BOOOOM!!
Another violent shockwave exploded across Platform One as Zael's fist collided against Zuko's crossed blades, the impact tearing apart another portion of the floating arena beneath them.
Yet strangely—
Despite the sheer violence of the battle—
The atmosphere between the two fighters remained oddly relaxed.
Almost casual.
Zuko twisted his body smoothly, redirecting Zael's strike before countering with both swords in a flowing cross slash aimed toward Zael's torso.
[Dual Art: Crescent Divide]
Zael leaned backward just enough for the silver blade to miss his throat by inches while his hand caught the azure blade directly.
Blue flames exploded instantly around his arm.
BOOOOM!!
The audience winced collectively at the sight.
Yet Zael merely smirked.
"You know," he said casually while throwing the blade aside, "most people usually introduce themselves before trying to cut someone in half."
Zuko laughed lightly.
"And most people don't punch hard enough to collapse platforms."
SHIIING!!
His silver blade blurred suddenly, forcing Zael to sidestep as sword aura carved through the space where his head had been moments earlier.
The two exchanged another flurry of attacks instantly afterward.
CLANG! BOOM! CLANG!!
The spectators could barely keep up anymore.
Every collision generated enough force to violently shake the arena while sword aura and abyssal energy tore across the battlefield continuously.
Yet amidst all of it—
The conversation continued strangely naturally.
"So," Zael asked while blocking Zuko's silver blade with his forearm, "who are you really?"
Zuko's blue eyes flickered slightly.
"Interesting question."
Then his azure blade erupted with flames again.
[Azure Bloom]
Blue fire exploded outward in a spiraling storm that forced Zael backward briefly before Zuko instantly appeared above him.
SHIIING!!
Both blades descended simultaneously.
Zael crossed his arms to block.
BOOOOOOM!!
The platform beneath him shattered violently.
"You hid your strength this entire time," Zael continued calmly from inside the crater. "Why?"
Zuko landed lightly nearby afterward.
"Same reason you did probably."
Zael smirked faintly.
"I didn't hide."
The audience immediately erupted.
"LIAR!"
Even Auralis shouted from below.
"You literally never participate in rankings!"
Lily sighed.
"He means emotionally."
"That somehow makes it worse."
Back on the platform, Zuko laughed again before suddenly vanishing.
The next instant—
Dozens of sword images surrounded Zael from every direction simultaneously.
[Phantom Blade Waltz]
A terrifyingly refined sword technique.
Every slash targeted a vital point precisely.
Yet Zael simply stepped forward calmly.
One step.
Two steps.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!
Abyssal energy exploded outward from his body violently, erasing most of the incoming sword images instantly.
But not all.
Three cuts still landed across his coat and shoulder before he caught Zuko's silver blade mid-swing.
Their eyes met briefly afterward.
And both smiled slightly.
Because they understood now.
This wasn't one-sided anymore.
Not truly.
Zuko twisted his blade free smoothly before jumping backward.
Then casually asked:
"So how strong are you really?"
Zael raised an eyebrow.
"That depends."
"On?"
"How much effort you can force out of me."
The arena exploded from the sheer arrogance of that statement.
Yet surprisingly—
Zuko only grinned wider.
"Good answer."
Then his expression sharpened slightly afterward.
"Because I'm trying to figure that out too."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
For the first time since the battle began—
The mana around Zuko changed.
It became colder.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
The silver sword began emitting a faint humming sound while blue symbols slowly appeared along the azure blade.
Even Cassian's expression changed from the audience.
"…He's finally serious."
Zael noticed it immediately too.
The pressure radiating from Zuko was rising rapidly now.
Yet instead of caution—
Excitement appeared in Zael's eyes.
Because finally—
This fight was becoming interesting enough to deserve his full attention.
The atmosphere on Platform One changed Instantly.
Until now, despite how intense the battle looked, Zael had still been holding back subconsciously. He was fighting seriously compared to the other challengers, yes—but not truly seriously.
Not the way he fought inside the dungeon.
Not the way he fought the Blood Thunder Dragon.
But now—
For the first time since the competition began—
He finally felt pushed enough to stop restraining himself further.
BOOOOOOM!!
Abyssal energy erupted violently from Zael's body as crimson-black lightning exploded across the platform. The pressure alone caused several spectators near the front rows to pale instantly.
The floating platform groaned ominously beneath him.
Even the arena barriers flickered.
Zuko's smile widened immediately.
"There it is."
Zael disappeared.
[Void Step]
The next instant—
BOOOOM!!
Zuko barely crossed both swords in time before a devastating kick slammed into him hard enough to send shockwaves tearing across the platform.
Yet before he could recover—
Zael was already attacking again.
[Abyss Rend]
A colossal abyssal slash tore across the battlefield instantly.
Zuko's blue eyes sharpened.
SHIIING!!
Both swords moved simultaneously.
[Dual Sword Art: Azure Heaven Split]
Silver and blue sword intent erupted outward violently, colliding directly against Abyss Rend and splitting the attack apart.
The resulting explosion nearly shattered the entire platform.
The audience below stared in utter disbelief.
Because unlike Cassian—
Zuko had actually neutralized Zael's offensive skill directly.
Then the dynamics changed entirely.
Zael launched forward again, but this time—
Phantom Split activated.
Three additional Zaels materialized around the battlefield simultaneously, each radiating enough pressure to feel real.
Zuko's expression sharpened immediately.
"Interesting."
The four Zaels attacked together.
BOOM! CLANG! BOOM!!
The battlefield exploded into chaos.
Abyssal energy, sword aura, blood thunder lightning, and blue flames collided repeatedly while the floating platform cracked apart more and more with every exchange.
Zuko moved beautifully amidst it all.
Like flowing water.
Like dancing blades.
The silver sword handled precision and defense flawlessly while the azure blade unleashed devastating destructive bursts whenever opportunities appeared.
Yet slowly—
Zael began noticing something.
Something strange.
The skills Zuko was using…
Didn't feel normal.
Not because they were strong.
Because they felt instinctive.
Natural.
Too natural.
Almost identical to how his own bloodline abilities integrated seamlessly into combat.
Then it happened.
Zuko slid backward suddenly before raising the azure blade skyward.
The flames around it changed instantly.
Blue became silver-blue.
Colder.
Denser.
Ancient.
And behind him—
For the briefest moment—
Zael saw it.
A faint phantom silhouette.
Wings.
Massive wings.
The audience didn't notice clearly.
Most thought it was simply mana manifestation.
But Zael's eyes narrowed sharply.
Because he recognized that phenomenon immediately.
Bloodline resonance.
Zuko swung his blade downward calmly.
[Draconic Flame Descent]
BOOOOOOOOM!!
A colossal torrent of silver-blue dragon fire erupted across the battlefield instantly.
The pressure alone distorted space.
Zael's instincts screamed immediately.
Without hesitation—
He activated his own bloodline.
Crimson-black scales spread partially across his arm while draconic lightning exploded outward violently.
[Blood Thunder Claw]
BOOOOOOM!!
The two attacks collided head-on.
The resulting explosion shattered half the platform instantly.
The audience screamed as the arena barriers flickered violently under the impact.
Meanwhile inside the collision—
Zael's eyes locked onto Zuko's.
And at that moment—
He became certain.
Bloodline.
Zuko had awakened one too.
Not fully perhaps.
Not exactly like his own.
But enough.
Because no ordinary skill could produce that kind of ancient draconic pressure.
The realization made Zael's thoughts sharpen immediately.
At the same time—
Zuko's gaze changed slightly too.
Because he had clearly realized something similar.
Both fighters separated rapidly afterward, landing on opposite ends of the ruined platform.
Silence filled the arena.
Not because people understood what just happened.
But because instinctively—
Everyone realized the battle had entered an entirely different level now.
Zael stared at Zuko calmly.
Then finally spoke.
"…What exactly are you?"
Zuko smiled faintly afterward.
But he didn't answer.