The ground cracked under the weight of their clash.

Fire and wind roared together, throwing sparks into the night air as Arden's shield locked against the elder's gale wrapped blade.

The shockwave rattled the plaza, stone fragments bouncing across the ground.

The elder's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp. "Do you even know what you're doing, boy?"

Arden pressed forward, muscles straining but his grin steady. "Yeah. Beating the mask off your face."

The elder's blade twisted, wind screaming as he swung.

Arden ducked, sliding under, and flames burst from his palm. FWOOSH! Fire spears shot upward, grazing the elder's robe as he flipped back.

Gasps rang from the crowd. T

he other elders shifted uneasily.

"Lord, why do you allow this madness? Arden dares raise his blade against one of us!"

The Lord's hand rose sharply, his gaze locked on the fight. "None of you interfere." His tone carried iron. "Watch closely."

The battle scaled quickly.

Arden's veins glowed faintly as his life energy flowed to the surface. Vital Lotus Flow stitched the cuts on his arms before blood could drip. Each heartbeat pulsed with raw energy, pulse Reinforcement and he felt strength refill his limbs like rushing water.

The elder surged forward again, wind blades shrieking, carving trenches in the stone.

Arden braced, lotus petals of energy blooming into place. Lotusfang Aegis.

CLANG–SHHH! The barrier caught the strike, lotus petals bending with the wind's pressure before snapping back, echoing the force in a shockwave.

The elder stumbled a half-step back, teeth bared.

"You mock me with tricks!"

Arden's smirk widened. "Not tricks. Just better skills."

He blurred Steptrace Mirage appearing behind the elder, flames condensing into spears. "Flame Conduction!"

THRUM – BOOM! Spears rained down, bursting into waves of fire that scorched the elder's wind barrier.

The elder snarled, his killing intent spiking higher, sharp enough that even the onlookers flinched. Guards clutched their chests, struggling to breathe under the pressure.

Then it shifted.

The elder's aura flared wider than before.

Wind wrapped the plaza like a storm cage, debris floating as though gravity itself bent to his will.

A partial domain.

But not a simple one. The wind curved unnaturally, pulling into streams like invisible fangs gnashing in the air.

Razor currents slithered across the plaza, cutting stalls apart in seconds.

Onlookers screamed as stone shattered.

The Lord stood firm, his eyes narrowing. "So he unveils after all…"

Arden cracked his neck, unbothered. "Neat trick. Shame you'll waste it on me."

He dove forward, activating Infernic Drift. His body blurred with afterimages as slicing winds tore past.

Each dodge left a burning trail of ash Seartrail Ignition and soon the plaza smoked with searing paths.

The elder's blade whistled, wind amplifying its edge.

Arden blocked with Lotusfang Aegis, petals flaring red.

When the impact landed, the aegis pulsed, echoing the force back with a fiery counterburst.

BOOM! The elder staggered back, his robe singed.

Arden exhaled sharply, sweat beading, then grinned. "That vein crown of yours… doesn't look like it fits, old man. Wearing someone else's strength?"

The elder's jaw clenched. His strikes grew harsher, more desperate.

Each swing ripped gashes in the plaza, sending people scattering. The more Arden mocked, the rougher his aura grew.

Arden's life signatures worked in rhythm. Ember Loop Core fueled his reserves, every dodge and strike feeding his fire. Tremor Vein released shockwaves every third blow, shaking the elder's footing. His aura flickered crimson and gold, lotus chains flaring with each counter.

The crowd couldn't look away. The intensity dragged them in, each clash sounding like thunder.

CLANG – BOOM! WHOOSH – CRACK!

Every strike rattled the plaza. Every dodge left trails of fire and ash. The elder's domain roared, but Arden's flames bit through, steady and stubborn.

Finally, the cracks showed.

The elder's skin rippled at the edges, faint scales surfacing along his neck, his nails curving sharper. His control slipped. The wind twisted with feral pulses, no longer refined.

The onlookers gasped. "What.. what is that?"

Arden saw it clearly and smirked. He spoke loud enough for all to hear. "There it is. Thought you could hide it forever? You reek of beast."

The elder froze, rage burning across his face. His wind snapped violently, walls of air surging in all directions. His voice roared, guttural, no longer entirely human.

"Silence! You know nothing!"

But it was too late. His hybrid nature was revealed.

Commotion swept the plaza. The crowd erupted in panic. Even the other elders staggered in disbelief. "Impossible… he's one of them… he's the traitor!"

The Lord's eyes widened, then hardened. He had doubted Arden a bit, but now the truth clawed out before his very eyes.

His aura steadied, his voice booming.

"Enough lies!"

The elder lunged at Arden in hybrid form, strength doubled, winds howling with beastly wrath.

Arden braced, shield glowing with crimson lotus, yet the sheer force rattled his bones.

And then another pressure swept the plaza.

WHOOMPH!

The Lord himself stepped forward, his aura slamming against the elder's, forcing the hybrid to stagger back a pace.

An ice barrier shimmered as he caught the strike that had been meant for Arden.

The plaza went dead silent.

The Lord's gaze never left the hybrid. "Arden was right."

Arden straightened, wiping sweat from his brow, lips curling in a smirk. "Took you long enough."

The Lord's eyes flicked briefly toward him, just enough to show acknowledgment. "We'll end this together."

The hybrid elder bared his teeth, fury twisting his face. "You'll regret siding with him!"

Arden's shield flared, lotus petals burning brighter than before. "Regret? No. I'll enjoy this."

He spat blood, smirk unshaken. "Let's finish tearing your mask apart."

The Lord channelled his aether with the air cooling in response.

The hybrid's roar split the sky.

And the battle began anew.

A/N:

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