Chapter 70: Winds of Battle

The grand arena of Infinite City was a spectacle to behold. Thousands had gathered, their collective breath held in suspense. The massive, circular stage, carved from ancient stones and encrusted with glowing runes, awaited its warriors. As the sun reached its zenith, its rays illuminated two figures standing opposite each other: Li Yang and Feng Xuan.

From the shadowed corridors leading to the arena, they emerged, the weight of expectations heavy on their shoulders. The crowd's cheers reverberated, a mix of support and excitement for both fighters.

As they met at the center of the stage, Feng Xuan, ever the playful and confident one, grinned. "Li Yang, let us see who the wind favors today," he said, the teasing glint in his eyes belying the serious undertones of the challenge. "Give it your all."

Li Yang, ever stoic, nodded, determination evident in his gaze. "Let's begin," he replied succinctly.

As the battle commenced, Feng Xuan was swift to invoke the powers of his wind cog. Torrential gusts circled the arena, picking up debris and whipping it into a furious cyclone. But Li Yang was prepared. With the eagle aspect of his Lion-Eagle fusion, he summoned counter-currents of air, his own whirlwinds that met Feng Xuan's with fierce resistance.

The audience watched in awe as the two wind powers clashed, creating a dance of swirling vortexes. Yet, while Li Yang used the eagle's wind power defensively, he began to tap into the lion's earth aspect for his offense. With every leap and bound, the ground shook, and earthen spikes jutted out, aiming for Feng Xuan.

Feng Xuan, agile and swift, dodged the earthen assaults, his wind cog allowing him incredible mobility. However, with every evasion, he was getting closer to the boundaries of the arena, and Li Yang's pressure was relentless.

As minutes turned into what felt like hours, the two warriors showed signs of fatigue. Sweat dripped, breaths became more laborious, but neither was willing to yield. It was clear to all that their rivalry was fueled not just by the desire to win but also by mutual respect and the history they shared.

Seeing an opening, Li Yang decided it was time. He channeled both the wind and earth attributes of his Lion-Eagle fusion into one devastating move. As the ground rumbled and the winds howled, a magnificent fusion attack was unleashed. The combined might of wind currents and earthen fury raced towards Feng Xuan.

Feng Xuan tried to counter, his wind cog spinning at its maximum speed. But the force of Li Yang's dual-attribute attack was overwhelming. With a final, deafening clash, Feng Xuan was propelled backward, landing just outside the arena's boundary.

Silence gripped the stadium. And then, erupting from that stillness, came a roar of cheers and applause. Li Yang had won.

But instead of gloating, Li Yang approached his fallen friend, offering a hand. "A battle to remember," he said, helping Feng Xuan up.

Feng Xuan, though defeated, smiled. "Indeed. But remember, the winds of fate are ever-changing."

The two warriors, bound by friendship and rivalry, exited the arena together, their journey continuing but with one battle now firmly etched in the annals of Infinite City's history.