Born in Blood



Usan saw the beam making a beeline towards him.

But there was nothing he could do.

There was no energy in his body to dodge, except move his body a little to the right.

Not only did Usan strain his core to the max, he also stressed his body while producing all those different attacks.

And now, he lacked a shoulder.

Usan let out a weak sigh, slipping into unconsciousness.

"North Star wins."

***

Liam patiently stood outside the dome-like Isolation Barrier.

Usan was strong.

Although he was weakened, the man possessed so many different methods of fighting that Liam paled in comparison.

He was a prodigy in every sense of the word.

But…

"North Star wins."

Liam's stomach sank.

No…

He lost?

Liam's frown turned into a scowl, which then became a grimace.

As the Isolation Barrier opened, Liam saw a shoulder-less Usan covered with wounds, and a gruesome North Star with a broad grin on his face.

'Damn it!'

Liam cursed up a storm.

He noticed how the six clans were instantly relieved of North Star's victory.

As long as that maniac didn't win, they were fine with having the Moyong family lead and have another Rank 6 in their forces.

They were the leaders for the past few centuries, anyway. 

What people feared was change.

And the Unforgiven Shadow intended to bring all of that.

…But then, the six major clans realized something.

Their necks slowly creaked towards a specific person.

Shadow Demon was still in the game!

And he could win it too!

As of now, the Moyong family had 26 points.

The Temple had 24.

If Liam would, the Temple would have 27 points, giving them a win.

One point!

Just one point decided the fate of Ilali itself!

The major clan leaders looked at Liam warily.

He was dangerous!

Could Twilight win her match?

With all those bandages on his body, Shadow Demon must be injured.

The odds were leaning towards Twilight.

Though, right now, she looked grim.

In fact, that only intensified after North Star's win.

That mountainous burden now weighed against her wary shoulders.

It felt like a rock had been thrown over her head.

Everyone looked at Liam.

His expression was nonchalant as ever.

Did he even feel the same pressure?

Why did he look so confident?!

The six clans were unnerved.

But not just them.

Everyone was.

A mere Mortal causing Rank 5 Zeniths and thousands of people to feel nervous was not common.

Liam's eyes grew chillingly cold.

"Aren't you going to announce the next fight?" Liam asked the Myriad, who blinked dumbly.

"Yes. Yes I was," Myriad Brush corrected himself with a quiet cough. "Twilight and Shadow Demon!" he called out.

As Usan was carried out by the Temple's Elders, and Riy had to get his wounds tended to, Liam and Twilight approached the center of the battlefield.

Twilight wore a light-made zanzi pin that tied her long silver hair to a short bun. 

For some reason, it was inscribed too. 

Maybe a weapon of some kind?

The floor below the two cleaned itself of any blood or grime.

Usan's arm included.

Twilight said nothing as she stared Liam down.

Liam did the same.

Under more than a million eyes.

"So," Twilight uttered her first words. They were inaudible to anyone else. "You're that Echorian, aren't you?"

…

"Don't make small talk. You're horrible at it," Liam said with a dismissive voice, before giving the Myriad a glance. "You can put up the barrier now."

Twilight grumbled in anger, preparing to curse, but deciding against it. 

"Please prepare."

Myriad Brush reverted to his respectful tone.

If one was in doubt of which side was to win, all they had to do was play both sides!

Right after, he put up the Isolation Barrier.

As the dome filled up and covered the battlefield, everything reverted to silence outside of it.

All of them held their breath as to whose name would be announced as the victor.

Liam didn't bother exchanging any words.

Neither did Twilight.

Twilight took off her zanzi pin and let her hair loose.

Suddenly, her aura in Liam's eyes changed.

Instead of the usual bright light surrounding her, one half of it was now darkness!

Liam scowled.

A dual elementalist!

Not to mention, one of the two rarest elements.

Elements could combine and create something new entirely. 

But that 'something' depended on what element came first.

For example, wind and water could produce ice.

But its counterpart could produce lightning.

Liam's dual element was a bit different.

His chaos and darkness would never mix, no matter how hard he tried.

Chaos repelled literally space itself.

And, in the first place, chaos originated from the Chaos Pearl, and his darkness came from the core.

Thus, Liam didn't know what combining the two could make.

That was a separate project.

But light and darkness?

Twilight smiled coldly.

Who knew what came from it?

Liam practiced caution. 

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

"Begin!"

Liam didn't spare a second and ran forward as fast as his two shadow-enhanced feet allowed him.

In each of his hands was a Rank 3 Abyssal Needle.

A loud buzzing noise gained volume as light-made chakrams started to form around Twilight. 

Exactly 8 in number.

At the same time, another 8 chakrams formed midair. 

However, they were all made from darkness.

Twilight smiled coldly.

All of them blurred towards Liam, creating a screeching noise as they cut through the air.

Liam still held on to the Abyssal Needles and pressed forward. 

One after the other, the chakrams dug into his flesh as he dodged and evaded.

It looked as though Liam was going through a shredder!

The light chakrams incinerated patches of him while the darkness chakrams ripped through and corroded it.

As soon as Liam was fifteen steps away, he hurled the Abyssal Needles.

They hissed through the air with incredible speed, but the chakrams split them apart in an instant.

But the needles still exploded!

Twilight's eyes widened.

A barrier of light started to form around her, but Liam already arrived at her side and swung his foot across her rib.

Time seemed to slow.

Twilight strengthened her body as the kick landed.

Something in Twilight broke.

But just as Liam kicked her in the rib, Twilight's hand clasped around Liam's arm.

In a fraction of a second, Liam felt his energy being siphoned away!