Crusher charged into Yerin like a bull. She released her technique into him from close range, a deadly sword of madra that lanced all the way across the arena, carving up the ground and shattering the red blades that filled the battleground. The point of the technique shattered a crater in the wall, revealing the humming purple wall of the barrier beyond.
Half of Crusher’s ribs had been carved out by the Forger technique, but he had accepted that hit.
His claws raked at Yerin.
Her sword chimed, and invisible sword aura deflected Crusher’s claws. Shoumei was surprised that Yerin was able to use another technique so quickly after such a massive blast, but mild surprise was all it was.
While his slash was deflected, Crusher punched Yerin with the other hand.
This time, Yerin went flying.
Crusher was on her in an instant, and while she struggled for another few seconds, Yan Shoumei returned her attention to the Blood Shadow at her feet.
The body no longer resembled Yerin, but rather a mass of wriggling madra. As Shoumei continued pouring needles from her hand, the Blood Shadow could finally hold on no longer. It flowed back in Yerin’s direction.
Until the arena rang with another blow from Crusher, and the Ninecloud Soul’s voice echoed through their cave: “Victory! Yan Shoumei, chosen of Reigan Shen, has defeated Yerin Arelius!”
Shoumei waited to be transported away.
She had won easily, but that was how she always won these days. If she was ever forced to really exert herself, that would mean Crusher had been defeated.
Most importantly, she had won without revealing the Archlord weapon in her soulspace. After she’d been forced to reveal Crusher to get into the Uncrowned, that weapon was now her one remaining hidden card.
In the finals, it would give Sophara a surprise.
Back in the waiting room, Yerin’s Blood Shadow shouted at her.
“That’s the power we could have, that’s the power we should have, if your spine didn’t shake when you looked at me!” The Shadow’s voice grew more hoarse and harsh by the word.
“Then stay on your leash,” Yerin spat. “Her dog doesn’t bite back.”
Yerin’s anger was more than a match for the Shadow’s, because hers was born from the fear that filled every inch of her spirit. One more loss. That was what stood between her and the death of everyone she cared about. One more mistake.
They had prepared against Yan Shoumei, based on the records of the previous rounds, but information on her Blood Shadow was sketchy at best. They had trained against Shoumei’s techniques, taken her Iron body into account, and speculated on the sorts of prizes she might have gotten in the last round.
Those prizes would be publicly announced…eventually. After the round was over.
Something to strengthen Shoumei’s Iron body wasn’t out of their expectations, but Crusher’s power was wildly beyond their highest estimates.
Then again, they knew almost nothing about Shoumei’s Blood Shadow. They had only discovered its name thanks to Charity’s investigation.
The Winter Sage had trained against Yerin and her Blood Shadow, adjusting her strength to the greatest level they estimated Shoumei’s Shadow could reach. By pouring madra into her Steelborn Iron body, Yerin could keep up.
Then, in the actual battle, she had only blocked one attack with the full strength she could muster. Just one.
Yerin had no idea how Shoumei was keeping such a beast from hollowing her out, but she had to assume the Blood Sage was involved.
Charity cut off their argument by speaking from the shadows of the waiting room. “We don’t have time for unproductive discussions. You will coordinate to kill Yan Shoumei before her Shadow kills you both, or you will lose.”
Killing Yan Shoumei quickly was easier said than done. All her techniques and abilities were designed to make that impossible.
And even with everything at stake, Yerin still couldn’t bring herself to back down before her Blood Shadow. She glared into a red-eyed mirror and neither retreated.
“I have a suggestion,” the Winter Sage said. “Burn it.”
Yerin and her clone both turned to her.
“We had discussed it for an emergency,” she said coolly. “This is an emergency. Burn the Shadow.”
There was a technique that Redmoon Hall could use that involved breaking down the Blood Shadow for power. It was more difficult the more complete the Shadow, as you had to overwhelm the Shadow’s will with your own, so it was most often done by those who kept their Blood Shadow in the form of a weapon.
But, using the dream tablets that Eithan had given her long ago, Yerin had pieced together how to do it. If she beat her Shadow in a head-to-head clash of wills, she could add its power to her own.
That would win them this fight, almost certainly.
But it would permanently weaken the Shadow. They would be giving up a weapon against Sophara in the finals.
Her Blood Shadow stalked closer to Min Shuei. “You have had your—”
“Silence,” the Winter Sage commanded.
The Shadow’s voice seized up, and she even stumbled in its step.
“I don’t need advice from parasites. Yerin, it’s win or die. And with the Shadow’s influence in your soul weakened, you will find it even easier to sense the Sword Icon.”
Yerin couldn’t rid herself of the Blood Shadow entirely this way, at least not without injuring herself. It could only be drained so far.
But she could weaken it. Change the power dynamic between them forever, so that Yerin was always the one in charge.
And it would win them this fight.
She walked up to the Shadow until they were almost nose-to-nose. She remembered all the times that it had tried to swallow her up. She still remembered the sticky, wet noise of her parents’ blood hitting the walls.
But it had been a long time since then.
She also remembered the spirit blindfolding itself and straining to reach the Sword Icon. Emerging from her spirit to save her from Meira’s scythe. Fighting by her side to save Lindon. Drawing power from Yerin’s life and spirit…only to leave her alive when it could have killed her. Slipping out of her spirit in the middle of the night to change a wounded animal’s bandages.
When was the last time the Shadow had really tried to take over?
“Let her go,” Yerin said quietly.
An imperceptible force disappeared from around the Shadow’s throat, but the spirit still didn’t speak, watching Yerin in silence.
Yerin looked into red eyes. “You need a name.”
The Winter Sage protested, but Charity held her back. “Coordination would be easier if they worked together.”
Min Shuei glowered but didn’t object any further.
“Can’t name myself,” the Shadow responded, but Yerin felt a wary hope from her.
“Hourglass is running down,” Yerin warned. The first named spirit she thought of was Little Blue, so she threw out a suggestion. “Big Red.”
The Shadow flinched back.
Yerin didn’t appreciate the reaction. “Not your mother, am I? How about just plain ‘Red’?”
“Scarlet,” Charity suggested.
“Blood Yerin,” the Winter Sage put in. “You could call her ‘Blerin.’”
Everyone stared at her.
“You think I care what you name it?” She muttered. “Nobody names their tapeworm.”
Yerin couldn’t stand to waste another second. “We could list out red things all day. Let’s pick something and be done.”
“Ruby,” Charity said.
The Shadow nodded slowly. “Ruby. Yes.”
“That’s the one you like?” Yerin had just sworn not to spend any more time on the Shadow’s name, but she couldn’t believe it. It sounded too…frilly, like it was the name for some little girl’s doll.
“Rubies are worth a pile of gold, and people can’t get enough of them, and they’re nice to look at. I like Ruby.”