The medical team burst through the infirmary doors, wheeling in Danialโs barely conscious body. His clothes were torn and singed, and blood still oozed from the wounds scattered across his frame. Gloria ran alongside, her palm pressed firmly against his chest, her healing light flickering like a flame in a storm. She looked pale, beads of sweat rolling down her temple, but her hand never faltered.โClear the path!โ one of the medics shouted as they reached the emergency bay. Danial was carefully transferred onto the main healing slab, and the room immediately filled with the hum of enchanted medical equipment activating.Pavan and Crystal arrived moments later, panting, their faces ashen with worry. โDanial!โ Crystal shouted, rushing forwardโonly to be gently pushed back by a medic.โWait,โ Gloria said breathlessly. โHeโs stableโฆ but barely. I need a moment.โSophie arrived right after, her face streaked with tears she didnโt even realize had fallen. She stood frozen at the doorway, h
Zyler spat out another clot of blood, the crimson liquid sizzling slightly as it touched the burning arena floor. Yet, despite the state of his body, his grin widened, unnerving everyone watching. โSeems like I have to end this battle soon,โ he muttered with a hoarse chuckle. โDanial, Iโve enjoyed playing with you.โDanialโs expression turned grim as his gaze flicked to his left arm. The burns and damage from earlier were mostly gone, but more importantly, he noticed something else. His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought, His attacks... although powerful, they're not poisonous. That information mattered. He had been too cautious before.He exhaled slowly and flicked his sword out to the side. Flames instantly coiled around the blade like a living serpent, and within seconds, the familiar, deadly aura of the Hellfire Sword returnedโits crimson and black flames licking at the air, warping the space around them.Zyler snorted in disdain and launched forward without hesitation. His grot
Danial stood upright, body trembling, yet his eyes never wavered from Zyler. Blood still dripped from the gash on his side, and his broken right arm hung weakly at his side. But he refused to let go of his sword.Then, without a word, Danial raised his left hand and placed it over his broken arm. A faint green glow began to emanate from his palm, rippling with soft, healing energy. His fingers trembled as the light surged gently through the cracks in his bones, mending tissues, reinforcing muscle fibers, and slowly stitching flesh back together.The crowd gasped. Even amidst the brutal spectacle of the tournament, such a healing technique was rareโespecially one that worked mid-battle.In the VIP section, voices rose in stunned whispers.โDid he just useโฆ a healing art?โ muttered of of the God of Wars, Astra Skyreach, narrowing her eyes behind his glasses. โThat kind of regeneration mid-combat is no joke.โCatherine Lancaster leaned forward. โItโs refined and stable. That isnโt some c
Danialโs eyes snapped open.There was no trace of fatigue or frustration in them anymore. Instead, an intense sharpness cut through the air like a blade. His pupils seemed to narrow, not in fear, but in focusโpure, honed focus. Predatoryโthat was the only word Zyler could muster to describe them. For the first time in the entire fight, Zyler took a cautious step back.He didnโt understand whyโฆ but something primal stirred inside him.Danialโs body didnโt move, but the Aura Blade in his hand began to surge, resonating with a cold, refined power. The space around it wavered like heat distortionโyet there was no heat, only pure cutting energy. It hummed with lethal intent.Zylerโs momentary fear melted into a wide, twisted grin. His chest heaved with excitement as he flicked his right arm, and the tendrils writhed violently, twisting and condensing into the shape of a grotesque, fleshy swordโblack, pulsing, and jagged like a spine ripped from a monster. With a delighted chuckle, he flick
Danial pointed the Hellfire-cloaked sword toward Zyler, his body now surrounded by embers that shimmered like a tempest waiting to burst.Zyler scoffed, arms crossed beneath the grotesque armor that pulsed with sickly energy. โJust because your fireโs changed colorโฆ you think Iโll be afraid?โDanial didnโt reply.He raised his hand, and a torrent of fire erupted from his body. The flames whipped and spiraled, wrapping tighter around him like coiling serpents until they formed a blazing dome. Gasps rose from the audience as the structure pulsed like a living heart, casting flickering shadows across the arena. The heat it radiated was suffocating, almost surreal.Inside the inferno, Danial stood unburnedโhis calm, collected form emerging slowly from the wall of fire, a faint smirk on his face.Zyler tilted his head, amused. โThese are flashy tricks. They wonโt work against me.โDanialโs smirk deepened. โLetโs find out.โWith no warning, he dashed forward. The dome collapsed into sparks
Danial froze as he caught a full glimpse of Zylerโs faceโsharp cheekbones, flawless skin, crimson eyes that shimmered like rare rubies. For a moment, his breath caught in his throat.Itโsโฆ beautifulโฆ?His crimson eyes shimmered like rubies under sunlight, his silver hair danced faintly in the wind, and his porcelain skin glowed with an otherworldly elegance. The sight disarmed Danialโnot with fear, but with awe. For a fleeting moment, Danial's thoughts became a blur. His grip loosened slightly on the hilt of his sword.โWhy... why does he look soโฆ beautiful?โA strange warmth rushed into his chest, his thoughts spiralling in directions he didnโt understand. Then, like a slap across the face, a sharp thought jolted him back.โWhat the hell am I thinking?!โHe shook his head hard, brows furrowed, disgusted at himself. โWhy am I suddenly getting these thoughts? This is a battle. Focus, Danial!โZyler caught his expression and let out a low chuckle. He tilted his head slightly, the smirk