The frozen inferno's gambit

"Let her go'" makato said in an icy tone

Yuna's eyes widened when she saw Makoto. "Makoto…" she whispered, hope flickering in her voice.

Makoto ignored Kael's mocking tone. His aura flared faintly, an oppressive presence that belied his cultivation level. "She's not yours to take."

Kael's amusement faded, replaced by a flicker of irritation. "Do you think you can challenge me, boy? Do you even understand what I am?"

Kael gently placed Yuna to the side, his demeanor cold and calculating. "Fine. If you want to die, I'll grant you that wish."

Kael raised his hand, and the surrounding temperature plummeted. Frost crept along the ground, mingling with the scorched earth, as he unleashed his Frozen Inferno Domain. Fire and ice swirled in a devastating storm, locking the clearing into an apocalyptic battleground.

Makoto's eyes narrowed. Despite the suffocating aura, he remained calm. "You rely too much on your core's mutation," he said coldly, stepping forward. "It's about time someone teaches you the limits of arrogance."

Kael's expression darkened, and he charged, his movements a blur as fire and ice exploded from his fists. Makoto sidestepped the first blow, the ground where he'd been standing shattering under the force.

Makoto countered with a strike aimed at Kael's chest, his qi surging with pinpoint precision. Kael's Ice Barrier Technique erupted in response, deflecting the blow but leaving cracks in its surface.

"You're stronger than I expected," Kael admitted, his tone begrudging. "But you're still out of your depth."

Makoto smirked faintly, his hand reaching for Kael's chest again. "We'll see about that."

Kael's Frozen Inferno Domain painted the battlefield in stark contrasts—searing flames licking the air while jagged frost encased the ground. The bizarre harmony of fire and ice was not only suffocating but also disorienting, forcing all spectators to step back as the pressure intensified.

Makoto stood unwavering in the eye of the storm. His presence, calm yet foreboding, defied the oppressive aura Kael exuded. The air crackled as their gazes locked—Kael's burning with arrogance and icy contempt, Makoto's sharp and unyielding, like a blade poised to strike.

Kael attacked first. A burst of fire surged toward Makoto, twisting into a dragon of molten flames. The ground beneath it scorched, leaving a smoldering trail in its wake. Without hesitation, Kael shifted, the dragon's fiery roar melding seamlessly into a blizzard of razor-sharp ice shards that exploded from his palm.

Makoto moved with a deadly grace, his steps calculated yet fluid. He sidestepped the fire dragon, his qi shielding him from the heat, and countered with a wave of pure force, dissipating the shards. The pressure of his strike cracked the frost-covered ground, sending a ripple that disrupted Kael's footing.

"You rely too much on brute force," Makoto said coldly, his voice steady despite the chaos.

Kael smirked, wiping frost from his cheek. "And you rely too much on talk."

Kael slammed his palms together, triggering a devastating Infernal Frost Spiral, a swirling vortex of fire and ice that engulfed Makoto in an instant. The spectators held their breath, some looking away, convinced Makoto couldn't survive such overwhelming power.

The vortex dissipated abruptly, revealing Makoto unharmed, his qi surging like a tidal wave. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered as his aura swelled, pushing back Kael's domain.

Kael's eyes narrowed. "You've been hiding your strength."

Makoto's smirk deepened. "Or maybe you've been underestimating me."

Makoto's hand darted forward, glowing faintly with an ethereal light. His strike wasn't fast—it was precise, aimed directly at Kael's heart. Kael's Ice Barrier sprang to life, but cracks spiderwebbed across its surface as Makoto's qi tore through the defense like a hot knife through butter.

Kael stumbled back, his chest heaving. For the first time, his arrogance wavered.

Kael's smirk returned, but it was no longer smug—it was sinister. The temperature dropped further as a shadowy mist seeped from Kael's body, mingling with his icy qi. The spectators recoiled as an unnatural chill settled over the clearing, the mist whispering like tortured souls in a void.

Makoto's eyes narrowed. "Dark magic…"

Kael chuckled, his voice colder than the frost around him. "You didn't think my core was my only edge, did you? This is power beyond your comprehension!"

Kael unleashed a torrent of black ice, its edges jagged and dripping with an ominous aura. The ground it touched withered, the frost spreading like a living entity. Makoto dodged effortlessly, his steps deliberate as he gauged Kael's technique.

Makoto clenched his fists, his qi spiraling outward in defiance. "Power beyond comprehension?" he repeated, his tone icy. "You're just a fool playing with forces you don't understand."

He stepped forward, his movements faster than the eye could follow. Kael swung a fiery blade of qi, but Makoto sidestepped and closed the distance in an instant. His hand shot forward, gripping Kael's wrist with crushing force.

The spectators gasped as Makoto's qi surged into Kael's arm, destabilizing his balance. With a twist, Makoto flung Kael into the ground, the impact sending tremors through the clearing.

Kael coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But his dark aura didn't waver—it grew stronger, wrapping around him like a shield.

"Stop it, both of you!" Yuna's voice rang out, breaking the tension.

Makoto turned his head slightly, his expression softening as he met her gaze. But before he could respond, Kael used the distraction to strike.

A jagged spike of black ice shot toward Makoto's chest, its speed unmatched. Time seemed to slow as Makoto pivoted, his hand catching the spike mere inches from his heart.

He crushed it in his palm, the shards disintegrating into mist. "You're getting desperate, Kael."

As the fight dragged on, the onlookers began to notice something strange. The pedestal holding the Heart of Lumina glowed brighter, its light flickering erratically. Shadows danced across the clearing, and a low hum vibrated through the air.

Makoto's eyes flicked toward the treasure. "The Heart… It's reacting to our fight."

Kael's expression twisted into a grin. "Then let's see who it answers to."

Before either could make a move, the light intensified, and an otherworldly voice echoed through the clearing:

"Only one worthy of balance shall claim it"

The voice sent chills down everyone's spine. Even Kael, confident as he was, hesitated.

The Heart of Lumina floated off the pedestal, its glow pulsing like a heartbeat. The fighting stopped as everyone watched, captivated by its enigmatic brilliance.

Makoto and Kael stood on opposite sides of the clearing, their eyes locked not on each other but on the treasure.

"What does it mean by balance?" Lizhang muttered, his voice barely audible.

Makoto's gaze flicked back to Kael, his instincts screaming that the battle wasn't over.

Kael smirked. "It doesn't matter what it means. All that matters is who takes it."

As the Heart of Lumina hovered between them, the clearing was bathed in its light. The tension reached its peak, and then—