Solar Blood Masters

Within the Citadel's expansive training ground, a dazzling display unfolded before the awestruck gaze of Lu Jade and Thienika.

The Sapphire Spring Blood Dragon swam joyously through the newly formed blood spring. It dipped and weaved, occasionally letting out a playful roar.

"So magnificent…" Raphael couldn't help but smile. His heart was thrumming in sync with the dragon's movements. This was a power unlike anything he'd experienced before, a truth belonging to him, and him alone.

His new companion's six silver eyes gazed upon him with affection, and in its pupils, Raphael saw a reflection of his own ambitions, that desire to surpass the limitations fate had so cruelly placed upon him. It was exhilarating.

"Is that a… Blood Dragon?"

Qi Fenwei whispered.

Leaning on her staff, Thienika stepped forward and told her, "Not just ANY Blood Dragon, Princess. It's a Spring Blood Dragon. One of the rarest and most potent Solar Blood Spirits native to those TINY creatures in the Bloodthorne Empire. "

Qi Fenwei's was taken aback. "What?! But then HOW can this BULL summon it?! His Solar Blood Spirit is supposed to be a Golden Bull Thork! How is this even possible?"

Even Thienika was puzzled, "Strange indeed…" She glanced at Raphael whose aura now had a dual resonance, one of ancient golden flames and now a chilling silver-blue. A smile crept across her weathered face.

"It seems… my grandson possesses DUAL Solar Blood Spirits. What a fascinating development. This changes everything."

Her words ignited Lu Jade's excitement, "Wow… Big Brother, you are truly POWERFUL!" He couldn't help but laughed. His pride knew no bounds as he watched the Spring Blood Dragon dance, for surely with such power at their side, those lesser Calamities wouldn't stand a chance.

"Tsk! So what if he has DUAL Solar Blood Spirits? He's STILL far weaker than ME!"

Qi Fenwei couldn't tolerate this show of awe being directed towards an opponent, especially a bull whose arrogance and ass fumes she'd tasted firsthand!

She sheathed 'Lullaby' and drew 'Archon'. It buzzed with an eager ferocity, and its orange eye glared menacingly.

"Let me show you what TRUE STRENGTH is!"

She charged energy.

And then…

"Archon – Destructive Steller Beak!"

WHOOSH! CRACK!

A horrifying wave of orange energy erupted from her blade.

It cleaved a path through the blood spring.

It solidified, growing larger with every heartbeat until a gigantic, phantom beak, radiating potent Solar Essence with its edges sharp enough to sever mountains in half materialized, it then soared towards Raphael with the velocity of a meteor!

This was a technique worthy of her lineage!

"Hmm? Sapphire Spring Blood Dragon – GO!"

Raphael's command had the beast roaring forwards, for it was his innate nature this creature reflected, and as such, his desires to dominate and conquer were its driving force now.

The Sapphire Spring Blood Dragon launched itself at the phantom beak. The pool of blue blood beneath churned wildly and parted as the dragon's body cut through it.

The clash was a breathtaking!

BOOM! CRACKLE!

A massive explosion engulfed the training ground!

Qi Fenwei's technique was potent! The Steller Beak ripped through the dragon's defenses and blasted it backwards. Its head almost snapped off and a few scales even chipped!

"Hahaha, you…"

Her victorious laughter died in her throat! For in that moment as the dragon recoiled…

WHOOSH!

Its tail fin whipped around! And with a terrifying, yet fluid movement, a crescent of silver-blue energy shot towards Qi Fenwei!

"WHAT?!"

She quickly positioned 'Archon' before her. "Absorb!" she whispered. The eye on her blade opened wider. It was ready to consume.

Then, she saw it.

"Impossible! He…"

BOOM!

A golden blur materialized behind her.

"Gold Press Kick!"

Raphael unleashed his new attack.

And QI Fenwei launched into that oncoming crescent of silver-blue energy.

"ARGH! YOU DAMNED BULL!"

The impact was devastating.

Her magnificent wings flickered, and then one of them vanished as a dreadful crack resonated and blood splattered the golden walls!

"How… how DARE YOU?!"

Clutching at her ruined wing, QI Fenwei gritted her teeth as pain shot through her. She'd been underestimated.

And now her anger would be appeased!

She hovered above the blood ocean.

"That's IT! You've pushed me TOO far! You… pathetic little…BULL!"

She release a monstrous bellow and her true power erupted!

However…

BOOM!

From beneath, the Sapphire Spring Blood Dragon burst forth with is jaws agape and eyes ablaze. It grabbed QI Fenwei's slender form and dragged her beneath the surface of the blood spring as it roared in victory, echoing Raphael's will, and then, with a final plunge, they vanished!

Lu Jade gasped in disbelief.

"She… she's been swallowed by that DRAGON!"

"This is… INSANE!"

A short while later…

BOOM!

A blast of black lightning exploded from within the depths of the blood spring. It shot skyward, parting the blue liquid before a terrifying sight had them backing away.

Qi Fenwei emerged. Her wings were fully restored and ruffling with rage!

"Now I'm really pissed off!"

She drew Lullaby alongside Archon, both blades were now in her grasp, ready to sing a song of devastation and revenge!

"You've ACTUALLY forced ME to open the 'Black Wind Lightning Gate'?! You… BULL! Prepare to DIE!"

The very air around her started to ripple. The Citadel's foundation trembled, and even those crystals embedded upon the magnificent pillars outside began flashing ominously. This was a power that could shatter reality, a Nightmare Calamity's true wrath!

Then…

"Black Heaven Fury - Ten Thousand Lightning Strikes! DESTROY!"

From her heart, from her blades, from the very wings she'd inherited.

WHOOSH!

A horrifying bolt of concentrated lightning, laced with secrets her ancestors had mastered over millennia, struck!

Raphael stood there staring, for he could not move!

Her attack was too fast! It surpassed the light barrier of speed. He hadn't anticipated this level of power, and even his 'Shadow Blood Resolve' seemed useless in the face of her wrath.

But just as that black lightning was about to cleave him in half…

"REGAL COUNTER!"

Thienika appeared before him and slammed her staff down. And the unthinkable happened!

WHOOSH! BOOM! CRACK!

Qi Fenwei's attack… it was reflected!

It twisted back upon her with an amplified intensity that had her screeching in terror as she struggled to control those very energies she'd unleashed!

"No… MY ATTACK… STOP!"

She was blown backwards as the lightning crashed against the ground near her, causing a small crater to appear in the training ground.

She landed on her ass. The impact stunned her.

Thienika stood before them and spoke calmly.

"ENOUGH! From this day, until the Grand Divine Tribulation concludes… YOU ARE TEAMMATES! And teammates DO NOT attempt to murder each other.

You have both erred! Raphael, your recklessness is appalling! You should be ashamed of yourself!

And you, QI FENWEI… That anger? Those bloodthirsty desires, I understand them. You carry a warrior's spirit. But unleashing such power, for such a trivial reason? Against those you have pledged to fight alongside? You are a disgrace to your lineage! Your Father, Emperor Qi Hawk… he would be ASHAMED!"

Her words had them both hanging their heads in shame. Their anger, their pride… they withered beneath her rebuke.

"Now, stand! The Great Divine Tribulation is right around the corner. We should be training together. Honing our skills. Concocting strategies that'll crush those who dare challenge our might. Not wasting our energies on pointless squabbles!"

"Yes, Grandma…"

Reluctantly they both agreed . Raphael canceled his Spring Blood Dragon and Qi Fenwei sheathed both her swords

"Hmph!"

Thienika then softened her tone. "Lu Jade, come here." He slithered closer and wrapped himself gently around her staff.

She patted his scales. "Now then. Is this what you also desire?"

Her question had both bull and bird confused. But before they could inquire…

"Let… bygones… be BYGONES." Lu Jade said softly, reflecting her wisdom. He was a creature of ancient strength and knowledge, and this feud between those who would stand beside him?

He'd seen its result before.

QI Fenwei stared at Raphael with a begrudging respect. "Hmph, your 'Gold Radius'… It's not completely useless, however, there's room for improvement, perhaps I can help you improve it."

"I'll keep that in MIND." Raphael gave her a hesitant nod, but deep down he knew, without that arrogance she exuded, that fire that burned with his, they wouldn't last long at the Trials.

For those who crawled with weakness were meant to be devoured!

That was Yama Yaguai's truth.