The arena gates slammed shut.
Too late.
Ryuji felt it immediately—the air had changed. Heavy. Suffocating. Killing intent flooded the arena from every direction.
The hooded figure in the VIP stands slowly removed his cloak.
Gasps echoed.
"A Dark Cloud Sect Elder…!"
Panic spread through the crowd.
"Phase Two begins now," the elder said calmly. "No rules. No mercy."
Black smoke erupted across the arena. Fighters screamed as masked warriors dropped from the shadows. Dark Cloud assassins—dozens of them.
This wasn't a tournament.
It was a massacre.
"Ryuji!" Lyra shouted from the stands. "They're targeting you!"
The ground exploded beneath his feet. Three assassins lunged at once.
Ryuji reacted instinctively.
Golden flames burst from his body.Dragon's Fist. One strike. One body down.
Another assassin attacked from behind—too fast.
Steel pierced Ryuji's side.
Blood spilled.
Pain surged.
But the Dragon inside him howled.
His aura exploded outward, forcing the attackers back. His wounds burned… then sealed.
"What the hell is he?" one assassin whispered.
Ryuji stood tall, eyes glowing gold and crimson.
"I'm done running," he said coldly.
Kael appeared beside him, bloodied but smiling."Looks like we're fighting together, Dragon."
Aria landed on the arena floor, flames dancing around her blades."Scarlet Phoenix stands with you."
From the opposite side, fighters of the Silver Crane Clan formed a defensive formation.
The clans had chosen.
Warriors versus shadows.
Above them, the Dark Cloud Elder narrowed his eyes.
"So the Dragon has allies," he murmured."No matter. Kill him. Break his spirit."
Ryuji clenched his fists.
Golden flames twisted into the shape of a dragon around his arms.
"For my village," he said."For everyone you've slaughtered."
The Dragon whispered inside him:
"Release me."
And Ryuji did.
The arena shook as the true battle began.