Raizen rolled his shoulders, shaking out the last of the tension from his previous fights. Across from him, his final opponent stood with an unwavering gaze. Unlike the others, she showed no outward signs of exhaustion or hesitation. Her violet eyes were cold, calculating, and unshaken by the roars of the crowd.
The announcer's voice rang out. "And now, for the final match of the night! Raizen Izumoto versus Riven Saros!"
Murmurs rippled through the spectators. She had a name. That meant she wasn't just another fighter—she was someone with a reputation.
Raizen smirked. "Guess that means you're the real deal."
Riven remained silent, simply lowering herself into a combat-ready stance. Her armor wasn't just for show—lightweight plating covered her limbs, optimized for speed and defense. The markings etched into the plating suggested advanced reinforcement tech, likely providing enhanced resistance to damage.
The announcer raised his hand. "Begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Riven moved.
Raizen barely had time to react. She closed the distance with inhuman speed, her footwork precise and her movement so smooth that it was almost unnatural. This wasn't just raw agility—this was trained precision.
She struck with a rapid series of jabs, aiming for his joints and weak points. Raizen dodged two, but the third clipped his shoulder, forcing him back a step. She was reading him already.
[System Alert: Adversary Strength Analysis Active]
Raizen exhaled. No time for defense. He needed to take control.
He feinted a step backward, drawing her in before twisting into a counterattack, his fist crashing toward her ribs.
She spun at the last second, dodging by mere inches before retaliating with a brutal knee strike to his stomach. Raizen grunted as the impact drove the air from his lungs. She hit hard.
But so did he.
[Draconic Combat Instincts Engaged]
Instead of pulling back, Raizen absorbed the hit and wrapped his arm around her knee, twisting his body mid-motion to throw her off balance.
She barely caught herself, flipping into a smooth recovery stance, but he had forced her on the defensive for the first time.
Her eyes flickered with something close to approval.
The fight raged on—blinding strikes, counterattacks, and split-second dodges. The crowd was roaring now, the tension in the pit reaching its peak. Riven was disciplined, efficient, and relentless.
Raizen knew he couldn't win through brute force alone. He needed to outthink her.
As Riven rushed in again, Raizen purposely let his stance open, baiting her into an attack. She took the opportunity, launching a rapid sequence of blows. But just before she landed the final strike—
Raizen sidestepped at the last second.
The momentum threw her slightly off-balance. It was a small opening, but it was enough.
Raizen drove his elbow into her side, following up with a sweeping leg kick that sent her crashing to the ground.
Silence filled the pit as she landed, stunned for the first time.
The announcer hesitated, then raised his hand. "Winner—Raizen Izumoto!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and curses, some delighted, others furious at the upset.
Riven pushed herself up, dusting off her armor. She looked at Raizen with calm intensity, then gave a single nod before walking away without a word.
Raizen exhaled, rolling his shoulders. That was a real fight.
The system chimed.
[Trial Completed – E-Tier Combat Technique Unlocked]
[New Ability Acquired: Shadow Fang Strike]
[Effect: A high-speed, precision strike that targets vital points, disrupting an opponent's energy flow.]
A slow grin spread across Raizen's face.
He had won. And now, he was stronger.