Li Ming trudged through the gates of the Azure Sky Sect, feathers still stuck in his hair from the Cursed Feather Trial, his robes rumpled, and every muscle in his body aching. He had survived the previous trials, but something about the calm of the courtyard made him uneasy.

Bai Guo floated beside him, human form this time, flipping a feather in his hand. "Ah, home sweet chaos," he said. "And, descendant, your next challenge will push you to your limits."

Li Ming groaned. "I just want a quiet day. That's all I want."

Bai Guo smirked. "Quiet days don't exist here."

A booming voice echoed from the sect leader's balcony. "Disciples of Azure Sky Sect! The Pride Shatter Games begin today!"

Li Ming froze. "Pride… shatter… games?"

Bai Guo leaned closer. "Exactly. Your confidence, your abilities, your ego—they will all be tested. And failure is… spectacular."

Glowing orbs descended from the sky—two for each student. Li Ming caught his, feeling the faint hum of energy inside.

"These are your Pride Shatter Orbs," the sect leader announced. "Use them wisely to defend yourself against the relentless attacks of your mentors. Fail, and your pride will be broken."

Li Ming stared at the orbs. "Defend myself? From… my mentors?!"

Bai Guo nodded. "Yep. Everyone's fair game. And they're all stronger than you."

From all directions, mentors appeared—some gliding on magical clouds, others running with unnatural speed. Each carried their own orbs, ready to attack. Li Ming's stomach churned.

"Step one: survive," he muttered. "Step two: survive without getting humiliated. Step three… survive without losing every shred of dignity I have left."

Bai Guo puffed up proudly. "Exactly! And maybe, just maybe, we can create some chaos along the way."

The first mentor swooped down, orbs spinning with deadly precision. Li Ming barely dodged, rolling forward and colliding with a disciple. Sparks flew, and the other disciple shrieked as an orb narrowly missed their head.

Li Ming muttered, "Okay… this is serious. Really serious."

Another mentor appeared from the sky, eyes glinting. "Your pride is my target, Li Ming. Prepare yourself."

Li Ming raised his orbs, trying to defend himself. The battle quickly escalated into a dizzying dance of dodges, swings, and sudden attacks. Every time he thought he had a moment to catch his breath, another mentor appeared.

Bai Guo flitted between human and chicken form, helping where he could but never fully taking over. "Stay sharp! One misstep, and your pride becomes a puddle of humiliation."

Li Ming ducked under a spinning orb and accidentally sent another ricocheting into a floating platform. The platform shook violently, tossing a group of disciples into the air.

"Bai Guo…" Li Ming panted, "are they supposed to be this dangerous?"

"Dangerous? Absolutely. Exciting? Even more so. Humiliating? Hah, that's the best part," Bai Guo said with a mischievous grin.

Li Ming's heart pounded. For the first time in a long while, he felt genuinely outmatched. This was no accidental victory—every move required focus, speed, and strategy. He had to think, dodge, and fight all at once.

A mentor lunged at him, orbs spinning like deadly comets. Li Ming blocked one orb but was struck by the other, sending him tumbling backward into a fountain. Water splashed over his head, and he sputtered, but he refused to give up.

Bai Guo landed beside him, now human form, holding an orb like a coach. "You're learning. Slowly. But it's happening. Keep going!"

Li Ming coughed. "I feel like I'm barely surviving… and if I keep this up, my pride will be shattered before lunch."

The courtyard erupted into chaos. Mentors moved unpredictably, striking with precision, while students dodged desperately. Li Ming's arms ached, his legs burned, and every time he swung his Pride Shatter Orbs, he prayed it would work.

Somehow, amidst the chaos, he managed to block a direct attack and glance at Bai Guo. "Do you think I can really survive this?"

Bai Guo smirked. "Survive? Maybe. Win? That's a different story. But let's see how much chaos we can make along the way."

Li Ming's eyes narrowed. He didn't know what awaited him in the next rounds, but one thing was certain: this was going to test everything he thought he knew about his strength, his courage, and his pride.

The Pride Shatter Games had begun. And Li Ming realized with a sinking feeling that this time, he might not come out unscathed.

----

Li Ming scrambled to his feet, dripping wet from the fountain. His Pride Shatter Orbs hummed faintly in his hands.

Bai Guo, now human, perched on a railing, wings twitching. "Ready for round two?"

Li Ming groaned. "I don't think ready is a word that applies to me."

A mentor swooped down, eyes glinting. "Li Ming! Let's see if your pride can survive my test!"

The first orb flew straight at him. Li Ming swung his orb to block—but misjudged. It ricocheted and smashed a nearby training dummy into pieces.

"Uh… accidental destruction counts as chaos points, right?" Li Ming muttered.

Bai Guo rolled his eyes. "Stop joking. Survive first!"

Mentors were everywhere. They attacked in waves, some invisible, some moving faster than Li Ming could react. Each strike made him duck, jump, or spin.

He blocked one orb, only to stumble into another mentor swinging theirs from the side. The impact sent him flying backward, colliding with a cart of mystical training tools. A dozen wooden staffs rolled out, narrowly missing his head.

Li Ming gasped. "This is… harder than I imagined."

Bai Guo landed beside him. "Hard, yes. Fun, absolutely. Pride shattering is an art, and you're the canvas."

Li Ming rubbed his sore arms. "I feel like my pride is already… in pieces."

Another mentor descended. A huge grin stretched across their face. "Time to truly humble you, Li Ming!"

Li Ming braced himself. This mentor moved unpredictably, swinging orbs with sharp precision. Every attack forced him to dodge, parry, or dive. Sweat dripped from his forehead.

Bai Guo flitted around, occasionally blocking an orb in chicken form. "Use your head! And your feet! And anything else you've got!"

Li Ming tried to focus. He swung his orb to intercept a spinning attack—but the mentor was already behind him, striking again. He stumbled. An orb grazed his shoulder, sending him skidding across the courtyard.

"Argh!" Li Ming yelled. "This isn't funny anymore!"

Bai Guo landed next to him, human form again. "No, it's terrifying! That's the point!"

Li Ming caught a glimpse of the other students. Some were screaming, some were dodging brilliantly, and a few were already collapsed on the ground, humiliated. He realized the game wasn't just about surviving—it was about adapting under pressure.

He steadied his breathing. "Okay. Think. Watch patterns. Don't panic. Don't—"

Another mentor launched two orbs simultaneously. Li Ming barely dodged the first. The second struck his orb, ricocheting into the air and narrowly missing his head.

He stumbled. Tripped. Almost fell. But somehow… he landed on his feet.

Bai Guo clapped. "Well done! Sort of. Not gracefully, but still alive. That's progress."

Li Ming panted. "Progress… is a very generous word."

The mentors weren't letting up. Every few seconds, another attack came from a different direction. Li Ming's arms ached, his legs burned, and his mind raced.

Finally, he ducked under a flying orb and rolled forward, narrowly avoiding a collision. He glanced up. More mentors were descending. The gauntlet was far from over.

Bai Guo landed beside him. "See? Exciting! And just a little bit terrifying."

Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow. "Exciting? I call it survival horror."

A massive orb flew straight at him. Li Ming braced… and managed to block it with both of his Pride Shatter Orbs. The force knocked him back, but he was still upright.

He looked around. His heart raced. He wasn't winning yet. Not even close.

And that's when he noticed something terrifying: one mentor hovering above, eyes glowing, spinning two orbs with incredible speed, moving toward him with deadly precision.

Li Ming gulped. "Oh no… this one isn't joking around."

Bai Guo spread his wings. "Time to find out if your pride can survive… or be utterly shattered."

Li Ming tightened his grip on the orbs. Every muscle tensed. Sweat ran down his face. His mind screamed: focus, survive, adapt.

And at that moment, he realized the Heartbreaker Games were far more dangerous than he ever imagined.

The gauntlet was only just beginning.

To be continued...

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