The crowd's chanting blurred into a low hum in Edran's ears. Every breath he took fed the rhythm of the Azure Dragon Breathing Art, drawing in the world's qi and compressing it deep within his dantian. The steady drumbeat of his heart seemed to match the pounding of his opponent's footwork.
Kaelith darted forward again, saber whistling through the air in a vicious downward arc. The blade shimmered with compressed wind qi, every strike heavier than the last.
Edran's feet shifted — Azure Step carried him diagonally forward, slipping inside the range of Kaelith's saber. His left forearm swept upward, scales of shimmering azure deflecting the blow with Flowing Scale Guard.
Clang!
The force rattled up Edran's arm, but he didn't yield. His right palm shot toward Kaelith's chest, glowing faintly.
Dragon Fang Strike!
Kaelith twisted, saber slamming down to block — but this time, Edran didn't pull back. His qi surged in a second wave, like a tide pushing past a breakwater.
The shockwave forced Kaelith a half step back. His boots scraped stone, and a faint hiss escaped his lips.
"Not bad… but you'll need more than that!"
Wind exploded around Kaelith as he leapt back, spinning his saber in a full circle. The air condensed into a coiled wind serpent — larger, sharper, and infused with killing intent.
Storm Serpent's Maw!
The beast's open jaws lunged for Edran.
He inhaled deeply, qi flowing like liquid fire through his meridians. His movements slowed — not from hesitation, but from precision. His palm opened, and azure qi began to twist in a spiral, each rotation tighter than the last.
The serpent closed in.
Edran stepped forward. His palm met the wind beast's snout.
Boom!
The serpent's head exploded into shards of dissipating qi, but the body whipped around, striking Edran in the side like a battering ram. He staggered, skidding several feet across the stone platform.
Kaelith's eyes lit with triumph. "Got you—"
But Edran straightened. His side throbbed, blood pooling faintly at the corner of his lips, yet his gaze remained sharp.
The crowd gasped.
From the shadowed box above, the narrow-jawed man's eyes narrowed further. "He's holding back. Even now."
Edran exhaled slowly. The Dragon Vein inside him pulsed again — stronger this time. Heat rolled through his chest, and for a heartbeat, his veins glowed faintly beneath his skin. He ignored it, focusing on the flow of qi.
"Your storm…" Edran's voice was quiet, but it carried across the platform. "…is loud. But not sharp enough."
Kaelith growled and rushed forward, saber slashing in a rapid chain. The blade became a blur of steel and wind essence.
Edran didn't retreat. Azure Step carried him through the gaps in the storm, each movement wasting not a single breath of energy. His palm lashed out once more, but this time, azure qi didn't just coat it — it roared.
A low, guttural dragon's growl resonated through the arena.
Dragon Fang Strike — Second Form!
The blow struck Kaelith's saber dead-on. The metal rang like a struck bell before the force blasted Kaelith backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling until the edge of the platform stopped him.
Silence fell.
Kaelith tried to stand, but his knees buckled. The referee's voice cut the air.
"Winner — Edran Veylan!"
The stands erupted into cheers, roars, and disbelieving laughter.
Edran turned without raising his hands in victory. His breathing slowed again, his face expressionless as he stepped down from the platform.
But inside his chest, the Dragon Vein pulsed one last time — like a slumbering beast shifting in its sleep.
High above, the shadowed observers watched him go.
"Keep an eye on that one," the narrow-jawed man murmured. "If the Dragon truly stirs… he'll be dangerous to everyone."