The cool wind of Frost Land brushed gently against the cold rooftops of the city. The stars shimmered above like countless glowing eyes watching silently from the heavens. Tang Xan stood beneath the silver moonlight, the echoes of the crowd and the cheers from the tournament still ringing faintly in his ears.
Tonight, there was peace—an unfamiliar calm after days of endless battle, training, and awakening. For the first time, he smiled softly. His heart felt lighter. The image of Leo, his spirit lion, flashed before his eyes, and a small warmth rose inside him.
Tang Xan whispered quietly, "Leo… if you were here, you would laugh and call me lazy for resting. But… you'd also say I've earned it."
He turned and ran toward his room, the silver fabric of his robe fluttering like light wings in the wind. He entered the quiet hall, his boots echoing on the marble floor. When he reached his small chamber, he sat down on his wooden chair, closed his eyes, and breathed deeply. For a moment, all the chaos disappeared.
His thoughts drifted back to Leo's sacrifice—the moment the lion's soul turned into dust of light, recreating life and reviving Frost City. That memory still stung his heart like a sharp blade. Yet, beneath the pain, a sense of determination burned stronger than ever before.
"Leo wanted me to be stronger," he murmured, his eyes glowing faintly. "And I will be."
He rose from the chair, his long hair swaying gently as he walked to the balcony. The night sky stretched wide and infinite, filled with stars that blinked like fragments of ancient power. Tang Xan raised his hand toward the sky and whispered, "One day, I'll reach there. I'll surpass everything."
Suddenly, a small pulse of energy rippled through the air around him. His aura flared—calm but immense. The wind responded to his will, swirling around him softly like a living creature. He smiled faintly.
"I can control it now," he said to himself. "Finally…"
But control wasn't enough. He wanted to evolve. He wanted to unlock something beyond—something new, a power hidden deep within his veins, sealed by his past battles and Leo's connection.
Tang Xan closed his eyes again, sitting cross-legged on the cold ground. "Let's try it," he whispered. "Let's unlock the next element."
He steadied his breathing. Inhale—exhale. His aura began to flow like waves of light. The faint hue of silver around him turned brighter, shifting between white and gold. Small sparks danced around his fingers. The air trembled. His power resonated with the elements of the world.
Inside his mind, he heard Leo's voice faintly—distant, like a memory echoing through eternity."Focus, Tang Xan. Don't force it. Feel the energy of creation and balance. Let your aura blend with nature itself…"
Tang Xan followed the echo. The world slowed around him. The wind carried whispers of mountains and rivers, the hum of the earth, and the rhythm of life itself. He felt himself sinking deeper, merging with that power.
Then suddenly—
A sharp sound broke the silence.
Slash!
A cold sting tore through his back. Tang Xan gasped, his meditation breaking instantly. Warm blood trickled down his robe. His hand shot backward instinctively and gripped something—a knife. Someone had attacked him from behind.
He twisted his body, pulling the weapon out. The moonlight glinted on the blade's silver edge. The attacker stood before him, a shadow cloaked in dark robes, eyes glowing faintly red.
Tang Xan's expression turned calm, but his aura began to rise like a storm. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and sharp.
The figure didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, raising another dagger.
Tang Xan's reflexes were lightning-fast. He grabbed the attacker's wrist before the blade could strike again and slammed his fist into the man's face. The impact echoed like thunder in the silent night, and the man staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose.
Tang Xan narrowed his eyes. The face under the hood was familiar.
"You're… one of the participants from the tournament," Tang Xan said slowly.
The man smirked through his pain. "You're not wrong. I just wanted to test how powerful you really are. I heard the stories—how you destroyed the Frost City once. I had to see it myself."
Tang Xan's aura flickered dangerously. "Testing me?" His tone was cold. "You nearly stabbed me in the back for your curiosity?"
The man shrugged. "That's how warriors learn."
"Then learn this."
In a flash, Tang Xan's aura exploded. He moved like wind, his body vanishing from sight for a split second. The attacker swung blindly, but Tang Xan's hand appeared on his shoulder, gripping tight like iron.
"Wind Slash!" Tang Xan shouted.
A wave of razor-sharp wind burst forward from his palm. The gust struck the man and sent him crashing backward into a wall, leaving a deep gash across his arm. The man screamed, stumbling to his feet. His robe was shredded, and his face was pale.
"You… you're a monster!" he yelled.
Tang Xan didn't reply. He simply stared with eyes glowing faint light blue. His aura raged around him like a storm ready to devour everything.
The man turned and ran into the shadows, disappearing into the distance.
For a long moment, there was silence. Tang Xan stood alone in the moonlight, breathing heavily. He touched his back where the knife had cut and felt the faint pulse of pain.
He looked toward the sky again, his expression unreadable.
"So they're already testing me," he whispered. "They want to see my limits before tomorrow's battle."
Leo's voice echoed faintly within his mind, though weaker than before."Don't waste your anger, Tang Xan. Let them test you. Let them come. Every battle is another chance to grow."
Tang Xan smiled faintly, eyes burning with determination. "You're right, Leo. Let them come. They'll see what real power means."
He turned back toward his destroyed training ground. The stones he had struck earlier still glowed faintly with energy. He raised his hand and clenched it into a fist.
"I won't stop. I'll keep pushing."
With that, he sat again on the ground, ignoring the wound in his back. His hands glowed softly as he began circulating aura through his body to heal himself. Slowly, the bleeding stopped. His heartbeat steadied.
All around him, the energy of Frost Land hummed in response to his presence. The cold air became warmer. The wind obeyed his will. His aura spread silently through the mountains, touching every living thing.
Hours passed. His breathing slowed. His eyes opened—glowing brighter than before, filled with calm yet unstoppable power.
Tang Xan whispered into the still night, "Tomorrow… I'll show them all."
He stood, the moonlight gleaming across his face, and walked slowly back toward his quarters. Behind him, the stones still trembled from his training, cracks running through the ground like lightning scars.
The wind carried his voice far across the hills—soft yet firm."The people want to test me… then they'll see what a light warrior truly is."
As he disappeared into the night, the last flicker of his aura shimmered across the sky like a faint golden flame—small, steady, and unyielding.
The stars above blinked quietly, as if acknowledging the rise of something greater. The world had witnessed Tang Xan's power before. But now, it would soon witness his awakening.
End Of Chapter 14