Both fighters halted for a brief instant—just long enough for the crowd to draw a breath—then their spirit energy surged in unison.
A deep, resonant hum filled the air as the bond between them and their beasts ignited. Behind Tian Lei, the blazing phantom of the Golden Sun Bird burst forth fully, its radiant wings spreading wide enough to eclipse half the arena. Golden light streamed down like divine fire, coating Tian Lei's body in molten brilliance.
Across from him, Xue Lan's Snow Falcon shimmered into clarity, its feathers gleaming like carved ice under moonlight. A piercing cry cut through the storm of heat, and frost spread across the cracked arena tiles, forming intricate snowflake sigils beneath her feet.
The two energies—sun and frost—resonated violently, spiraling together and tearing up the ground between them.
"Resonance Fusion—complete!" the elder in the sky murmured, eyes widening. "Both have reached full synchronization with their spirit beasts!"
