Author : The showdown is intense!
The chamber was silent save for the soft crackle of embers lingering in the air, remnants of their earlier skirmish. Liang Feng stood across from Ziyan, his breath still heavy, his grip on his blade steady. Her fiery gaze bore into him, unrelenting, as if peeling away the layers of his resolve to uncover any cracks beneath.
"You handled yourself better than expected," Ziyan said, her tone cutting through the silence like a whip. "But handling isn't enough. If you can't withstand real pressure, the bond will drag us both into ruin."
Liang's jaw tightened, the cursed flame in his palm flickering faintly. "Then test me," he said, his voice firm. "I'm not afraid."
Ziyan's lips curved into a sharp, almost predatory smile. "Bravery is meaningless without skill," she replied. With a flick of her wrist, a phoenix feather shimmered into existence, its edge glowing with molten heat. She held it lightly in her hand, but the energy it radiated was anything but light.
"You've already seen what I can do," Liang said, his grip on his sword tightening. "I'm ready."
"You think you've seen my strength?" Ziyan asked, her voice low, dangerous. "No, mortal. What you've seen is a glimpse. If you want to prove your worth, you'll face me without restraint. Anything less, and you'll burn."
The weight of her words pressed on Liang, but he nodded, determination hardening his features. "I won't hold back."
"Good."
Without warning, Ziyan moved. She was a blur of flame and motion, her feather slicing through the air with a searing hiss. Liang barely had time to react, his blade igniting with the cursed flame as he raised it to block her strike. The collision sent a shockwave through the chamber, the force of it rattling the walls and forcing Liang back a step.
"Is that all?" Ziyan taunted, her voice echoing around him. She pressed forward, her movements fluid and precise, each strike a test of his defenses. Liang gritted his teeth, his blade meeting hers in a series of rapid clashes. Sparks flew, the heat from their duel building with every exchange.
She's faster than I thought, Liang realized, his mind racing to keep up. Every movement she made was calculated, her strikes leaving no room for error. But he couldn't afford to hesitate. The cursed flame surged in his hand, and he channeled its chaotic energy into his attacks, forcing Ziyan to adjust her rhythm.
"Better," she said, her tone grudgingly approving. But her movements didn't slow. If anything, they grew more aggressive, her strikes pushing him to the edge of his limits.
Liang's thoughts churned as he fought. Focus. Don't let her control the pace. Find an opening. Use the flame, but don't let it consume you. The cursed flame burned hotter, its chaotic energy threatening to spill out of his control. But Liang forced himself to breathe, to center the power within him.
He countered one of her strikes with a sudden burst of flame, the explosion forcing Ziyan to leap back. She landed gracefully, her feathers glowing with molten light. "You're learning," she said, her voice carrying a note of approval. "But learning won't save you."
Before Liang could respond, she surged forward again, her feather slicing through the air with blinding speed. Liang barely dodged, the heat of her attack grazing his side. Pain flared, but he pushed it aside, swinging his blade in a wide arc. Ziyan deflected it easily, her movements almost effortless.
"You're hesitating," she said, her eyes narrowing. "You're holding back. Why?"
"I'm not," Liang shot back, his voice edged with frustration.
"Liar," Ziyan snapped. She struck again, her blade of fire forcing Liang to block. The impact sent vibrations through his arms, but her voice cut deeper than the strike. "You fear the cursed flame. You fear its chaos. And that fear will destroy you."
Liang's grip tightened on his blade, her words stoking a fire in his chest. She's wrong, he told himself. I've survived this flame. I've faced its chaos. I've endured. But even as he thought it, doubt crept in. The cursed flame was unpredictable, dangerous. He'd seen what it could do when unleashed.
Ziyan's next strike nearly broke his defense, forcing him back. "Face it, mortal," she said, her voice unyielding. "You can't fight me with one hand tied behind your back. Either embrace the flame, or fall."
Her words struck a chord, and something inside Liang shifted. The cursed flame flared in his palm, brighter and hotter than before. It burned, wild and untamed, but this time he didn't fight it. Instead, he drew it closer, letting its energy surge through him.
Ziyan's eyes widened slightly as the air around Liang shimmered with heat. "Finally," she muttered, a hint of approval in her voice. "Now show me what you're capable of."
Liang didn't hesitate. He surged forward, his blade wreathed in flame as he struck. Ziyan met his attack with equal force, their powers colliding in an explosion of light and heat. The chamber trembled under the force of their clash, cracks spidering across the stone walls.
For a moment, it was as if the cursed flame and Ziyan's phoenix fire were in perfect balance, their energies intertwining in a fierce, chaotic dance. Liang pressed the attack, his strikes growing more confident, more controlled. He could feel the flame responding to him, not as a burden, but as an extension of his will.
Ziyan's movements slowed, just enough for Liang to see an opening. He seized it, his blade slicing through her fiery shield and forcing her to retreat. She landed lightly, her eyes blazing as she assessed him.
"Impressive," she said, her tone carrying genuine respect. "You've taken your first step toward mastering the flame. But don't mistake this for victory."
Liang lowered his blade slightly, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "So? Did I pass?" he asked, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
Ziyan's expression softened, though her gaze remained sharp. "You've proven you're not completely hopeless," she said. "But this is only the beginning. If you want to survive what lies ahead, you'll need more than strength. You'll need control. Discipline. And a will stronger than the flame itself."
Liang nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Then I'll keep going. No matter what it takes."
Ziyan studied him for a moment, then inclined her head slightly. "Good," she said. "Because the trials to come will make this duel look like a child's game."
As her words hung in the air, the chamber seemed to settle, the heat dissipating as both combatants lowered their weapons. But the bond between them, forged in fire and conflict, felt stronger than ever.