The Jinshu Clan's main courtyard was alive with murmurs. Representatives of the Jinshu family, battered and weary from their losses in the competition, gathered to witness the sparring duel. At the center of the training grounds, Shou Jinshu, a towering young man with bronzed skin and a dominating presence, stood, his muscles coiling like springs. He exuded confidence, even in the face of the masked figure before him.
Vulpes, clad in his fox-inspired armor, bowed slightly, his greenish-silver eyes glowing faintly beneath the mask's narrow slits. His movements were unhurried but deliberate, the calm before the storm.
"Are you ready, stranger?" Shou's voice rumbled, tinged with doubt and challenge.
Vulpes tilted his head. "Ready as you are."
The elder overseeing the fight raised his hand. "Begin!"
Shou immediately stomped his foot, and the ground rippled like water, sending jagged pillars of stone surging toward Vulpes. But Vulpes darted to the side, his agility like that of a fox dancing through the woods. His movements were fluid, almost hypnotic.
"You're quick," Shou muttered, leaping back and summoning a stone gauntlet around his right fist. With a roar, he lunged, throwing a punch that shattered the ground where Vulpes had just stood.
Vulpes spun away, retaliating with a swift crescent kick that sent a burst of crimson energy toward Shou. The energy sizzled as it struck the stone gauntlet, leaving cracks in its wake.
For a moment, the crowd held their breath. Shou growled, shaking his arm free of the crumbling gauntlet. "You've got tricks. But tricks won't save you!"
He clasped his hands together, and the air around them grew heavy. The ground trembled, and a massive stone beast began to rise behind Shou, its roar shaking the courtyard.
Vulpes didn't flinch. He stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise. "Is this the extent of your strength?"
The beast lunged, jaws wide open, but Vulpes moved faster. He slid beneath the creature, his energy-infused fingers slicing through its legs like a hot knife through butter. The beast crumbled, its remnants scattering as Vulpes sprang up and landed a devastating palm strike to Shou's chest.
Shou staggered, gasping for breath as he fell to one knee. The fight was over.
The Jinshu elders stared in stunned silence. Vulpes turned to face them, his voice steady. "I've proven my worth. The question is whether you value survival over suspicion."
The Jinshu patriarch, an aged man with eyes like steel, stepped forward. "We accept you, Vulpes. You will represent the Jinshu Clan."
Some elders muttered protests, but the patriarch silenced them with a wave of his hand. "We cannot afford to lose our place in this competition. He will fight for us."
..................
Earlier that day, deep within the Rael Clan's private chambers, Raiden faced the patriarch.
"Why?" Raiden's voice trembled with anger and hurt. "I was winning. I was doing everything you asked of me."
The patriarch's expression was heavy, lines of age and responsibility etched into his face. "You were winning, yes. But at what cost? Do you think I didn't notice the instability in your aura?"
Raiden clenched his fists. "You think I'll lose control."
"I know you're trying, Raiden," the patriarch said, his tone softening. "But that phenomenon you caused—do you understand what it signifies? The heavens themselves are watching you, and not kindly. If you lose control during this tournament, it won't just be your reputation at stake. The Rael Clan's honor will be shattered, and we may bring calamity upon ourselves."
"I won't lose control," Raiden snapped.
The patriarch sighed. "I can't take that risk. Ingrid will replace you. This decision is final."
Raiden's heart pounded with frustration. He wanted to argue, to shout that they were wrong, but deep down, he knew their doubts weren't baseless. His Chaos Root was a gift, but it was also a curse he hadn't fully mastered.
As Raiden turned to leave, the patriarch called after him. "This isn't about doubting your strength, Raiden. It's about protecting the clan. One day, you'll understand."
But Raiden didn't respond. His silence was louder than any argument he could have made.