The fighting arena had been repaired, its surface gleaming under the sunlight, and the duel between Xue Taiyang and Yi Ran was about to begin.
Excitement surged through the crowd, their voices blending into a cacophony of speculation and eager anticipation.
"Hey, how many strikes do you think Xue Taiyang can take from Yi Ran?"
"No more than two. She's ruthless."
"I bet on three! Let's see if he lasts that long."
In the center of the arena, Reon, hidden behind the identity of Xue Taiyang, stood silently, his gaze distant.
"Why did Yang Lie suddenly provoke me?" he pondered, his brow furrowed.
"If it were the real Xue Taiyang, he would've lost control in an instant... I need to stay on guard around Yang Lie from now on."
Drawing a deep breath, Reon extended his hand and summoned Cloudia from the Inner Beast Domain.
She emerged in a swirl of ethereal mist, fully healed from her previous battle.
Leaning close, Reon whispered, "Cloudia, stay in your Mist Cloud Fox Bloodline. Don't reveal the other one."
Cloudia nodded, her eyes shimmering with quiet understanding.
From across the arena, Yi Ran's eyes sparkled with intrigue.
"Oh? Brother Xue, you're going all-out? I'm honored," she said with a playful smile, her gaze shifting to Cloudia.
"Is this your beast? She's beautiful."
Reon returned a polite smile. "Thank you. Honestly, I doubt I can defeat you, Sister Yi, even if I give it everything. But... I'll do my best to make it worth your while."
Yi Ran's grin widened. "I like that."
But behind her smile, a shadow of thought lingered as she studied Reon.
"Xue Taiyang, you're... interesting. But I still can't accept the terms Senior Brother proposed regarding my only friend..."
Without warning, she drew her saber, channeling her Spiritual Qi with blinding speed.
Within moments, a Purple Aura surged around the blade, crackling with violent energy.
She dashed forward, swift as lightning.
Cloudia enlarged to her medium form, and Reon leapt onto her back. With a burst of speed, they surged forward.
"Cloudia!" Reon shouted.
At his command, Cloudia launched him skyward with a powerful flick, sending him soaring through the air.
Yi Ran scoffed, her saber already swinging.
"Attacking from above? That's reckless!" she shouted, slashing upward.
Her blade gleamed as Sword Aura surged into the sky.
"Let's see you dodge this in midair."
But Reon merely smirked.
"Phantom Mirage Steps...
First Step—Whispering Mist Glide!"
In an instant, his figure dissolved into mist, vanishing from the air. A heartbeat later, he reappeared silently behind Yi Ran, sword poised to strike.
Clang!
Yi Ran's saber blocked his attack in a blur, without even turning around.
Her eyes glinted. "A fine movement technique."
Though her hand trembled faintly from the force she'd absorbed, she masked it well, not allowing Reon to notice.
"And your Black Aura... serene on the surface, yet frighteningly destructive beneath."
"Thank you... I guess?" Reon replied.
Their eyes met.
"Sister Yi, shall we dance... where no eyes dare to follow?" he whispered, his gaze locked onto hers.
Yi Ran blinked, momentarily stunned.
"What are you—?"
Before she could finish, Reon leapt back.
"Cloudia, now!"
At his command, a thick mist erupted, rolling across the arena and shrouding everything in an impenetrable fog.
The crowd erupted in confusion.
"What is this fog? Where did it come from?"
"I can't see anything! What's going on in there?"
"How are we supposed to count how many moves Xue Taiyang can withstand now? What about our bets?!"
"Let's complain to the Minor Elder—this isn't fair!"
Inside the mist, visibility dropped to nothing.
Yi Ran chuckled softly, her silhouette barely visible through the haze.
"So that's what you meant... But do you really think this mist can hide you from me?"
Reon's voice drifted from the fog. "It's not for you. It's for them. I don't want an audience."
Yi Ran smirked. "I see... then let's dance."
She lunged, and Reon barely raised his blade in time to meet her full-force strike.
Clang!
The force sent tremors through his arms.
"She's not holding back like she did with Yang Lie. Why...?" he thought, gritting his teeth.
Before he could regain balance, she moved again.
"Dancing Mirage Saber Technique...
Second Form—Dream Mirage Stab!"
Her blade thrust forward, aimed straight for his heart.
"What?! She's aiming to kill?"
Reon's mind raced. "No... I feel no malice. She's not trying to kill me. Then... the trajectory will change. But where?"
He gambled, raising his sword to guard his face.
Too late.
Slash!
"Aaargh!"
Reon cried out as her blade sliced into his left arm, blood spilling from his hand as searing pain shot through his flesh.
Yi Ran leaned in, her face cold, eyes locked onto his.
"On a real battlefield, I'd have aimed for your neck."
Reon held her gaze, breath ragged.
"I know." He leapt back, clutching his injured arm.
"I have to find a way to deal with her deceptive moves..."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Either I strike first, give her no chance to counter...or track only her blade, not where she aims.
But the latter... is far more difficult in this situation."
He centered himself.
"Bladesong of the Silver Moon Technique...
First Style—Moonlit Breeze!"
A soft wind rose, laced with Spiritual Qi, flowing toward Yi Ran. It started gentle, then turned sharp, cutting like invisible blades.
From her flank, Cloudia struck, jaws open in a coordinated assault.
Yi Ran twirled her saber, smiling.
"Beautiful move. But not enough."
"Serpent Fang Saber Technique...
Third Form—Twisted Serpent Strike!"
A spectral serpent burst from her blade, twisting through the air.
It clashed with Reon's wind, dissipating it, before slithering past Cloudia's fangs, evading her effortlessly.
Reon's eyes didn't flinch. "Just as I expected."
He steadied himself. "I never intended to defeat you with that."
Then he spoke, voice calm. "Yi Ran, why challenge me? We barely know each other. I'm not strong enough to warrant your attention, let alone a duel."
Yi Ran's smile faded, her gaze unreadable.
"True. I don't see you as my opponent... yet."
Reon's heart skipped. "Yet? She expects me to grow stronger...?"
Yi Ran continued, her voice softer now. "It wasn't my idea. Someone else told me about you."
The mist thickened, but Reon's thoughts were sharper than ever.
"Someone else...? Who's behind this?"