Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water-Chapter 344: A Champion for the People

Nobles lingered in their private boxes, laughing and gesturing at the carnage they’d witnessed, while company representatives shuffled away with downcast faces and slumped shoulders.

Lassim stood near the edge of the viewing platform where their seats were, the shimmering metal barriers of the arena in front of him. The hum of mana arrays powering the structure blended with the murmurs of the exiting crowd.

Beside him, Dorian fidgeted with a slight anxiousness after the results of the day’s duels as he looked at Lassim, waiting to hear what the young man wanted to suggest.

Lassim broke the silence. "I know we’ve discussed that a champion can represent all contracts for one company, but… is there a limit on how many companies a champion can represent?"

Dorian blinked, momentarily taken aback by the question. "What?"

"I said," Lassim repeated, his gaze steady as he scanned the dispersing crowd, "is there a limit? Can a single champion represent multiple companies?"

Dorian hesitated, his brow furrowing. "I—no, I don’t think so. But why would that matter? No company would hire the same champion twice, especially one that already lost. It’s practically unheard of."

"That’s not what I asked." Lassim’s tone was calm but firm. He turned to face Dorian fully. "Is there a rule against it?"

Dorian sighed, pulling out his communication disc. The engraved runes on its surface glimmered faintly as he channeled a small amount of mana into it. The disc pulsed to life, displaying the interface for sending messages.

"I don’t think anyone’s ever tried it," he muttered, more to himself than to Lassim, as he began composing a query. "But I’ll ask my Noble contact."

He tapped out a concise message to his noble liaison, detailing the question about a champion representing multiple companies in the same duel. After sending it, he exhaled sharply and glanced at Lassim. "This’ll take a moment. My contact’s not exactly the fastest responder."

A few minutes passed in silence, the noise of the worker cleaning the now empty seats and arena filling the gap. Lassim remained patient, his eyes fixed on the arena floor where Joryk had decimated his opponents as he processed his thoughts.

Finally, the disc emitted a soft chime, signaling a reply. "Well?" Lassim prompted, turning to Dorian.

After a few moments, Dorian exhaled sharply. "No rule against it," he admitted, glancing up at Lassim.

"There is no rule limiting a champion to represent as many companies as they want in a single duel. But again, it’s ridiculous. Who would trust someone to—" He trailed off, his eyes narrowing. "Wait. Is that what you’re planning?"

Lassim’s lips curled into a faint smile. "It’s exactly what I’m planning."

Dorian stared at him like he was looking at a lunatic. "Lassim, no. That’s insane. Do you have any idea what you’re asking? These people have already lost everything! You want them to gamble what little they have left on a single champion? And not just one company—all of them? You’re asking for chaos."

"I’m asking for a chance to protect as many people’s livelihoods as possible," Lassim countered. "You saw what happened today. Joryk is unbeatable for most anyone they’d send against him. I’m not saying there’s not some stronger spirit warriors out there that could handily beat him, but that number has to be pretty few and far between—at least for those willing to fight in a silly farce of a duel for a single company’s contracts. If no one—who has the power to defeat him steps up—they’ll just keep suffering."

"And you think you’re the answer to all that?" Dorian’s voice was tinged with disbelief. "Lassim, you’re Spirit Ascension 8. Joryk is Peak Spirit Transcendence. His [Fortress]—"

"His [Fortress] is nothing to me," Lassim interrupted as his control of his spiritual pressure relaxed for a moment.

The stormy spiritual pressure surrounded him and pressure towards Dorian, causing him to almost envision a raging, swirling tempest heading towards him. "I don’t care how strong his defenses are. They’re against me; against a storm."

Dorian looked at him for a long moment, searching his face for any sign of hesitation or doubt.

He found none.

"Even if you’re right," he said finally, his voice quieter, "how are you going to convince them? These people aren’t going to easily trust anyone right now, especially the ones that have already lost."

Lassim’s gaze shifted to the arena below, where the banners of defeated companies were being unceremoniously placed onto carts to be removed permanently. "They’ll trust me when they see me. I’m sure of it. Just get as many as you can and I’ll handle that part."

~~~

Two days later in the early hours before sunrise, the meeting hall of an abandoned warehouse near the outskirts of the Sapphire River was filled with the low hum of whispered conversations.

Representatives from nearly fifty mining and merchant companies had crammed into the dimly lit room, their faces etched with fatigue, anger, and skepticism. The air was thick with tension as Dorian moved through the crowd, shaking hands and attempting to placate the growing unrest.

"What’s this about, Dorian?" one man barked, his voice cutting through several notches higher than the whispers. "You’ve gathered us here without telling us why, and we’ve got no time to waste on empty schemes."

"Yeah," another chimed in. "Unless you’ve found a way to overturn these rigged duels against that monster, what’s the point?"

Dorian held up his hands, his voice raised to calm the crowd. "Please, everyone, I know you’re frustrated, but just bear with me. This meeting—"

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

The doors to the hall swung open with a resounding crash.

Lassim strode into the room. Without hesitation, he released his stormy spiritual pressure. Uncaring for the consequences, wanting to fully flex his might, the entire weight of the divine pressure that was innately a part of his fused mana flooded the room like a tempest. The combination was overwhelming. The holiness and raw, stormy power beared down on the crowd. A sharp crackle of lightning rippled through the air above the guests and a small cloud threatened to form as mist began to gather overhead.

The effect was immediate.

Conversations ceased as every head turned toward Lassim. Some gasped audibly, while others staggered back, gripping chairs or the edges of the worker’s tables that lined the warehouse to steady themselves. A few even fell to their knees, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the pressure. Others struggled to remain upright, their faces pale as they fought against the suffocating weight.

Even Dorian, wholly unprepared despite knowing the rough plan to make a shocking entrance, felt his breath catch in his throat. The entirety of all of his earlier skepticism up until this moment completely melted away any remaining fears or lack of confidence as he stared at the young man in awe. Lassim’s presence was nothing short of divine—a storm made flesh.

For several tense moments, the room was silent save for the crackle of the fused lightning mana in the air. Lassim’s gently swirling lightning eyes swept over the crowd, holding each representative’s gaze in turn.

Then, just as abruptly as it had begun, the pressure receded. Lassim controlled himself fully and the combined auras of his [Void Storm] influenced spiritual pressure and innate quality of his fused mana being divine grade condensed back into himself. The room seemed to exhale collectively as the oppressive weight lifted.

"Good," Lassim said, his voice calm but firm. "Now that I have your attention, let’s talk."

Lassim stood at the front of the room, his presence commanding the attention of everyone despite the absence of his earlier pressure. The gathered representatives eyed him warily.

"I am Lassim Rohese Vanthar, Personal Disciple of Sect Master Volten of the Lightning Sect," he began, "And I’m here to offer you a chance to take back what the Steel Snake Sect and their noble collaborators have stolen from you."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd, but no one interrupted.

"I’ve seen what they’re doing in these duels," Lassim continued. "Using Joryk as their unyielding fortress to crush every champion who stands against them, to belittle the time and money you’ve already dedicated to this kingdom’s coffers. It’s unfair, it’s cruel, and it’s a mockery of the hard work you’ve all put into building your businesses and livelihoods."

The room grew quieter, the weight of Lassim’s words sinking in.

"I’m not here to offer sympathy," Lassim said, his lightning-filled eyes narrowing. "I’m here to offer a chance to win back everything easily. I will face Joryk next week—and I will defeat him. Not just for Dorian and the Duskvale Mining Company, with whom I’ve a contract with that they’ve also interrupted, but for every company here. For every contract they’ve put on hold, cancelled, or threatened to steal right from under you via their farce duels, and for every family they’ve driven to ruin."

A man near the back stood, his expression doubtful. "Big words. You sure strode in here confidently, and I’ll admit, you must be strong, but what makes you think you can beat him? What makes you better than everyone else that we’ve hired to beat him? They all still lost and you’re just a Spirit Ascension brat!"

Lassim’s gaze locked onto the man. "Because I’m not like anyone else. I’m a Spirit Ascension Stage cultivator, yes—but I’ve defeated opponents far stronger than Joryk. My mana and techniques will cut through his [Fortress] like it’s nothing. Everything is weak before the [Void Storm]."

Another representative, a woman with soft, doughy features, crossed her arms. "Even if that’s true, why should we risk what little we have left on you?"

Lassim’s voice hardened. "Because if you don’t, the Steel Snake Sect will keep taking. They’ll bleed you dry until there’s nothing left. I’m giving you a chance to stop them. To send a message that you won’t be bullied into submission. It may not be right to meddle with another kingdom’s affairs, but I’m a noble back in my home of the Aurora Kingdom too. If Stellanora wants the sects to get involved, why not let the Lightning Sect make its presence known too, since they so kindly want to interrupt our business as well."

The room fell into a tense silence. Representatives exchanged glances, their faces reflecting a mixture of doubt and hope.

Dorian stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "I know it’s a gamble. I have had my doubts too. But, I believe in him and the confidence of my former employees that also believe in his strength. Lassim is our best shot—possibly our only shot—at turning this around. I’ve invited you all here because I believe in this."

The room erupted into a cacophony of voices as the representatives debated among themselves. Lassim stood silently, letting the discussion play out. He could see the desperation in their faces, the flickering embers of hope fighting against the weight of their losses.

Finally, an older man with a weathered face stepped forward. "If you can promise me two things, I’ll back you and join in," he said. "Promise me that you’ll let me include my nephew’s company that’s already lost two duels, and that you promise to teach the Steel Snake Sect what it means to mess with us hard-working folk."

Lassim met the man’s gaze, his expression unwavering. "I promise. All of you can invite anyone else to place me as their champion as well. I’ll represent everyone."

One by one, more representatives stepped forward, their doubts giving way to resolve. By the end of the meeting, almost the entirety of the nearly fifty companies present had pledged their support, agreeing to back Lassim as their champion.

Sadly, several decided that they still had their hopes in their chosen representatives that were still on their way and others feared reprisal—not wanting to be seen joining this joint effort in case of retaliation.

As the crowd began to disperse, Dorian approached Lassim, his expression a mixture of awe and gratitude. "I’m kind of shocked that you managed it, but just your presence and words convinced them."

Lassim’s lips curled into a faint smile. "I’d like to believe that they needed to just see someone who wouldn’t back down and has this level of courage. Someone who would fight for them in the name of proper justice. Though, it probably helps that my mana is a little special—yah know, more than one element and all that."

Dorian nodded. "Let’s just hope you can deliver."

"Oh, I will," Lassim said, his voice filled with quiet confidence. "They’ll wish they never interrupted my training session and forced me to come back to the Veridian Continent."