The son of the sect master

The Heart of Lumina's glow bathed the clearing in an ethereal light, casting long shadows as tensions reached their peak. The ground beneath the lifeless dracowl was charred and cracked, yet the fight for supremacy was far from over.

Shen Wei and Li Zhang, battered but resolute, stood side by side with Makoto. Their breathing was heavy, but their determination was unyielding. On the other side, Riku and Arata exuded confidence, their postures firm despite the earlier struggle.

Yet, as the tension thickened, another presence swept into the clearing—a suffocating aura that sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

The air grew colder, despite the fiery chaos. A biting chill mingled with residual heat, creating an oppressive, unnatural harmony. All heads turned as Kael, the sect master's son, strode into the clearing. His presence was overwhelming, not just for the sheer power of his Stage Three Core Formation Realm, but because of his infamous mutated core, wielding both fire and ice.

In his arms was Yuna, her face pale and her body stiff. She looked both terrified and furious, struggling subtly against his grip. Kael's ice-blue eyes gleamed with amusement as he scanned the scene, his hold on Yuna tightening possessively.

"Pathetic," Kael drawled, his voice a smooth blend of disdain and boredom. "All of you fighting like starving dogs over a scrap of meat. The Heart of Lumina belongs to me."

Makoto's eyes sharpened the moment they fell on Yuna. His fingers twitched as an old, protective fury surged within him. Kael's mere presence became unbearable.

But makato decided to watch and see as things play out as he found out she was not in any real danger .

"Kael," Riku, the top disciple and Kael's rival, stepped forward, his fiery aura clashing with Kael's icy chill. "You think you can claim everything because of your father? This isn't about you!"

Kael snorted, his arm pulling Yuna closer. "Riku, don't embarrass yourself. This isn't about strength or birthright. It's about worth. And none of you are worthy to stand in my shadow."

Kael's identity was unmistakable. As the son of the sect master, he was a cultivation lunatic known for his obsession with strength and dominance. Unlike his rival and fellow third-stage Core Formation cultivator Riku, Kael had forged his power through relentless battles, delving into the most dangerous trials and emerging victorious each time.

He was feared not just for his strength but for his ruthlessness. His mutated core of fire and ice was a rare phenomenon, giving him unmatched versatility and overwhelming power.

Kael's sharp, calculating gaze swept over the clearing, pausing briefly on the Heart of Lumina before settling on Riku.

"Riku," Kael said, his voice deep and mocking, "I thought you'd have claimed the Heart of Lumina by now. Don't tell me you're struggling against this lot."

Riku's jaw tightened, his pride stung. "Kael, this is no concern of yours."

Kael's lips curved into a smirk. "Oh, but it is. You see, while you're busy playing the noble personal disciple of our father, I'm here to claim what's rightfully mine."

The air grew heavy as the two disciples faced each other. While both were third-stage Core Formation cultivators, the difference in their auras was clear.

Riku's aura was steady and disciplined, cultivated through years of rigorous training under the sect master's guidance. He was a prodigy, embodying the sect's ideals of control and precision.

Kael, on the other hand, was chaos incarnate. His aura was wild and suffocating, a testament to countless battles fought with life on the line.

"You always rely on that brute strength of yours," Riku said, his tone laced with disdain. "It's no wonder Father never chose you as his personal disciple."

Kael chuckled darkly. "And you always rely on his teachings to hold you up. Let's see how far they take you."

Without warning, Kael raised his hand, summoning twin spheres of fire and ice. The spheres crackled with power as they spiraled toward Riku.

Riku countered with a powerful slash of his sword, infused with Celestial Flow, a technique taught directly by the sect master. The sword beam cleaved through the spheres, dispersing their energy into the surroundings.

Kael smirked. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle this."

He unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one alternating between fiery explosions and icy spikes. Riku responded with a series of defensive techniques, his movements precise and deliberate.

Makoto, standing at the edge of the battlefield, watched the clash with narrowed eyes. Kael's raw power was undeniable, but Riku's control and technique were equally impressive.

"They're evenly matched in cultivation," Makoto thought, "but Kael's fighting style… it's suffocating. Riku's control might not be enough to hold him off for long."

Shen Wei, still recovering from his earlier exertion, stepped up beside Makoto. "Kael's power… it's on a completely different level."

Makoto glanced at him, slightly surprised. "You've broken through to the Core Formation realm, haven't you?"

Shen Wei nodded. "Barely. But seeing them fight… it's like I'm still leagues away."

Makoto shifted his gaze to Li Zhang. "And you're at the peak of the first stage. You both have your fair share of encounters and opportunities, but against someone like Kael…"

Li Zhang's eyes darkened, his palms glowing with the ominous crimson of the Blood Shadow Palm. "It doesn't matter. If he threatens us, I'll fight him."

As the battle raged on, Makoto continued observing Kael's techniques. The balance between fire and ice was near perfect, each element complementing the other to create a relentless assault.

"He's like a storm," Makoto thought. "Unpredictable and overwhelming. But there's always a weakness in balance… If I can disrupt his control over one element, the other might spiral out of control."

Riku, despite his best efforts, was starting to falter under Kael's relentless attacks. The dual-element techniques were simply too overwhelming.

"Is this all the sect master's personal disciple can do?" Kael taunted, his smirk widening. "You're pathetic, Riku."

Makoto stepped forward, drawing the attention of everyone present.

"Kael," Makoto said calmly, "if you're so confident in your strength, why not test it against me?"

Kael's gaze shifted to Makoto, his smirk fading slightly. "And who are you supposed to be?"

"Someone who doesn't care for your arrogance," Makoto replied, his tone icy.

Kael chuckled. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."

He said calmly while dropping Yuna on the ground .

As Kael prepared to attack, Makoto's aura flared, his qi swirling with a quiet intensity.