Reincarnated with a lucky draw system - Chapter 293

Chapter 293: SPAR AGAINST DRACULA II
“I’m not overestimating him. Just saying,” Aaron replied, his eyes locked steadily on Dracula across the vast arena. The words hung in the air, laced with a casual confidence that masked his inner calculations, the distant murmurs of the crowd fading into a low hum behind him.

Dracula stared back at Aaron, his piercing gaze seeming to pierce through the layers of Aaron’s thoughts. He could sense the swirling mix of assurance and strategy brewing in his great grandson’s mind, the subtle shifts in posture and expression revealing more than words ever could.

But he refrained from saying anything, his lips remaining a thin, impassive line. The potential outcomes branched clearly in his ancient thoughts: either Aaron’s confidence would prove justified, allowing him to secure victory while deliberately holding back his full might, or his overconfidence would lead to a humbling defeat, imparting a crucial lesson in tempering one’s ego and keeping arrogance firmly in check.

Astral materialized within the center of the arena with a soft, ethereal glow, his form shimmering like stardust coalescing into shape. He assumed the role of referee for the spar, his presence a neutral anchor amid the charged atmosphere, his robes flowing gently as if stirred by an unseen cosmic breeze.

“Begin,” Astral announced, his voice clear and resonant, cutting through the tension like a blade. The single word echoed across the amphitheater, signaling the official start of the battle, igniting a wave of hushed excitement among the spectators.

Aaron stared intently at Dracula, his body language relaxed as he stretched his limbs with deliberate slowness. He rolled his shoulders and flexed his fingers, adopting a casual stance that invited his grandfather to seize the initiative, the faint starlight glinting off his form in the expansive void.

Boom!

Aaron was hurled backward through the air before he could even process the blur of motion, his body slamming into the invisible space barrier with a resounding thud that vibrated through the stands. The impact jarred his bones, sending a shockwave of force rippling across the protective field.

Aaron pushed himself up from the ground, a serious expression now hardening his features, replacing the earlier nonchalance. He rubbed his side briefly, realizing he hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Dracula’s movement amid his momentary lapse in concentration, the speed leaving him momentarily stunned.

“You should take this spar seriously. I’m not like the others you’ve battled before. I was once at the sovereign rank, with my power tempered to its very limits. And now, I’m regaining my strength and consolidating my foundation to even greater heights once more, after having so many years in comatose to reflect on ways to elevate it further,” Dracula said to Aaron, advancing slowly toward him. His long robe billowed gently from a faint, ethereal gust of wind that seemed to follow him, adding an aura of timeless menace to his deliberate steps.

“If you won’t take this seriously, it might as well be the worst battle I have fought in a long time,” Dracula called out, his voice carrying a subtle edge of disappointment that echoed across the arena, challenging Aaron to rise to the occasion.

Aaron rose steadily to his feet, a determined smile creeping across his face despite the lingering ache from the hit. He dusted off his clothes casually, his eyes narrowing with renewed focus, the thrill of the challenge igniting a spark within him.

“Scratch that about holding back. I have to make use of all I can if I’m to defeat this monster,” Aaron thought with a inward smile, his gaze fixed on Dracula’s approaching figure. The realization settled over him like a cloak, sharpening his senses.

He felt a true, primal hunger awakening deep inside, the exhilarating rush of engaging in a battle where the certainty of victory wasn’t so easily guaranteed. It stirred his blood, pumping adrenaline through his veins like wildfire, reminding him of the raw joy of true combat.

Aaron slowly began to transform partially into his werewolf form, channeling the change to boost his physical strength. The shift started subtly, power surging through his frame as fur began to emerge, his body adapting with a low, guttural growl.

His irises ignited with a brilliant golden hue, radiating an intense, feral light. White fur spread across his skin like a blanket of snow, his muscles expanding in mass and density, becoming taut and firm, while his overall size grew, towering with an imposing, beastly presence that filled the arena with tension.

“Transforming into a werewolf while battling me is the worst thing you can do,” Dracula educated calmly, his eyes flaring with a deep, ominous red glow that pierced the dim surroundings like blood moons.

“Huh?” Aaron muttered in genuine confusion, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his features. For some inexplicable reason, a chill of fear crept up his spine, cold and insistent, gripping his instincts.

No, that wasn’t his own personal fear rising up, but rather an inherited dread stemming from his werewolf variant, buried deep within his bloodline like an ancient warning echoing from forgotten ancestors.

Aaron could distinctly feel the terrifying bloodlust emanating from Dracula, a thick, oppressive wave that saturated the air around them. It was palpable, like a predator’s hunger made manifest, sending subtle tremors through his enhanced senses.

“You should know the reason werewolves can no longer be found in this universe is a result of my actions,” Dracula enlightened Aaron further, his form blurring as he appeared before him in an instant, closing the distance with supernatural swiftness that defied perception.

Aaron reacted instinctively, raising his claws in a swift arc to strike at Dracula. The razor-sharp tips gleamed under the starlight, slashing through the air with ferocious speed and power, aimed to rend flesh and bone.

But his claws were effortlessly dodged by Dracula, who shifted with graceful precision, evading the attack as if it moved in slow motion, his movements a testament to centuries of refined combat mastery.

“Urgh!” Aaron groaned sharply, pain exploding in his leg as he dropped to his knees with a heavy impact. The ground trembled slightly beneath him, the force of his fall sending faint cracks spiderwebbing across the earthen platform.