"The finals of the Rising Dragon Tournament is upon us." The elder spoke. He gestured to the tunnel. "Ilho of Silent Edge. Blue of Silent Edge."
As the boys walked out the crowd roared to life. Silent Edge members screamed from their seats. Two boys this crowd had watched dismantle heirs, disciples of major sects, spoonfed geniuses. They watched the two rise. Now they stand face to face in the finals. Murim held it's breath.
In the stands above, So-Yeon leaned forward, chin resting on her hands. Her eyes not moving from "Blue."
Across the arena, Wu Jin stood between Cheng and Yeol, arms crossed. The rod strapped to his back. Behind them, the Sword Saint leaned forward. "You two better be right." He muttered. "If my wife finds out I bet this much gold, she'll kill all of us."
Yeol shivered. "She's still scarier than you."
Cheng looked back. "He's not wrong."
The Alliance leader stood on his platform. His voice carried throughout the crowd.
"Today, only one of these warriors will write their name in Murim’s history. One walks away with scars, the other, a treasure and an elixir. Murim are you ready to see which will become your new Rising Dragon?"
The arena shook with cheers. Ilho and Blue stood motionless. A smile painted each of their faces.
The elder dropped his hand. "Begin." The gong rang one last time.
The boys clashed, no hesitation, no probing. Ilho blurred forward. Phantom Veil carrying him across the stone. His twin blades swept outward. Blue met him, with balance. Flowing Steel carrying him just outside each strike.
Slash. Dodge. Parry. Pivot.
Sparks rained down on the platform from their swords.
Ilho spun forward. His twin blades curved, Blue twisted with him, his jian catching both in a sharp clang. He slid low, sweeping Ilho’s legs. Ilho flipped into the air, landed, and carved a line across Blue's shoulder. Blood sprayed.
Blue jumped back, creating space. Ilho pressed more. His blade weaving elegant arcs, pinpointing Blue's openings and weak points.
Ilho looked at Blue. "I thought we were going to go all out?"
Blue smiled. "He's right." He thought to himself. Blue lowered his stance and nodded. Ilho smiled back.
Blue took a deep breath and exhaled. He moved. This time he wasn't just faster, he was lighter. He let the qinggong flow into the combat movement. Each step bled into the next. His blade moved along side. Ilho could barely keep up as Blue relentlessly attacked. Cuts started to appear on Ilho's arms, and back.
Blue stepped left and vanished, he slipped between Ilho's strikes like water finds a path through rocks.
Ilho's eyes widened. "You slippery bastard."
Blue chuckled. "You said all out. Remember?"
Ilho roared and answered with speed. "If there's one thing I have an advantage with it's this."
His twin blades at the ready, he swung, Blue ducked. One blade cut Blue along the cheek, the other he barely twisted past. As Blue twisted he slashed Ilho along his ribcage. Blood splashed across the stage.
Ilho didn't flinch. He immediately kicked off the stone and spun low carving a path with both blades. Blue vaulted over him, he landed. His jian barely missed Ilho's collarbone as he was midair.
Every strike from both boys were real. Each strike was an attempt to take the other out. Neither stopped, no matter the damage that was inflicted.
Ilho dashed forward. The same impossible angles he had used on Jinhu. Eight cuts, five of them took. Blue could barely keep up with both blades. His left arm now painted red. Cuts bled from his thigh, ribs and shoulder.
Ilho dashed again and feinted high. As he dove back low Blue leapt into the air. He twisted and slammed his blade downward. A cut flayed Ilho's shoulder wide open. Blue landed behind him.
Ilho gritted his teeth.
Ilho lowered his body, he took off again. Shadow step flowed. Blue spun, and barely blocked both blades aimed for his throat. Blue and Ilho smiled at each other as they pushed and pulled with their swords. Neither giving an inch. Finally both boys jumped back and reset.
Blue grinned. "I've been saving this one. The rod is gonna get me for this. You ready?"
Ilho nodded.
Blue moved. Threading pulse. The third form of the Silent Edge technique.
Blue lunged forward. Threading pulse was a dance, a stab, followed by the upward swing, a feint to throw the enemy off balance, then one final stab, right in opening the feint created.
As Blue swung vertically, Ilho's balanced shifted. He caught himself and spun as Blue was going for the feint. "Tsk tsk. Your muscles tell the story." Ilho swing and cut open Blue again, near the ribs.
They both bled. They both smiled.
In the stands Wu Jin, looked at Wu Cheng. His eyes were on fire. Cheng looked to the sky and started whistling. Wu Jin looked back at Blue. "He hasn't perfected it, or that would've been the end." He looked back at his father. "We will discuss this later."
On the platform, the exchanges didn’t stop. As one gained momentum, the other would counter. The crowd could barely keep up, but they were loving it.
"Go Blue. Slice him up."
"Come on shrimp. Show him size don't matter."
"Blue. Blue. Blue."
"IL-HO. IL-HO. IL-HO."
The boys ignored the cheers. Ilho screamed and unleashed everything he had left. He disappeared. The crowd only saw sparks and after images. Nind strikes in three breaths. Perfect arcs, all meant to kill as Sa Gwan taught him. Blue dropped to one knee. His left arm was immobile. His left leg torn to shreds. Ilho lifted his blade. The crowd gasped. As Ilho swing. Blue disappeared. He reappeared behind Ilho. Blade already striking. Ilho twisted, one blade flew from his grip.
Blue's sword penetrated into Ilho's ribs, twisting Ilho's body sideways. Ilho screamed. Blood sprayed.
Ilhos knees buckled. Blue's jian, covered in blood now pointed at Ilho's face. He fell. Blue caught him.
Ilho looked up, breath heavy. "I yeild."
The crowd erupted. Members from every sect stood and clapped. Some were stunned.
"I would've been dead ten minutes ago."
"They are monsters."
Blue looked back at the elder. "Physician. Now!"
He looked down at Ilho. "Hell of a fight."
Ilho smiled. "At least i know you aren't too far ahead of me. Next time. I'll kick your ass for sure."
Blue smiled. "I'll be waiting... brother."
Physicians rushed the stage and helped both men off.
Not everyone in the stands was amused by the fight. So-Yeon stood from her seat. "They think they can continue to fool me." She looked at her aide. "Where are Wu Cheng and my uncle?"
The aide pointed as So-Yeon stormed off.
So-Yeon cornered Wu Cheng, Yeol and Gyeom under their stone awning as they celebrated Silent Edge's win.
Her voice cut the celebration into pieces. "That was Flowing Steel."
Wu Cheng's head snapped toward her as he raised a brow. "Was it?"
"Don't insult my intelligence." She snapped. "I mastered it as well, remember?" No one else could touch it. Not one of you. Yet you still take me for a fool."
Gyeom waved a fan lazily in front of his face. "So-Yeon, it's hot. It's been a long tournament. With everything you have going on with the Black Pines, watching so many fights. Maybe your imagining things."
So-Yeon stepped closer. "That boy stumbled over his own feet during the Corps tryouts. And now you expect me to believe he waltzed in here and won the tournament. I know what I saw, he's mastered the movement that took me 10 years to master."
Yeol sighed. "You're overreacting niece."
She leaned in. "It's Matriarch to you... elder." Her eyes darted between the three men. "Tch. Fine. Feed me lies. I'll find out one way or another." She turned to leave. She looked over her shoulder on last time. "This isn't over. I'll see you tomorrow as planned." She paused. "Have a better explanation prepared... if you don't want your celebration ruined."
On the central platform the Alliance Leader slouched in his seat. "Tch. Can't get my hands on either of those two boys. Fucking Cheng and Yeol. Those two old bastards." He stroked his chin. "There is Ryul though, I'm positive Zhenghai would give him to me."
Hyeon rose and approached the railing overlooking the arena. He clapped once.
"A moment, Murim."
All eyes turned toward him. His voice rang out.
"Today... we watched not just a match, but a declaration. These are no longer boys. They are blades, honed, tested, and sharpened under the Alliance’s roof."
He scanned the crowd, stopping on Blue and Ilho as they leaned against the physicians.
"Among hundreds, they rose. Not by luck... but design. They are what Murim needs. And what you all should strive for.
"Blue... you stand where others have broken. A storm wrapped in silk. A mystery I intend to solve." A pause. "An alliance elder will be in touch with you in the coming days. The vault awaits."
The Alliance Leader's eyes found Wu Jin. "Wu Jin, congratulations to you, and Silent Edge. A complete and total victory. And a dangerous one... prepare yourselves."
With that Hyeon turned and walked off as the crowd erupted one last time.
In the tunnel, Ilho smiled at Blue. Blue's expression was flat. His eyes fixed on the Alliance leader. Blue turned and nodded to the physician. He walked forward. One step closer to the top.