Sovereign: rise of the forgotten prodigy

Chapter 10: The Final Combat

The final stage of the exam was the combat assessment, a challenging test meant to prove each candidate’s true strength and fighting skills. The arena buzzed with anticipation as Shenlong took his place, his gaze steady and focused. Across from him stood the arrogant noble youth who had shoved him on the first day of the exams, his posture confident and smug. Around them, the crowd murmured with excitement, the tension growing thicker as the two competitors prepared to clash.

The noble youth smirked, his eyes gleaming with contempt. “You should have stayed at the bottom where you belong,” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

Shenlong’s expression didn’t change. His calm eyes locked onto his opponent, his voice even and unshaken. “You’ll regret underestimating me.”

The head instructor raised his hand, signaling for the match to begin, and the battle exploded into action. The crowd erupted with cheers and gasps as the noble youth launched forward, his fists cutting through the air in rapid, powerful strikes. His technique was polished, his movements sharp and aggressive, each punch and kick coming with deadly precision.

But Shenlong was unfazed. He moved with a grace that seemed almost effortless, weaving through each of the noble’s attacks as if he were gliding through the wind. Every strike from his opponent missed by inches, Shenlong dodging with perfect timing, his movements fluid and controlled. His calm eyes never left his opponent, assessing every motion, every weak point in the noble’s form.

The noble youth grew more frustrated, his strikes becoming wilder as he tried to land a blow. Shenlong remained calm, waiting for the right moment. Then, in a sudden burst of speed, Shenlong countered. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them in an instant, and delivered a powerful palm strike directly to the noble’s chest. The impact was fierce, sending the noble youth stumbling back before he crashed to the ground, his face contorted in shock and pain.

A hush fell over the arena as the crowd watched in stunned silence. All eyes were on Shenlong, who stood tall and composed, his breathing steady and his gaze unwavering. For a brief moment, there was only silence, the weight of the victory settling over the arena.

Then, the head instructor rose to his feet, his voice ringing out across the arena. “The winner—Shenlong!”