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Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Zephyr Sky

The crowd buzzed with anticipation for the next battle. As the proctor called the names, the atmosphere grew tense: Feng Hao of Crimson Spire Academy versus Feng Kai of Azure Crest Institute. Both young men shared the same surname, but their rivalry went far beyond family names. The tension between the two schools had turned this match into more than a mere contest of strength—it was a matter of pride, and no one was willing to lose ground.

Feng Hao stepped forward with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. He had a lean but muscular build, honed from years of training and discipline. His short, windswept Platinum blonde hair mirrored the restlessness of his nature, while his eyes, a striking shade of stormy gray, held an intensity that promised no mercy. His presence was almost intimidating, as if he carried the boundlessness of the sky within him, always moving, always unpredictable. The aura around him shimmered with pale blue and silver tendrils, like strands of mist that clung to the air. When he activated his element, Zephyr Sky, the breeze itself seemed to come alive, swirling around him in graceful patterns, whispering of speed and the unseen power of the wind.

Across the arena, Feng Kai matched his steps with equal determination. He was tall, with a broad-shouldered build that hinted at raw physical strength. His hair was a Midnight Blue, and his eyes burned with a deep, electric blue. There was an intensity in his gaze that mirrored the crackling energy of his Lightning element. When his element flared, it wrapped around him in arcs of jagged, bright white lightning, creating a halo of charged energy that buzzed in the air around him. His presence was electrifying—literal sparks danced around him, the crackling of his power promising swift and destructive attacks.

The two faced each other in the center of the arena, neither offering the other so much as a glance. The proctor's signal was given, and the match began.

Feng Kai didn't waste time. With a quick gesture, he sent a bolt of lightning streaking toward Feng Hao, the air sizzling with the smell of ozone. But Feng Hao, quick as the wind he wielded, moved without hesitation. He sidestepped the attack, the bolt missing him by inches and slamming into the ground, leaving a charred mark where he had been.

Feng Hao's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Is that it?" His voice carried a casual tone, like he wasn't even taking the fight seriously.

Feng Kai's expression darkened, and he lunged forward, channeling more power into his fists. Lightning crackled around his arms, and he swung at Feng Hao, intending to land a powerful, electrified punch. But Feng Hao simply ducked, letting the punch sail over his head. In the next instant, he stepped inside Feng Kai's guard, moving with a speed that felt almost unnatural.

Before Feng Kai could react, Feng Hao delivered a brutal uppercut to his jaw. The impact snapped Feng Kai's head back, and his body lurched from the force of the blow. But Feng Hao wasn't finished—he followed up with a lightning-fast jab to the ribs, driving the air from Feng Kai's lungs with a sickening thud.

Feng Kai stumbled back, gasping for breath, but Feng Hao was relentless. He closed the distance again, not giving his opponent a chance to recover. With a fierce kick to the side of Feng Kai's knee, he sent him crashing to the ground. The sound of bone hitting the arena floor echoed through the space, and a pained grunt escaped Feng Kai's lips.

"You're too slow," Feng Hao taunted, standing over his fallen opponent. His voice was cold, devoid of any empathy. "Get up."

Feng Kai's face twisted with anger and pain as he struggled back to his feet. Lightning crackled more violently around him, sparks snapping across the ground as he tried to summon a surge of power. He thrust his hands forward, unleashing a burst of lightning aimed directly at Feng Hao's chest. This time, the bolt was more powerful, charged with the full brunt of his desperation.

But Feng Hao didn't even bother to fully dodge. Instead, he twisted his body slightly, letting the edge of the bolt graze his shoulder. The lightning seared through his clothing, burning the fabric and leaving a shallow scorch mark on his skin, but he hardly flinched. The smile on his face only widened, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

He grabbed Feng Kai's outstretched arm in one swift motion, using the momentum of the bolt to pull his opponent off balance. With a savage twist, he wrenched Feng Kai's arm behind his back, forcing him to his knees. A pained cry tore from Feng Kai as his shoulder strained under the pressure, but Feng Hao showed no mercy.

"You should have brought more than sparks," Feng Hao muttered into his ear, his voice low and mocking. Then he released Feng Kai's arm just long enough to deliver a brutal knee to his gut. The impact drove Feng Kai into the ground, his body curling in on itself as he gasped for air, the wind knocked out of him.

Feng Hao stepped back, but only to deliver a sharp kick to Feng Kai's side, sending him skidding across the arena floor. The sound of the impact rang through the air, and a murmur rippled through the audience at the sheer ruthlessness of the attack. Feng Hao's eyes flashed, and the misty aura around him swirled faster, the air bending to his will as he watched Feng Kai struggle to get up.

Feng Kai's face was twisted with pain and frustration. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his lightning flared weakly, struggling to hold form. He managed to get to his hands and knees, glaring up at Feng Hao with defiance in his eyes. "I'm not…done yet," he growled through gritted teeth, trying to muster another attack.

But Feng Hao moved in before he could even finish the thought, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and hoisting him to his feet. There was a dark satisfaction in Feng Hao's gaze, as if he enjoyed seeing the fight drain out of his opponent.

"No, you're done," Feng Hao said, and with a final, brutal punch, he drove his fist straight into Feng Kai's jaw. The blow sent Feng Kai crashing to the ground, unconscious before he even hit the floor. His lightning flickered and died out, leaving only silence in its wake.

The proctor didn't even need to check before announcing the match's outcome. "Winner: Feng Hao of Crimson Spire Academy."

Feng Hao stood over his fallen opponent, breathing evenly, barely winded from the fight. He glanced down at Feng Kai's motionless form, then turned away with a dismissive shrug, as if the entire match had been little more than an inconvenience. As he walked back to the edge of the arena, his aura of Zephyr Sky faded, the misty tendrils dissipating into the air, leaving only the chilling memory of his brutal efficiency.

The audience was stunned into silence, but there was no doubt left in anyone's mind: Feng Hao was not someone to be taken lightly.