Chapter 3: Shadows and Streams Clash
Sohan paused, his foot resting on a chunk of stone, surrounded by an eerie silence. Many contestants had already been eliminated in the first burst of the chip test, but countless warriors still roamed the arena. The battlefield felt alive — everyone had determination in their eyes and power in their fists.
Sohan glanced around, wondering for a moment where his friends were.
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Suddenly, a gentle yet confident voice called from behind —
"Sohan, over here!"
He turned to see Isha and Lamia. Isha always carried a warm light about her, as if even on a battlefield, her very presence was a sanctuary. Lamia's delicate face held a shadow of quiet strength, and her hair swayed like living serpents — ready to turn into any weapon at a moment's notice.
"Are you two alright?" Sohan asked, relieved to see them unharmed.
"We're fine," Isha replied with a reassuring smile. "But these opponents are strong."
Lamia added, "And some are clever too. They hide in the shadows, waiting to steal chips."
Sohan nodded thoughtfully. Suddenly, a flicker passed behind him — a shape moving faster than the wind.
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"Watch out!"
Sohan spun, katana already in hand.
A dark figure vanished in the blink of an eye. Sohan felt a strange sensation — as if he had seen this person before. A faint whisper stirred in the air, but the words were lost.
"Who's there?!" Sohan called.
No answer.
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Isha placed a hand on Sohan's shoulder. "Sohan, the chips are scattered everywhere, and we're losing time. Let's focus."
Sohan let out a breath. Isha was right — this trial was about strength, yes, but also strategy and attention.
"Alright," Sohan agreed. "We need to stick together."
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A few minutes later, they reached an open part of the field where a small group was gathered, making camp. The leader was a big boy with hands like stone — his four comrades surrounding him, strong and confident.
"Well, look what we have here," the boy with stone hands laughed. "More chips for us!"
Sohan stepped forward. Isha and Lamia fell in behind him.
"Let's begin," Sohan said calmly.
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The boy with stone hands charged at him, fists raised like hammers. Sohan channeled his Electric Breathing Technique and surged aside in a flash of speed.
Lamia's hair whipped into the air — strands hardening into steel-bladed ropes to ensnare the boy's teammates. Isha stayed back, healing light at the ready, prepared to support them at any moment.
In one smooth motion, Sohan circled the boy with stone hands, his katana sparking with wind and fire — just as his father had once taught him.
The boy paused, caught off-guard by Sohan's quickness and power.
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"You can't keep this up forever!" the boy growled, swinging another heavy fist.
But Sohan was already like a gust of wind, his feet surging with electrical sparks as he dodged each strike.
Lamia's hair coiled like a steel chain around the boy's legs. He roared, tripping and toppling over.
Without hesitation, Sohan struck — not with the blade's edge, but the flat of his katana — knocking the chip loose. The chip shattered and flew.
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The boy's teammates rushed in.
Isha sent a surge of healing light into a shimmering shield that slowed their attacks.
Sohan and Lamia exchanged a look — they had a plan without words.
Lamia wove her hair into a tight web, creating a steel wall between them and the attackers.
Sohan leapt into the air with a breath of wind, stirring a small tornado.
The enemy team thought they had cornered their prey —
but an instant later, they found themselves trapped behind Lamia's steel web.
With a graceful spin, Sohan shattered each of their chips one after another.
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As the fight ended, Isha smiled softly — as if she had known they would win.
Sohan wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Lamia. "We make a good team, don't we?"
Lamia nodded, grinning. "We do. But this is only the beginning. There's a long road ahead."
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Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the entire arena.
"What was that?" Isha whispered.
Sohan's gaze shot to the horizon — where a massive surge of water rose into the air, directed by a boy hurling water like cannon fire.
"That's Kayes," Sohan recognized him. Kayes could cover entire areas with water as if wielding a small ocean.
And then a shadow moved swiftly toward them — a boy with the gaze of a predator, drawing a massive sword as he stared at Sohan's team.
"Get back," Isha whispered, fear in her voice for the first time.
Sohan gripped his katana firmly.
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> "The test is only beginning,"
he thought, feeling a new fire ignite within him — one that would not let him stop.
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[End of Chapter 3]
(Next Chapter: New rivals appear, Sohan's mysterious power begins to stir — and the figure lurking in the shadows will finally show himself…)
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