Black Magic

Rise and Fall

Chapter 26: Rise and Fall

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The sun was beginning to set over the Training Fields, drawing shadows across the bleachers and setting the lake ablaze in a shimmering reflection of red and orange. On the other side of the arena, Kyungsoo was settled with his back to the West, his form hardly more than a dark silhouette in Chen's line of vision.

But Chen could still see enough of Kyungsoo's expression to know that the Earth Dragon wasn't planning to go easy on him in this fight.

A threatening smile curled the edges of Chen's lips; friends or not, he had no plans on going easy on Kyungsoo either.

The victor of this final battle would have to demonstrate to the entire Dragon Council that he deserved that title. The old men wanted a good fight... and Chen was prepared to give it to them.

The smile slipped off the his face as Kris raised his arm in preparation to strike the gong.

The Fire Dragon allowed himself one last deep breath, inhaling all of his insecurities, doubts, and fears.

This was it.

This was the opportunity he had been working toward, all this time.

The opportunity to remake himself.

Everything was about to change.

Chen exhaled, imagined that he was releasing every hateful remark, every draining emotion, every little thing that had held him back from recognizing his true potential.

He was letting go of it all. Forcing it from his system. He'd had enough, and he was no longer some weakling to be laughed at.

Not anymore.

He'd show them all--his mocking classmates, his scornful instructors-- just how much he'd improved. He'd show them what real power looked like.

Nobody could doubt him then. Nobody could call him a disgrace.

Chen's gaze slid to the side, eyes searching the bleachers for one specific figure. His father sat with the other Council members, back straight, gaze meeting Chen's head-on. It was the first time in months that his father had even acknowledged his existence.

But there was no pride in his father's eyes, no encouragement evident in his harsh features. The older man's mouth was still pinched into a frown, his judgement very clear. The Final Round of the EXO tryouts had yet to begin, and Chen's father was already writing him off as a failure.

Chen handled the situation in a mature fashion, dipping his head in deference to his father, and then slowly raising one hand into the air, middle finger extended.

The old man's eyes widened a fraction, and then he was lunging from his seat, face turning an ugly shade of purple. Heads turned as people made the connection, glancing back and forth between the Councilman and the Fire Dragon on the field.

His father looked like he wanted to throttle him, no matter the audience, but Chen was already turning away, eyes back on his opponent, an immense sense of satisfaction rolling through his entire system.

You are nothing to me, Father. Chen wanted to say. And you can't hurt me anymore...

The sound of the gong vibrated through the air, drowning out the rising voices from all around, and Chen leapt forward, feeling weightless.

--~~--

Yixing placed a gentle hand on Chanyeol's shoulder, trying not to startle him. The Fire Dragon was still draped over Baekhyun's immobile form, pinning the smaller male to the infirmary bed.