“Honored citizens of Yellow Dome City,” Elder Song began, her voice echoing throughout the vast chambers of the Golden Arena, “allow me to introduce the two finalists of the 173rd Exhibition Tournament.”

  The entire arena fell silent as one hundred thousand spectators held their breath. Ishin had no doubt every seat was filled—the entire city eager to witness the grand finale of the year’s most anticipated event.

  He paid them no mind. His focus was on the woman who stood across from him on the stage.

  Rhee stood tall, her stance steady despite the injury she had suffered in her match against Dong Jing. She smiled at him, relaxed and radiant—free from the burden of expectation that had shadowed her earlier fights.

  When their eyes met, Ishin returned her smile. His inner beast stirred—not in rage or ferocity, but with the electric anticipation of a worthy challenge. A chance to test himself against a friend and rival, without the animosity that came with a true enemy.

  That settled it. He would not dishonor Rhee by giving their match anything but his all, even at the cost of Grand Master Yusheng’s endorsement. He would win—or lose—on his own merit.

  “Both finalists hail from the Eight Oaths Resolve Martial School,” Elder Song continued. “Clearly, the school has done an exceptional job raising the next generation of martials to have not one but two competitors make it to the finals.

  “Our first finalist is the prodigy of both the Eight Oaths Resolve School and the Zhu Clan. Having made it to the finals, she has proven herself worthy of such distinction. Please give a round of applause to Competitor Zhu Rhee!”

  The arena exploded in thunderous applause, and Ishin grinned as Rhee received the crowd’s adulation. She deserved it and he was proud to share this stage with her.

  Elder Song raised both hands, gradually quieting the arena.

  “Our second finalist is a relatively new resident of our prestigious city. Hailing from the Daihu Tribe within the Nine Striped Hills, he only recently joined the Eight Oaths Resolve School. From his performance thus far, it is clear why he rose to prominence so quickly. Talented with both the spear and lightning—please welcome Competitor Ro Ishin!”

  The crowd roared with equal fervor. Ishin turned toward the stands, his heart pounding with pride.

  If only my mother could see me now.

  It was a bittersweet thought. She would have been proud—proud of the path he’d forged, of the cultivator he’d become. Strangely, the thought made him wonder how Elder Song had learned of his origins with the Daihu Tribe.

  Again, Elder Song gestured for silence once more. “Competitors, prepare yourselves for the final match. The winner will be named Champion of the Exhibition Tournament—and achieve eternal glory throughout the city!”

  Ishin stepped into the first spear stance of the Daihu Tribe, his muscles vibrating with excitement. This was his moment—to face Rhee, to see how far they had both come. Could he defeat her after all this time?

  Rhee lifted her arms into a balanced stance, poised for both attack and defense. Given the versatility of her darkness techniques, it made sense.

  She knows all of my tricks with the spear. I’ll have to rely on my Indigo Sky Bolt if I want a chance.

  He harbored no illusion that his spearwork alone would be enough. Dong Jing, despite his superior complementary techniques, had been unable to best her with the spear. Ishin wasn’t his equal with the spear. And he had already ruled out using the Pale Azure Lightning Force Strike.

  That left him with only his Indigo Sky Bolt.

  She probably already has a plan to counter it, he thought, studying her calm confidence.

  “Let the final match of the Exhibition Tournament begin!” Elder Song declared.

  Like every match before, Ishin charged.

  Rhee stood her ground, letting him close half the distance before reacting. Then, six shadowy fists launched from her feet, surging toward him. He’d anticipated this and spun his spear in rapid arcs, knocking aside the first four. The last two struck his left hip and right shoulder. He grunted but pushed forward.

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  The force of the blows felt like unenhanced punches—not enough to knock him down. He had expected to take hits during the opening gambit. They were the price of his strategy.

  Now within range, Ishin raised two fingers and gathered lightning.

  Rhee’s eyes widened at the spark of indigo forming at his fingertips. She conjured twin shadow shields, bracing herself just as he released the Indigo Sky Bolt.

  It tore through the air and slammed into her overlapping shields. The first shattered; the second held. Rhee didn’t flinch.

  But Ishin had already begun cycling a second bolt the instant the first was launched.

  The second followed through the same path, breaking past the weakened first shield and piercing the second. Rhee twisted her body just enough that it slammed into her right shoulder instead of her chest. This time, she stumbled back several feet. The shock disrupted her concentration, causing the shield constructs to vanish. Her right arm fell limp, and Ishin saw a charred hole seared into the fabric of her robes.

  He winced as pain bloomed through his right arm—his meridians vibrating from back-to-back usage of the technique. But he could still move. He surged forward.

  Another volley of shadow fists came at him—this time only four. He swatted aside three and barely dodged the fourth with a sideways leap.

  Too close.

  As he landed, two tendrils coiled around his ankles. He tugged, but they held firm—stronger than expected. Four more tendrils burst from his own shadow, aiming for his arms.

  She’s fast.

  Ishin had studied Rhee’s Twisting Shadow Snare after watching her fight Dong Jing, but he hadn’t expected her to deploy it so quickly.

  He slashed the tendrils around his ankles with two clean thrusts. Then, swinging his spear horizontally, he deflected the incoming tendrils before they could fully bind him, augmenting the blow with qi. The attack bought him just enough time to leap away.

  I can’t let that happen again.

  Cycling qi through his legs, he closed the distance once more.

  But Rhee had already prepared a counter. A massive fist of darkness—three times the size of his head—rushed at him with blistering speed.

  He jabbed his spear forward. The two forces collided.

  No time to cycle qi into his arms—he focused on holding his ground. He bent his legs and dropped his stance, using leverage and core strength to brace himself. For several long seconds, spear and shadow ground against each other, the stage trembling beneath their duel.

  The crowd held its breath.

  Ishin roared in defiance, his inner beast answering in kind. Adrenaline surged. He pressed harder, the point of his spear cutting into the darkness inch by inch.

  With a final roar, Ishin drove through the shadow fist, shattering the construct into wisps. His chest heaved, muscles trembling with effort.

  He didn’t have time to celebrate.

  Four tendrils shot from beneath him and clamped down on his wrists and ankles.

  Exhausted from the clash, he couldn’t react fast enough. He tried to cycle qi, but a small shadow fist struck the side of his head, staggering him and breaking his focus.

  He shook his head, dazed. Two more tendrils emerged and further pinned his arms.

  I have to break free, he thought as the shadows forced his arms to his sides, still clutching his spear.

  Then something hard and smooth struck the right side of his skull.

  The blow hurt more than the shadow fist, blacking out part of his vision and stealing his hearing.

  Blinking rapidly, the world sharpened again. Rhee stood in front of him, a rod construct in her remaining hand. Her entire body shook with effort, sweat clinging to her face, and blood trailing from the shoulder he’d struck.

  She raised the rod again. Her lips moved, but he couldn’t hear. Pain flared again in the side of his head.

  He couldn’t even find the tendrils now—only feel them, binding him tightly.

  Then the rod slammed into his stomach. Air fled his lungs, and only then did his hearing return.

  “Do you surrender?”

  “No,” Ishin answered on instinct.

  He tried again to cycle qi, but Rhee didn’t give him the chance. She slammed the rod into the back of his hand. Pain radiated, and the spear clattered to the ground.

  “It was well fought, Ishin,” Rhee panted. “But you’ve lost.”

  She tapped the rod gently against his chin, voice turning almost affectionate. “But if you want, we can keep going until you’re completely bruised.”

  Despite everything, Ishin smiled.

  I’ve lost again.

  And yet, there was no shame. Not against her. Against someone like Pan Feng, perhaps he wouldn’t have accepted it. But this wasn’t some rival to hate—this was a friend. A worthy opponent.

  His martial pride accepted the truth.

  “I surrender,” Ishin said, voice firm and without regret.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Elder Song proclaimed, her voice rising like a fanfare, “this year’s Champion of the Yellow Dome City Exhibition Tournament is Zhu Rhee of the Eight Oaths Resolve Martial School!”

  The arena erupted. The cheering was louder than anything Ishin had ever heard.

  And yet, there was no disappointment in him—only pride. For his friend’s victory, and for his own efforts.

  Rhee allowed her rod to dissipate. A breath later, the tendrils dissolved, releasing him.

  “That was a good fight,” she said.

  Now free, Ishin stretched his sore arms. “Agreed. And congratulations on winning the tournament.” He added with a tired grin, “Next time though, I’ll beat you.”

  Rhee gave him a rueful smile. “We’ll see about that.”