The second phase of the Hero Exam had officially begun:
One-on-one battles.
From the original hundreds, only fifty candidates remained. Each match now carried immense weight — win and move forward, lose and hope your performance earns you a second chance.
This wasn't just combat. It was a test of identity.
---
A Calm Step into the Ring
Sohan walked toward the center of the combat arena.
His katana hung at his hip, its handle brushing against his side. His gaze was calm, his posture light.
Across from him stood his opponent: Hanif.
A slim-built fighter, Hanif's arms glowed faintly orange with rising heat. Flames danced around his fists as though the battle had already begun.
"So, you're the famous Sohan?" Hanif smirked. "The guy who dodged his way to victory in round one? Let's see how long you last against fire."
Sohan didn't respond. His hand calmly rested on his katana's hilt.
He simply said,
"Let the blade speak."
The bell rang.
---
First Clash — Wind Slices Through Flame
Hanif wasted no time. His right hand extended, and a searing ball of fire shot toward Sohan like a comet.
Sohan tilted his body left, gliding effortlessly.
As his katana gently scraped the ground, a sharp current of wind gathered.
> "Wind Style: Crescent Slash!"
A sharp gust exploded from his blade, slicing the fireball clean in two.
Hanif's eyes widened.
"You… cut fire?"
Sohan said nothing.
He closed the distance in an instant, his katana now radiating both heat and wind. The blade shimmered orange-red like it had been dipped in magma.
> "Flame Breathing: Second Form — Twin Burn."
He spun, delivering two horizontal slashes with incredible force.
Hanif didn't back away. He clenched both fists and released a wide burst of flame, surrounding himself in a shield of fire.
Impact.
A blinding flash of light engulfed the arena. Dust and heat flooded the field, obscuring the fighters from view.
Silence.
Tension.
And then—clarity.
---
Smoke Clears
The smoke parted.
Both fighters still stood.
Hanif was panting. His shoulder had a visible burn mark, torn from the clash.
Sohan's sleeve was charred, but he stood motionless, his eyes colder than steel.
Hanif grit his teeth.
"You're… unnatural! Who the hell moves like that?!"
Sohan's response was simple.
"Control. I've learned to live, not just fight."
Hanif growled, then raised his hand to the sky.
From his core erupted an intense blaze. His body glowed as if lit from within.
> "Flame Core Mode!"
A wave of oppressive heat swept across the battlefield. The ground beneath Hanif cracked. The air warped.
---
Sohan's True Nature Sync
Sohan exhaled slowly.
Green light shimmered at his feet, surrounding his blade. The air around him grew heavy—yet serene.
> "Nature Sync: Element Fusion — Fire and Wind."
His katana ignited, a perfect blend of scorching fire and rushing wind. The flames curled around the blade, not wild, but dancing — as if obeying a conductor's baton.
Then came his breath.
Steady. Focused. Rhythmic.
Breathing Technique: Locked.
He moved. Not ran — glided.
Their attacks collided once more.
Hanif punched, releasing a firestorm. Sohan's blade spun through it like a cyclone of light and force.
He wasn't resisting the flame — he was weaving through it.
And then—
> "Demon Blade Technique: Flaming Cyclone!"
A spiraling whirlwind of fire and wind erupted from Sohan's katana, engulfing the arena.
Hanif had no time to react.
The blast struck him dead center.
---
The Bell Tolls
Silence returned.
And then — the bell rang.
> "Winner: Sohan!"
The crowd exploded in cheers.
Even the examiners looked visibly impressed.
Sohan stood tall, lowering his blade with grace.
He didn't bask in the applause.
Instead, he walked over to Hanif, who lay dazed on the ground.
Sohan knelt beside him and offered a hand.
"You fought well. Don't lose faith in yourself."
Hanif coughed and smiled faintly.
"You're not just strong, man... you're something else."
---
Off the Battlefield
Rakib watched from the stands, arms crossed.
"Dude's on another level," he muttered.
Isha nodded, more to herself than to anyone else.
"His blade isn't just sharp—it reflects his heart."
Tisha said nothing. She merely watched as Sohan walked back toward them, sunlight glinting off his katana.
There was something different about him now.
Something deeper than strength.
---
[End of Chapter 12]