Chapter 47: Jura vs. Veiga – Flames and Steel
The arena was still scorched from Kai's match, wisps of displaced energy hanging in the air like invisible threads. But they were nothing compared to what was coming next.
On opposite sides of the stone ring, two disciples stepped forward — each carrying reputations as heavy as iron.
Veiga the Scorchhand, a prodigy from the Blazeguard Dominion. Broad-shouldered, with crimson hair and jagged burn scars trailing down both arms. Her specialty: explosive fire ki compressed into close-range detonations.
Opposite her stood Jura Veyl, the Silver Fang of the Hollow Forge. Tall, quiet, and lean — a Martial Emperor with an aura that buzzed faintly like a blade being drawn. His style blended weaponless combat with phantom-edge techniques — striking as if wielding an invisible sword.
The crowd quieted.
Even the Stormbell elders leaned forward.
These weren't just contestants.
They were killers in training.
⸻
Round One: The Opening Bell
GONG.
Veiga surged forward with a guttural shout, fire exploding from her heels. The ring behind her melted slightly from the force. She led with a shoulder feint, then whipped her fist up in a blazing arc.
"Sunburst Crush!"
A vertical column of fire erupted, seeking to engulf Jura whole.
But Jura side-stepped.
Barely.
The ground where he'd stood cracked, charred black.
He said nothing — just pressed forward, two fingers raised, slashing the air.
A shallow line of blood appeared on Veiga's arm.
She blinked. He cut me?
No weapon. No flash of movement. Just intent.
"Phantom Fang," Jura said softly, "First Line."
Veiga snarled and spun mid-step, her palms igniting. Twin jets of compressed flame fired outward, forcing Jura back.
"Think I'm gonna let you play range tag with invisible blades?"
She slammed her hands together — flame erupting outward like a concussive pulse.
"Scorchnova Pulse!"
Jura was blown across the ring, boots skidding.
The audience roared.
But Jura remained calm.
Blood trickled from his lip.
Good.
Now it begins.
⸻
Round Two: Ferocity and Precision
Veiga lunged again, now chaining her strikes. Fists glowing white-hot, each blow detonating with shockwaves.
Jura blocked, dodged, cut between them.
A sweep from his palm opened a bleeding line across her cheek — no blade, no wind, just phantom ki shaped like an edge.
"Phantom Fang — Second Line."
She answered with a leaping kick charged with explosive ki.
He met it with his elbow.
The shockwave blew dust skyward.
For a second, both were silhouettes in the storm.
Then Jura shot forward — spinning low, slicing upward with an open hand.
Veiga twisted — barely avoiding a blow to the throat — but her ribs took the brunt of a ki-laced strike.
Crack.
She coughed blood, but grinned.
"Finally," she growled.
"Let's make it burn."
⸻
Final Round: Blade vs. Blaze
Veiga's aura ignited fully now — fire spiraling around her in a raging corona. Every step she took left molten footprints. Her presence was violent, untamed.
Jura's aura remained low, almost nonexistent — but those near him felt their skin itch, like air folding around a knife.
Veiga launched skyward — her fists above her head.
"Inferna Fall!"
A meteor-like strike fell from above, enough force to crater a hill.
Jura crossed his arms and took the hit head-on.
The ground erupted.
Stone and fire blasted outward.
When the dust cleared — Jura stood, barely — a slash burned across his chest.
But Veiga was panting now.
And Jura?
He smiled.
"Phantom Fang — Final Line."
For a moment, his form blurred. Not speed — just raw intent pushing past perception.
A dozen light cuts opened on Veiga's arms, legs, and torso. Thin, precise. Not deep — but debilitating.
Veiga dropped to one knee.
"You—" she gritted out, "—bastard…"
He walked past her, murmuring:
"Shouldn't burn everything you see. Some steel cuts cleaner."
⸻
Match Over.
Jura Veyl wins.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, though many whispered the same thought:
That was a battle between monsters.
Kai, seated in the shade of the arena's arch, watched with sharp eyes.
"Controlled fury," he murmured, nodding slightly.
Then stood.
His next match would be against Jura.
And that would be different.