Born in Blood

Magical beasts sensed danger differently.

Laser-precise instincts were ingrained within their very being. Contrary to mental energy, which stemmed from the sea of consciousness, their instincts came from their bodies. That meant that the thin barrier separating action and thought was removed, replaced by just pure action. Sure, as the sea of consciousness grew stronger, this barrier was gradually thinned out and the connection between body and mind was faster.

But there was still a thin barrier.

For Liam, this was a little different.

Since he had his Shadow Sense, Spirit Sight, Shifter Sense, and a lot more, the barrier was practically non-existent. Even Liam was one-third Spirit Beast — though, a Spirit Beast and a Magical Beast weren't the same — which gave him his special Shifter Sense. Dragons were actually a level beyond that. Contrary to what one might expect, they weren't mindless, violence-craving creatures that sought to kill things for no reason.

They were instinctually smart, territorial, violence-craving creatures that formed roles in packs and worked together meticulously. And… well, occasionally, they might kill things for the thrill of it. And they may or may not kill them in very brutal ways. But why exactly did Rin's hands tremble?

Because she sensed what the others couldn't.

Of course, if their powers weren't sealed, they'd know it too.

But whatever she felt from Liam made her senses scream with danger. She even took a small step back.

But then, she growled deeply.

Then, she took a step forward.

She also realized her breathing was unsteady.

A moment later, she steadied it, forcing an unyielding look on her face. She was in a room with the strongest people on the planet!

Why was she afraid of some former classmate, damn it?!

"Rin?" the Queen called out from the side with a subtly annoyed expression. "Hit the ball already?" Rin realized that she was gripping the ball tighter and tighter.

A second later, she nodded apologetically to the Queen, lowered her head, then growled angrily to herself.

It was then that Liam knocked himself out of his reverie. The game was starting. How could he lose himself like that?

'Focus,' Liam thought. 'What's with you?'

Liam looked at Rin. 'And why's she acting all weird?'

A moment later, Rin heaved a deep, low breath that sounded more like a hiss. Following it, hot vapor blew from her lungs like a cloud, which immediately wrapped around the ball in her grip. WROOSH!

A second later, the same smoke burst with radiant flames, lighting the ball on fire. Except…

Her fire wasn't amber, orange or red like normal. They were a bright shade of purple! 'That's new,' Liam thought. 'She isn't even trying to hide it anymore.' Now that Liam had a closer look, the pearl-white scales that transformed her hand into claws did the same to her arm and shoulder.

The dragon had bared her fangs. Due to the newly produced heat, the room grew humid, but not uncomfortably hot. The Mayor still kept a tight leash on the extent of powers allowed, and no one would get needlessly harmed without his permission.

Though… Liam was pretty sure he gave the permission anyway.

To his sensitive skin, he already felt like he was burning, and it was only getting worse With no warning, Rin slapped the ball with an incredible amount of strength.

Liam saw the ball fill his vision in an instant.

as the ball of violet fire surged with growing strength.

With no warning, Rin slapped the ball with an incredible amount of strength.

Liam saw the ball fill his vision in an instant.

It was gonna hit his face!

Just then, Liam used both palms to deflect it to Spirit of Nature.

BANG!

The violet fire cooked 4 inches of his skin in an instant, leaving it sizzling with a disgustingly appetizing smell.

WROOSH!

But the ball, still blazing with purple flames, was received by Spirit of Nature.

A cluster of thick-skinned interwoven vines and colorful plants burst from both her arms. It seemed as though they were fireproof, since the flames barely harmed them.

A moment later, she used the vines as a slingshot to instantly redirect the ball towards Alucard.

WHSH!

Alucard finally did something other than kick the ball. A thick coating of blood covered his palms, which crystallized a second later.

Just as the ball was an arms length away from him, Alucard slapped his two palms horizontally.

BOOOOM!

An earth-shattering wave of red force spread outward, propelling the ball across the net and over all three Positions on the other side.

Though… things were not that simple.

As it passed over the General's head, the ball swerved back around with the same momentum.

Except, it passed by Rin, who snapped her elbow and hit the ball with the back of her fist. BOOOOOOM!

As always, the subject of her attacks was none other than Liam. The ball was still aflame, and it was closing in on him. Except, this time, Liam made no effort in trying to deflect or receive it. He jumped in the air with an angled posture, then sent the ball straight back!

With a single punch, strengthened with pure shadows.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

All of Liam's blood, bone and body had gathered to his fist to empower it beyond measure. Liam felt the ball flatten instantly as his fist made contact with it. A layer of skin was scraped away instantly.

It was the first time he had used his shadows during the game, other than the usage of his Breaker Blade.

In fact, this was all part of the plan!

Lowering the guards of his opponents.

After all, till now, Liam had just used a little bit of Transfiguration.

The ball boomed like an orbital cannon straight back towards Rin, who seemed aghast by the suddenness of power. Liam wasn't known for his physical strength!

He was just very fast, could swing swords dangerously, was cunning, smart, murderous, psychopathic and lied more than a politician. But his physique wasn't strength based!

And now, his physical power was somehow more than Rin's?!

While all her abilities were centered around her body?!

Impossible!

Rin let out a low growl to herself and kicked her feet to stop the ball from leaving her boundary, and her reaction time was perfect. It was like she knew where the ball was going even before Liam punched it.

BOOM!

But unfortunately...

The ball whizzed past like a bullet, causing her long hair to flutter violently, and her face to fall with shock.

"Rin, the Dragon's Flame," the Mayor announced, "disqualified."