Limitless Evolution: I’m The New Dragon God?

Next up was Ryuzen's battle.

He stepped into the arena, facing a girl unlike any opponent before. Her name was Irina Raiku.

She had flowing black hair that shimmered like polished obsidian under the setting sun. Her eyelashes were long and dark, casting soft shadows on her porcelain skin. But those features didn't diminish her presence. If anything, they added to her allure, making her seem like a living, breathing porcelain doll crafted by a master sculptor.

Her figure was ethereal. Curved in perfect balance, she looked more like a divine statue than a warrior.

"Wow! She's so beautiful!"

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the male spectators. Some were already enchanted, their eyes wide, their hearts racing.

But Ryuzen didn't flinch. His golden slit eyes remained locked on hers, cold and calm.

Right now, she was simply an opponent. That resolve in his gaze didn't go unnoticed by Irina.

She tilted her head slightly, intrigued. Most men faltered when faced with her appearance. But this one stood tall, unshaken. Something about that quiet composure tugged at the corners of her lips.

Still, she believed without a shred of doubt that victory was hers.

The moment the referee's voice cut through the air, "Begin!" Ryuzen moved.

There was no hesitation. In a blink, he launched himself into the sky, his form slicing through the wind like a blade.

His lungs expanded. A searing breath gathered in his throat.

With a primal roar, he unleashed it.

Flames burst from his mouth, swirling forward like a tidal wave of fire. The air shimmered. The ground cracked. Heat blasted through the arena, painting everything in hues of red and gold.

It was the Fire Breath of the Manus Skill Tree. Even in its incomplete state, it was enough to turn steel into molten liquid.

But Irina did not move.

She stood frozen, her wide eyes reflecting the firestorm racing toward her.

There was no defense. No scream. Only the flicker of disbelief in her eyes.

And then, the flames consumed her.

"Argghh!"

A shrill shriek echoed from the flames.

Then silence.

The arena fell quiet. The crowd stared in horror, unable to process what they had just witnessed.

Ryuzen stood still, his feet landing lightly on the charred stone floor. His heart thudded with unease. That wasn't supposed to happen. He expected a counter, a dodge, even a trick.

But not this.

He lowered his hands. Smoke curled around him. Embers floated in the air like dying stars.

He didn't want to kill her. The heat of battle had pushed him to strike fast, but death had never been his aim.

His brows furrowed. Guilt twisted in his chest.

Was this his fault?

Would there be consequences?

Before he could think further, his senses flared. A sharp pulse traveled down his spine. It wasn't guilt this time.

It was danger.

Something was wrong. His draconic instincts had never lied.

And right now, they screamed that the real battle had just begun.

He turned and held the sword on his two hand to defend. All with pure insticts.

Clang!

A deafening clash rang out as a spear shaft met Ryuzen's sword in mid-swing, sparks exploding from the point of impact.

Yet Ryuzen didn't budge. His boots held firm against the stone arena floor, not even sliding an inch. It was as if the force of the strike had struck a mountain.

Swoosh!

The spear whipped back in a blur, returning to the hands of the one who wielded it—Irina Raiku. She landed gracefully a few meters away, her breath caught in her throat and eyes wide with shock.

But Ryuzen was just as surprised. He had seen her engulfed in flames. His fire wasn't something that could be walked off, especially not without a scratch.

Yet here she was—alive, breathing, untouched.

"You're not human," Irina said, her voice shaky but tinged with awe. "No one has ever avoided my surprise strike like that. It's as if you have eyes on your back."

Ryuzen lowered his blade slightly, golden eyes locked on her. "You're no less impressive. What kind of skill lets you fake death and sneak around like that?"

Irina tilted her head, her long black hair swaying gently. "If you want to know, you'll have to tell me yours first. A fair trade, don't you think?"

He raised a hand and shook it dismissively. "Ah, no thanks. I prefer keeping things a mystery."

She laughed softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Ha. I knew it. For someone who has trouble revealing even the name of his system, I expected this much."

"But still, I'll show you what my skill is about," Irina said with a playful giggle. "Because unlike you, I can't hide it."

Suddenly, a shimmer of light flickered across her body.

In the blink of an eye, she split into two.

Then four.

Then eight.

Each copy moved with eerie precision, fluid and synchronized like a ripple through still water. Ryuzen narrowed his eyes. It was definitely a clone-type skill, no doubt about it.

But what unsettled him wasn't the number.

It was the perfection.

Each Irina held a spear in hand, posture elegant and deadly. Their smiles were identical. The same long eyelashes fluttered with the same rhythm. Not a single detail gave away the original.

They encircled him, forming a spinning ring of spears and beauty.

Even with [ Sun Dragon's Gaze ], Ryuzen couldn't tell which one was real. There weren't any ordinary clones of illusion, they were like real. Like doppelgangers.

Clang!

Steel rang against steel as Ryuzen's blade met one of the spears head-on, sparks flying from the impact. The clash echoed across the arena, the crowd holding their breath.

Swoosh!

A spear came from his right. He twisted, parried it with the flat of his sword, and kicked the clone square in the chest. The doppelganger shattered into light.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Another rushed in, spear jabbing at his side. Ryuzen ducked, rolled forward, and sliced the legs of the attacker. Another clone vanished in a shimmer of particles.

There were still five left.