The atmosphere thickened to a near unbearable level as both warriors stood locked in a final stance. Their energies collided invisibly but palpably, a manifestation of their determination and will.
Thunderclouds loomed overhead, casting dark shadows over the arena, reflecting the tempest that raged between the two combatants below. Orien, battered yet not broken, surged forward once more. He activated the core of his Stormvale techniques—Storm King's Pulse. His body effectively transformed into a conduit for a miniature storm, lightning coiled around his limbs like serpents, flickering erratically. His eyes glowed an unnatural, brilliant white as he harnessed all of the power at his disposal.
The speed with which he moved was terrifying, eliciting gasps from the audience. To the untrained eye, it appeared as if he vanished into thin air. But Rio, through years of sparring with his sister and honing the depths of his family's techniques, could still trace the movement.
