Tough battle

But they underestimated Wushuang's own reserves. Snarling softly under his breath, the red-haired dragon warrior spread his arms wide, and an ominous, fiery aura blazed to life around his torso. 

Tiny scales of molten crimson shimmered across his skin, forming an uneven patchwork down his forearms and around his collarbone as clear signs of a partial draconic transformation. 

The crowd recognized this as a hallmark of the Dragon clan's advanced bloodline, a stepping stone to a full transformation.

A flicker of alarm darted through Yaoyun's eyes. She had anticipated that Wushuang might scale up his power, but seeing it happen was another matter. 

Heat radiated from him in palpable waves, turning the air wavy and distorted. Even the remnants of her foxfire that lingered in the courtyard flickered as if threatened by a greater flame.

"All right," Yaoyun muttered, bracing herself. "Let's see how you handle this."