Chapter 154 — When Hammers Speak, Heaven Listens
The Titan Arena vibrated with anticipation.
Every seat was filled. Every terrace overflowed. Disciples climbed pillars, hung from railings, projected themselves on floating platforms—anything to secure a view of the duel everyone knew would become sect history.
Tian vs. Lin.
The moment the two men stepped into the center of the arena, the formation floor ignited beneath them in lines of molten red titanium, forming the boundaries, time seals, and rules of combat.
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1. The Duel Rules
The herald, standing atop a pillar of black star iron, raised a gleaming scroll.
> "THE RULES OF THE TITAN ARENA DUEL ARE AS FOLLOWS!"
His voice boomed through formation amplifiers.
1. No lethal killing intent.
Killing may occur unintentionally in heated combat, but deliberate killing was forbidden.
2. Weapons permitted.
Any forging disciple may wield their hammer; any fighter may wield their favored weapon.
3. Victory Conditions:
One combatant yields.
One combatant is unable to continue.
A judge calls the match.
4. No outside interference.
Any elder, formation, or disciple interfering would suffer punishment directly from the Sect Master.
5. Arena protection formations permitted—
but personal defensive treasures above Earth-Tier forbidden.
6. Pure combat only. Techniques, battle arts, physical strength, and willpower allowed.
> "THE DUEL ENDS WHEN THE HAMMERS DECIDE!"
The crowd roared.
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2. Atmosphere Before the Clash
The air thickened with tension.
Tian stood like a rising mountain peak, hammer on his shoulder, jaw clenched with quiet confidence.
His aura rolled outward like thunder in caged form.
He radiated:
Absolute belief in victory
Hammer intent at the threshold of resonance
The pride of a genius groomed for greatness
The pressure of a bloodline that demanded domination
Lin stood like a calm storm, eyes steady, expression unreadable.
His hammer—sleek, dark, eerie, humming faintly—hung loosely at his side.
He radiated:
Stillness
Depth
Quiet, terrifying control
A foundation so stable it frightened the perceptive
But no one knew him.
Not truly.
They only saw an outer disciple with monstrous forging talent and abnormal combat growth.
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3. Voices of the Sect
Outer Disciples:
> "Tian is going to crush him."
"Lin is good… but Tian is GOOD."
"Lin's hammer looks creepy as hell though."
"You mean powerful."
Inner Disciples:
> "Rowan trained him personally… that alone makes him dangerous."
"But Tian broke through last night. His intent doubled."
"Still, Lin's foundation is a monster. Don't underestimate him."
Core Disciples:
> "Their first clash will decide everything."
"Lin's adaptability is absurd. If he withstands a few exchanges, Tian might actually be pressured."
Direct Disciples:
> "The sect has lacked a young powerhouse with forging and combat talent combined… until now."
"Rowan is gambling his reputation on this outer brat."
"Tian is a dragon. Lin is… something unknown."
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4. The Elders' Observations
The Sect Master leaned forward.
> "Both boys walk the path of the hammer.
Today, one path will be forced aside."
Elder Rowan's arms were crossed, but his eyes were sharp.
> "Tian is strong. Fast. Fierce. But Lin…
Lin fights like he forges—
with inevitability."
Another elder hissed:
> "Rowan… that hammer Lin carries—what is it?"
Rowan didn't look away.
> "A thing forged from stubbornness, luck, and blasphemy."
The elders shivered.
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5. The Duel Begins — Slow Motion Start
The herald raised his hand high.
> "Combatants…
BOW!"
Lin bowed.
Tian bowed.
> "READY YOUR HAMMERS!"
Tian hoisted his massive sky-anvil hammer overhead, lightning crawling across its surface like a hungry beast.
Lin twisted his wrist—
and his hammer hummed in a low, bone-vibrating tone, as if announcing its own presence to the heavens.
Several elders subtly leaned forward.
> "BEGIN!"
BOOM
Both fighters exploded forward.
Time seemed to fracture.
Tian blurred into motion, his hammer descending in a brutal arc meant to split mountains.
Lin met it head-on.
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6. The First Clash — Heaven Trembles
HAMMER AGAINST HAMMER.
The collision detonated like an exploding star.
CRRAAASHHHH—BOOOOOOM!!!!!
A shockwave blasted outward, shattering the arena floor beneath their feet and kicking dust spiraling into the air.
The disciples closest to the arena staggered backward.
Elders activated defensive formations instinctively.
The Sect Master narrowed his eyes.
> "Tian expected to overpower Lin instantly…
but Lin stopped that strike cleanly."
Elder Rowan smirked.
> "Of course he did."
Tian's eyes widened.
Lin's expression didn't change.
Then Tian grinned.
> "Good.
Don't you dare disappoint me!"
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7. Hammer Intent vs. Abyss-Touched Hammer
Tian slammed his foot down and unleashed Sky-Anvil Hammer Intent, the air thickening with crushing weight.
His aura rose like a volcanic eruption.
Lin inhaled softly—
and the hammer in his hand awakened.
A shimmer.
A pulse.
A low hum like a heartbeat forming.
The nearest disciples recoiled.
> "H-His hammer… is alive!?"
"What kind of forging technique did Rowan teach him!?"
"No, that's not Rowan's work…"
"What kind of weapon did this outer disciple create!?"
Tian narrowed his eyes.
> "Your hammer is… strange."
Lin smiled faintly.
> "It's mine."
Their hammers clashed again.
And again.
And again.
Each time the arena cracked deeper.
Each time Tian's shock grew.
Each time Lin's calm sharpened.
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8. Crowd Commentary During Battle
Outer Disciples:
> "This isn't a duel—this is a war!"
"How is Lin keeping up!?"
Inner Disciples:
> "His control over force redirection is insane…"
"No. Look at his footwork. He's predicting Tian's swings."
Core Disciples:
> "Every time Tian's intent rises, Lin's hammer reacts… like it's countering instinctually."
"That hammer is terrifying…"
Direct Disciples:
> "Lin lacks Tian's bloodline power.
But he has something else."
"Yes. Technique so refined it's unnatural."
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9. Slow-Motion Cinematic Clash
Tian swung with both hands, a descending arc meant to crush Lin's bones outright.
Lin shifted sideways at the last millisecond—
a micro-movement barely perceptible—
and rotated his hammer upward in a rising spiral.
The two forces collided.
CRACK—SWOOOOSH—BOOM
The world tilted—
Dust spiraled—
Air compressed—
Space warped—
Hammer shadows danced like constellations shattering.
Lin's counter-strike redirected Tian's attack so violently that Tian skidded back ten steps.
Ten.
Steps.
Gasps erupted from every corner of the arena.
Tian's smirk faded.
> "You… redirected my full-force strike."
Lin's eyes sharpened.
> "You'll need more."
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10. The Duel Escalates — Hammer Techniques Unleashed
Tian roared.
> "SKY-ANVIL COLLAPSE!"
His hammer smashed downward, forming a miniature star-impact explosion.
Lin responded instantly.
> "ASTRAL REBOUND."
His hammer rotated, forming a spiraling defense that channeled Tian's impact into the ground.
BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM
The floor broke apart.
Shockwaves detonated upward.
Dust swallowed the fighters.
Only hammer shadows could be seen within the dust storm.
The audience leaned forward in breathless silence.
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11. A Revelation Among the Elders
The Sect Master murmured:
> "Rowan…
this boy isn't just talented.
He's dangerous."
Rowan smirked.
> "I told you all.
Give him time… and he will shake our realm."
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12. A Chill Across the Rift
Deep below the arena—
The abyss stirred.
Two guards froze.
> "Did you feel that?"
"Something on the other side… reacted."
"To what?"
"…a resonance. Like it sensed a familiar presence."
But they could not name what.
Or who.
Because Lin's abyssal energy signature had been long suppressed—
until his hammer awakened fully during the duel.
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13. The Chapter Ends with a Hammer Clash So Violent It Silences the World
Tian unleashed everything in one final beginning-of-midbattle strike.
> "SKY-ANVIL SHATTERING BLOW!"
Lin stepped forward instead of back.
> "Come."
He lifted his hammer—
and the weapon spirit surged in silent anticipation.
Their hammers met in the center of the arena—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM
A flash so bright the entire arena went white.
A sound so loud it seemed to punch the air from everyone's lungs.
And when the light faded—
Both fighters stood motionless.
Breathing hard.
Eyes burning.
The fight was only just beginning.
To be continued…
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