Knight exams Preminaliry round (3)

A sharp crack echoed through the coliseum as Dan exploded forward, a blur of blue lightning streaking across the stone arena. His body shimmered with electricity, each movement fluid and sharp as he pummeled Icar with a flurry of precise, punishing strikes. The final blow—a thunderous right hook—landed square on Icar’s chest, launching him backward like a cannonball.

The crowd erupted.

“Let’s go, Dan!!!”

The stands shook with thunderous applause. Dan, catching his breath, raised two fingers in a peace sign, a small smirk curling on his lips—

SNAP!

A sudden whistle sliced through the air.

From Icar’s palm, a razor-thin chi whip lashed out, invisible until it gleamed in the light—aimed straight at Dan’s eye.

“I got you!” Icar screamed, eyes wild with glee.

The crowd gasped as the whip grazed Dan’s forehead, opening a shallow wound just above his left eye. Blood streamed down the side of his face, momentarily blinding him.

Dan (thinking): Shit. If I hadn’t moved when I did… I’d have lost an eye.

Icar cackled, standing tall. His lean, sinewy frame contrasted with Dan’s more compact, muscular build. The veins on his neck pulsed with energy.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to lose,” he sneered. “Come at me… or are you scared?”

With a cruel grin, Icar snapped his arms outward—and new whips shot from both his palms and his ribcage. They slithered and twisted in the air like vipers, then lashed out with terrifying speed.

Dan darted and spun, lightning crackling around him. He managed to dodge some of the strikes, but most landed, biting into his skin like sharp blades. Each hit left thin, bleeding cuts. Blood trickled down his arms and chest, dripping onto the pale arena floor.

Dan (thinking): He’s relentless… I only trained for three days, and my damn eye is making it harder to see. No way I can beat him just by being fast. I need to catch him off guard. Hit him with something big—close range.

Icar’s whips merged, forming two large, glowing blue coils. With a feral yell, he brought them down on Dan like twin scythes. Dan barely managed to leap backward, but the edges still caught him—ripping his shirt and scratching his side.

He grunted in pain. “Shit…”

Knight Administrator’s Office – Observation Room

High above the arena, three figures stood behind a pane of glass, watching silently.

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Vixen—tall, sharp-eyed, and deadly with chain chi—crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. “Sir… things aren’t looking good for him.”

DG, a thick-shouldered barrier chi user with a permanent scowl, scoffed. “Can’t believe I’m seeing someone from the great Lightning Nation get stomped.”

Captain Greg leaned forward, resting a gloved hand on the railing. He wore the red cloak of the 13th Fire Branch—the Denver lineage. His eyes stayed fixed on the boy below.

“Is that how you see it?” Greg’s voice was calm, almost amused.

Vixen blinked. “What do you mean? That whip guy’s got him covered. Dan’s lightning is all over the place.”

DG nodded. “He’s not comfortable with it yet.”

Greg didn’t turn. “True. But do you know what makes that nation special?”

DG raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Greg smiled faintly. “Their blood.”

Vixen looked confused. “Huh?”

“Lightning Nation’s bloodline is different. Every child born there is a potential prodigy. Maybe they don’t win every battle… but I’ve never seen one lose this fast during a Knight Exam. Even the weakest of them are smart in battle—always thinking, always adapting. And when they surprise you? They win. That nation is full of beasts.”

Arena

The crowd was growing restless.

“Why’s he on the defense?”

“I thought he was supposed to be a prodigy.”

“You sure he’s from the Lightning Nation?”

Icar smirked as he circled Dan. “Heh. Looks like your fans are abandoning you. Weak prodigy.”

Dan wiped the blood from his eye. “I don’t care about them.”

Dan (thinking): Damn it. He’s faster than I thought… and I’ve taken too many hits. I have to end this now—even if it drains me. I’ve got to go faster…

Sparks danced across his shoulders. Lightning wrapped around his body, turning him into a streak of blue fire. He launched forward at blinding speed.

Icar (thinking): Did he just get faster? No way—wait, I can still see him. I can still hit him!

But Dan was already inside—dodging the lashes, slipping under and through the whips like water. He slammed a punch into Icar’s gut, then followed with a spinning kick. Lightning crackled with every blow.

Dan (thinking): Don’t stop. Keep going. Get close enough for the final strike…

“ENOUGH!” Icar roared.

The whips flared wildly, cutting into Dan’s arms and back. Blood flew, staining the arena floor red.

“I’ve got you now!” Icar shouted, swinging both whips down.

But Dan stood his ground, eyes burning with focus. He twisted, dodged, and stepped in. A punch to Icar’s stomach. Another to the chin.

Dan (thinking): Now—he’s open!

He drew lightning into his right fist, the air around it humming with energy. His knuckles glowed bright blue as he shouted:

“KARATE STRAIGHT PUNCH!”

The impact was like thunder. A wave of lightning exploded from Dan’s fist, blasting Icar across the arena. He hit the wall with a crash—and didn’t move.

Silence.

Then the announcer’s voice rang out.

“WOW! What a finish! The winner—Dan of the Lightning Nation!”

Knight Administrators’ Office

Vixen’s jaw dropped. “What the hell…”

Greg smiled. “Told you. That nation… full of beasts.”

Arena

The crowd went wild.

“I always believed in him!”

“That’s the Lightning Nation for you!”

Dan, covered in cuts and bruises, smiled faintly. I won, he thought.

Then his knees gave way, and he collapsed.

Medics rushed to the scene, lifting him onto a stretcher and carrying him to the clinic.

Hours Later – Dan’s Home

The city was quiet, bathed in the amber glow of dusk. Inside his room, Dan lay on the bed, bandages wrapped around his arms and torso.

Sofia stood nearby, arms crossed and grinning. “Well, well, well. Congrats, Dan.”

“Thanks,” he groaned. “But my body’s killing me.”

She smacked him on the back. “You actually won! You’re going to be a Knight!"

Dan winced. “Argh—Sofia!”

“There’s still three matches to go.”

She smiled. “You’ll win.”

He looked up at her, exhausted but grateful. “Thanks for your faith.”

Three Days Later – Village Forest

Sunlight filtered through the tall trees, casting dancing shadows on the forest floor. Dan stood alone, shirtless, his body crisscrossed with scars and healing wounds. A white bandage covered his forehead, stained faintly red.

He slowly peeled it off.

The wind rustled the leaves. Dan closed his eyes.

“I can feel it…” he whispered. “My chi is growing. I never thought I’d feel something like this.”

Then he staggered and coughed—blood splattering the ground.

“Damn it… Icar’s whips really did a number on me.” He wiped his mouth. “But I have to push on. I won’t stop here. This is the life of a Knight.”

Present – Arena

The crowd buzzed with anticipation.

“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer boomed. “It’s time for the third round! On one side—Dan, the boy of lightning! On the other—Dosu, the acid-mouth chi user!”

Dan stood at the edge of the arena, breathing deeply. His muscles ached. His side throbbed. He could feel every injury from the last fight like fire under his skin.

“Not again…” he muttered.

Then he coughed—and blood dripped from his lips.

Dan (thinking): I’m not fully healed

yet… and now I have to face someone even worse. Come on, Dan. Just keep standing.

He clenched his fists, the static in his veins rising again.

The battle was about to begin.