“Admitting defeat?” Yiran laughed humorlessly, calculating his next attack. “That’s okay. In fact, it’s the smartest move you’ve made so far—”
Craaccck—
Yiran’s already racing pulse sped up. That sound—
Crackcrackcraccck—
Noah arched his head back. Two pincerlike blades erupted from his sides, and a long tail made up of interlocking diamond-shaped shards extended from the base of his spine, its tip curved like a scorpion’s.Like Felix.Yiran had fought that Hybrid off with defensive spells. He could do the same with Noah—if only he had magic.
Noah’s yinqi crackled loudly above the cheers from the Hybrids watching. Despite what the leader had said about rules, no one stopped the program.
Yiran’s hesitation increased Noah’s confidence. “Who’s the baby now?” the boy goaded, looking delirious from the spiritual energy flowing through him. His tail reared up. The stinger was bright purple.
A huge bullet of yinqi shot into the air.
Yiran veered to his right.
Sand sizzled six steps away from his foot. Was Noah’s aim that bad? Yiran had only managed to movetwopaces.He doesn’t have full controlof his new form yet.Yiran could take advantage of that. From what Yuki had shared, Hybrids, like Exorcists, did not possess an unlimited amount of spiritual energy, which meant their spirit cores could be depleted. Noah seemed reckless enough. If Yiran could get him to use up his yinqi quickly...
Yiran’s mouth went to work. “That’s it?” He scoffed at the smoking hole in the sand. “I’ve seen better from another Hybrid who had a tail like yours. What was his name? Frankie? Fabian? I’ve such a bad memory when it comes to inconsequential side characters.”
Noah’s face turned pale.“Felix.”
“Oh, sorry, was he your buddy?” Yiran smiled innocently. “Not sorry he’s dead, though.”
Snarling, Noah flicked his tail. The yinqi bullet was bigger this time, but the aim was no better. Noah’s range and style of attack appeared limited, but he could get lucky.
Yiran needed a surefire plan.
An image appeared suddenly in his mind. A black sword with a serrated edge, its blade broken. Zizi’s spiritual weapon.Hehad gone straight for the source of Yuki’s yinqi during their fight, subduing him in two strikes. Could the dummy sword in Yiran’s hand cut through Noah’s tail?
The sword in his hand hummed in response, but doubt quickly crept into Yiran’s mind. It couldn’t berealmagic flowing through him and into the sword. It had to be a trick. An effect of the changes the Hybrids had made to the Simulator. He couldn’t possibly—
Something whizzed past his ear.
Another violet shard came at him, then another, and then they were exploding all around him like fireworks.
Noah’s second wind had arrived.
Frantically, Yiran twisted and turned. But the shrapnel went everywhere. Yinqi ripped through his clothing and torched his skin. He hissed in pain. He’d wasted time overthinking things. Noah was learning fast, evolving his attack on the fly. Desperately, Yiran raised his arms to shieldhis face and eyes as Noah advanced. It was impossible to avoid his pincers as they stabbed in succession.
Overwhelmed, Yiran fell over. Sand bit into his palms as he tried to scramble away. The smell of blood and his own burning flesh was making him sick.
The Simulator buzzed. New boulders rose and fell haphazardly.
Yiran’s teeth rattled as his back connected with rock. His sword flew out of his hand, and he dropped heavily onto his already injured shoulder.
Luckwason Noah’s side. He’d gotten out of the way in time and stayed on his feet. He grinned fiendishly when he saw Yiran trapped between rocks, weaponless.
There was nowhere to turn. Nowhere to run. Fear churned in Yiran’s stomach, but his anger swelled. He didn’t want to die. Not like this. A victim of someone else’s scheme.
The arena went completely still.
What new complication was the Hybrid leader throwing into the ring?
The air seemed to expand, and Yiran felt a surge of spiritual energy.Yangqi?Instinctively, he stretched out a hand.
His fingertips tingled.
