Solar Blood Masters

A sea of eager faces gazed down upon the platform below. Among those expectant creatures, a small emerald serpent was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Big Brother!" Lu Jade hissed excitedly as he spotted a familiar golden figure moving towards the massive portal.

"You can do it Big Brother! This trial isss a piece of cake!"

Raphael who'd been casually strolling towards the entrance heard his friend's encouragement and paused briefly. He glanced up with a confident grin stretched across his muzzle before he gave a slight nod. "I won't fail." His hooves touched the icy surface of the portal and his enormous form vanished from view.

Shortly after Raphael's entrance, those who remained rushed through as well, disappearing in a flurry of scales, feathers and claws. It was a chaotic scramble that lasted until finally, the last competitor who was a nervous-looking tortoise, was sucked into the emerald vortex.

The gateway pulsated one last time before snapping shut.

Beating war drums and whispers permeated the venue as they watched the stage below transform.

Qi Hawk, who had been observing this process with his single white eye, straightened upon his throne.

"Hmm. Reality Thwart – Almighty Sight."

Tossing forth a finger, he focused his potent Solar Essence into his eye. Next, A series of blinding flashes illuminated the audience.

WHOOSH!

Multiple large screens, suspended in mid-air around the venue materialized.

They flickered into existence.

Within each screen, breathtaking scenes of icy wonder, jagged mountains, frosted plains, and glaciers appeared. They showcased the very contestants they'd cheer earlier and were now scattered across that frozen expanse.

…

Meanwhile, within that very realm of snow and ice…

Raphael's hooves crunched on the snow. He shivered slightly as the cold wind howled around him and bit into his golden hide with a ferocity that he'd rarely experienced.

"Hmm… quite the ambiance."

He scanned the desolate landscape and noticed a massive holographic timer ticked down above. Although this place was massive, the timer was visible from everywhere inside to maintain fairness.

'Three days, and I have to be within the top ten. Not a problem at all.' He was confident in his thinking. His journey through Yama Yaguai had hardened his resolve.

He wasn't afraid, not anymore.

He took a step forward but froze. He'd sensed a chilling killing intent, but it had no scent nor form. His instincts were tingling in warning but were too vague to act upon. He glanced around but couldn't pinpoint a target.

"Where is it coming from?"

"Die!"

The attack came from below!

A figure materialized from the ice beneath him and plunged a dagger upwards towards his belly!

"Huh?!"

He reacted instinctively. With a powerful flap of his wings, Raphael levitated a few feet and dodged the blow by millimeters. His jaw dropped when he saw two menacing crimson eyes inches from his snout.

"It's… A Black Rock Scorpion!?" He was baffled. He'd sensed no presence, no sound, no vibration. It was as if this creature had blended seamlessly with its surroundings, using the ice itself as camouflage.

Then something even more dreadful occurred, for just as he tried regaining his balance, another scorpion, even larger, launched itself from the clouds above his head.

"Damn… there's TWO!?"

They were flanking him, both above and below, each massive claw wielded a dagger that was glowing with black fire.

They moved in unison. It was obvious they had trained for years.

Raphael thought, 'How could these Scorpion bastards formed a team so fast? It's barely been two minutes since we entered. Or could it be they were a team before we entered?'

He abandoned his thought process and quickly retaliated by releasing a radial burst of electricity, however, both attackers immediately and swiftly retreated before they could get hit.

"Brother Clamper! That bull controls electricity!"

"SO WHAT?!" Another scorpion, larger than the first hissed. "He's only a 1st layer Nightmare Calamity, a newbie! It's our lucky day! And together, WE can take him. Then feast on his entrails!"

This declaration had Raphael's blood burning. 'So these punks think they can crush me and steal my Merit Points?' He let out a chilling chuckle as he watched them flanking him. "You have picked the wrong bull to mess with!"

And without waiting, he lashed out with a burst of energy.

"Lightning Tail Lash!"

BOOM! CRACKLE!

Yellow sparks flew!

The attack was potent but clumsy as it struck a patch of ice inches away from his approaching attackers, sending them tumbling backwards as he'd hoped but not at all the way he wanted, for if he'd been more familiar with this form then they would've been skewered.

"Huh? They're so fast…!"

As they recovered and regroup, he notice a glow above their head that had appeared moments before. These scorpion bastards each had 'Merit Points' flashing ominously:

'Clamper - 1 Point'

'Pincer - 3 Points'

"Hmm… so they've defeated FOUR already? Trying to claim my points so early in the game. NOT GONNA HAPPEN"

Raphael thought of finishing these annoying bug off quickly and escaped this confrontation before more show up. However, this was shattered the very next second.

He had to show those insects that challenging a Golden Bull Thork meant certain annihilation. And so he roared:

"Raging Bull Roar!"

BOOM!

The powerful sonic attack that shook the very ice beneath his hooves blasted those Black Rock Scorpions backwards, even those who'd been lurking in nearby crevasses found themselves tumbling head over heels as their ears bled from that noise.

They all cried.

"What was that?!"

"It's that bull!"

"The bull with black wings and golden fur! We're not messing with that!"

Raphael snorted, "Hmph! Nothing is going to stop me from winning that Pass for Grandma."

"What is that bull rambling about?" Clamper picked himself up from the ground and growled.

"He thinks he can take us? We're only getting started." Pincer was already formulating another plan with his brother. But just as they were about to charge Raphael, they got interrupted.

WHOOSH!

A dark shadow swept over them. They looked up!

A magnificent Golden Crane landed gracefully behind Raphael. Its golden feathers radiated a powerful aura that pushed them back. And resting on its shoulder, they saw a massive hammer, crackling with blue lightning.

"It's that maniac, Yellow Flash!" Clamper hissed and trembled.

"And look! He's already earned 5 points!" Pincer added.

They knew better than to stick around, not when this beast was present, especially not with their current point count, they'd be targeted for sure.

They quickly scuttled away, leaving Raphael to face the newcomer.

While yawing, Yellow Flash stretched his wings and released a powerful wind blast towards Raphael. "Well, bull. You're standing on my hunting ground now."

Raphael felt his hooves trembling slightly. '5th Layer… That bird… he's as strong as Qi Fenwei.' He'd hoped to ease into this Trial, to amass points gradually but fate, it seemed had other plans.

Before Raphael could even voice a comeback, Yellow Flash struck!

BOOM!

His massive hammer came crashing down!

Raphael barely had time to react.

"Shadow Teleportation!"

He materialized instantly behind Yellow Flash and lashed out with:

"Wing Slashnado!"

Hundreds of crimson blades exploded outward, aiming for Yellow Flash's back!

"Fhm, child's play."

Yellow Flash smirked and didn't even bother to turn, he swung his hammer with the precision and speed of a veteran warrior. His muscles rippled as he executed his technique.

"Hyunda Blizzard!"

The hammer spun with blinding speed! Azure lightning exploded. It created a cyclone that deflected those crimson blades effortlessly, and within that heart of chaos…

"CLONE!"

BOOM!

Five golden duplicates came into being. And in an instant, Raphael was surrounded!

"This power! The pressure is so strong! He can even make copies of himself?!" Raphael was astonished.

"Your point is MINE, bull!"

The six hammers slammed down simultaneously.

CRASH!

The impact was devastating. Raphael unleashed a blast of purple fog but it was futile, their attack had already broken through his defenses, throwing him backwards and shattering the ice.

He coughed out blood. He could feel his bones creaking under the weight of those blows.

Yellow Flash laughed, "You're truly pathetic! Give up now, bull, and perhaps… I'll only break one horn as a trophy!"

He swooped downwards with his hammer raised high as he yelled, "Heavenly Sky Hammer - Smashing Destruction!"

"Shadow Blood Resolve!"

Raphael desperately activated his hidden trump card. A dark shield materialized around him. He thrust his horns above to meet the incoming hammer head on.

"Hahahah! Foolish bull! My Heavenly Sky Hammer is unstoppable! Now die." Yellow Flash put his back into that attack.

As soon as it touch his horns…

BOOM!

A blinding explosion engulfed them. Other contenders nearby felt the shockwave rippling. They turned and watched, for even from this distance, the fight's intensity had them recoiling.

"That energy! It's… a Nightmare Calamity 5th Layer! Who dares to challenge that beast?!"

The answer was obvious.

And as the dust settled within that newly formed crater, they saw Yellow Flash standing over the broken, bloodied form of a Golden Bull Thork. It was motionless, eyes closed, its chest no longer heaving.

Yellow Flash stood triumphant upon his defeated opponent's golden hide and spat.

"That's point number 6 for me."

He licked his lips and turned.

"Now for my next prey!"

…

At the outside venue, where hundreds of screens displayed the carnage-ridden trials of survival. Lu Jade watched the horrifying spectacle unfold with his scales now pale green.

"Big… Big… BROTHER!"