I Only Tame Dragons

The crowd grew silent, tension building as the smoke consumed the assassin entirely. Then, in an instant, she vanished from Lydia's grasp.

"What the—?!" Lydia's words died on her lips as a sharp, blinding pain exploded on her left side. She gasped, her body twisting from the force of a sudden strike she hadn't even seen coming.

The blow sent her hurtling to the side, her feet leaving the ground as she tumbled through the air. She gritted her teeth, twisting her body mid-flight into a controlled somersault, and landed on her feet in a crouch. Clutching her side, she winced but forced herself to stand, daggers at the ready.

The assassin reappeared several feet away, her posture different—sharper, more predatory. Her movements carried an unnatural speed and power, and her previously smug grin had been replaced by a cold, calculated glare.

"Looks like you're not the only one with tricks up your sleeve," the assassin said, her voice layered with an otherworldly echo that sent chills down Lydia's spine.

Von's cheerfulness faded as he leaned forward. "What the hell just happened?!"

"It's a stat boost," Horizon said grimly, his eyes narrowing. "She's doubled her stats somehow. That dark smoke—she's using some kind of hidden skill or artifact."

"But items aren't allowed, right?" Von muttered, more to himself than anyone else, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"Must be some kind of accessory," Horizon replied, though doubt laced his voice. Something felt off, an unsettling sensation crawling up his spine.

"This isn't good." Von's voice dropped into a low hiss, eyes locked on the battlefield as the assassin's form flickered in the dark smoke. "Lydia, forfeit now!" he barked, urgency seeping into every word.

With the enemy's stats doubled, Lydia wouldn't stand a chance. He could already see the danger closing in, and he wasn't about to watch her get hurt.

"I'm too deep into this to back out now! We've already traded insults and probably a few karmic debts!" Lydia shot back, her pride flaring. Though she could easily dodge and run, there was no way she was going to back down now—not with all the trash talk already flying.

Lydia steadied her breathing, shaking off the lingering pain. "Great. An assassin with twice the stats and a flair for dramatics. Just my luck."

The assassin didn't wait for an invitation. She lunged forward, her speed blurring as she closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Lydia barely managed to sidestep, her daggers flashing as she deflected an impossibly fast series of strikes. Each clash sent vibrations up her arms, the force behind the attacks far greater than before.

"She's faster, stronger—ugh, this is going to suck," Lydia muttered, her mind racing.

The crowd erupted in frenzied excitement, the shift in momentum electrifying the air. Lydia wasn't just fighting her opponent now—she was battling an opponent twice her stat.

The judge seemed unfazed by the sudden surge in power, as no rule explicitly forbade the use of skills or equipment. Everything had played out within the letter of the law.

But one thing was certain now: with her opponent's stats doubled, Lydia's chances of victory had evaporated. The battlefield had tilted too far in favor of her adversary.

But Lydia wasn't about to give up. She tightened her grip on her daggers, her eyes gleaming. "Fine. You want to play dirty? Let's see who's better at it."

She darted into the shadows of the arena, disappearing from view. The assassin paused, scanning the battleground with keen eyes, her movements tense and cautious. Explore stories on empire

Lydia's voice rang out, taunting. "Stat boosts don't make you invincible. Let's see how you handle someone who's smarter, not stronger."

The assassin snarled, her composure faltering as she swung wildly at shadows. Lydia smiled to herself, circling silently, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

However, as the battle raged on, it became painfully evident that Lydia was at a disadvantage. Despite her strategic ingenuity, the harsh reality was undeniable—her stats simply weren't sufficient to inflict significant damage on her opponent.

The arena was a storm of chaos. The crowd roared, divided between the spectacle and Lydia's desperate struggle to stay standing. Her daggers trembled in her grip, sweat pouring down her face as she dodged another deadly swipe from her opponent.

The assassin's strikes were relentless, bolstered by the forbidden boost in stats. Each blow carried the weight of overwhelming power, forcing Lydia to rely entirely on her finely-tuned reflexes and the protective enchantments in her gear that Horizon had crafted.

Her armor sparked under the assault, absorbing enough damage to keep her alive, but only just. Cracks began to form on the edges of her bracers, and her boots struggled to maintain her footing as she skidded across the arena floor.

"You're tougher than I expected," the assassin sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "But let's face it. You're nothing without your fancy trinkets. How much longer can you stall, little thief?"

Lydia gritted her teeth, her legs shaking but refusing to give in. "Long enough to wipe that smug look off your face," she spat back, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion.

The assassin laughed coldly, her movements growing more aggressive. Lydia parried a high strike but stumbled backward, the force rattling her arms. Her vision blurred, and she knew her time was running out.

A wicked glint flashed in her opponent's eyes as she lunged for a killing blow, the dagger aimed straight for Lydia's heart.

"Enough!" Von's voice boomed, his flag raised high from the sidelines. The white cloth fluttered in the air like a beacon of surrender.

The crowd gasped, their cheers silencing in an instant. The assassin froze mid-strike, her blade a hair's breadth from Lydia's chest. Her grin widened as she stepped back, lowering her weapon but not before sneering at her fallen opponent.

"Pathetic," she scoffed, turning to face the Nyx Guild members with a mocking bow. "Is this the best you've got?"

Lydia barely registered the words, her legs giving out beneath her. But before she hit the ground, a shadow moved faster than anyone could follow.

Horizon appeared beside her in an instant, catching her limp form. His eyes blazed with fury, his grip on her gentle but firm.