Dust swirled through the training yard, disciples crowding the edges, eyes wide with anticipation.
Kael cracked his knuckles, grinning like a wolf before slaughter. His aura flared, hot and heavy, pressing against Arhaan like a mountain.
"You should've stayed in the shadows, rootless stray," Kael sneered. "Now I'll remind everyone what happens when garbage pretends to be gold."
Arhaan wiped the blood from his lip, his chains rattling faintly beneath his skin. His body still screamed with exhaustion from the trial, but something deeper stirred—a fire that refused to be smothered.
"I told you," Arhaan said softly.
"I don't play your games."
---
The Unleashing
Kael charged, qi surging into his fist, the ground cracking beneath his steps. He swung with killing intent, his strike roaring like thunder.
Arhaan didn't move until the last instant.
Then his crimson-gold chains erupted.
They tore from his arms like living fire, coiling through the air, blazing with molten light. The sheer pressure of their release shattered the training yard tiles, forcing onlookers back with screams.
Kael's fist met them head-on—
and stopped dead.
The chains wrapped around his arm, burning through his qi like paper in flame. His scream split the air as the chains surged higher, curling around his chest, his throat, his very spirit.
The disciples froze. Some fell to their knees from the crushing aura.
---
The Fear
Arhaan stood, eyes glowing faintly, his chains tightening just enough to choke Kael's breath.
"Is this the strength you were so proud of?" Arhaan's voice was low, steady, unshakable.
"Then I pity you."
Kael gagged, his once blazing aura sputtering like a dying flame. For a moment, it seemed Arhaan would crush him completely.
But then—
The chains stopped.
With a sharp pull, Arhaan ripped them back, releasing Kael. The proud inner disciple collapsed to the ground, coughing, his body trembling from terror more than pain.
---
The Witnesses
Silence gripped the yard. Every disciple stared at Arhaan as though seeing not a man, but a calamity.
"He… he could've killed Kael."
"He didn't even try… and Kael couldn't stop him."
"Those chains… they're not human."
Arhaan turned, crimson-gold fire still faintly burning across his skin, and walked away without another word.
Each step left the same message echoing in every heart:
This was mercy. Next time… it may not be.