As Kai watched the scene unfolding below, a slow smile started creeping across his face as his curiosity rose.

Standing against six foes, all seemingly better than him due to his mixed race bloodline, Kaida stood motionless with his hands at his sides, glaring at the young drakes in front of him without fear or hesitation. "Are you going to act or talk me to death like a bunch of old women?"

The first youth, a tall, brown-haired male with slight acne, shook his head as he released a mocking smile. "Always full of undeserved pride. Do you think today is like before?"

His voice lowered so that none but those close by could hear. "Your old man has pissed off the Clan Master. Its only fitting that his runt of a child pays for his failures. I would ask you to put up a good fight, but then again, that old fool fell in love with a human, so it seems like even your drake genes are retarded making it impossible."

Turmoil momentarily appeared in Kaida's eyes, before being repressed and releasing a snort. "Pathetic. It's not like I haven't kicked your arse before? Or are you trying to say that-"

Kadia stopped, not wanting to get into a battle of words. He knew that while injuries were permitted, with his current status, there were certain things he could not say without getting into serious trouble.

On a balcony a hundred or so feet away, Elder Han had been nervously fiddling with a small stone in his pocket, sending a message via telepathy before releasing a sigh. -"The old Clan Master would never have behaved like this but, what can this old man do? I have to rely on the recklessness and ideals of youth while repressed by my own status and prestige. I just hope she can get here before things get too serious."

Just as the brown-haired drake was about to respond, anger visible on his features due to the insult, Kiada shot forward and swiftly, kicked his knee before using his palm to slap the side of his head.

"What the hell are you doing?" screamed one of the drakes in surprise.

"Sneak attacking your own clan member, do you have any honour?" bellowed another as the drakes rapidly separated and attempted to surrounded Kaida.

"This battle was never fair, to begin with. You have your bloodline, numbers and abilities as an advantage. I bet you guys didn't even consider only fighting in your human forms and are going to try and stomp me as a drake?"

"Only an idiot would limit themselves when faced with such an unfair advantage," screamed Kaida in a slightly high pitched tone as he slammed his foot on the ground, kicking up a tremendous amount of dust which limited the visibility of those surrounding him.

"Do drakes often fight in thunders? Or is this battle special?" asked Kai, his impression of Kaida rasing almost as fast as it was falling for those he fought.

"Thunders?" Elder Han shook violently, his face turning pale as he turned to look at Kai, almost forgetting his son was fighting below. "How do you know this term?"

When one reached a certain rank in the Clan, they were taken to the ancestral library where they would learn about the clan's legacy.

A few, like Han, had the patience to read back as far as the purging. A time where the mortal species, along with the gods united to eliminate an ancient evil race. One that had lorded over the worlds and enslaved countless species.

While other monster and mortals had long since forgotten or considered the records of little importance, due to the close ties the drakes had with the ancient evil, they continued to keep the records in good condition.

The name of the species the ancient evils belonged too had long since been lost, having been purged from their archives by some of the bigger sects, yet, specific information had survived.

A group of drakes was called a flock, a group of ancient evils was called a thunder.

This was because it was said that the beating of their wings, was akin to the sound of thunder, causing raging winds to howl.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

-"Did the young Lord mistake us for the ancient evils? Or was he implying that we were behaving as such?"

Kai didn't notice Hans strangeness as he watched the battle below.

The drakes were attempting to remove their robes, so they could transform into the natural form without ruining their expensive clothes, but Kaida wouldn't let them.

He rushed towards each one fainting out his opponents while releasing a brutal barrage of fists and kicks, the skills being displayed reminding Kai slightly of the man he had met in the frozen forest.

-"Wasn't his name Ban Tai?... Tai Ban?" Kai frowned a moment before pushing the random thought out of his mind. He was sure if he were unlucky to meet the man again, remembering the name would be the least of his worries.

However, at the same time, Han's appearance was gradually getting worse as he started to remember the long forgotten, seemingly useless information.

- "Black scales."

His heartbeat quickened and his hands became clammy. They had thought that Kai was a variant drake, his mother mating with another species with powerful bloodline but now doubt sprouted in the Elder's mind.

-"Long neck, spikes running down the back of the spin and limbs..."

The drawings from eyewitnesses that had been around when Kai had arrived appeared in his mind's eye.

-"But the eyes... they should be red? Then it shouldn't-"

The elder's thoughts stopped as he remembered that there wasn't just one kind of ancient evil. There were many, and while the records only mentioned a few in passing, there was one type born of lightning that had otherworldly, golden eyes. One that was said to have been a staunch ally of those with black scales."

-"Just like..."

Han moved slightly to the right, a sweat appearing on his brow as he looked at the right eye of Kai, the only one that was visible due to his position.

A pure golden eye, almost glowing, intently watching the fight below.

A loud explosion below broke the Elder from his thoughts and glanced at the arena only to freeze again.

He had completely forgotten about Kaida in his shock and only now, watching him trying to pick himself up from a significant dent in the stone wall, did he remember he had more than one worry.

On one side, he potentially had an ancient evil, a being that his clan had rebelled against which would undoubtedly hold a deep hatred for his kind. On the other, if he didn't oversee the fight carfully, so he could interrupt if things got too dangerous, his child could become disabled.

Kai, on the other hand, was not impressed, releasing a small growl as he fumed. "What the hell was that? And they were talking about honour before. I didn't think much of drakes before, but this... this really is something."

Kai's complaints died as a cruel smile appeared on his lips. "Oh, this changes things~."

In the arena, Ron released a wicked smile as he dusted his foot. It seemed as if kicking Kaida has somehow made it dirty. "Brat of Han, you are getting too full of yourself."

Kaida, spitting out a mouthful of blood, steadily stood up, hatred appearing in his eyes. "A dog father really does have a dog son. Six on one is not enough of an advantage? You have to sneak attack me as well?"

"The fuck!" roared Ron as he tore off his robe, unlike the others who had now had a chance to remove them normally, "Big words for someone who is about to move to the infirmary."

Golden, blinding lights rippled out as the drakes, covering their naked, human figures, transformed into their natural forms.

When the light disappeared, seven red lizards, around the size of a pony, with thin necks and bat-like wings, seemingly too frail to actually fly appeared.

They looked somewhat similar to Kai's true body, yet they did not have any spikes or muscles that made him so impressive.

Kai let out a snort, disgust in his eyes. -"Indeed, a poor imitation at best."

"Let's see how you fair now," hissed a drake whos scales had a brown hue, seemingly the brown-haired youth from before.

The others joined in, mocking Kaida, wanting to vent their rage for being oppressed in their human forms yet, almost as soon as it started, it abruptly ended.

A loud thud, much louder than the sound when Kaida hit the wall, resonated from a corner of the arena as a dust cloud blew outwards, revealing a slim, black-haired figure, his golden eyes ablaze.

Ron's pupils shrunk.

He had been watching from the side, waiting for his father to talk to the guest and exempt him from the duel, but he was forced to act because Kaida was causing his clan to lose face. "This... this is clan business and has nothing to do with you."

He never expected, in a million years, that Kai would jump from such a height, into the arena.

Not only that, the way he was slowly marching forward as if an emperor going on a stroll, made it clear to all that he intended to interfere.

"Nothing to do with me?" Kai chuckled. "It's you who promised me a duel and then fled like a coward. Seeing as you are too scared to face me alone, and so that it cant be said that you are the strong that tramples the weak, let me join in."

A predatory smile appeared on Kai's face, small black scales slightly poking through his skin as faint, almost inaudible cracking noises could be heard.

Kai's had finally found an excuse to release some of his pent-up anger and rage, the fact that there were now seven opponents only made it better.

That was until he felt the now familiar sensation around his neck, reminding him that he was collared and couldn't release his true form.

A rumbling growl, so powerful it caused rippled to appear on the sand around him, resonated from Kai as his pupils contracted.