The referee raised a hand.
"Begin!"
Zhao Lu was the first to move.
He charged in with a confident burst of speed, his qi flaring gold-red behind him like trailing embers.
"Dragon's Claw!"
His fingers curved into a clawed strike, energy rippling down his arm as he launched a sweeping blow toward Fang Yang's midsection.
The force behind it distorted the air, accompanied by a faint roar like an awakening beast.
Fang Yang didn't back away.
He drew his sword in a single, smooth motion.
"Tyrant Light Sword—First Strike: Divine Line!"
A piercing beam of light exploded from his blade, shooting forward like a gleaming spear.
The two attacks collided with a shockwave that cracked the marble beneath their feet and sent a gust of wind howling through the arena.
BOOM!
The crowd gasped as both fighters were pushed back from the rebound, their feet skidding across the platform.
Zhao Lu blinked. "You're… Qi Transformation?"
The realization hit the crowd a second later.
