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Chapter 32 - The Blood that Draws Shadows

The chamber was dim, lit only by the eerie flicker of spirit lanterns. A half-circle of cloaked figures sat in silence, their faces obscured by masks carved in the likeness of beasts and demons. At the center, on a raised obsidian seat, sat the one in the silver mask.

Their voice was deep, calm, and smooth as oil on water.

"So... the Academy's cubs bare their fangs. How delightful."

The other masked figures shifted uncomfortably. The silver-masked one spoke rarely, and when they did, every word carried weight.

A massive, clawed hand rested on the table — belonging to a giant of a man in a bull-horned mask.

"The competition culls the weak. It's nothing unusual."

"No," the silver mask replied, tilting their head toward the swirling spirit mirror at the center of the chamber. Images danced within — the arena drenched in light, the air thick with the roar of the crowd.

"There is one who moves differently."

The others leaned in. On the mirror, a replay flickered of Edran's previous match — his strikes precise, his footwork cold and deliberate.

"Qi Condensation, early stage when he began… now mid-stage," muttered a jackal-masked watcher. "Plenty of participants advance like that."

The silver mask chuckled softly. It was the kind of sound that made the skin crawl.

"His foundation is too clean. His breathing patterns... almost ancient. I have seen them before."

A hawk-masked woman's voice turned sharp.

"You mean—"

"Yes," the silver mask interrupted, voice like a blade sliding free of its sheath. "The dragon has not yet awakened… but it will. And when it does, it will either serve me… or be destroyed."

Silence settled like dust. The mirror shifted, showing healers dragging away a limp body from the arena. The smell of iron seemed to seep through even the enchanted surface.

The silver mask gestured lazily.

"Let the children play. We will tighten the noose when they're too busy bleeding to notice."

---

The arena floor was a storm of noise, the smell of sweat and blood heavy in the air. The healers worked frantically along the sidelines, pouring medicinal Qi into battered bodies. In the center, fresh sand had been laid over patches stained too dark to scrub clean.

Semi-final Match One – Lyara Veylan vs. Karas Bloodfang.

The gong rang. Lyara moved like a wisp of moonlight, her Moonstep Mirage scattering afterimages that darted left and right. Karas grinned, a predator's snarl, swinging his massive fists in Crimson Maul, each strike cracking the air.

When Lyara's blade danced in Lunar Petal Blades, Karas roared, countering with Bloodrend, a fist that sapped the Qi from the very air. The clash was brutal — bone met steel, petals of silver light shredded by scarlet fists. In the end, Lyara's speed faltered for a heartbeat too long, and Karas smashed her into the sand, blood spraying from her mouth. The crowd roared approval.

---

Semi-final Match Two – Seren Ardent vs. Rynar Veylan.

The temperature dropped the instant Seren stepped forward. Her Frostbite Fang was a swarm of icy needles, each carrying bone-chilling Qi. Rynar countered with sheer force, Iron Fang Smash shaking the ground, then followed with Wolf's Howl Resonance, sending out a rippling Qi shockwave that cracked the arena tiles.

Frost met fury. Steam filled the arena as ice shattered against brute force. Seren almost claimed victory when her Pale Winter Coffin encased Rynar's legs — but he shattered it with a roar and landed a blow that left her gasping on her knees.

---

Semi-final Match Three – Edran vs. Yura Feng.

[Cultivation Panel – Edran]

Realm: Qi Condensation – Mid Stage

Physique: Dormant Dragon Vein

Cultivation Technique: Azure Dragon Breathing Art (Low Earth Grade)

Skills:

Azure Fang Strike – Condenses Qi into piercing, fang-like strikes.

Serpent Coil Step – Coiling footwork that traps the opponent's momentum.

Dragon's Breath Fang – A short-range Qi burst shaped like a dragon's maw.

The gong rang. Yura moved with elegance, leaping high into Swan's Gracefall, her sword trailing petals of pink Qi. She spun midair into Lotus Bloom Rend, aiming to slice Edran from above.

Edran's eyes narrowed. His Serpent Coil Step slid him just out of her blade's arc, twisting her momentum. Before she could land, Azure Fang Strike lashed out — three piercing bursts of Qi in rapid succession, each aimed at a vital point.

The third strike hit her shoulder, spinning her midair. Edran stepped in, calm as the tide, and unleashed Dragon's Breath Fang. The compressed Qi exploded point-blank, blasting Yura backward across the sand.

The crowd gasped. Yura tried to rise, but the impact had robbed her of breath and will. The judge declared Edran the victor.

---

By the end of the day, only three stood ready for the finals — Karas Bloodfang, Rynar Veylan, and Edran. Their bodies bore cuts, bruises, and burns, but their eyes burned brighter than ever.

Far away, in the hidden chamber, the silver mask leaned forward.

"Yes… bleed for me, little dragon. Soon, your fire will be mine."

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