Series: The Mountain: Book 1: The Awakening

Amplification

Rays of sunshine shone down onto an unkempt grassy field as the two combatants positioned themselves a good distance apart. Liam, who was less than enthusiastic about the oncoming fight, readied his mind for battle as his opponent smiled and waved casually to his fellow classmates. Serving as both the audience as well as the judges, Hilda, Regina and Jun looked on at the pair with great interest as the fight was about to commence. 

"Are you both ready?" Jun asked aloud, noting both of their expressions closely before continuing, "Alright," he resumed after receiving confirmatory nods from both parties, "Before we start, there are a few ground rules to observe. None of the participants are allowed to kill their opponent. Maiming is as well as all other acts of violence is allowed, however, serious repercussions will befall the participant should they cripple the other's cultivation," Jun paused, raising an eyebrow after receiving no response, "Are we clear?" 

"Works for me," Trina replied haughtily. 

"I'm fine with it as well," Liam replied, despite his uncertainty on how one's cultivation could be destroyed. 

"Perfect," Jun continued, "now that we're all in accordance with the rules," Jun said, pausing once more for dramatic effect, "Let the battle begin!"

As soon as Jun gave the go ahead, Trina let out a hearty laugh as she summoned her aura. Unravelling into folds of dark purple energy, the woman, clearly filled with confidence in her abilities, stuck a hand outwards, sending a wave of aura towards an empty section of the grassy field. Before Liam could comprehend what was transpiring, the unkempt blades of grass were instantly leveled, leaving only a flattened lawn to his right. 

"Now that you've viewed the difference between us," Trina said with a wicked grin, "Are you scared?" 

Rather than taking the time to respond, Liam summoned his aura which almost encompassed his entire body. 

Focusing the aura at his feet, a pool of darkness formed beneath him as he whispered, "Void Travel!"

Vanishing into thin air with nothing but a trace of cold wisps of energy in the place where he stood mere moments ago, Liam brought the entire audience to shock as he instantaneously appeared behind the woman. Somewhat confused by his insane technique, Trina momentarily faltered as Liam swung a fist at her side. Resorting to an ungraceful maneuver in order to dodge the attack, a blind rage filled within her as someone of a lower level had almost managed to reach her. 

"You insolent fool!" Trina shouted, clawing at the air as she tried to grasp her opponent. 

To her dismay however, just as quickly as he appeared, Liam vanished once more without a trace, stunning the audience and enraging Trina even further. 

"Just what is that movement technique," Hilda murmured, as she scanned the field, "Even I am unable to track him."

"It's not just you," Elder Jun revealed, surprising all of those present, "I am also not able to see him." 

"Is he at a higher realm than he stated?" Hilda replied, speculations running wildly through her mind, "Could he be suppressing his cultivation in order to infiltrate our Mountain?"

"Easy there," Jun replied, holding up a hand as Liam reappeared near his preliminary position, "His realm is indeed that of the second level of the first realm. I myself saw it confirmed by the Hall of Feats!"

"If that's the case, how is he able to move that quickly?" Hilda inquired, "Such a technique has never been seen before now!"

"Perhaps," Jun replied thoughtfully, "However, who are we to say what has or hasn't been seen before," he continued, "the realm is quite vast after all and many such techniques can possibly exist outside our range of knowledge."