The crowd's energy buzzed through the arena, every eye fixed on the duel unfolding on the raised stone platform. The sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows across the ring where John struggled to keep his footing. His aura flared around him in intense waves, scarlet energy spilling out as he barely managed to dodge Collin's fierce strikes.Collin, eyes sharp with focus, sensed John's weakening energy. He lunged with a brutal kick aimed squarely at John's side, his golden-brown aura sparking with barely restrained strength. John staggered from the hit, nearly losing his balance as the crowd collectively held its breath.From the sidelines, Benji and Alex watched with anxious expressions, both visibly tense. "He's pushing himself too far," Benji murmured, his eyes narrowing as he observed the flickering instability of John's aura. "It's like he's tapping into something he doesn't fully control."Alex clenched his fists. "Come on, John... you've got this." But even he couldn't miss the faltering in John's usually steady movements.Across the ring, Collin's expression shifted from focused to ruthless. He took a step back, eyes gleaming with a sadistic thrill. "You put up a good fight, John. But it's time to end this." With a quick, precise twist, he sent a low sweep toward John's legs, followed by a punch aimed to knock him over the edge.John stumbled, his vision swimming. His aura was thinning, the toll of his earlier burst of power catching up with him. His breath came in short, labored gasps, each one harder than the last. I... I can't...Suddenly, the world around him dimmed, the sounds of the crowd fading into an oppressive silence. An icy chill settled over him, cutting through the exhaustion. His surroundings blurred, replaced by a vision—those same piercing red eyes searing into his soul, a dark, ancient presence filling his mind.Weak... The voice was a low, malevolent growl, reverberating through his very being. The eyes narrowed, burning with disdain. You call this power? Look at you, barely standing. You want victory, but you don't have the strength.The words sliced through John, twisting around his heart. He wanted to retort, to resist the temptation those eyes offered, but a spark of doubt had already taken root, a weakness that the voice could sense.I can give you strength, the voice intoned, each word thick with dark promise. All you need to do is accept.A surge of heat tore through him, filling his core with an unfamiliar yet tantalizing power. His aura flared again, but now its scarlet hue darkened, tinged with shadows that curled and writhed around him. His exhaustion ebbed away, replaced by an insatiable energy, and he felt the raw force coursing through him like wildfire.Collin's smirk faltered as John rose slowly to his feet, his eyes now a fierce crimson, his entire presence darker and more formidable. The dark aura around him pulsed, and the crowd gasped, stunned by the transformation. John's gaze bore into Collin, the intensity and darkness within them making Collin take a step back despite himself."Impossible..." Collin muttered, eyeing the shift in John's energy with a flicker of unease.From the stands, Benji's jaw tightened, his fingers digging into the armrest as he watched John's form. "No... this isn't right," he whispered, alarmed by the unnatural shift in his student's aura.But John felt nothing but power. All exhaustion, all doubt had been washed away, replaced by a steely resolve backed by the strength he had only dreamed of possessing. His fists crackled with energy, his posture now assured and intimidating.As Collin braced himself, John's mouth curved into a cold smirk. "I'm not done yet."