After the fierce match, Bright sat in the rest area, cooling off. His body ached, but there was a strange calm in his chest—a mix of satisfaction and excitement. The door creaked open, and the uncle who had come with him walked in with a proud smile, followed by a couple of support staff and volunteers. One handed Bright an energy drink, another gently placed a cooling pack on his shoulder.
"You did amazing," said the uncle who had accompanied him. "Now just rest for today. There's still time before your next match. Observe the other players. Learn from them."
Bright nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I'll take it easy today."
Just then, the large screen in the rest area lit up, followed by the booming voice of the announcer.
"Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the next explosive match of the season!"
Bright turned toward the screen, casually watching—until he heard the next name.
"Representing Jorhat… the one they call The Dragon… ANSUR!"
Bright's expression changed instantly.
His eyes widened.
The can in his hand paused mid-air.
Then, slowly, a small smile curved across his lips.
"So… you're here too, Ansur…" he muttered under his breath.
His gaze fixed on the screen as the camera showed a tall, lean boy walking toward the arena. His presence alone was fiery—heat waves visibly radiating off his body. Every step seemed to ignite the air around him.
"And facing him, from Guwahati… the monstrous force of nature… THE GIANT!"
The screen now showed a colossal figure stepping into the arena, muscles like boulders, a stone-cold face, and an aura of raw, unshakable strength.
But Bright was no longer focused on The Giant.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes burning with a new intensity as he stared at Ansur.
"So… it's really you," Bright whispered to himself. "This just got interesting."
He chuckled, then added with a confident smirk, "Guess I'll give you a smile now, Dragon… because we're going to meet. And when we do… I'll be ready."
The flames on the screen reflected in his eyes.
The fire of rivalry had just been lit.
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"And the match between Jorhat and Guwahati… officially begins now!"
The crowd roared with excitement as the two contestants stepped forward, facing each other in the massive open arena. The tension was thick, but amidst it, one voice broke through, calm and almost friendly.
Ansur tilted his head slightly, his hands casually behind his back. "Hey, friend. What's your name?"
His opponent—The Giant—merely snorted, his voice low and gruff. "I don't waste my name on the weak."
Ansur gave a soft chuckle. "Alright, fair enough."
Meanwhile, Bright sat watching the screen from the rest area, his eyes fixed, his mind sharp. Around him, a few people began murmuring.
"That guy from Guwahati… his body's unreal."
"Yeah," said another. "He looks like a living, breathing version of Africa's Hulk."
Someone else chimed in, "His abilities are superhuman strength, unnatural speed, and full-body enhancement. He's a monster in human skin."
Bright nodded slightly. "The Giant, huh… Let's see what you do against him."
Back in the arena…
Ansur slowly raised his hand to the sky, his fingers glowing faintly with a swirling black energy. The air rippled around him.
He whispered, almost like a chant, "Rise from the abyss. Fly beyond the veil… Zeon."
Suddenly, a dark circle—a magic glyph made of spinning runes and dragonic symbols—appeared behind him, mid-air. From within the void of shadows and lightning, an enormous creature began to emerge.
With a deafening roar, a massive black dragon burst forth from the summoning seal—its wings spreading wide like a storm cloud.
Jet-black scales shimmered like obsidian. Glowing violet eyes pierced the battlefield as smoke and embers fell from its maw. Its presence was not just terrifying—it was majestic.
Zeon, the Shadowflame Dragon, had arrived.
The audience gasped.
Even The Giant's eyes twitched in surprise. He had prepared for a strong opponent, but this… this was different.
Ansur didn't stop there.
He slowly stepped forward, eyes locked on his enemy, and released a crushing wave of spiritual pressure.
The air grew heavier—so heavy it felt like time slowed.
The arena walls trembled.
Some audience members even instinctively leaned back, sensing the pressure even through the screen.
The Giant gritted his teeth.
"So… not weak after all."
A thin, nervous smile crept across his lips as he took a proper stance.
He wasn't just facing a boy anymore. He was staring at a dragon tamer with the presence of a king.
The Giant bent his knees slightly, then leaped high into the air with astonishing force, casting a shadow over Ansur.
"Too slow," Ansur murmured.
The crowd gasped as The Giant's massive fist came crashing down…
BOOM!
Dust and wind exploded across the stage.
"He's done for!" someone in the audience shouted.
But then—
"No way!"
As the dust began to settle, a few sharp eyes caught it—Ansur wasn't there.
Suddenly—
Flash!
Ansur appeared right behind The Giant, silent like a ghost.
"Let me show you a taste of real pressure," he said with a smirk.
He clenched his fist, infused with Zeon's dragon energy, black flames swirling tightly around his knuckles, and launched a punch straight at The Giant's back.
WHAM!
But The Giant spun around just in time and caught the punch in one massive hand.
"…Is that all?" he growled.
Ansur's smile widened.
"Not even close."
Suddenly, a roar echoed—and from behind, a Power Breath attack from Zeon came crashing in like a beam of destruction.
BOOOOM!
The Giant was blown back, partially scorched and smoking.
He coughed, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. "Tch… I forgot… he's a summoner. His dragon fights with him."
Ansur laughed lightly, "How did that feel?"
Zeon circled above, wings cutting the clouds, as Ansur gave him a sharp command, "Zeon, one more! Power Breath, full charge!"
Zeon opened his jaws again, this time summoning a deeper, fiercer energy from within.
But The Giant wasn't done yet.
He stood tall, body glowing with raw energy.
"Enough!" he yelled.
His muscles swelled, bones cracked, eyes turned golden. His skin shimmered with hardened layers of energy.
"Full Body Enhancement… Sky Mode," he declared.
He jumped again—this time soaring higher than ever before, dodging Zeon's massive breath attack in mid-air, then came crashing down with a furious golden punch.
"Sky-Creaking Fist!!"
Ansur dodged, vanishing in a blur.
But the punch wasn't meant for him.
It hit Zeon.
A massive explosion shook the battlefield. Zeon cried out, sent flying into the ground, carving a trench into the stadium floor.
The ground shattered beneath him.
The crowd was speechless.
"Did… did he defeat the dragon?!"
The Giant stood tall, breathing heavily. "Now, about you—"
"Turn around," Ansur's voice echoed from behind him.
The Giant slowly turned… and froze.
Zeon was standing again.
Despite the damage, the dragon rose. Black flames burned brighter than ever, and from his body… a terrifying killing aura spread like a storm.
The Giant stepped back.
"No way… after that hit?"
Ansur walked calmly toward his partner and placed a hand on Zeon's scales.
"You wanted a one-on-one fight, didn't you?" he asked coldly. "Then let's do that."
"Zeon, return."
Zeon let out a final growl before disappearing into glowing smoke, back into Ansur's core.
Ansur closed his eyes.
Then—
"Bloodline Awakening: Zeon!"
His body flashed with a deep black-and-purple aura. Scales began to form along his arms. His hair streaked with silver. His irises became draconic, glowing with violet light. His back sprouted shadowy spectral wings—lightweight but powerful.
Ansur had fused with his beast.
Half-dragon. Fully awakened.
As the transformation completed, the air shifted. Even The Giant paused, his instincts warning him that something had changed.
Ansur opened his eyes and whispered…
"…Now, let me show you the real fight."
Ansur's transformation had pushed his power far beyond its previous limits.
His bond with Zeon had reached 95%—and with it, his strength, speed, and aura surged to terrifying heights.
As his half-dragon form stood tall under the stadium lights, the audience erupted into a frenzy.
"Did you see that?!"
"He's not human anymore… that's insane!"
"Giant's done for now. No one can stop this guy!"
Even the commentators were at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Bright—still seated in the resting area—watched with wide eyes, awe reflecting like stars in his gaze.
He whispered to himself, a small smile playing on his lips, "So this is the true power of a Summoner… Damn, that's amazing."
Back on the battlefield, the energy was electric.
Ansur took a calm step forward, looking completely unbothered by the monstrous opponent in front of him.
He raised his hand and said with quiet confidence, "Alright. Come at me. I'll let you have the first move."
The Giant's face twisted with rage.
"You think you're better than me? Just because you've got some flashy lizard tricks?!"
He roared furiously, his entire body beginning to swell.
The ground beneath him cracked as his muscles expanded, his veins bulged, and a furious red aura burst from his core. His skin took on a deep crimson tone, his white eyes glowing with madness.
"Let me show you… my FULL POWER!!"
He charged, like a wild beast, tearing through the air with raw brute force.
Ansur stood still, his draconic eyes narrowing as he calmly observed the incoming threat.
He muttered under his breath, "Your power… it's strong. I'll admit that. But—"
He raised his arm, now coated fully in black dragon scales, with energy pulsing underneath them.
"—not strong enough."
CRACK—BOOOOM!!!
With perfect timing and absolute precision, Ansur delivered a single, devastating punch to The Giant's chest.
It wasn't just physical strength.
It was Zeon's dragon force, Ansur's spiritual energy, and battle instinct—all packed into one earth-shaking blow.
The impact echoed across the entire arena.
The Giant's body lifted off the ground, flying backwards like a ragdoll, smashing into the arena's reinforced barrier with terrifying speed.
THUD!!!
The shockwave from the hit was so strong that even the barrier flickered momentarily.
A hush fell over the stadium.
The Giant—unmoving, unconscious.
Knocked out.
In just one hit.
Ansur slowly lowered his fist and exhaled, steam rising from his body.
The referee's voice trembled through the mic.
"Winner… by knockout…
Ansur of Jorhat!!!"
The crowd burst into thunderous cheers.
"WHAT A FIGHT!!"
"UNBELIEVABLE!!"
"ONE PUNCH KO!!!"
Back in the resting area, Bright leaned back with a stunned grin, "This guy… is seriously on another level."
Ansur turned his gaze briefly toward the crowd, his expression calm, yet powerful.
He didn't wave. He didn't brag. He simply walked away, his transformation slowly fading, leaving behind a trail of awe and silence.
Zeon's voice echoed in his mind with quiet pride,
"Well done, partner."
And deep within Ansur's soul, something darker stirred—
a glimpse of the true dragon bloodline… not yet fully awakened.
As the crowd's cheers slowly faded, Ansur calmly walked out of the arena, the dust of battle still clinging to his half-dragon form. His breath was steady, eyes focused, but the intensity of the fight still glowed faintly behind them.
He entered the rest area where his support team was already waiting.
"That was incredible, Ansur!" one of them exclaimed, clapping him on the back.
"You crushed that Giant—literally!" another added with a laugh.
They offered him water, a towel, and a well-deserved break. Ansur gave a small, grateful nod, settling into a seat.
But then—Bright stepped into the room.
Their eyes met.
Bright smiled and walked over with quiet pride.
"Congratulations, Ansur. That was one hell of a match."
Ansur stood up, a smile forming on his own face.
"Thanks, Bright." He extended his hand. "Your fight earlier… was just as amazing."
They both shook hands—firm, tight, and full of mutual respect.
Two warriors. Two rivals.
Two friends.
They looked into each other's eyes, no words needed to understand the storm that was yet to come.
Then Ansur smirked. "So… you made it here too, Bright."
Bright chuckled softly, "Yeah. Looks like we're both where we belong."
He stepped back and grinned, "See you in the finals, Ansur. What do you say?"
Ansur's eyes flashed with confidence.
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
Their handshake broke, but the silent promise remained in the air.
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To be continued...