet stepped on the edge of the high ground, gravel rolling down beneath him. He looked up at the arena and took a deep breath. Then, his figure vanished from the spot.

The next second, he was already standing on the arena.

Beneath his feet was a silver metal floor, cold and hard. Runes flowed underfoot, emitting a golden glow. Above him was the starry sky, with densely packed stars like countless eyes watching everything. On the arena, ten people stood in a row.

The opposite side was empty. The people from the Iron Bone Clan hadn't arrived yet.

Su Xiaoxiao stood next to Lin Feng, whispering, "It's so high... looking down from here, I can't see anything..."

Zhao Tiejun stood on her other side. "Don't look down. Look across."

Su Xiaoxiao looked up toward the opposite side. There was nothing there. Only the empty arena and the blurry starry sky in the distance. She swallowed. "When... when are they coming?"

No one answered her.

Time passed, minute by minute. One minute, two minutes, five minutes. The arena was terrifyingly quiet. There was only the sound of the wind blowing and the humming of the flowing runes.

Su Xiaoxiao couldn't take it anymore. "Are they not coming?"

Just as she finished speaking—

A light lit up on the opposite side. It wasn't golden, but silver. Cold and sharp, like moonlight. That light descended from the sky and landed on the opposite side of the arena. After the light dissipated, ten figures stood there.

No, they weren't humans. They were... skeletons. Entirely silver-white skeletons, every bone gleaming with a cold, hard metallic luster. They were all over two meters tall, some even reaching two and a half meters. They had no muscles, no skin, only bones. But those bones were harder than steel. They wore dark silver battle armor covered in complex patterns. They held various weapons—long sabers, greatswords, battle-axes, and spears. Every weapon glinted with a cold light.

The one at the very front was the tallest, at least two and a half meters. It held a two-meter-long greatsword, and a character was carved on the blade—Lin Feng didn't recognize it, but he could feel a terrifying power contained within that sword.

[Iron Bone Clan Elite Warriors · The Ten]

[Rank: 50]

[health points: ?]

[attack power: ?]

[Defense: ?]

[Skills: ?]

[Description: Elite warriors of the Iron Bone Clan, battle-hardened and highly experienced. Their bone armor is extremely hard, making it difficult for ordinary attacks to break through their Defense.]

Su Xiaoxiao looked at those skeletons, her voice trembling. "So... so tall..."

Zhao Tiejun clenched his fists. "What's the use of being tall? Just fight."

Xiao Yutong stared at the Iron Bone warrior at the front. "The one with the greatsword should be the captain."

Chen Zhixing pushed up his glasses. "All ten of them are Rank 50. Their bone armor hardness is between 8,000 and 10,000. Joints and eyes are their weaknesses. Fire and lightning attacks will be most effective."

Li Mo stood in the corner, not saying a word. But his gaze was fixed on the joints of those Iron Bone warriors.

Zhou Tianyu snorted coldly. "Aren't they just a bunch of skeletons? What's there to be afraid of?"

Li Mingze looked at the Iron Bone warriors with a calm expression. "Don't underestimate the enemy. The fact that they can stand here means they are not simple."

alternate character name stood at the very front, his back to them. He didn't say anything, just quietly watched the opposite side.

The Iron Bone captain raised its head. In its eye sockets were two clusters of ghostly blue flames. It looked at alternate character name and then at the ten people. Then, it spoke. Its voice was raspy and low, like metal grinding.

"Earthlings... ten years... you've finally come."

alternate character name didn't speak. He just watched it.

The Iron Bone captain laughed. That laughter was eerie and made one's skin crawl. "Ten years ago, your warriors also stood here. Also ten of them. Also with those kinds of eyes." It paused. "Then, they all died."

Su Xiaoxiao's face turned pale. Zhao Tiejun clenched his fists. Xiao Yutong's gaze was sharp. Zhou Tianyu gritted his teeth. Li Mingze's expression remained unchanged. Lin Feng looked at the Iron Bone captain and was silent for a few seconds. Then, he spoke.

"Ten years ago was ten years ago. Now is now."

The Iron Bone captain looked at him. Those two clusters of ghostly blue flames lingered on him for a moment. "What is your name?"

"Lin Feng."

The Iron Bone captain nodded. "I'll remember it." It raised its greatsword, the tip pointing toward the sky. "Let's begin."

The stars in the sky suddenly brightened. Those lights converged into pillars of light that shone on the arena, illuminating every person.

[Arena Tournament · Start]

[First Match: Earth Federation · alternate character name vs Iron Bone Clan · Number One]

alternate character name stepped forward. He stood in the center of the arena, looking at the Iron Bone warrior opposite him. It was a skeleton about two point three meters tall, holding a long saber. It looked at alternate character name, the flames in its eye sockets flickering.

"Earthling, state your name."

"alternate character name."

The Iron Bone warrior nodded. "Understood."

It raised its long saber, and silver light began to flow along the blade. alternate character name had no weapon; he just stood there with his hands hanging at his sides. The Iron Bone warrior moved. Its speed was incredibly fast! The long saber sliced through the air, letting out a sharp whistle! It slashed toward alternate character name's head!

alternate character name didn't dodge. He simply raised his right hand, fingers spread.

Thud!

A dull sound echoed. The long saber stopped in mid-air, blocked by an invisible force. The Iron Bone warrior was stunned. It tried to pull the saber back, but the blade was as if clamped by something and didn't budge an inch. alternate character name looked at it and clenched his fingers.

Crack—

The long saber shattered. Fragments scattered across the ground, making crisp sounds on the arena. The Iron Bone warrior looked at the hilt in its hand, the flames in its eye sockets flickering violently. Before it could react, alternate character name had already appeared in front of it. He struck its chest with a palm.

Boom!

The Iron Bone warrior was sent flying like a cannonball! It tumbled several times in the air before crashing heavily near the edge of the arena! Cracks appeared on its bone armor!

[Iron Bone Number One, health points: 67%]

It struggled to crawl up, looking at alternate character name. The flames in its eye sockets were filled with disbelief. "You... who are you?!"

alternate character name didn't answer. He just stood there, looking at it. "Do you still want to fight?"

The Iron Bone warrior was silent for three seconds. Then, it stood up and clenched its fists. "Fight!"

It charged again! Its speed was even faster than before! Silver light condensed on its fist! It threw a punch toward alternate character name's chest! alternate character name didn't dodge. He raised his hand and caught the fist.

Crack—

The sound of bones breaking. The Iron Bone warrior's fist was crushed, fragments scattering everywhere. It let out a miserable cry and stumbled back. alternate character name looked at it and let go.

"You lose."

The Iron Bone warrior stood there, looking at its shattered fist. It was silent for a long time. Then, it lowered its head.

"I lost."

As soon as it spoke, its body turned into countless points of light and dissipated on the arena. It had been teleported out.

[First Match, Earth Federation · alternate character name, Winner. Iron Bone Number One, Eliminated. Remaining: Iron Bone Clan 9, Earth Federation 10.]

The arena fell silent.

Su Xiaoxiao's mouth hung open, unable to speak for a long time. "So... so powerful..."

Zhao Tiejun looked at alternate character name's back, his expression solemn. "One move... just one move..."

Xiao Yutong also looked at alternate character name. "He's not human."

Chen Zhixing pushed up his glasses and murmured, "Body of All Laws... All Laws Return to One... It truly lives up to its reputation."

Zhou Tianyu's expression was somewhat unsightly. He gritted his teeth and didn't speak. Li Mingze looked at alternate character name with a calm expression, but deep in his eyes, there was a trace of... wariness.

Lin Feng also looked at alternate character name. Only one thought was in his mind—this person is very strong.

Opposite them, the Iron Bone captain looked at alternate character name, the two clusters of ghostly blue flames flickering. "Not bad," it said. "Next."

The second match began.