Chapter 15: Unleashing Power

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The arena, which moments ago had been buzzing with awe and whispers of Alen's overwhelming power, grew eerily silent. The **System's** warning still echoed in Alen's mind:

**"Warning: New threat detected. Unknown entity approaching. Danger level: high."**

Alen's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze toward the horizon. The shift in the atmosphere was palpable—what had been a space charged with admiration and curiosity was now thick with unease, fear rippling through the crowd. Even the strongest warriors and nobles, who had marveled at Alen's abilities moments before, sensed the encroaching danger.

Alen stood still, his body already responding instinctively to the threat. The lingering mana and Qi from his core formation were still settling inside him, but the alert from the system brought everything into sharp focus. His heightened senses scanned the surroundings, honing in on the disturbance. 

And then, it appeared.

At first, it was just a dark smudge on the horizon, barely distinguishable from the distant storm clouds. But as it drew closer, the figure became clearer—cloaked in shadows, its form shifting unnaturally as if it wasn't fully part of this world. The air around it seemed to ripple with dark energy, distorting the very fabric of reality as it approached.

Whispers began to spread through the crowd. 

"What… what is that?"

"I've never seen anything like it…"

"Is this part of the ceremony?"

"No. This is something else…"

Alen clenched his fists, his muscles coiling with latent power. The draconic and vampiric energies within him stirred, reacting to the dark presence. He could feel the oppressive aura radiating from the figure, growing stronger with each second.

**"System, identify the threat,"** Alen commanded mentally, his voice steady.

**"Unable to identify. Data unavailable. Recommend preparation for combat. Danger level: unknown."**

The figure stopped just outside the arena, hovering above the ground. Its cloak billowed unnaturally, as if moved by a wind only it could feel. For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, slowly, it raised its head, and beneath the hood, glowing red eyes locked onto Alen.

A wave of dread washed over the arena. Even General Kael, who stood motionless beside Alen, had his hand resting on his sword, his eyes fixed on the intruder. Alen's mother remained calm, but her gaze was sharp, studying the figure with cold intensity.

The figure's voice cut through the silence, low and distorted, as if it spoke from the depths of a void. 

"So… this is the one they call **the Saint of Dragons**."

The crowd gasped. Even without knowing the figure's identity, the weight of its words hung heavy in the air.

Alen's heart raced, though outwardly he remained composed. The title—**Saint of Dragons**—was still new to him, something he had barely begun to understand. But it was clear that this entity, whatever it was, knew more about his newfound power than anyone present.

The figure drifted closer, its presence suffocating, its aura pressing down on the crowd like a physical force. Those in the front row staggered back, unable to withstand the oppressive energy radiating from it.

Alen's eyes flicked to the **System Interface** for any useful information, but nothing appeared. His stats, while formidable, provided no reassurance against this unknown threat. He could feel the tension mounting, his instincts urging him to strike first, to act before the entity could make its move.

But something held him back. A sense of caution. This wasn't an opponent he could rush into battle with blindly. He needed to understand what he was dealing with.

"Who are you?" Alen called out, his voice calm but authoritative. "What do you want?"

The figure's glowing eyes flared with dark amusement. 

"I am here to test you, Saint of Dragons," it rasped, its voice carrying the weight of eons. "To see if you are truly worthy of the power you wield."

Without warning, the ground beneath the figure cracked, and a shockwave of dark energy shot outward, racing toward Alen with terrifying speed. The crowd screamed and scattered as the blast tore through the stone floor of the arena, sending debris flying into the air.

Alen moved instantly, his reflexes heightened by his draconic and vampiric bloodlines. In a blur of speed, he raised a shimmering barrier of **light** around himself, the elemental energy surging to his defense. The shockwave collided with the barrier, dark energy crackling against pure light, but Alen held firm. 

The attack dissipated, leaving a jagged crater where it had struck, but Alen remained unscathed. He lowered the barrier, his heart pounding with anticipation. 

*So, this is a test,* he thought. *But from whom? And why now?*

He glanced at the crowd, many of whom were still retreating to the edges of the arena, their faces pale with fear. General Kael had drawn his sword, though he made no move to engage the intruder. Even he seemed uncertain of what they were dealing with.

The figure hovered in place, watching, waiting. It hadn't moved since launching the attack, as if it was gauging Alen's reaction, studying his every move.

Alen took a step forward, the elements swirling around him. **Lightning** crackled at his fingertips, **darkness** coiled like a living thing at his feet, and the air grew cold as his connection to **ice** deepened. The power surged within him, begging to be unleashed, but Alen held it in check.

"I don't need your test," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you want a fight, you'll get one."

The figure chuckled, a sound like grinding stone. 

"Very well, Saint of Dragons. Show me the strength that has earned you such a title."

In an instant, the figure shot forward, its cloak billowing behind it like a shadowy specter. Alen braced himself, summoning his elemental power in response. 

As the two forces clashed, the arena shook with the impact. The battle had begun.

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Alen barely had time to react before the figure was upon him. Its speed was incredible—far beyond anything Alen had ever faced. He sensed the attack coming, a dark tendril of energy lashing out toward his chest, but his body, enhanced by his vampiric reflexes, moved before he could think. With a burst of **agility**, he dodged to the side, the tendril slicing through the air where he had just stood.

The crowd let out a collective gasp. Even from a distance, the sheer power of the figure's strike was apparent. The dark energy left a jagged scar on the ground, burning and sizzling where it had touched.

**"System, analyze its power!"** Alen ordered mentally, hoping for a clearer understanding of what he was up against.

The **System** responded with cold efficiency: 

**"Power source: unknown. Energy signature: corrupted mana mixed with an unidentified force. Danger level: increasing. Recommendation: engage with caution."**

Alen's jaw clenched. It wasn't much help, but he knew that whatever this being was, it wasn't something to underestimate.

The figure hovered, seemingly unfazed by the missed attack, its glowing eyes locked on Alen. "Impressive," it murmured. "But reflexes alone won't save you."

Without warning, it lunged again, its movements fluid and unnatural, like a shadow slipping through reality. Alen's instincts screamed at him to act, and this time he responded with force.

A pulse of **lightning** crackled from his fingertips, arcing through the air with a deafening crack. The elemental energy surged forward, striking the figure in a brilliant flash of blue-white light. The force was enough to level a lesser opponent, but as the smoke cleared, Alen's eyes narrowed.

The figure remained standing, its cloak rippling as though the lightning had done little more than irritate it. Dark energy flickered around its form, absorbing the brunt of the attack.

"Good," it said, its voice a rasping growl. "But not good enough."

With a wave of its hand, the figure unleashed a barrage of dark energy. Tendrils of shadow snaked through the air, twisting and writhing toward Alen with terrifying speed. They slashed through the stone like molten blades, cutting everything they touched.

Alen's draconic instincts surged to the surface. His muscles tensed, his eyes glowed with a fierce golden light, and his **Draconic Bloodline** flared to life. With a roar, he called upon the power of his **dragon's breath**, a searing wave of fire erupting from his mouth. The flames roared toward the tendrils, their intense heat scorching the very air around them.

Fire met shadow in a violent clash. The two forces crackled and hissed as they collided, struggling for dominance. Alen could feel the pressure mounting as he poured more energy into the flames, trying to overpower the dark tendrils. But the figure's power was relentless, the shadows seeming to grow stronger the longer they fought.

*This is no ordinary opponent,* Alen realized, his mind racing. *It's like the darkness is alive… feeding off the energy around it.*

The tendrils began to push back against his flames, inching closer despite his efforts. Alen's heart pounded in his chest. He needed more power. He couldn't afford to hold back any longer.

Summoning his **Vampiric Bloodline**, Alen felt a rush of vitality flood his body. His senses sharpened, his muscles felt lighter, and a surge of stamina rejuvenated him. In a burst of **speed**, he darted backward, dodging the tendrils just as they sliced through the spot he had been standing.

**"System, unlock my full abilities,"** Alen commanded.

**"Acknowledged. Bloodline abilities fully accessible."**

The ground beneath him cracked as he unleashed the full potential of his awakened bloodlines. His body shimmered with the combined power of his **Draconic, Vampiric, and Incubus** heritage. His skin glowed faintly, his eyes flashing with a predatory light. Even the air around him seemed to bend to his will.

The crowd could only watch in stunned silence. They had never seen anything like this—Alen wasn't just powerful; he was terrifying. His aura radiated an oppressive force that made the weaker onlookers tremble, though many of them couldn't tear their eyes away.

Alen raised his hand, and in an instant, the temperature in the arena dropped. Ice crystals formed in the air around him, swirling like a frozen storm. With a flick of his wrist, Alen sent a barrage of **ice shards** hurtling toward the figure. The shards, enhanced by his elemental affinity, were as sharp as blades, slicing through the air with deadly precision.

The figure raised a hand, and the shadows thickened around it, forming a protective barrier. The ice shards struck the barrier, shattering against it, but Alen wasn't done. With a roar, he unleashed a second attack—a torrent of **light** and **darkness**, two opposing forces intertwined as they surged toward the figure.

For the first time, the figure seemed caught off guard. The light and darkness swirled together, striking its barrier with explosive force. The shadows flickered and wavered, unable to fully absorb the conflicting energies.

The figure was forced to retreat, its cloak fluttering as it pulled back from the onslaught. Alen didn't give it a moment to recover. He surged forward, his **incubus charm** enhancing his speed and grace as he closed the distance. With a quick, fluid motion, he summoned a blade of **dark energy**, the weapon humming with raw power.

He swung the blade toward the figure, aiming for a decisive strike. But at the last moment, the figure's eyes flared with red light. A shockwave of dark energy erupted from its body, forcing Alen back. The impact sent him skidding across the ground, though he managed to regain his footing before he could crash into the arena wall.

The figure floated back to its original position, its red eyes glowing brighter than ever. "Impressive," it rasped. "You're stronger than I anticipated. But this is far from over."

Alen wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. His heart was pounding, adrenaline flooding his veins. But he couldn't deny the thrill of the battle. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was being pushed to his limits—and beyond.

But something about the figure's words gnawed at him. This wasn't just a random attack. Whoever—or whatever—this entity was, it knew about him. It had come for him specifically.

**"System,"** Alen asked, still catching his breath, **"does it have a name? Anything?"**

**"No data available,"** the System replied. **"Origin unknown."**

Alen gritted his teeth. He couldn't keep fighting blind. He needed more information.

Before he could act, the figure raised its hand once more, but this time, something changed. The shadows around it began to pulse with an eerie, almost hypnotic rhythm. The crowd gasped as the dark energy coalesced into a massive orb above the figure's head, swirling with malevolent intent.

Alen's instincts screamed at him to move, to do something, but he was rooted in place, captivated by the sheer power gathering before him. Whatever this was, it was beyond anything he had faced before. If he didn't stop it now, the entire arena—no, the entire city—could be in danger.

"I won't let you," Alen growled, pushing his body to its limits. His aura flared as he summoned every ounce of power he had left. Lightning crackled around him, ice formed beneath his feet, and darkness curled around his arms. 

With a primal roar, Alen surged forward, ready to strike the figure down before it could unleash its devastating attack.

But just as he reached the figure, the orb of dark energy exploded outward, engulfing everything in a blinding flash of light and shadow.

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**To Be Continued...**