The sky dimmed overhead as thunderclouds gathered without warning, their presence drawn not by weather, but by the will of two warriors locked in fate's cruel embrace.
Only two remained.
**Shadow.** Bloodied, bent, blade in hand, his body screaming for rest.
**Jin Yu.** The Crimson Palm, Rank 10 of the outer sect, eyes sharp as knives, aura burning red like dying embers before a storm.
The crowd was silent. No one dared speak.
They all felt it.
This would not be a duel.
It would be a **war**.
---
### First Sparks
Jin Yu took a step forward.
"You made it this far... with that body?" His voice cut like a whip. "But this is where it ends, Shadow."
Shadow exhaled, the breath rattling in his chest. He lifted his sword with both hands, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth.
"Then take your shot."
Jin Yu didn't hesitate.
He dashed forward, the crimson energy around his fists flaring. **Crimson Palm: Ember Form**. His hands became like molten steel, every blow igniting the air with heat.
Shadow met him head-on.
Steel clashed against fire. Blade met fist. Each impact was a scream of stone and a flash of agony. The audience leaned forward as two silhouettes blurred across the arena.
Shadow spun and slashed—only for Jin Yu to catch the blade with his palm, blood hissing as it burned from sheer heat.
"This is nothing!" Jin Yu roared.
He struck Shadow across the shoulder—the impact **sent him flying** into a cracked pillar. Shadow hit the stone and dropped to one knee, barely catching his breath.
"You're strong," Shadow muttered, rising again. "But I'm still here."
---
### Dance of Blades and Flame
They clashed again. Ten times. Twenty. Neither relented. Every movement was a gamble with death.
Jin Yu's fists were not merely attacks—they were explosions. Every punch detonated with searing force. One blow skimmed Shadow's ribs, and he heard the unmistakable sound of something cracking. Pain flared up his side, but he didn't stop.
Shadow parried with calculated precision. His **Flash Blade Art** moved like water against fire, deflecting and redirecting the brutal fury of Jin Yu's techniques. Sweat and blood dripped from his chin. His grip on the sword tightened.
> "I need to tire him out. Let him think he has me cornered."
Jin Yu struck again with **Crimson Step**, a movement art that carried him forward with a burst of flame. His palm crashed into Shadow's shoulder, spinning him midair. Shadow crashed to the ground, coughing blood.
The crowd gasped. Jin Yu didn't pause. He followed through, leaping into the air with both fists drawn back—a killing arc, fueled by fury.
Shadow rolled to the side. The fists slammed down, creating a crater.
Dust burst upward.
Shadow leapt from the mist.
**Flash Blade Art: Pulse Two!**
He slashed across Jin Yu's thigh. Blood sprayed. Jin Yu winced, turning with another blazing fist—this time, Shadow barely blocked.
Their energy clashed and twisted.
One a storm. The other a fire.
Neither willing to yield.
---
### The Crowd and the Sect
Above the arena, sect elders stood in silence. Even those who looked down on the outer court couldn't deny the spectacle before them.
> "That boy... Shadow. He's fighting like he's possessed."
> "No. Like someone with nothing left to lose."
Disciples leaned over railings, breath caught in their throats. None had expected this. Shadow, the orphan who couldn't cultivate, now fought the top of the outer court in open battle.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
> "That's Elder Yan's legacy."
> "This is why they called him cursed."
> "This is why the heavens tried to kill him."
---
### Blood and Thunder
Jin Yu wiped the blood from his leg and snarled. "ENOUGH!"
He slammed both fists together. Flames erupted upward, spiraling like dragons.
> **"CRIMSON PALM: BURNING VEINS FORM!"**
His body ignited. Veins lit up with red-gold light, pulsing with power. The ground beneath him cracked with every step.
Shadow felt the heat spike. The arena seemed to shrink as that fiery presence grew.
He had one chance.
He closed his eyes.
Reached within.
To the lightning in his core.
> "One more time. Just one more. Lend me everything."
His sword began to hum. Sparks danced along its edge. His aura surged.
**THUNDER SLASH: FINAL BURST!**
His blade turned silver-blue, arcs of lightning crawling along the steel like hungry snakes.
Jin Yu screamed.
"COME AT ME, SHADOW!"
Shadow answered.
"RAAAAAAAAAH!"
They collided.
Flame and thunder.
One fist. One blade.
Time slowed.
Shadow screamed as lightning shot from his feet to his crown. His vision flashed white. His soul trembled.
Jin Yu roared as his body consumed Qi faster than it could replenish. His arms glowed red-hot. Fire burst from his pores.
Their attacks met at the center of the arena.
The world broke.
**BOOOOOOM!**
The stone platform exploded in every direction. Shockwaves rocked the sect's foundation. Lightning danced into the sky. Flames curled across the ground.
The judge activated emergency formations to hold back the destruction.
Smoke filled the air.
Nothing could be seen.
No movement.
No breath.
Only silence.
---
### Aftermath
A figure stumbled from the smoke.
Shadow.
His blade was shattered.
His clothes torn.
Blood soaked every inch of his body. He could barely lift his arms. But he walked.
One step.
Another.
Then he dropped to one knee.
Behind him, Jin Yu collapsed with a thud.
His arms were burned black. His body twitched once.
Then went still.
The thunder stopped.
The fire faded.
The sky, for the first time in what felt like hours, cleared.
A ray of sunlight cut through the clouds.
The judge's voice cracked through the air.
> "Winner of the Final Duel of Round Two: SHADOW!"
The crowd was stunned.
Then a roar like a tidal wave.
Disciples screamed his name.
> "Shadow!"
> "Shadow!"
> "SHADOW!"
But Shadow heard none of it.
His vision darkened.
He looked to the sky.
> "Master... did you see that?"
Then the world faded, and he collapsed.
---