🌊 Island of Water — Brutal Training Begins
The island trembled.
Chen Wei stood barefoot on wet stone, his body shaking—not from fear, but from exhaustion.
"Again," the old monk said calmly.
Chen Wei raised both hands.
Water gathered around his arms, swirling violently. The Chinese Water Dragon Spirit roared inside him, trying to overpower his will.
"Control it!" the monk shouted. "Don't fight it—become the flow!"
Chen Wei clenched his teeth and stepped forward.
Water exploded outward—
—and rebounded.
The force slammed back into his chest, throwing him across the ground.
He coughed, struggling to breathe.
"I can't…" he gasped.
The monk walked toward him.
"You can," he said. "But only if you let go of fear."
Chen Wei pushed himself up again.
Again. And again. And again.
His hands bled. His muscles tore. His spirit screamed.
The Water Dragon tried to drag him into rage, into drowning darkness.
Give up yourself,
the dragon whispered.
Let me take over.
Chen Wei roared back.
"NO!"
He slammed his palm into the sea.
This time—
The water didn't explode.
It listened.
It shaped itself into a sharp, spinning current—precise, controlled, terrifying.
The monk's eyes widened slightly.
"…Good," he said. "You survived Day One."
Chen Wei collapsed, breathing heavily.
Only one thought echoed in his mind:
Leo… wait for me.
🏟 Japan — Tournament Day Begins
The tournament arena in Japan was silent.
Too silent.
Thousands of seats.
Almost empty.
The announcer swallowed nervously.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen… welcome to the Spirit Beast Tournament…"
His voice echoed awkwardly.
No cheers. No excitement.
Only fear.
Whispers spread among the few spectators present.
"Kito Jin…" "The Blood Dragon…" "No one wants to die…"
From the entrance tunnel—
Two figures stepped forward.
Leo.
And Lily.
They walked into the ring together.
The announcer's voice trembled.
"…Contestant Leo… and Lily…"
Yuna stood near the edge of the arena, clutching her hands together.
Her eyes searched the crowd.
"Chen Wei…" she whispered. "Where are you… the tournament has already started…"
Her heart felt heavy.
🐉 The Villain Appears
A dark pressure suddenly crushed the arena.
Leo's expression hardened.
From the opposite side of the ring—
A figure emerged.
Kito Jin.
His body was no longer fully human.
Black, scaled patterns crept across his skin. One arm looked distorted—almost draconic. Dark smoke-like aura leaked from his body.
His eyes—
Deep red.
Not fully transformed.
But no longer human.
The Evil Black Dragon Spirit coiled around him, whispering endlessly.
Leo clenched his fists.
"…Look at yourself," Leo said coldly. "You're not even human anymore."
Kito Jin laughed—a broken, bitter sound.
"Human?" he spat. "You think I care?"
"The Blood Dragon is eating you from the inside," Leo continued. "Why don't you understand that?"
Kito Jin's smile vanished.
His aura flared violently.
"Pathetic," he growled. "What do you know about what happened to me?"
He took a step forward.
"You think this Black Dragon just appeared?"
His red eyes locked onto Leo.
"This power belonged to my clan."
The air froze.
"They slaughtered us," Kito Jin said quietly. "Every single one."
"My parents…"
"…were killed in front of my eyes."
Leo's eyes widened slightly.
Kito Jin's voice turned sharp, venomous.
"And do you know who destroyed my clan?"
He pointed directly at Leo.
"…Someone from your clan, Leo."
Silence.
Lily instinctively placed a hand on her stomach.
The Black Dragon roared inside Kito Jin.
The truth hung in the air like a blade.
🩸 END OF CHAPTER 35