Chapter 346: The Tiger’s Scent

Chapter 346: Chapter 346: The Tiger’s Scent

The heavy door clicked shut behind Prince Alex.

Damon stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle. Lumina’s trembling hand was still in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Alright," he said, his voice calm. "Everyone gather around."

The women moved from their positions around the room. Ariel stepped away from the window. Mio and Mia rose from the sofa. Seraphina set down her teacup. Flare unfolded her arms. Alena looked up from her alchemy notes. Selene crossed the room with Neko in her arms.

They formed a loose circle around the low table.

Damon waited until all eyes were on him.

"White Tiger Sect," he said. "They fight like beasts. Close quarters. Raw power. No technique, just instinct."

He tapped the table.

"We beat them with range and authority."

Ariel leaned forward. "What’s the order?"

Damon looked at Seraphina first.

"You’re Fighter 1."

Seraphina’s emerald eyes flickered with surprise. Then understanding. Then pride.

She reached for the Tempest Azure Blade at her hip and drew it an inch from the scabbard. The edge caught the lamplight and gleamed like frozen lightning.

"Dragon-wind parries," she said, her voice low and steady. "I’ll meet their charge and break their momentum."

"Exactly," Damon said. "You’re the wall they crash into."

Seraphina slid the blade back into its sheath with a soft click.

"Azure Dragon bloodline," she said, her tone carrying weight. "I’ll prove which beast rules this arena."

Damon nodded once.

Then he turned to Flare.

"You’re Fighter 2."

Flare cracked her knuckles. The sound was sharp and final.

Her orange eyes burned with anticipation.

"Good," she said. "I’ve been wanting to test my fire on something that actually fights back."

"Burn their fur," Damon said. "They can’t claw what’s ash."

Flare grinned, showing teeth.

"I’ll cook them slow or fast. Depends on my mood."

Ariel spoke up from her seat.

"And if they get past Flare?"

Damon looked at her.

"You’re Fighter 3. You drown them."

Ariel nodded, her vivid blue eyes steady.

"I’ll hold the line," she said.

Damon turned to Mio and Mia.

"You two are backup. If they reach the middle of our roster, you finish them."

Mio nocked an imaginary arrow. "They won’t reach you."

Mia’s lips curled into a dark smile. "And if they do, they’ll wish they hadn’t."

Damon looked at Alena.

"Support. You stay behind the fighters and keep everyone alive."

Alena nodded, her hands already moving to check her pouch of medicines.

"Understood."

Damon was about to continue when the air shifted.

A familiar presence.

Mei Nightrider glided through the balcony doors, her deep purple robes flowing behind her. Her expression was serious, not playful.

"Damon," she said.

He turned to face her.

"Tora carries a hidden Beast-Frenzy Pill," she said. "If she takes it, her cultivation temporarily rises to King Spirit Realm."

The room went cold.

"How do you know this?" Damon asked.

Mei’s purple eyes narrowed.

"I have eyes in the White Tiger Sect camp," she said. "They didn’t bother hiding it from their inner circle."

Damon processed the information.

A King Spirit Realm beast-woman. Even for a short time, that could tear through his fighters if they weren’t prepared.

"Can you counter it?" he asked.

Mei shook her head.

"The pill is already inside her. I can’t remove it without her knowing. But I can tell you this—it lasts five minutes. If you survive that window, her cultivation drops to half her base for the rest of the match."

Damon’s jaw tightened.

"Good to know."

He turned back to the group.

"Listen carefully," he said. "If Tora takes the pill, don’t engage. Stall. Survive. Let the timer work against her."

Seraphina’s hand rested on her blade.

"And if she targets me?"

Damon’s golden eyes met hers.

"Then you show her what a real dragon looks like."

The room fell silent.

Damon looked around the circle at each of his women. Their faces were set with determination. No fear. No hesitation.

"Alright," he said. "Let’s move."

He led them out of the suite and down the corridor. The hotel staff bowed as they passed. The crowd noise grew louder as they approached the exit.

Damon stepped through the doors.

The afternoon sun hit him like a wave of heat and sound.

The Great Solaris Arena loomed ahead, its white stone walls gleaming in the golden light. Thousands of spectators filled the stands. The roar of the crowd was deafening.

Damon walked at the front of the Azure Dragon delegation.

Ariel on his right. Seraphina on his left. Flare behind him. Mio and Mia flanking the group. Alena and Selene bringing up the rear.

Neko walked beside him in human form, her cat ears twitching at the noise.

The crowd’s chants shifted as they spotted the Azure Dragon robes.

"AZURE DRAGON! AZURE DRAGON!"

Damon kept his eyes forward.

The White Tiger Sect delegation emerged from the opposite tunnel.

Tora led them, her silver-white hair flowing in the wind. Her amber eyes locked onto Damon’s.

She smiled.

It was not a friendly smile.

Damon matched her gaze and kept walking.

The two delegations converged at the arena entrance, separated by a line of tournament officials.

Tora stopped.

"Captain Damon," she said, her voice carrying over the noise. "I hope you’re ready to bleed."

Damon didn’t break stride.

"I hope you’re ready to lose."

Tora’s smile widened.

"We’ll see."

The officials parted the crowd and led each delegation to their respective dugouts.

Damon stepped into the Azure Dragon dugout and turned to face his team.

"Remember the plan," he said. "Seraphina first. Flare second. Ariel third. Then we adapt."

Seraphina drew her blade and held it before her eyes.

"The Azure Dragon bows to no beast."

Flare cracked her neck.

"Let’s burn."

Ariel gripped her trident.

"I’m ready."

The gong sounded.

The crowd erupted.

Grand Marshal Vane’s voice boomed across the arena.

"THE QUARTERFINALS BEGIN! AZURE DRAGON SECT VERSUS WHITE TIGER SECT!"

The White Tiger delegation roared in response.

Tora stepped forward, her claws extending.

"Seraphina of the Azure Dragon," she called. "I hope you’re faster than your sister."

Seraphina’s eyes narrowed.

She stepped onto the arena floor.

The barrier rose behind her.

The White Tiger’s first fighter charged.

Seraphina met him with a dragon-wind parry that sent him skidding across the stone.

The crowd roared.

Damon watched from the dugout, his expression calm, his hand resting on the Chaos Devourer’s hilt.

The battle had begun.