Tension saturated the air like a storm on the horizon. The arena had been cleared, a circular platform of reinforced mana stone crackling faintly beneath the feet of the first two combatants.
Caelan Virelith stood silently on one end, the golden hue of his eyes glowing like twin suns under the light of the crystal lanterns above. His red-and-black formal robes had been swapped out for lighter training wear, but the sigil of the Virelith Clan—a coiled serpent wrapped around a blazing sword—still shimmered on his collar.
Across from him stood Seryn Stormbrite. Lightning-purple eyes gleaming with curiosity and confidence, her silver hair whipped lightly by the breeze conjured by her own mana. She wore a long coat in the deep blue and silver of the Stormbrite Clan, embroidered with arcs of embroidered lightning.
A hush fell over the entire arena. Spectators filled the tiered seats—elders, nobles, visiting clan heads, and their heirs.
"Caelan, was it?" Seryn asked, twirling a thin silver wand between her fingers. "You look different from the other Vireliths. White hair. Golden eyes. And that aura... you don't smell like a Bronze anymore."
Caelan offered a faint smirk. "Observation skills. Impressive."
She tilted her head, voice taking on a teasing lilt. "Flirting before battle? Bold. I might like you."
From the side, Dorn Shieldbane folded his arms, scoffing. "She says that to anyone she thinks she can beat."
Lysander Avalon chuckled. "Still… He's no ordinary hybrid-class warrior. There's more to him than what's showing."
Theron Virelith, watching from the highest tier with the other clan heads, kept his face composed—but his mind buzzed.
> So many elemental fluctuations… Flame, Lightning, Blood… even Space?
> No… this isn't natural. That level of elemental resonance—he's masking something. Could it be? Could the ancient bloodline of the dragons have truly awakened in him?
> Caelan… what exactly are you becoming?
The proctor raised his hand. "Begin!"
Just as the signal was given, Caelan's figure vanished, a sharp burst of wind marking where he once stood.
Serene barely had a second to react before the sound of impact thundered through the air—Caelan's sword clashing against her mana barrier, sending a ripple of energy outward like a stone dropped into still water.
A collective gasp echoed.
"How did he—?" Lysander muttered.
"He blinked," Silas Cromwell said, eyes narrowing. "Short-range space magic. But… that shouldn't be possible at his level."
Caelan grunted as his blade slid off the translucent mana shell. Sparks flickered around his arms as lightning danced across his blades, combining with blood-red veins pulsing through them. Blood magic surged through his body, amplifying his strength and speed.
He blinked back several meters just as a torrent of pressurized water blasted the space he'd occupied.
Seryn landed gently on her feet, conjuring orbs of swirling wind and condensed lightning. "You really are full of surprises."
> She's fast. Smart. She's keeping me at mid-range, playing to her strengths. No wonder she's the Stormbrite heir.
Caelan focused. The blood in his body responded almost instinctively now, amplifying his reflexes. Every pulse, every breath, was sharper.
> The blood magic... It's too effective. As if it was made for me.
> Everblood… no. This… this is the dragonblood working alongside it. This is what that vision meant.
He lunged again—flickering across the field with another short-distance blink, this time from her blind spot.
Seryn spun, crossing her arms to reinforce her barrier, but Caelan's strike shattered it partially, cutting into her shoulder.
She gritted her teeth and retaliated with a web of lightning, sending volts surging through the ground. Caelan rolled, letting his blood barrier absorb the shock.
The clan heads leaned forward, whispering among themselves.
"He's using blood magic as a reinforcement system…" Malrik Cromwell said slowly. "That's… not common."
"It's merging with lightning and space manipulation," Velian Stormbrite murmured. "How many affinities does that boy have?"
> Could he be… a universal?
Theron Virelith's eyes narrowed.
> A universal affinity. And… that ancient feeling in his aura.
> No doubt about it. He's awakened the dragon bloodline.
Meanwhile, Caelan pressed the attack. Flame surged along his blade, mixing with lightning, space energy blinking him between strikes, blood magic reinforcing every movement.
Seryn was forced to fly back, using wind to levitate, water to cool her surroundings, and lightning for counterstrikes.
> Damn it… I can't let him get close again, she thought.
> His hybrid fighting style is relentless. If I lose focus, even for a second—
She sent a burst of condensed air blades, followed by a triple-layered lightning trap. Caelan blinked sideways mid-air, landed, and unleashed a wave of fire.
Mana exploded.
A wall of steam erupted as fire met water.
When it cleared, both stood panting across from each other. Cuts and burns marked Seryn's arms, while Caelan's clothes were torn and singed.
"Not bad," she said with a grin, coughing slightly. "That bloodline of yours… it's not just a theory, is it?"
Caelan gave a quiet smile. "Still want to flirt?"
She laughed. "Maybe. If you stop trying to kill me with every swing."
"I'm not even using everything yet."
Her eyes lit up. "Neither am I."
From above, King Ardan leaned toward Garruk Shieldbane.
"Didn't expect this match to be this close."
Garruk nodded slowly. "He's more than he appears."
On the ground, Caelan steadied his breath. His mana was flowing smoother now, the wild storm within him becoming more obedient.
> This battle… It's helping me fine-tune it. Less mana, more effect. This is control.
Seryn's wind died down. Her mana barrier flickered. She had used too much. Caelan saw the moment her footing slipped.
He moved.
One final blink. One last strike.
Her wand clattered to the floor.
Silence.
Seryn, still upright, sighed. "Guess you win."
Caelan lowered his sword, breathing heavily. "That was close."
They bowed to each other. Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Theron Virelith looked on, pride shining in his gaze.
> My son… you truly have begun to awaken.
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