Draining Victory

The arena lights flickered on, painting the metallic floor with a sharp electric blue hue. The crowd's roar surged and ebbed like waves, a distant murmur against the focus that buzzed in my mind.

My heart pounded, steady and deliberate, matching the rhythm of my breathing. I rolled my shoulders, flexed my fingers, and let the adrenaline fuel me.

This wasn't my first fight, but the air today felt charged—alive, almost. The buzz of anticipation wasn't just in the crowd— it was in my bones. Maybe it was the opponent.

Lin Harrow, Rank 175.

His name wasn't just a number on the ZUA leaderboard— it was synonymous with the fierce, scorching power of the Leo Zodiac. A powerhouse, people called him. Fierce. Unrelenting.

And here I was, Rank 180, ready to test my mettle.

The ZUA system chimed, its mechanical voice echoing through the arena.

"Combatants, ready. Match begins in 3… 2… 1…"

Lin stepped into view, exuding confidence that bordered on arrogance. His aura flared with golden light, the fiery energy of his Leo Zodiac crackling around him like a living inferno. His presence alone made the air heavier, hotter.

"Hope you're ready to lose, rookie," Lin sneered, his smirk sharp enough to cut steel.

I kept my expression calm, neutral. "We'll see."

The moment the countdown ended, Lin exploded into action. He dashed forward, a blur of speed leaving fiery afterimages in his wake.

My instincts screamed as he unleashed a streak of solar energy aimed right at my chest. I threw myself to the side, narrowly avoiding the scorching blast. The heat alone was enough to sting my skin.

"Too slow," Lin taunted, circling me like a predator sizing up its prey.

I didn't rise to the bait. Instead, I summoned the Ophiuchus Binding Chains, the shimmering spectral links materializing with a faint hum. They snaked through the air, aiming for Lin with deadly precision.

Lin's reaction was instant. He twisted mid-step, his fiery aura flaring as he swiped at the chains. One deflected harmlessly, but the second found its mark, coiling around his ankle and yanking him off balance. He hit the ground hard, his aura flickering under the strain.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. The chains tightened, pulsing with star-forged light as they drained energy from Lin, feeding it back into me. I felt the rush, the surge of strength as my reserves replenished.

"You think little chains can stop me? You must be over yourself, Dekus!" Lin growled, his voice dripping with defiance. His aura flared again, brighter this time. I could feel the heat intensify, the raw energy building around him.

Then he roared—a guttural, primal sound that shook the air. His hands ignited with radiant light, and I knew what was coming.

Solar Flare.

The burst of energy was blinding, a miniature sun erupting from his body. The wave of heat and light crashed into my chains, melting them into flickering motes of light.

The impact threw me back, and I barely managed to land on my feet, skidding across the metallic floor.

Lin rose, his golden aura blazing brighter than before. "Not bad," he admitted grudgingly, wiping a trickle of sweat from his brow. "But now you're really in trouble."

He charged again, this time faster, his movements a blur. He unleashed Lion's Roar, a cone of fiery energy that roared toward me like a raging inferno.

I barely had time to think, throwing up a barrier of chains to absorb the brunt of the attack. The force pushed me back, my boots screeching against the floor.

"You're stronger than I thought," I muttered, a grin tugging at the corner of my lips. "Good. I need a real challenge."

I extended my hands, summoning the chains again, but this time with a different purpose. I activated Energy Absorption, channeling the energy from the chains directly into my body. Lin's fiery aura wavered as the chains drained his strength.

"What the—?" Lin's eyes widened as he felt the drain. He staggered, his movements slowing.

"Your power's impressive," I said, my voice steady. "But it's mine now."

The crowd watched in stunned silence as my aura began to glow, brighter and brighter with each passing second.

I felt invincible, the energy coursing through me like a raging river. Lin's strength was formidable, but against the Ophiuchus Binding Chains and my Energy Absorption, even he was struggling.

But Lin wasn't done. With a roar of desperation, he summoned every ounce of his remaining strength, his aura blazing in one final, desperate surge. He lunged at me, his fists engulfed in flames, aiming for a decisive blow.

I met him head-on. The absorbed energy fueled my movements, making me faster, stronger. I dodged his strike with inches to spare, pivoting smoothly before launching a counterattack. My fist connected with his torso, the force amplified by the energy I'd siphoned.

The impact sent Lin flying across the arena. He crashed into the energy barrier at the edge, the force reverberating through the arena. The crowd erupted in cheers as Lin crumpled to the ground, motionless.

The ZUA system chimed again, the mechanical voice delivering the verdict.

"Match over. Winner: Avant Dekus."

I stood there, chest heaving, as the system updated my rank.

Rank 180 → 120.

The cheers of the crowd washed over me, but I barely registered them. My focus was on the fight—on what it had taught me. Lin had been a real challenge, forcing me to dig deeper than I'd expected. But I'd won, and that was what mattered.

As I stepped out of the arena, the crowd's cheers fading behind me. Each fight was getting harder, each opponent stronger. And somewhere, beyond the cheers and the lights, I could feel something watching, waiting.

I glanced down at my wristband, the faint glow of the ZUA system reflecting my next goal.