The narrow alley erupted in fire and light. Lin Dong moved like a whirlwind, the golden glow of the Seal streaking after every strike of his blade. Sparks rained off the armored attacker's flaming sword, each clash sounding like thunder against the stone walls.
Li Yan ducked behind a shattered cart, her bow nocked and ready. "Lin Dong! Watch the rooftops!"
From above, shadows leapt — masked assassins of the Lei Clan, their blades catching the pale sunlight filtering through the smog. Each movement was precise, deadly, a symphony of killing intent choreographed to perfection.
Lin Dong's chest burned as the Seal responded. Energy coiled along his arms, tendrils of golden light intertwining with the sweat and blood on his skin. He struck again, deflecting the first strike, then pivoting to block a second attack from behind. His senses stretched, time slowed — he could see the flow of energy through the enemy's body, anticipate each movement before it happened.
"The Seal… it's helping you fight!" Li Yan shouted, awe-struck.
Lin Dong's attacker stumbled backward, mouth opening in a silent curse. Golden arcs of energy streaked from the Seal, burning trails into the cobblestone. Lin Dong pressed forward, unleashing a series of slashes that forced the man onto the defensive.
Then a roar split the city air. The rooftops shook as a massive shadow streaked across the skyline. Lanterns swung, spilling light over jagged edges.
"Not just one," Li Yan gasped.
Two more Lei Clan warriors dropped from above — agile, armored, each wielding twin spears that crackled with blue energy. They landed in perfect sync, forming a deadly triangle around Lin Dong.
He felt the Seal flare violently — energy writhing inside him, hungry. His heartbeat synced with its pulse, and in that instant, he felt something awaken: a connection to the city itself. The stone beneath his feet shivered, the walls shivered, even the wind seemed to bend toward him. Yan City was alive. And it was choosing him.
Lin Dong spun, blade sweeping, sending sparks into the air. The two spears collided with a golden shield of light emanating from the Seal, knocking the attackers backward.
"I can control it… just a little," Lin Dong whispered, more to himself than anyone else.
He leapt onto a nearby rooftop, the cobblestones cracking under his weight. Below, the Lei warriors regrouped, their eyes narrowing. From the alleys, more shadows emerged — silent, deadly, moving in waves.
"Li Yan, cover me!" he shouted.
She fired arrows with pinpoint accuracy, the light of the Seal reflecting off their tips. Several enemies fell, but more replaced them, like a tide.
Lin Dong's chest burned hotter. The Seal's energy began to expand outward, filling the alley with a radiant glow. The golden light collided with the blue runes on the Lei warriors' armor, sizzling against the energy barriers they conjured. The sound was deafening — like the clash of mountains, the roar of rivers, and the scream of storms all at once.
Then — a figure appeared at the head of the attackers.
Tall, regal, cloaked in crimson and black, the armor etched with golden sigils that glimmered with latent power. Lei Tian had arrived. His eyes, sharp as dragon scales, fixed on Lin Dong. The Seal pulsed violently, as if recognizing its true rival.
"So the boy of the Seal finally reveals himself," Lei Tian said, voice carrying across the rooftops. "I hoped for a worthy opponent. You may yet survive… if you learn quickly."
Lin Dong's grip tightened. He could feel the Seal's energy thrumming like a second heartbeat. His vision sharpened. He saw the flow of battle — the soldiers' movements, the alleys' twists, the rooftops' edges — everything.
And then he ran.
Golden energy streaked behind him as he vaulted between rooftops, every step precise, every strike calculated. Lei Tian followed, each movement a blur, his own power radiating in waves that distorted the air.
Below, Yan City became a living battlefield. Shadows darted between roofs, sparks rained from street lanterns, and the energy of the Seal painted every surface in gold. Civilians fled in terror, but Lin Dong did not falter. He was no longer just a boy; he was a storm of power, a conduit for ancient energy.
The first confrontation escalated into a full rooftop duel. Lei Tian's strikes cut through stone and air, sending fragments cascading below. Lin Dong blocked, countered, and pushed forward, his energy flaring brighter with each heartbeat.
"The Seal… isn't just power," Lin Dong realized mid-combat. "It's me."
He thrust his sword forward, a column of golden light shooting upward, splitting the sky above the rooftops. The blast sent enemies flying, scattering smoke, dust, and debris across the city streets.
Lei Tian's eyes narrowed. "Interesting. Perhaps the Seal has found a host worthy of its fire… for now."
He vanished in a flicker of shadow, leaving Lin Dong standing amidst the ruins — chest heaving, mark glowing, and the city alive with whispers of awe, fear, and anticipation.
Li Yan climbed up beside him, wide-eyed. "That… was insane. He's not even trying yet!"
Lin Dong looked toward the horizon. The city stretched endlessly, streets winding like veins. Somewhere out there, the next wave of enemies waited — and he could feel it.
"This is just the beginning," he said quietly. "Yan City… and Lei Tian… they're only the start."
The wind carried faint whispers across the rooftops. The Seal pulsed once, strongly — as if acknowledging its host, preparing for the battles to come.
Far above, storm clouds gathered, golden lightning flickering in response to the Seal's awakening. Yan City, ancient and restless, held its breath.
The war for the Seal had truly begun.