As the miniature dragon entered his body, Phoenix began to shake, then distend, then melt. His internal organs bloated, then crumpled. Phoenix made not a sound during this process, his throat still firmly in Zhang Lie's grrip.

As millions of spectators watched on, he turned into a puddle of black, inky sludge. 

The spectators gaped. Phoenix had... died?! Just like that? What sort of situation was this?

How did Zhang Lie have the courage to kill Phoenix right then and there?

"The first match is over. The winner: Zhang Lie!" the artificial intelligence announced, once it verified that Phoenix had indeed perished. This announcement prodded the startled crowd...