The Ytherrian Luminary

The arena buzzed with anticipation as Xalin stepped into the ring, his eyes narrowing as he took in the figure standing at the opposite end. The old man, draped in white robes, stood calmly, his long, white beard reaching down to his waist, clutching a wooden walking stick that seemed more ornamental than functional. His bald head gleamed in the light, and though his appearance was frail, the air around him hummed with power. Whispers filled the stands.

"That's the legendary Qi master…"

"How can someone without abilities stand against Xalin?"

"His name's whispered even among the elite… He doesn't need bending; his mastery of Haki is beyond comprehension."

The murmurs grew as Xalin walked to his place in the center of the arena. The announcer's voice echoed throughout the coliseum, "In this final match… Xalin, the master of many elements, faces Master Qi Han, the legend whose name strikes fear across generations!"

Xalin's fists clenched as the old man's calm, deep-set eyes locked with his. Qi Han didn't blink, and a small smile spread across his face. 

"I felt your power from a distance, child," Qi Han said, his voice smooth yet commanding. "I came to test whether you truly hold the strength of the luminary or if you're just another who hides behind abilities. I have no such luxuries. All I have is my Qi, or as you might call it… Haki. So, are you strong enough to fight me without relying on your gifts?"

Before Xalin could respond, the very air around them shifted. A tense stillness settled over the arena. Xalin could feel the change in the atmosphere, as though the pressure had risen, crushing down on him from all sides.

The crowd grew silent. Some gasped, others whispered in awe. "That's… Haoshoku Haki—he's using his willpower to dominate the field!"

Xalin's heart pounded in his chest. His body instinctively tensed, reacting to the immense force of Qi Han's Conqueror's Haki. It wasn't magic, it wasn't bending, yet it felt like the weight of the universe was bearing down on him. He struggled to breathe for a moment, then slowly steadied himself. His elemental power had no bearing here—this was pure willpower versus willpower.

"Impressive," Qi Han said, taking slow, measured steps toward Xalin, the wooden staff tapping against the stone floor. "You've withstood my presence longer than most. Let's see how you handle my next test."

Without warning, Qi Han's body flickered—his movement so fast it almost seemed as though he vanished. Xalin's eyes widened as the old man appeared directly in front of him, thrusting his walking stick forward. Xalin barely had time to react, creating an air bubble that cushioned the blow. But the moment the staff made contact, a shockwave reverberated through the air.

Busoshoku Haki. Qi Han's spiritual energy enveloped the staff, turning it into an indestructible weapon. The force of the impact cracked the stone beneath Xalin's feet, sending him skidding backward.

"His staff… it's like steel," Xalin thought, surprised at the power behind the strike.

The old man didn't stop. With another flicker of movement, he was on the offensive again. Xalin darted to the side, using bursts of airbending to stay ahead of the strikes, but Qi Han's attacks were relentless. Each swing of the staff was like a hammer crashing down, imbued with enough force to shatter bones.

"Stop running, child. Face me with your own strength!" Qi Han bellowed.

Xalin gritted his teeth, realizing that airbending alone wasn't enough. He needed something more. With a fluid motion, Xalin switched his stance, summoning a torrent of water from the arena's edge, sending it crashing toward the old man. The water bent and twisted in elegant patterns, creating a cyclone of liquid fury.

But Qi Han remained unfazed. His Kenbunshoku Haki—Observation Haki—allowed him to sense the water's flow, predicting its movements before they even reached him. He closed his eyes, moving through the swirling vortex with precision, dodging each wave with minimal effort. 

Suddenly, he tapped the ground with his staff, sending a ripple of Qi energy through the earth. The water stopped dead in its tracks, frozen mid-motion as Qi Han's aura suppressed it entirely. 

Xalin's eyes widened. "He's not just strong, he can sense and neutralize my attacks before I even make them!"

"Come now, boy. Is this really all the power you can muster?!" Qi Han's voice boomed, shaking the arena as he unleashed a wave of Conqueror's Haki once more. The pressure was immense, and Xalin could feel it pushing down on his very soul.

He needed to push harder.

---

Xalin took a deep breath, centering himself. He couldn't rely on just one element; this man had neutralized every attack he'd thrown. It was time to combine everything he'd learned. 

The air swirled around Xalin as his markings began to faintly glow. He spread his arms wide, summoning both air and fire into a chaotic dance. Flames erupted in his palms, merging with the gusts of wind. The result was a blazing vortex that spun violently, lifting Xalin into the air. The crowd gasped as they saw the spectacle.

But Qi Han remained calm, his eyes focused. He sensed the shift in Xalin's energy—his Kenbunshoku Haki giving him glimpses of Xalin's next moves. Yet, the combination of the elements surprised him. It was chaotic but controlled. 

With a shout, Xalin thrust his arms forward, sending the vortex toward Qi Han. The flames burned hotter, fueled by the wind, and the ground shook as the full force of the attack barreled down on the old man.

Qi Han planted his feet, his stance solid. He raised his staff and focused, channeling all his energy into his Busoshoku Haki, coating his body and staff in an invisible armor. As the vortex struck, Qi Han didn't flinch. His staff absorbed the blow, and with a mighty swing, he cleaved through the flames and wind, dissipating the attack entirely.

Xalin landed back on the ground, panting. His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath. But Qi Han stood tall, barely winded, the same small smile on his face.

"You're stronger than I thought," the old man admitted, "but not strong enough."

He raised his hand, and in that moment, the arena fell silent. A crushing wave of Conqueror's Haki flooded the space, targeting Xalin directly. It felt like the world was collapsing on him, like the weight of a thousand mountains was bearing down on his mind and body. His vision blurred, his knees buckled.

But just before he fell, something snapped inside him. A surge of energy—divine and primal—rushed through Xalin's veins. His markings flared brighter, his vision sharpening. The air around him shifted again, but this time, it responded to him. 

Xalin stood tall, pushing back against the overwhelming pressure. The crowd was in awe. They could feel it too—the rise of something more.

Master Qi Han's smile faded. "Ah… so you do have potential."

The old man's eyes gleamed with new interest as he settled into a deeper stance, the real battle about to begin.

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