The Psychopathic Beast Emperor

"Aerith and Samantha Flores!"

Elder Hakar announced, prompting the called individuals to approach the fighting space. Aerith walked towards the stage with gentle steps. His hands and legs were covered in bandages. His hair covered his eyes, so no one could tell what his true expression was, but the aura around him told otherwise. In his hands were two oversized curved swords with which he dragged on the ground.

Samantha Flores was a beauty. She walked onto the stage with graceful steps, her sandals tapping lightly on the ground. Her long black hair flowed down to her waist, tied in a high ponytail, enhancing her facial features. Purple eyes, long eyelashes, thin eyebrows, beautiful lips, and elven ears. Her skin was dark brown. A dark elf, one of the rarest breeds of elves. In her hand was a weapon no one would expect from an elf... a female elf. Most elves used spears, bows and arrows, swords, and maybe a poleaxe. Sel was an exception since he could use almost all weapons. Not everyone knows this...

But Samantha was holding a scythe, and a very huge one at that. When she placed the butt of the scythe on the ground, everyone saw that the weapon towered over her by a very good length, with the blade curving over her head, as if it was protecting her.

Samantha was very powerful, but she came to the sect late. Most wouldn’t be allowed into the sect after admissions were over, but she was made an exception. That spoke volumes about who she was.

"Start!"

The moment Elder Hakar’s voice dropped, the arena went still. There was no immediate clash. Just two figures standing opposite each other... watching and measuring each other.

Aerith didn’t move.

His twin curved blades rested against the ground, their edges biting faintly into the stone as his fingers tightened around their hilts. His head was slightly lowered, hair covering his eyes, but the pressure around him was suffocating, oppressive, and unstable.

Samantha noticed it instantly. Her grip on the scythe tightened slightly as she tilted her head, studying him.

"You’re strange," she said calmly.

There was no response, not even a twitch.

"Alright then."

She shifted her stance, the butt of her scythe pressed firmly into the ground...

WHOOSH!

She moved... Faster than most expected. Her body flowed forward like a shadow, her scythe sweeping upward in a clean arc aimed to cleave through his guard instantly.

CLANG!

Aerith moved barely. One blade lifted just enough to intercept the attack. Sparks flew. The impact rang sharply across the arena. Samantha’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"He’s strong."

Aerith still didn’t speak... he didn’t even look up. But he moved.

SHRRRK!

His second blade swung low, fast, and brutal, aiming to take her legs clean off. Samantha reacted instantly. She spun, her scythe twisting with her body.

CLANG!

She deflected the strike, the force pushing her slightly back, her sandals scraping against the ground.

"Heavy," she muttered. It was not just the weapon. It was him. There was weight behind every movement, not just physical, but mental. Intent.

Aerith stepped forward slowly, dragging his blades again.

SHRRRRK!

The sound grated against the nerves. Then he vanished.

BOOM!

The ground cracked where he had stood. Samantha’s eyes widened slightly.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A flurry of strikes exploded around her fast, relentless, and unpredictable. Aerith’s blades came from every angle, his movements lacking elegance but filled with raw, crushing force.

Samantha’s scythe spun gracefully, precisely, and deadly. She deflected and redirected. She slid around his attacks with minimal movement, her body flowing like water despite the sheer size of her weapon.

CLASH!

Their weapons locked for the first time. They were face-to-face. Samantha’s purple eyes met the shadow beneath his hair.

"You’re angry."

There was silence.

CRACK!

Aerith pushed harder, the ground beneath them fracturing as his strength surged. Samantha’s arms trembled slightly, then she twisted.

WHOOSH!

She slipped past him, her scythe rotating behind her in a wide arc.

SHINK!

A clean cut. Aerith’s side split open, blood spraying lightly.

The crowd gasped, but Aerith didn’t react. He didn’t flinch and didn’t slow down.

"You didn’t even blink?" Samantha whispered.

He turned slowly, still silent. He still dragged his blades. Then, he charged again, faster and harder this time. There was something different. His movements became sharper, more precise, and less wild.

A bright halo glowing with a golden-red appeared behind him. His Circle of Mind... had kicked in. Every step was calculated, every strike was deliberate.

CLANG!

Samantha barely blocked in time, her arms vibrating from the impact.

"He’s adapting..."

Aerith’s blade twisted.

KRAK!

Her footing broke. In that instant, he struck.

BOOM!

A direct hit to her midsection with the flat of his blade sent her skidding back across the arena.

She coughed, sliding to a halt.

"That hurt."

She wiped her lip. Blood. Her expression shifted in excitement.

"Good."

She stood upright. Her stance changed subtly, but deadly. Her scythe lowered slightly, her body aligning in a way that reduced unnecessary movement. Her breathing slowed, and her eyes sharpened as a beautiful purple halo appeared behind her.

Circle of Mind. She was fully engaged, and the arena felt it... the shift. Now they were equals.

WHOOSH!

They moved at the same time.

CLANG!

Their weapons collided again, faster, sharper, and cleaner. There was no wasted motion. Every strike was aimed at injuring, every defense intentional. Aerith’s raw brutality met Samantha’s refined precision.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their weapons screamed against each other, sparks flying as the ground beneath them cracked further and further.

Samantha spun her scythe, arcing in a deadly crescent. Aerith ducked, but he was too late.

SHINK!

The blade sliced across his back deeply, but his counter came instantly.

BOOM!

His blade slammed into her shoulder, sending her stumbling. Neither gave ground, neither stopped. They circled, closed in, and clashed again. Time seemed to blur. The arena watched in stunned silence as the two moved like forces of nature, one chaotic and crushing, the other fluid and absolute.

Minutes passed. Then a shift happened. Both slowed. Their breathing grew heavier, their movements... just a fraction slower, but it was enough.

They charged one last time with everything they had left.

CLANG!!!

The final clash echoed louder than all the others. A shockwave burst outward, cracking the arena floor beneath them.

Then stillness. Both stood, weapons locked, their bodies trembling, blood dripping. Neither of them was moving nor falling.

Elder Hakar’s voice cut through the silence.

"Enough."

They stopped, slowly, reluctantly. Their weapons lowered as they took steps back. They were both still standing but unable to continue.

"Draw."

The arena erupted into cheers, shock, and excitement. Samantha exhaled, resting her scythe on her shoulder.

"You’re insane," she said, a faint smile on her lips.

Aerith didn’t respond. He turned, moved his head slightly, his gaze piercing into the crowd, and walked away, dragging his blades once more.

SHRRRRK!

But this time, there was something heavier behind it. It was not anger, nor frustration, but something deeper, and far more dangerous.

Bahamut, who was sitting in the crowd, raised his eyebrows in confusion. He had noticed Aerith’s gaze. It was directed at him. He knew that gaze... challenge, anger, and rivalry.

’This is getting interesting...’