I activated Predator's Instinct.
A wave of heightened awareness washed over me—my body moving on pure reflex.
I twisted left, dodging one strike—only for another clawed hand to carve through the air toward my throat.
I barely managed to parry—my arm bracing against the attack. But the force sent shockwaves rippling through my bones.
Dorian capitalized on my split-second opening, and his real body reappeared behind me.
"Final Form—Draconic End."
I had no time to react. The air collapsed inward.
For a fraction of a second, everything went silent and then
CRACK!
A devastating blow slammed into my stomach.
Like getting hit by a mountain—a force so immense that my entire body felt weightless.
I was sent flying straight into the ceiling.
BOOM!
The reinforced stone shattered, dust and debris raining down.
For the first time in this fight…
Leon's eyes widened in genuine shock.
Selene's smirk disappeared.
The impact alone sent cracks spreading through the entire training hall.
A sharp ringing filled my ears as dust and debris crumbled from the fractured ceiling above. My body ached—a deep, burning pain radiating from my ribs where Dorian's final attack had landed.
I coughed. Blood dripped from my lips. I exhaled. My body really ached while Dorian stood below, watching me.
His golden eyes burned with something fierce. "Still alive?"
I wiped the blood from my mouth. Then, I grinned. "You hit like a damn truck."
Dorian let out a low chuckle. "And yet," he murmured, "you're still standing."
Leon finally spoke, his voice rough.
"What the hell was that?"
Selene crossed her arms. "That," she said smoothly, "was a proper ass-kicking."
And a slow exhale left my lips, steam rising from my skin as I adjusted my stance midair, controlling my fall. Gravity took hold.
Then, I dropped.
A free-fall straight toward the battlefield below.
Dorian was still standing there, golden draconic eyes watching me, arms crossed. There was no follow-up attack. No smug expression.
Leon and Selene stood off to the side, their eyes locked on me.
The moment my feet touched the ground, I flicked my wrist.
Shrrk!
A blade of pure darkness slid into my grasp, its obsidian edge gleaming under the chamber's fractured glow.
Umbral Fang.
For the first time, I unsheathed my true weapon.
Dorian's golden draconic eyes narrowed.
Leon stiffened. His arms, once relaxed, tensed as if he were seeing me for the first time.
"You—" His words cut off, his brows knitting together.
Selene's smirk widened, curiosity flashing across her face.
I crouched slightly, my grip tightening around the dagger. Abyssal energy pulsed through the weapon.
Dorian exhaled slowly, his scaled hands shifting into a combat stance. "So… you were hiding this?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I moved.
Phantom Dash.
A single step—
And I vanished.
A blur of shadow, flickering between reality and nothingness.
Dorian's pupils dilated as he twisted, barely tracking my movements.
But I was already there.
SLASH!
A black arc tore through the air.
Dorian threw up his scaled arm to block—but the blade ignored his defenses.
Phantom Rend activated.
The dagger is bit deep, cutting through his enhanced durability like paper.
Blood splattered onto the floor.
Dorian hissed, his form blurring as he leapt back. His feet skidded against the stone, a thin line of crimson trailing down his arm. But I didn't stop. Instead, pressed forward.
The moment he regained his footing, I was already in front of him again.
My dagger blurred—strike after strike, relentless, merciless.
Each movement was a whisper in the wind, a seamless flow of attacks fueled by instinct and precision.
Dorian's body shifted, his draconic aura flaring. His wounds is closing almost instantly.
I twisted, switching from direct slashes to deceptive feints—forcing him to react, forcing him onto the defensive.
For the first time, Dorian was on the back foot.
Leon, who had been silently watching before, finally spoke.
His voice was sharp. Disbelieving.
"You—when the hell did you start using daggers?!"
Dorian growled, the sound reverberating through the battlefield like a low thunderclap. His stance shifted, and for the first time, he wasn't toying with me anymore.
"Draconic Form—First Stage: Wyrm's Might."
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath his feet as his muscles expanded, scales thickening into armor-like plating. His arms, once humanoid, were now monstrous—elongated claws glowing with a molten hue. His golden pupils slit further, a predator's gaze locking onto me.
I adjusted my grip on Umbral Fang, my stance lowering. Predator's Instinct burned through my veins.
The first strike came in a blink.
Dorian moved, his speed suddenly leagues beyond what it was before. His claws carved through the air, aiming straight for my throat.
Phantom Dash.
I flickered out of existence—reappearing at his side, my dagger already descending.
But he anticipated it.
Dorian twisted, his molten-clawed hand meeting my blade mid-swing.
CLANG!
A shockwave erupted between us, sending debris flying.
The impact rattled my bones—his raw strength was absurd.
I leapt back, but Dorian didn't let up.
His second form activated instantly.
"Second Stage: Draconic Sovereignty."
His aura expanded, a force so heavy that even Leon and Selene flinched. The stone beneath him cracked, molten veins spreading outward from his feet.
Dorian grinned, the confidence returning to his expression.
"You're really good," he admitted. "But let's see if you can handle this."
BOOM!
Dorian's fist slammed into my ribs, a shockwave tearing through the battlefield.
My vision flickered as the sheer force drove me backward, my boots scraping against the cracked stone floor. The impact sent tremors through my entire body, but I stayed on my feet, gritting my teeth as I absorbed the pain.
Golden draconic scales pulsed with heat as Dorian rolled his shoulders, a smirk tugging at his lips. His molten aura warped the air around him, turning the battlefield into a furnace.
"You're still standing?! You really are the best A-rank I have fought!" he mused, tilting his head. "Let's get this over with!"
I exhaled slowly, shaking off the residual force of his strike. The Abyss within me stirred, whispering in anticipation.
Dorian's smirk widened.
"Let's see how much more you can take."
BOOM!
Dorian vanished from sight, reappearing in a blur of molten energy. His clawed hand swung toward me, wreathed in dragon's fire.
I barely had time to react.
CRACK!
His strike connected, driving me back another few meters. My boots dug into the stone, carving deep trenches as I forced myself to a stop. A sharp sting spread through my ribs, but I endured it, my breathing steady.
Dorian clicked his tongue. "You're annoying to put down." His molten gaze burned with anticipation. "But let's see how long that lasts."
He surged forward again, his aura thickening—
[ System Notice ]
[ Abyss Monarch's True Form Awakens ]
A pulse of pure abyssal energy erupted inside me.