The Blood-Red Dragon’s Reckoning

Like hounds hunting in a pack, countless phantoms, blades in hand, surged towards Iqiyah from every direction.

Facing the phantoms’ charge, Iqiyah raised her hands, and crimson ice crystals instantly erupted, forming a barrier between her and the multitude of apparitions.

Unable to halt their momentum, countless charging phantoms crashed their blades squarely against the ice wall. The immense recoil sent them flying backward, tumbling to the ground. Then, with a flash of light, the phantoms dissolved into blood and vanished.

“Shest…,” Iqiyah said calmly, standing amidst the ice wall. “I admit you’ve made a slight change, but… this level of attack cannot breach my defenses.”

‘Such attacks alone will never break through my defenses.’

“Are you certain?”

Despite the apparent disadvantage, Shest showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, a wicked smirk played upon her lips.

“I’ve heard that masters aren’t merely masters because they are incredibly powerful, but also because they possess extensive knowledge.”

“From this, they gain a wealth of combat experience, enabling them to predict an opponent’s attack simply by observing their preliminary movements…”

“While such experience is undeniably useful—even priceless—it also comes with a significant drawback.”

“What are you trying to say!?”

As the incessant clang of blades striking ice crystals echoed, an ominous premonition began to stir within Iqiyah.

“What I mean is, you sometimes become constrained by your experience, losing the ability to accurately judge changes on the battlefield.”

“For instance… why don’t you take a look behind you?”

!

Iqiyah spun around, her gaze falling upon countless phantoms gathered just beyond the ice crystals.

However, unlike the phantoms that had charged before, these stood still outside the ice wall. They continuously brandished their daggers, stabbing relentlessly at the seemingly impenetrable barrier.

No, the ice wall could no longer be called impenetrable. Under the ceaseless assault of countless blades, it had become brittle and precarious, on the verge of collapse.

“Hahahaha, did you truly believe my phantoms could only charge!?” Shest scoffed, a sneer twisting her lips. “That initial assault was merely a diversion, meant to lull your mind into complacency!”

‘Tsk.’ There was no time to bicker with Shest. Iqiyah swiftly waved her arm, commanding crimson tentacles to strike at the phantoms beyond the ice wall.

“Trying to salvage it now!? It’s too late!”

Before her words even finished echoing, Shest shot forward like a cannonball, hurtling towards Iqiyah.

Severing countless obstructing tentacles, she tore through the phantoms, reaching the rapidly crumbling ice wall—

Clang!

Shest delivered a swift kick, shattering the ice wall completely.

“No good!”

At that moment, the ice wall that had once protected Iqiyah became her cage. She could only watch helplessly as Shest lunged at her, powerless to dodge.

Thud!

With a muffled impact, Iqiyah was tackled to the ground by Shest.

“Once we’re in close combat, you’re no match for me!”

Shest raised her blade high with both hands, poised like an executioner, bringing it down directly towards Iqiyah’s neck—

Simultaneously, gasps erupted in quick succession from the audience.

“What’s happening!? Iqiyah was just knocked down by Shest like that!?”

“Impossible! There has to be a twist!”

“What nonsense… Iqiyah is beyond saving. I know Shest’s capabilities; once she gets this close, there’s absolutely no chance of survival.”

“Iqiyah! Don’t you have the [Blood of the True Ancestor]!? Use it to defeat Shest quickly!”

Yet, under Shest’s relentless suppression, Iqiyah was indeed powerless.

“You fiend!”

With the blade looming, Iqiyah could only futilely extend crimson tentacles, attempting to block the strike.

But… it was too slow. Such speed was utterly ineffectual—

Thud!

Another dull thud echoed as Shest’s blade descended. The ice wall surrounding Iqiyah instantly collapsed, dissolving into a pool of blood that scattered in all directions.

“I’ve finally defeated you… Iqiyah.”

Gazing at the motionless body beneath her, Shest’s breath came in ragged gasps, her excitement evident.

“Next… I’ll find the [Fragment] on you and seize your [Blood of the True Ancestor]!”

Raising her blade once more, Shest aimed it at Iqiyah’s heart and brought it down forcefully.

However, the next sight made her hair stand on end.

“Th-this, how is this possible!?”

The blade descended, but instead of piercing flesh, it met with a crisp clang of a hard object. A crimson ice wall reappeared, forming a solid barrier between the blade and Iqiyah’s heart.

“You, weren’t you dead!? How can you still use magic!?”

‘Resurrection!?’

‘This fiend is unbelievably cunning!’

“Are you brainless, you oaf!?”

Struggling to overcome the profound fear gripping her, Shest trembled as she looked at Iqiyah’s head. From the severed point where it had detached from her neck, countless fine, intricate threads now connected it.

“If I could be defeated so easily… do you think the [Blood of the True Ancestor] would still be available for you to seize!?”

Crimson blood pulled Iqiyah’s head, reattaching it to her body. The moment they reconnected, a ripple of blood overflowed from the wound’s edge, and then the injury vanished completely.

Witnessing Iqiyah’s resurrection, the audience erupted in a sudden cheer.

“Woohoo! I knew Iqiyah wouldn’t lose like that!”

“Truly incredible… worthy of the [Blood of the True Ancestor]…”

“Hey! That kid, always a winner! Iqiyah! Turn the tide of this battle!”

‘Turn the tide, my ass.’

Though she maintained an outward facade of nonchalance, Iqiyah was, in reality, panicking beyond measure.

‘Damn it, that was truly dangerous.’

‘Thankfully, I’ve recovered some strength these past few days… If this duel had been a day or two earlier, I might not have had the power to resurrect myself.’

Her eyes flashed crimson, and like a shockwave, an aura of blood-red power erupted from Iqiyah’s body, instantly blasting Shest off her.

‘However… with that, my mana reserves are almost depleted.’

Trembling, Iqiyah slowly rose to her feet, her hand instinctively going to her neck, verifying its complete recovery.

‘If I can’t end this quickly… I might still lose in the end.’

‘It’s time to take the offensive.’

Iqiyah spun around, crimson tentacles swiftly coiling up her body, then unfurling into a pair of massive blood-red wings behind her.

“Your attack is over. Now, it’s my turn!”

“Hmph, what good is your turn!?”

Struggling, Shest pushed herself up from the ground, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. Despite her setback, not a trace of panic marred her features.

“I’ve seen through it. Though you’ve resurrected, both your strength and magic have been severely diminished…”

“Your tentacles are almost gone, and your ice wall holds no offensive power… Do you intend to face me in direct physical combat!?”

“Hmph,” Iqiyah sneered. “You’re not wrong; my reserves are indeed almost depleted.”

Iqiyah Scarlett: [Strength: 81], [Stamina: 91], [Health: 207], [Magic: 178]

“But that doesn’t mean I lack the ability to contend with you.”

“Do not underestimate the [Blood of the True Ancestor], mortal.”

Suddenly, Iqiyah raised her palm, instantly summoning countless crimson tentacles, while simultaneously, a thick ice wall erected behind her.

“Still the same old tricks?” Shest’s lips curled into a wide smirk. “Is this truly the extent of the [Blood of the True Ancestor]‘s power? How utterly laughable!”

“…I already told you, do not underestimate it.”

Iqiyah stared indifferently at Shest. Then, her raised hand abruptly snapped back, unleashing countless bursts of crimson light.

“Since I have no chance against you in close combat… why not have someone who excels at it fight you instead?”

As the crimson light exploded, the tentacles and ice crystals behind Iqiyah instantly transformed into a shower of blood, surging towards her open palm.

“My glory, my soul… Emerge! Blood-Red Dragon!”