The wind blew softly through the garden by the river, making flower petals dance around. Sunlight sparkled on the water, and leaves rustled in the trees. It should have been peaceful, but Null could feel the tension crawling under his skin. Almost exactly what he wanted out of this.
Null stood a few feet from the fence, staring at Astro. The younger guy looked pissed, his hand gripping his practice sword so hard his knuckles were white. The old master stood between them, looking serious but also kinda curious.
Astro's jaw was tight. "You think I'm afraid? Just because my master said no means I'm hiding?"
Null kept his voice calm. "I didn't say that. But from where I'm standing, that's what it looks like." This kid is falling for the oldest trick in the book.
A vein in Astro's forehead started pulsing. The master sighed like he was tired of this crap, looking from Null to Stella, who sat behind him with her tail wrapped neatly around herself, golden eyes watching everything.
"You mock him," the old man said finally, "but maybe you need to learn the difference between being cocky and actually being strong."
Null smiled a little. "If you're so sure he's strong, why not let him prove it?"
The master's eyes got sharp. "Confidence isn't the same as being stupid. My student hasn't awakened his bloodline yet he's trained way beyond most of his peers. You, I can tell, are barely started. What are you trying to prove here?"
Null crossed his arms. "That levels aren't everything."
Astro smirked, his pride showing again. "Then prove it. You'll get your fight."
The master looked at both of them for a long minute. The wind messed up his dark robes before he finally nodded. "Fine. You've both made your choice. You can spar."
Null's grin got bigger, but the old man held up a hand before either could move.
"However," the master said slowly, "a fight without stakes is just exercise. There should be a bet—something that makes winning matter and losing hurt."
Null raised an eyebrow. "A bet?"
The man's voice was calm but serious. "If you lose, you give up that dragon."
The words hit like a punch to the gut.
Null froze. "Stella?"
Stella looked up at him, sensing the sudden tension. Her wings twitched nervously.
The old man continued, "That thing beside you... it's no ordinary pet. Legends say dragonkin can change fate itself. If you're going to risk her, then this fight might actually mean something."
Null's mouth opened but nothing came out. His heart hammered in his chest, and he felt sick to his stomach.
Stella wasn't just some game companion. She was... more than that. His partner. His reason for pushing forward. The first real friend he'd made in this world. Someone he felt real connection with
Astro tilted his head, smirking wider. "What's wrong? You wanted this, right? Or are you scared now that there's actually something to lose?"
Null's grip on his sword tightened. "That's not a fair bet."
The master's smile was thin. "Then say no. Walk away. Nothing wrong with that."
Null clenched his teeth. Every part of him screamed to say no—but his pride, that stubborn fire inside him, refused to back down now.
Then the air changed.
A sudden wind blew through the garden, carrying this golden sparkle with it. The old man's expression changed completely—he stood up straighter, his eyes snapping upward. Astro looked up too, blinking against the sudden brightness.
A huge presence came down from above, all regal and powerful.
The sky tore open like curtains, and from inside came a golden figure—shiny wings spreading out, eyes like melted gold.
Lord Aurelius.
The ancient dragon's voice rumbled through the air like fancy thunder.
"I have heard your proposed wager."
Both Astro and his master immediately bowed their heads. The pressure in the air was insane—you could feel it in your bones.
Null stood his ground, though his heart was racing. Even after meeting Aurelius before, it never got less intense.
Aurelius looked at the master first. "You wish to stake the dragon heir on this little contest. Bold, but foolish."
The old man bowed deeper. "Forgive me, Lord Aurelius. But both these boys need to learn humility."
Aurelius's eyes moved to Null, then to Stella, who had bowed her head like she was supposed to.
The great dragon's voice got deeper. "If there must be a wager... then it will be equal."
Golden light shimmered between them. "If Null loses, you may have the dragon heir serve you for one month. But if he wins..."
Aurelius looked at Astro. "Then you will give a drop of your essence blood."
The words hit like lightning.
The old man actually looked shocked for the first time. His eyes went wide. "A drop of essence blood? That's—"
Astro looked horrified. "That's... that's my life force."
Aurelius didn't budge. "And what you're asking for is worth far more. One drop from someone unawakened won't kill you. But it could be very useful for the winner."
The master hesitated, thinking it over. Then he breathed out slowly. "If that's your will, my lord, we accept."
Astro hesitated, looking at his master, then back at Null. Some of his confidence came back. "Fine. I accept. I wasn't planning to lose anyway."
Aurelius's golden eyes glowed softly. "Then it's settled."
With that, the big dragon's wings spread again, and his body turned into golden sparkles that floated back up to the sky.
Everything got quiet again just the leaves rustling and the river flowing. You can feel the tension in the air.
Null breathed out slowly, holding his sword tighter. "So... that's how it's gonna be."
The old man raised his hand. "You can start when ready. No killing blows—this is practice, not a death match."
Astro smirked, stepping back into the open part of the garden. This red energy started pulsing around him, with little flames dancing in the air.
Null took a deep breath and got into fighting stance. Every nerve felt awake.
Astro raised his hand, and suddenly the garden got hotter. Little sparks started appearing in the air, drawn to him like magnets. You could smell burning grass.
"You ready?" Astro asked, smirking. The flames around him got brighter, crawling up his arms like living fire.
Null grinned. "You tell me."
The master stepped aside. "Begin."
The second he said it, Astro attacked first.
A burst of fire shot forward, splitting into several fireballs that flew through the air. Null's eyes narrowed—his instincts took over. He jumped sideways, rolling behind a low stone wall as explosions sent heat waves across the garden.
Fire powers... and pretty good control for his level.
Astro didn't stop. "Try to keep up, dragon-boy!"
Null dashed from cover, using [Charge]. Blue energy flashed under his feet as he zoomed forward—moving twice as fast suddenly. His sword swung.
Astro barely had time to react, making a flaming shield appear in front of him. Null's sword hit it with a loud HISS, sparks flying everywhere as the heat burned the air.
The shield cracked—but didn't break.
Null twisted, swinging his sword in a circle—[Whirlwind Slash]. The hit connected, flames bursting around them as Astro stumbled back, his robes looking a bit burned at the edges.
Astro's eyes narrowed. "You're faster than I thought."
Null grinned. "And you're not as tough as you act."
Astro's jaw clenched. The air around him pulsed again flames shooting higher, forming this fire armor around his body. The old man looked worried, like his student was using bloodline powers he wasn't ready for.
"Then let's stop playing around," Astro said, his voice echoing with fire energy.
The ground under him started smoking. A heat wave spread out—flames forming into spear shapes that floated in the air, circling him like angry bees.
Null tightened his grip. So that's his bloodline power, even if it's not fully working yet...
He moved fast, dodging through the fire spears. They hit the ground where he'd been standing, leaving black burn marks.
Astro's control was really good, too good for a normal level twenty. He wasn't just strong; he knew what he was doing.
Null charged again, ducking under a fire blast and getting close. His sword flashed—a fake move, followed by a spinning attack.
Astro's fire shield broke this time, sparks and embers flying everywhere.
The old man watched from the side, arms crossed. "He's being reckless. He'll run out of energy soon."
Aurelius's voice—calm, coming from everywhere—drifted down from the sky. "Don't be so sure. Recklessness can be instinct in disguise. And instinct... is where real skill begins."
The master frowned but didn't say anything.
Null and Astro clashed again—sword against fire, red and blue lights flashing through the garden.
Each move brought them closer to someone breaking.
The old man's expression got tense. "This boy... his eyes. He's not fighting for pride."
Aurelius's voice almost sounded like it was smiling. "No. He's fighting for a reason to keep living."
You can really tell when someone is fighting for reason and that's exactly how Null is fighting.
Their words got drowned out as Null and Astro crashed together again—and the garden exploded with light and fire.