Lufa's Battle

Central Legion, War God Temple.

The temple's dome soared high above, painted with magnificent murals of the heroic battles fought by generations of War Gods, as though recounting the glory of the past.

The temple was brilliantly lit, its radiance shining upon the enormous Competition Arena. At that moment, two figures stood facing each other atop it, and an intense duel was about to begin.

Energy ripples gently stirred around the Competition Arena, while the glowing patterns on the floor and walls suddenly dimmed.

Immediately afterward, a soft yet resilient barrier of light slowly emerged, tightly enveloping the Competition Arena. It was a powerful shield designed to ensure the battle would not affect the outside world.

At the center of the Competition Arena, thirty meters apart, the two men stared at one another.

The young man on the left was thin and ordinary-looking, yet he exuded an aura that could not be underestimated. He was the War God Temple's Ninth War God—Jiang Zhanheng.

He clasped his hands in salute toward the young man opposite him and said in a firm, resounding voice, "War God Temple, Ninth War God, Jiang Zhanheng. Title: Thunder Flame. Please."

As his voice fell, the air around him began to distort faintly. Lightning flickered within it, while flames appeared and vanished around his body.

His title alone, Thunder Flame, made it clear that he was an immensely powerful soul master specializing in offense. His poised stance seemed ready to unleash a thunderous assault at any moment.

In contrast, Lufa looked calm, and his voice was equally unruffled. "Blacksmith's Association, Lufa. Please." Yet beneath that calmness seemed to lurk an endless storm, creating an oppressive sense that a tempest was about to break.

He simply stood there quietly, without releasing an overwhelming aura like Jiang Zhanheng. Yet