The smell of blood never fades. It stains the earth, thick and metallic, seeping into the stones and roots like a curse.
Shadow stood among corpses and fire, barely breathing, barely standing.
Across from him stood **Duan Xie**, blade in hand, expression unreadable—except for the rage dancing in his eyes. Blood dripped down the side of his mouth. His left sleeve had been torn, revealing a pulsing muscle trembling with unstable energy.
They circled each other slowly, the only sound the crackle of fire and distant thunder whispering over the mountains.
> "You killed my men," Duan said at last.
> "You burned my vice-captain to ash."
His voice was calm. But his grip on his sword tightened until the hilt creaked.
Shadow said nothing.
> "And now you think you can kill me too?" Duan's voice rose, no longer calm—vibrating with rage. "You think thunder makes you chosen?"
Shadow's voice was hoarse.
> "I don't think." He raised his sword. "I end."
Duan Xie howled, aura flaring as he **charged**.
His blade came down like a mountain. Shadow stepped sideways, parried, and twisted—redirecting the force just barely.
Even then, the blow jarred through his entire body.
> "Fast. Heavy." Shadow winced. "But impatient."
He countered immediately—**Sword Flash: First Pulse**.
The strike tore through the air, angling for Duan's ribs. Duan grunted, twisted his waist just in time, and the blade cut across his side—not deep, but enough to draw blood.
Duan hissed and slashed in return. Shadow ducked, but not fast enough.
> *CLANG!*
A shallow cut bloomed along his scalp. Blood trickled down, blinding one eye.
> "Not enough," Duan growled. "Try harder, thunder boy."
He leapt forward with a mid-tier Wood martial art—**Falling Storm Style**, a series of four chained strikes designed to overwhelm and break defenses.
The first slash came low—Shadow blocked.
The second arced from above—he sidestepped.
The third came spinning from the side—Shadow parried, but his arm buckled.
The fourth was a reverse grip thrust that caught Shadow off-guard—**piercing his left shoulder**.
He staggered back, gasping.
> "Hurt yet?" Duan said, breathing hard.
> "Bleed with me."
Shadow bit down his pain and surged forward, releasing his **Second Pulse**.
Duan was fast—but not fast enough.
The blade **dug into his thigh**, slicing muscle, forcing him to drop one knee.
They clashed again.
Steel to steel. Qi to Qi.
Shadow's every move was a calculation, slipping through cracks, using minimal movement for maximum damage. But Duan was a beast. His raw power surged past form. He absorbed blows just to deliver heavier ones.
Another trade—Shadow's blade raked across Duan's side.
But Duan's knee slammed into Shadow's ribs.
> *Crack.*
Shadow coughed blood, stumbling back.
Duan laughed, panting now, blood running freely down his body.
> "Not so fun, is it?" he said, eyes gleaming. "You feel that?"
> "That's the **gap**."
> "I'm Fifth Foundation. You're barely past Second. You're a child… biting a wolf."
Shadow wiped the blood from his face, one eye nearly swollen shut.
> "Then let's see how loud a child can bite."
They clashed again.
Duan unleashed a series of brutal wide arcs, meant to overwhelm. Shadow ducked and danced through them, sacrificing safety for angles. A stab grazed his side. His own cut drew another gash on Duan's ribs.
Both were slowing.
Breathing heavier.
More blood on the ground than in their veins.
Then Duan roared and backed away, pulling something from his robes.
> "No more games."
> "You want power? I'll show you power!"
He crushed the **Blood Burn Pill** in his fist.
Shadow's eyes widened.
> "No—!"
It was too late.
Duan swallowed the crushed remains. His body shuddered, then expanded. Muscles ballooned. His skin cracked, bleeding steam. His eyes turned pitch black.
> "NOW DIE!!"
He charged with speed that blurred the world. Shadow raised his blade just in time to block.
**BOOM!**
The ground exploded.
Shadow was hurled backwards into a tree, bark shattering under impact. Blood poured from his mouth. His sword trembled in his hand.
Duan didn't stop.
He came again.
Another strike. Another. Another.
Each blocked, but barely. Each tore at Shadow's body, bruised his bones, staggered his stance.
A slash across his thigh. A punch to the gut. A stomp on his ankle.
Shadow fell to one knee.
> "Can't… breathe…"
His dantian flickered, unstable.
Duan stood above him, frothing at the mouth.
> "Thunder? Flash? Trash!"
He raised his sword for the final strike.
And Shadow… closed his eyes.
And inside him—he heard it.
The storm.
The **thunder**.
It wasn't chaotic now.
It wasn't wild.
It was **calling**.
> "If I die now… everything ends."
> "But if I burn it all… maybe I take him with me."
> "Master… forgive me."
Shadow's eyes opened.
They glowed **blue-white**.
His body trembled.
He raised his blade—not with precision.
With **rage**.
With **thunder**.
He whispered:
> **"Thunder Slash."**
And released **everything.**
Lightning **screamed** out of his body.
His sword became a beacon.
The air ignited.
He stepped once.
Slashed.
Duan tried to block—but it was too late.
The strike collided with his sword—and **broke it in half.**
The lightning didn't stop. It tore through Duan's body—bones snapping, muscles exploding, Qi melting.
Duan screamed—high and monstrous.
> "NOOOOO!!"
Then—**silence.**
Duan dropped, convulsing.
Still alive.
Barely.
Shadow collapsed to one knee, gasping. Smoke poured from his body. His sword cracked in his hand.
He crawled to Duan's broken form.
Blood leaked from Duan's mouth.
> "You… think this is over…?"
Shadow didn't answer.
He grabbed the man's ring—**the storage ring**.
> "I made a promise," Shadow whispered. "To end filth like you."
And then he **stabbed one last time**—through the heart.
Duan twitched.
Then went still.
Forever.
Shadow stood, barely.
Everything hurt.
But he was alive.
And Duan Xie… was gone.
The thunder rolled once overhead.
Shadow turned away.
And disappeared into the forest.
---