I advanced without reducing my speed. The crack I had opened in his scales was not just damage—it was a reference point. A place where the defense was no longer perfect. I kept my focus there.
The distance closed in an instant.
The slash came straight, faster, heavier.
This time, the blade went deeper.
The resistance was still there, but it was no longer absolute. The impact pierced the outer layer and triggered an immediate reaction. The king's body shifted to the side, not by choice, but because of the force applied.
The first real break in posture.
He responded immediately.
His claw swept forward in a wide arc.
I didn't block.
I dodged.
The strike passed close by, but the air pressure alone was enough to push my body sideways. I used the movement to spin and attack again, maintaining the sequence.
Another slash.
The same spot.
The crack widened.
Now it was visible.
The crowd reacted, the noise rising in intensity.
"He's forcing the opening," Lyannis said.
"He found the weak point," Vespera added.
Scarlett kept her gaze firm. "Keep going like that."
Elara lightly clenched her hands. "He's not backing down."
Liriel took a deep breath. "Neither is he."
Rai'kanna nodded. "Now it's balanced."
At the center of the arena, the rhythm changed.
The Dragon King was no longer testing.
He advanced with greater force.
A wing came down in a direct strike.
I blocked.
The impact was greater than before.
My body was pressed against the ground, the stone giving way beneath my feet. The force traveled through my arms, but I held my position.
I did not yield.
I pushed back.
I released the pressure and immediately retreated, avoiding the follow-up.
The tail came right after.
A short dodge.
An immediate counterattack.
The blade found the same area.
Once again.
The crack deepened.
He reacted with a sudden movement.
His head lunged forward, the fangs passing only centimeters away.
The heat of his breath was intense.
A short retreat.
Repositioning.
No pause.
The exchange continued.
Attack.
Defense.
Dodge.
Counterattack.
The pattern was clear, but the intensity increased with every second.
He began to adapt.
His movements became more precise.
Less space.
Fewer openings.
The pressure was increasing.
A mistake now would not be corrected.
"It's rising fast," Scarlett said.
"Both of them," Lyannis replied.
Vespera kept her gaze fixed. "Limits being tested."
Elara spoke softly. "He's still holding back."
Liriel gritted her teeth. "But for how long?"
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "Until he needs to change."
At the center, the change began.
The Dragon King spread his wings completely.
The mana around him increased visibly.
It wasn't just concentration.
It was release.
The environment responded.
The air grew heavier.
The ground trembled slightly.
The audience fell silent.
"This is it," I thought.
"This is the point."
He spoke.
"You've made it this far."
"Yes."
"But this still isn't enough."
"I know."
"Then show me."
I didn't wait.
The answer was already ready.
I increased the flow of mana.
Without hesitation.
Without restraint.
My body responded immediately.
My speed increased.
My perception adjusted.
Time seemed clearer.
I advanced.
Faster than before.
The space between us disappeared.
The slash came.
Stronger.
More precise.
The impact was direct.
The crack finally broke open.
One of the scales gave way completely.
A different sound echoed.
Not the sound of impact.
But of rupture.
He reacted.
This time with full force.
His jaws opened.
The fire came in succession.
Not a single attack.
But several.
Rapid explosions, one after another.
I dodged.
Continuous movement.
Without stopping.
Each attack demanded an immediate response.
The heat increased.
The pressure as well.
But my body kept up.
Without delay.
Without error.
I closed the distance again.
Even under attack.
The slash came.
Another point.
Another mark.
Now it wasn't just one area.
There were several.
Small.
But accumulating.
He retreated.
More than before.
His position changed.
His body adjusted.
His posture lowered.
More focused.
His gaze locked onto me.
"You're pressuring me."
"Yes."
"Then let's see how far it goes."
He advanced.
Maximum speed.
The impact came straight at me.
I blocked.
But this time it wasn't enough.
My body was launched away.
The ground shattered at the point of impact.
The air left my lungs for an instant.
But control returned quickly.
I stood up.
Without hesitation.
Without stopping.
I advanced again.
Now without holding back.
Mana flowed steadily.
My body was no longer restraining anything.
My speed increased once more.
The space responded.
The sound of my movements was different.
Sharper.
Faster.
The blade cut through the air with precision.
The impact came.
Direct.
Another rupture.
Another scale gave way.
He responded with full force.
The tail came.
I blocked.
The impact was partially absorbed.
I slid backward.
But I did not lose my balance.
Immediate counterattack.
Another slash.
Now his body was already showing clear signs.
Not of weakness.
But of wear.
The marks were there.
Small.
But real.
He stopped for an instant.
Heavy breathing.
A fixed gaze.
And then...
He smiled.
"Finally."
Silence filled the arena.
Complete silence.
"Now you're at the level."
Controlled breathing.
A firm stance.
Mana still flowing.
No decline.
No loss.
I looked directly at him.
Without saying anything.
But understanding.
He adjusted his body.
His wings moved slowly.
The energy around him changed again.
More concentrated.
Denser.
Different from before.
"So this is it," I thought.
"He's going to do it too."
The audience felt it.
Even without understanding.
The change was obvious.
In the stands, there were no voices.
No movement.
Only attention.
Scarlett spoke quietly. "The warm-up is over."
Lyannis nodded. "Final phase beginning."
Vespera added. "No turning back."
Elara kept her eyes fixed. "He's going to use everything."
Liriel clenched her fists. "And so is he."
Rai'kanna said firmly, "Now comes the decision."
At the center of the arena, the space felt smaller.
Not physically.
But because of the presence of the two.
The distance between us no longer mattered.
The level had already changed.
I adjusted my stance.
My breathing stabilized.
Mana concentrated.
Without waste.
Without excess.
Only what was necessary.
But at the limit.
He opened his mouth again.
But this time...
There was no rush.
The energy was gathering differently.
Deeper.
More dangerous.
"This changes everything," I thought.
But I did not retreat.
There was no reason to.
I took one step forward.
And then another.
The blade aligned.
My body responded.
And in that moment...
It became clear.
There was no more room for testing.
There was no more room for adaptation.
From that point onward...
It was supremacy against limit.
And only one would remain standing.