A DIVINE FOOL

Chapter 3: "The Fool's Challenge"

---

The Unseen Enemy

Yuki stood frozen in the middle of the arena, his mind racing as the ground beneath him trembled. A dark shadow stretched across the vast training field, blotting out the light from above. The air grew thick with pressure, like the calm before a storm. Buzzzy, floating nervously above Yuki's head, began to buzz erratically.

"Yuki, this doesn't feel right. Something's coming," Buzzzy warned, its voice trembling. "I don't like this. It's too much—too strong."

Yuki swallowed hard, his pulse quickening. He turned to look at the head elder, hoping for some kind of guidance. The elder, however, stood with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. There was a faint glimmer of concern in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by his calm demeanor.

"It is as I feared," the head elder muttered. "They've sent someone after you." His voice held a chilling note of seriousness. "The one who arrives now is no mere cultivator. He is someone beyond even our control."

Yuki felt the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. "Who is it? What do you mean 'someone beyond control'? Is he—are they—gonna kill me?"

Before the elder could respond, a booming voice rang out, breaking the silence.

"You there! Yuki Fushiwara!" the voice called, its deep resonance echoing across the arena. "I, Zarek of the Celestial Order, have come to challenge you! Prepare yourself for a duel to the death!"

From the swirling shadow, a figure slowly emerged—tall, imposing, and cloaked in glimmering golden armor. His face was obscured by a metallic mask, and his aura radiated with overwhelming power, far surpassing anything Yuki had ever encountered. The ground beneath his feet cracked with each step he took, and Yuki instinctively took a step back.

"Wait, what?!" Yuki gasped, his heart racing. "I was just trying to—no one told me about this!"

Buzzzy's voice was almost a squeak now. "Yuki, you have no choice. That's Zarek! He's one of the highest-ranked warriors from the Celestial Order, a faction that commands divine power. He's been sent to eliminate you."

Yuki looked back at the elder, hoping for some sort of reassurance, but the elder remained impassive, watching the unfolding scene with a grim expression.

The elder finally spoke, his voice heavy with warning. "Zarek is a champion of the gods, chosen to maintain the balance of power in the realms. If he is here, it means the gods have deemed you a threat—whether by luck or by design, your existence disrupts their plans. You will need to fight him, Yuki, or you will die."

---

The Duel Begins

Zarek's voice boomed once more, cutting through the tension. "I have been sent to test your fate, Yuki Fushiwara. The gods demand it. Your luck has run out."

Yuki's heart pounded in his chest. He looked down at his hands, which were still trembling from the earlier incident when the artifact had absorbed the energy blast. Could he really face someone like this? He didn't even know how to control the power inside him.

The ground shook again as Zarek unsheathed a massive energy sword from his back. It crackled with divine energy, sending sparks of celestial lightning into the air. With a swift motion, he raised the sword, pointing it directly at Yuki.

"Defend yourself, fool."

Before Yuki could react, Zarek lunged forward with lightning speed, swinging the sword in an arc that was impossible to dodge. The air was torn apart by the sheer force of the strike, and the ground cracked under the impact of the blade.

Instinctively, Yuki raised his hands to shield himself, but instead of being cleaved in two, something strange happened. The artifact inside him surged to life, glowing brightly. A golden aura erupted from his body, and a transparent, shimmering shield appeared in front of him. Zarek's blade collided with the shield, sending a shockwave that rattled the arena.

The force of the strike knocked Yuki to the ground, but the shield held strong, and Zarek's blade was repelled harmlessly into the air.

Yuki scrambled to his feet, his heart racing. He stared at the shield in disbelief. "What just happened?"

Buzzzy floated above him, now more than a little panicked. "That's the power of the artifact, Yuki. It's doing everything for you. You didn't even move, and it blocked Zarek's attack. You're invincible as long as the artifact reacts."

Zarek, clearly surprised by the shield's strength, stepped back and eyed Yuki with disdain. "Interesting. I didn't expect you to survive that. But luck won't save you forever."

With a snarl, Zarek swung his sword again, this time releasing a massive shockwave of energy that cascaded toward Yuki. The arena trembled, and a giant crater formed where the energy wave passed.

But once again, the artifact responded. A protective golden aura surged forward, and the shockwave collided with it. The shield absorbed the energy with ease, causing a ripple in the air as the force dissipated harmlessly into the ground.

Yuki stood there, stunned by what was happening. "This is insane. It's like I'm invincible!"

The artifact pulsed with energy, and Buzzzy's voice echoed in his mind. "You are, but don't get cocky. Zarek won't give up that easily."

---

Zarek's Rage

Zarek's eyes flared with fury. He was not used to being denied. He raised his sword high once again, this time summoning a massive wave of celestial energy. The air around them began to crackle with power as Zarek's aura intensified, pushing the very atmosphere into a distortion.

"This ends now!" Zarek roared, and with a mighty swing, he sent a torrent of divine energy spiraling toward Yuki. The sky above darkened, and the ground quaked as if the heavens themselves were opening up.

Yuki had no time to think. His body moved instinctively, the artifact reacting before he even understood what was happening. The shield expanded, becoming even more massive, enveloping Yuki entirely in a dome of radiant golden light.

The collision was deafening. The ground beneath them exploded as Zarek's divine energy slammed into the shield, shaking the very foundation of the arena. For a moment, everything was silent.

When the dust settled, Yuki stood in the center of the shield, unscathed. The dome around him flickered and slowly dissipated, but he was untouched. Zarek, however, stood a few meters away, panting heavily, sweat pouring down his face.

"This... this is impossible..." Zarek gasped. "How can a mere mortal withstand the wrath of the gods?"

Yuki blinked, his mind still processing what had just happened. He had no idea how or why, but the artifact was doing all the work. It was like the universe itself was protecting him.

Before Yuki could say anything, Zarek dropped to his knees, exhaustion evident in his posture. "I... I can't do this... Not like this. The artifact... it's too powerful. I was wrong to challenge you."

Yuki, still in shock, took a cautious step forward. "Wait, what? You're... giving up?"

Zarek, with great effort, stood up, his eyes filled with reluctant admiration. "I underestimated you, fool. The artifact has chosen you. But you will not be left alone. Others will come for you. You cannot escape your fate."

With that, Zarek staggered back, disappearing into the shadows with a wave of his hand, leaving Yuki alone in the arena.

---

The Aftermath

Yuki stood still for a long moment, trying to process everything that had just occurred. He had faced off against a divine champion—someone stronger than anything he could have imagined—and yet, he had walked away unscathed. It was impossible. He didn't even do anything!

Buzzzy floated down beside him, still buzzing excitedly. "You did it, Yuki! I can't believe it! You actually survived!"

Yuki shook his head in disbelief. "I didn't do anything! The artifact just... handled it. I'm just a spectator in my own life!"

As the echoes of the battle faded, the head elder appeared at the entrance of the arena, his expression one of quiet contemplation.

"Well, well," the elder said, his tone cryptic. "It seems you have made an impression. But this is only the beginning. Prepare yourself, Yuki Fushiwara. The path ahead will not be as simple as luck."

Yuki's heart sank. He didn't know what to expect next, but one thing was clear: he had attracted the attention of forces far greater than he could have ever imagined.

---

Cliffhanger:

As Yuki turned to leave the arena, a distant rumble shook the ground again. Far in the distance, he saw an ominous figure standing atop a high tower, watching him closely. The figure raised a hand, and Yuki felt a cold chill run down his spine.

More challenges were on the way.

---