The God of Cataka

55

"Six thousand years ago, the demons came to wreak havoc. And the originally peaceful world was engulfed in endless calamities," the alliance chief opened his speech. "They came out of the abyss, and the world fell into eternal darkness."

Arena gripped solemn silence.

The sect leaders were lined up on the left-right of the alliance chief with the emperors on the second-floor balcony. The elders lined up behind them along with the honor officials in the second and third levels.

The teachers lined the front row of the audience with the participants. The audience bench behind them was filled to the brim.

Global elite knights lined up at every corner with stunning armor, complete with spears and covered steel helmets.

Xie Ma paled looking at them. A thread of sweat rolled down his temple.

The pieces of images in his dream flashed in his mind.

The spear…

Hand-held…

Full pattern....

Full-color....

Xie Ma shrieked stifled while smothering his mouth with fingers.

Jyang Yue glanced towards Xie Ma through the corner of her eyes with an anxious look on her face. "What's wrong?" he whispered while grabbing the girl's wrist.

Xie Ma gulped and shook his head quickly.

"Six thousand years of human resistance, it is no different from the ants' attempts to shake the tree," the alliance chief continued. "Man is like an ant!"

Everyone is breathing at the same time.

"The Demon Hunt Knight Alliance is the last hope of mankind" continued the Chairman. "This war has lasted thousands of years. And now, the borders of their world and humans were filled with pools of blood. But why don't we give up? Why should we fight? Why do we become knights?"

The participants responded in a loud voice while clenching one hand across the chest.

"To protect humanity! Protecting kindness! Protecting sect! Dedicate yourself to the alliance!"

"Yes!" sahut Chairman. "What will happen to our families if we fail to stop them?"

Around the arena was silent.

"Therefore," the Chairman continued, "We must never shrink again. This Knight Trial was held to rally the best knights who would eradicate the demon clan. To fight against evil. To guard our continent."

The participants clenched their hands in unison and puffed their chests full of determination.

"Over the last few thousand years, these demons can no longer destroy us" the Chairman said. "In the future they cannot. We strongly believe that people will eventually win. And you guys," he looked at all the participants. "It is the key to our victory! Some of you will join the Demon Hunt Knight Alliance."

The participants raised their faces.

"The Demon Hunt Knight Alliance will not only be something on your mind," the Chairman advised. "This means blood, sweat and tears. This is the highest glory for mankind. So, let's get out to fight! Are you guys ready?"

"When!" The participants answered in unison.

"With this, I declare the Knight Exam officially open!" head Office.

The arena exploded with spectacular applause.

The knights of the guard also enlivened by knocking their spears.

Xie Ma gasped and staggered. The terrifying scene in his dream, where Shen Zhu was thrown into the air with his stomach bent pierced by a spear, was as if attached in his mind.

Jyang Yue immediately caught his shoulder. The girl's shoulders trembled in her embrace. Curiously, he followed Xie Ma's gaze and frowned. What exactly did he see? He wondered in his heart as he watched the line of guards that made Xie Ma shaken.

The guards looked calm.

Jyang Yue glanced across the room and found Shen Zhu watching them.

The leader returned to his place. Everyone sat back.

A moment later, a referee with a riveting armor robe stepped into the center of the arena. "Welcome to the Knight Exam Arena! Today we will start the first round" he announced. "A hundred and forty-two people are registered, and seven of them are Champion Path Participants of the seven schools."

The arena was again thunderous with applause and exclamations of spirit.

"These Champions Path participants will not fight in the first two rounds" the referee told reporters. "Next to these seven championship track participants!"

"Long Hua Ze from the flow of weapon experts!" The host and referee announced.

Then the clattering of powerful feet with the regular rhythm of the heel of the armor shoes clashing against the ancient stone floor sounded from outside the door, giving a first impression to all attendees that the champion path participants are in line with expectations.

The man stepped into the middle of the arena.

And half of the participants felt like they had a warning.

Some people actually gasp.

The figure of the gallant knight was wearing a white silk hanfu plated in a copper-patterned black armor robe. The elegant frilled jade pendant on his black belt. His shiny black hair as straight as a ruler was partially smeared on his wide shoulders and softly whipped at his slender waist, some of it was tightly tied at the top of his head in a hun style and decorated with silver ji, making that figure look like it emerged from a dream as the delusion of every girl.

Feel familiar?

Yep!

That guy's…

The classy handsome man at the gate of the Knight Alliance Headquarters.

Truly champion!

The second Champion Path participant is his rival.

"Jyang Ryu's! From the magic stream!" The show host introduced.

The arena was buzzed by the astonished mutters of the girls who were infatuated with Jyang Ryu. "Magician's looks are indeed filled with magic power!"

Whoa! Long Hua Ze glanced towards Jyang Ryu through the corner of his eyes. He immediately grabbed attention! he thought he was a little upset. Let me look cool too, lah! his mind while swinging the dangling fan bound from his wrist. Then put on an elegant face that was the most dazzling version of her.

"From the zen stream, there's Jyu Jieru!" The show driver continued.

A bald-headed young man dressed as a typical monk steps into the center of the arena, complete with O-Juzu-strings beads to pray and tin sticks with metal rings on top.

Why is this bald fellow so handsome? inner Long Hua Ze felt increasingly displaced.

"From the flow of tao, there's Shi Tan!"

Another young man stepped in dressed as a ninja, complete with a face and head covering. Two katanas were tucked across his back.

"From the flow of martial artists, there's Tjia Qianxi!"

A girl dressed in tight-fitting armor with no robes and no weapons entered the arena with heavy steps like a man. His movements are like men too. His hair was tied tight at the top of his head to the impression as if his face was tightening together with his hair tie.

All round eyes stared at the girl, giving a look between bewildered and amazed.

Long Hua Ze glanced at the girl while scuffling and rubbing her chin with her knuckles. Even women are so handsome! his mind is not out of thought.

"From the alchemist school, there's Tjia Xiawu!"

Another girl entered the arena, and instantly the entire hall gasped.

The face of the girl was exactly the same as the first girl, but the way she dressed and her movements were different. The second girl was very graceful and feminine.

"They're twins!" screech some people.

Long Hua Ze jerked his head to the side, staring at the two girls alternately with frowns. Next to his eyebrows raised high. What kind of twins can go against each other like this? thought.

"Last there is Gouw Anio from the stream of elementalists!"

A petite girl in a petite dress typical of a pink foreign country complete with a sweet umbrella that is also pink enters the arena in a childish style. Soaring while giggling like he was playing. Her slightly brownish curly hair pinched in two with ribbon shaped colored rabbit ears—what else if not—pink.

Long Hua Ze blinked and widened, then bowed as the girl took her place beside her while wagging the edge of her dress that was only a thigh.

Long Hua Ze bent down leaning her body towards the girl, then whispered while covering her mouth with a fan. "Xiao meimei, what are you doing here? This is not a playground!"

JLB!

The petite girl responded by sticking the heel of her pointy shoes on the back of Hua Ze's armor shoes.

"Aargh!" Hua Ze groaned while jumping up and down holding his foot with a fog.

All eyes spontaneously twitched towards the young man.