The Central Arena was packed to the edge.
Students filled every seat, instructors and guild scouts watching from the upper stands. The rain that had fallen through the night had stopped, leaving behind a sharp chill and an air heavy with anticipation.
In the center of the arena, two figures stood facing each other — Lee Shin, his Class D insignia still stitched to his uniform, and Seo Hyun-Seok, his elder half-brother from Class A, dressed in a custom combat jacket with the gold crest of the Lee Guild shimmering on his chest.
"Two brothers," murmured one of the announcers through the enchantment system.
"One from the bottom, one from the top. The crowd's already calling this the Bloodline Duel."
The cheers were deafening.
Hyun-Seok smirked, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. "Can't believe they actually let you in the finals, Shin. Guess pity points are a thing now."
Shin said nothing, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. His mana hummed faintly — cold, focused, controlled.
Hyun-Seok's smirk widened. "Still ignoring your betters, huh? Typical of a mistake child."
The words stung, but Shin didn't react. His grip only tightened.
"Begin!"
The command echoed, and both moved at once.
First Exchange
Hyun-Seok dashed forward, sword blazing with bright golden mana — the signature of the Lee bloodline. Each strike carried precision and explosive power, designed to overwhelm and crush.
But Shin was no longer the same boy who'd once flinched under those blows at home.
He parried, sidestepped, and countered — movements refined through blood and rebirth. His strikes were minimal but devastating, each one aimed at an opening only he could see.
CLANG! CLANG! SHHRRKK!
The impact sent mana waves rippling across the arena floor.
Hyun-Seok gritted his teeth. "How—how the hell are you keeping up?!"
Shin's eyes glowed faintly. "Maybe you've been fighting too long in comfort."
He twisted, his sword flashing with compressed mana. A burst of blue light erupted, slicing through Hyun-Seok's defensive stance and grazing his shoulder. Blood spattered across the sand.
The audience gasped.
"Unbelievable! The Class D student just landed the first hit!"
Hyun-Seok staggered back, clutching his wound. His composure cracked for the first time.
"You… you dare?!"
He flared his mana — gold lightning erupting around him in a dazzling storm.
A Mana Burst — reckless, uncontrolled, but powerful.
Shin's expression remained calm.
"You're wasting energy," he said softly. "Just like always."
Flashback
A memory flickered.
A younger Shin, trembling as Hyun-Seok laughed over him, wooden sword pressing against his throat.
"You'll never be one of us," his brother had said, sneering. "You're nothing but your mother's mistake."
Now, standing in the arena, Shin exhaled slowly.
Not anymore.
Second Exchange
Hyun-Seok roared, lunging forward. His attacks blurred into golden streaks. The sheer mana pressure cracked the arena tiles beneath them.
But Shin met him head-on. His sword moved like liquid lightning, guided by instinct and something far older — the rhythm of the ring pulsing at his wrist.
Step. Twist. Counter.
A blade of compressed mana exploded from Shin's swing, colliding with Hyun-Seok's golden wave.
The explosion shook the arena, sending dust and energy flaring outward. Students shielded their faces as the ground trembled.
When the smoke cleared, both stood at opposite ends — Hyun-Seok panting, eyes wide with disbelief.
His sword arm trembled. "You're… stronger than before. That's not possible!"
Shin lowered his sword, eyes cold. "You never bothered to ask why I got stronger. You were too busy proving I didn't belong."
Third Exchange — The Breaking Point
Hyun-Seok screamed, unleashing every ounce of mana he had left. The golden aura twisted violently, surging toward Shin like a blinding storm.
But Shin's expression didn't waver. He stepped forward, placing his hand over the glowing ring.
The world seemed to slow.
A faint whisper echoed through his mind — a familiar voice from the ring.
"Remember the balance between power and heart. You've walked both worlds now… show them the truth."
Shin's body lit with blue-white mana — pure, refined, dense.
He slashed once.
The blue arc cut straight through Hyun-Seok's golden storm, slicing apart the mana wave and halting his brother's charge mid-step.
The blast threw Hyun-Seok backward. His sword shattered, scattering fragments across the field. He landed hard, the wind knocked from his lungs.
Silence filled the arena.
Then the announcer's voice broke it — trembling.
"Winner… Lee Shin of Class D!"
Aftermath
Cheers erupted — raw, electric, disbelieving.
Ha-Yoon was the first to stand, clapping hard. "That's what you get, golden boy!"
Even the instructors exchanged glances — astonishment, curiosity, and something like respect.
In the center, Shin sheathed his sword and looked down at his brother.
Hyun-Seok's eyes burned with rage and shame.
"You… you humiliated me."
"No," Shin said quietly. "You did that yourself."
He turned and walked away as the arena filled with cheers.
Later That Night
Shin stood alone outside the dorms. The sky above was clear again, stars gleaming over the academy towers.
He exhaled slowly. For the first time in years, the air felt lighter.
But deep in his chest, something stirred — a faint vibration from the ring.
"One chain broken. Three remain."
He looked up at the distant tower, where lightning silently danced around its spire.
A new storm was coming.