The tomb trembled as the echo of the Crimson Sun Sect flare crackled outside.
Inside, Ethan's heart thundered.
The Dragon Slayer Sword hovered inches from his palm, vibrating with ancient power. Its presence stirred something in him a deep resonance that coiled with his Fire Vein, urging him to reach out.
When his fingers touched the hilt, a shockwave of heat surged through his body. His mind blurred.
Then his visions.
A battlefield. Blades burning red. Armies crumbling. A woman Aeliria soaring through the sky, sword in hand, raining down silver flame.
His knees buckled from the pressure. But his spirit held.
Good,
Aeliria said softly.
You're not consumed. You may keep the blade for now.
Ethan looked up, chest heaving, eyes wide with awe.
I can feel it breathing, he whispered. Like it's alive.
That sword drank the blood of a thousand immortals, she said. It does not sleep easily.
Sudden crash!
The stone seal shattered.
Three cultivators entered robes glowing with solar embroidery, their hair tied in golden threads. One stepped forward. Young. Arrogant. Strong.
Crimson Sun Sect , disciple.
He said. Name: Kael Ruwen. Foundation Phase Level Seven.
And you
He looked at Ethan with mild amusement.
You smell like charcoal and burnt herbs.
Elena raised her blade, but Ethan held out his arm.
No, he said
This one's mine.
Kael laughed. Confident. Good. I like to crush that.
The battle began.
Kael drew a blade of burning light and surged forward. Ethan parried just barely. Sparks exploded as flame met ancient metal.
Each strike echoed like thunder across the tomb walls.
Five minutes passed, Ethan was sweating, breathing heavy but smiling.
This was no warm-up. Kael was strong, fast, and ruthless but Ethan had something more.
A Resolve.
Ten minutes passed, Ethan shifted his stance, blending Sword Sect footwork with his Taekwondo flow. He ducked low, twisted past Kael's next strike, and countered with a horizontal arc that tore Kael's sleeve.
Kael cursed, retaliated with a sunburst technique that cracked the ground.
Fifteen minutes passed, they clashed again this time, Ethan held his ground. He redirected Kael's energy into the floor using a Warding Curve, then pivoted and slammed his elbow into the older boy's ribs.
Kael coughed blood.
Ethan followed through, blade raised. But he didn't kill him.
He stopped an inch from Kael's neck.
Kael looked up, stunned.
You could have
I'm not here to murder, Ethan said
But come for that sword again, and I won't hold back.
Kael snarled but fled with the others.
The tomb settled again.
Elena approached slowly, her expression unreadable.
You didn't hesitate, she said.
Ethan turned to her, still glowing with battle Qi. I felt something unlock in me.
She hesitated then, for the first time, her voice softened.
You fight like someone who was born for war,
she said. And yet you show restraint like someone raised by healers.
Ethan smiled faintly. Maybe that's true.
Aeliria, watching silently, spoke again. She reminds me of someone.
Elena stiffened.
What do you mean?
The sword fairy's eyes narrowed.
A bloodline. Ancient. Hidden. Yours is not a normal pulse, girl. There's something buried in you.
Elena's breath caught.
But she said nothing.
Not yet.