Martial Arts vs Magic Book 4: Dragons of Gold by Hikaru Genji & The Veiled Man

Author:Hikaru Genji & The Veiled Man [Genji, Hikaru & Man, The Veiled]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twin Stars Books
Published: 2025-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17 – Trial by Combat

The water mug floated three inches off the nightstand, wobbling like a drunk trying to walk a straight line. I narrowed my focus, willing it higher, but the moment my concentration wavered, it crashed back down, spilling across the worn wood.

"Still can't manage a simple pour," I muttered, wiping the mess with my sleeve. Two days of practice with Soul Fire, and all I had to show for it was wet furniture and a growing appreciation for how much I didn't understand.

The power thrummed beneath my skin, different from Qi or mana. Where those energies bent the rules, Soul Fire seemed to politely ask reality if it wouldn't mind stepping aside for a moment.

The building analogy from the Heavenly Demon's memories made sense. Physical laws at the foundation, energy manipulation above, and Soul Fire as the staircase between floors. At the highest place was the ability to channel Willpower to mess with [Laws], but we weren’t there yet. Knowing the theory and walking those stairs were two very different things.

I tried again, this time with a copper coin. It rose smoothly, spinning in place as I imposed my will upon it. Better. The smaller the object, the easier it was to assert dominance over its existence.

A useful trick, but hardly the world-shaking power I'd need for what was coming.

Two days. Two days of preliminary matches that barely qualified as warm-ups. My opponents had been competent enough—a fire mage who thought bigger explosions meant better strategy, twin swordsmen whose synchronization fell apart the moment I disrupted their rhythm, a beast tamer whose creatures seemed more interested in fleeing than fighting. Each victory had been decisive but unremarkable, exactly as planned.

Tomorrow's finals would be different. The qualifying round for the Gold Dragon realm wouldn't be filled with hopefuls and has-beens. Real warriors would stand in that arena, carrying their own ambitions and secrets. I had to be ready.

A knock interrupted my musings. I let the coin drop, catching it smoothly as I rose from the bed. The inn wasn't the kind of place that offered room service.

"Who is it?"

"Message for the Hand of Dark Heavens," came a gravelly voice. "Master Xylo requests your presence for dinner. He’s waiting at the Golden Serpent."

I opened the door to find a lizardfolk messenger, scales the color of dried blood. His eyes darted nervously, never quite meeting mine. Smart creature. He didn’t seem the suspicious type.

"Tell Master Xylo I'll be there within the hour."

The messenger bobbed his head and scurried away. Hmm, what’s this about? I had to slow down and ponder it for a moment. Dinner with a demon lieutenant. Either Xylo wanted to recruit me again, or he'd figured out something about my identity. Given his reaction to my dual cores, I suspected the former. Still, information was information, regardless of the source.

I dressed carefully, nothing too fine that would mark me as wealthy, nothing too poor that would insult my host. The balance of appearances, another dance I'd grown tired of performing.

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