CHAPTER 67: THE CLAN SUPREME

Flashback — Five Days AgoThe Snow Women Clan Base

Snowfall drifted gently outside the frosted glass panels of the dojo as the cold morning wind howled across the isolated cliffs. Inside, the air was still, silent but heavy with discipline. The wide training hall was lined with white pillars and intricate carvings of lotus and cranes — symbols of grace and silent strength.

In the center of the polished floor, Sayaka Nozomi moved with calculated precision. Her breath was calm, her form fluid, like water gliding over frozen earth.

She was practicing a technique — not flashy, not violent — but surgical.

A subtle step forward.A low, sweeping kick that flowed seamlessly into a pivot.An elbow strike angled just below where a jaw would be.Followed by a high arc of the hand, stopping inches before where a temple might lie.Each move — exact. No excess. No hesitation.

She reset.

Then repeated. Over. And over. And over again.

From the edge of the hall, Lady Yurei, the Clan Supreme, watched in silence. Draped in a soft snow-gray kimono with silver trims, her eyes reflected the quiet sorrow of one who had seen too much war, and too few smiles.

After the eighth cycle, she finally spoke.

"...It’s good enough, Sayaka. The move is accurate. No flaws."

Sayaka did not look up. She remained in position, body lightly bent, arm mid-form. Her voice was even, distant.

"Master, it still needs polishing."

Lady Yurei’s expression softened — a rare flicker of something warm.

"Don’t be so hard on yourself, child. I know you want us to win the succession contest this time as well... But don’t lose yourself in trying to achieve it."

Sayaka slowly lowered her arms, straightening, but still not meeting Yurei’s gaze.

"Master," she said, "I was an orphan... surviving on the streets of Kiryuu Province, stealing rice and sleeping under vendor carts. You saved me. You brought me here. The clan gave me food... warmth... purpose. I must return it all with sincerity."

Yurei took a quiet step forward. Her slippers made no sound on the wood.

"You are free to live here. You owe us nothing now, Sayaka. Nothing. You have already given the clan so much — discipline, victories, respect. You’ve never lost a duel. You’ve become our strongest disciple."

Sayaka blinked once. No pride. No joy. Only duty reflected in her cold, storm-gray eyes.

"Still, Master... I promise to perform well in the contest. I ask your permission to resume my practice."

Yurei looked at her for a long moment, exhaling gently. The silence that followed was heavier than any storm.

"Go ahead, dear. Just..." Her voice trailed, almost a whisper. "Just don’t be so hard on yourself."

Sayaka bowed, deeply.

Then, without a word, resumed her movements. The same cycle. The same rhythm. Cold. Precise. Relentless.

Yurei watched, unmoving, her hands folded in front of her.

"This girl... she’s forgotten how to feel. She’s lost all her colours... Did I make a mistake bringing her into the martial world?"

The snow outside continued to fall. Quiet. Unfeeling. Endless.Just like her.

Present — The Arena,

The crowd roared as the host’s voice echoed across the mountain-ringed arena, energy pulsing through every seat.

Cheers turned into excited whispers:

"I heard Sayaka has never lost a match in her clan’s inner circle..."

"She’s Lady Yurei’s personal disciple."

"That boy better be careful. She’s no ordinary fighter."

Down in the arena, Miles stood calmly, hands loose at his sides, watching Sayaka with an easy focus. Sayaka, on the other hand, was emotionless as ever — her eyes locked onto her opponent, unreadable.

The host raised his hand.

"Let the final battle... begin!"

In a flash, Sayaka shot forward — her movements sharp, direct, efficient. A low kick, a high elbow, a sharp jab. Miles dodged each one with the grace of someone who had studied battle not in books, but on bloodied soil.

Sayaka’s eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, she increased her speed.

Her strikes came in faster now — combinations designed to break through blocks and shatter defenses. Miles tilted his body back, letting a punch graze past his nose, then stepped sideways, dodging a sweep with the elegance of a falling leaf.

The crowd leaned forward.

"He’s only dodging."

"Is he underestimating her?"

From his corner, Miles smiled slightly. "It’s time to be serious then," he murmured.

Suddenly, he shifted.

No longer just dodging — he began intercepting. A block here. A counter-step there. Sayaka’s fist flew toward his chest — caught. Her knee came up — deflected. Her arm swung in a roundhouse chop — parried with a flick of his wrist.

Sayaka flipped back, landing in a low stance. Her eyes flicked, calculating.

And then — her body surged with a new motion.

She stepped in with a diagonal turn, twisted her shoulder and hip into the motion, and unleashed her newly learned move: a seamless blend of grace and velocity, her foot carving through the air like a blade of wind compressed into a strike.

Miles’s eyes widened — he recognized the form.

His body reacted just in time.

He pivoted, preparing to dodge — and managed to slip past the center of the attack, but not entirely. The shockwave of her momentum blasted past him. He slid backward, boots dragging against the stone floor, his jacket fluttering from the force.

Gasps echoed in the arena.

"He moved!"

"No one’s ever dodged that move!"

"He still slid back! She almost had him!"

In the family seats, Daniel tensed. Elena’s hand gripped the edge of her seat. Hope and Asher were wide-eyed.

Miles grinned, brushing dust off his sleeve. "You’re good. You’ve earned my respect." He rolled his shoulder. "But even in the most polished techniques... there are always limitations."

He inhaled.

And then vanished.

Sayaka’s breath caught.

To her eyes — Miles was gone.

No energy. No sound. Only the faint displacement of air. She spun around, tracking his movement, but saw nothing. Her pupils contracted, instincts firing.

Behind.

She turned and executed her special sweeping arc — a mix of predictive footwork and keen reflexes — releasing a blast of air and dust from the force of her strike.

The ground cracked.

Dust exploded into the air.

For a moment, the arena was blind.

Silence.

The dust slowly began to clear.

And when it did—

Miles stood behind Sayaka, calm and composed, one palm held open and resting mere inches from her neck. Not touching. Just... there.

Sayaka’s body tensed.

Her head turned slowly toward him, still expressionless.

"I lose," she said.

The crowd was silent for a heartbeat.

Then—

Thunderous applause. Cheers erupted like waves.

The host shouted into the microphone, barely heard over the excitement:

"AND THE WINNER OF THE SUCCESSION CONTEST IS — MILES, REPRESENTING THE PHOENIX CLAN!"

Sayaka stood quietly in the center of the arena, her shoulders trembling. The crowd’s cheers seemed distant to her ears. She bowed respectfully toward the elders and then toward Miles. The faintest shimmer traced her cheek as a single tear dropped to the ground. Without a word, she turned and walked slowly off the stage.

Waiting near the steps, Lady Yurei descended gracefully. As Sayaka reached her, the girl’s composure broke.

"I disappointed you, master..." Sayaka whispered through soft sobs.

Yurei pulled her into a warm embrace, her hand gently cradling the back of Sayaka’s head. "No," she said softly, with a strength only a true master possessed. "You did well, my child. You did incredibly well."

Sayaka shook her head, wiping her tears against Yurei’s shoulder. "But I lost... I couldn’t protect our title..."

"Defeat," Yurei murmured, "is life’s sharpest teacher. You gave your all with honor. What more could I ask for? We will train harder, polish more, and return stronger. We are warriors. We do not give up."

Sayaka wiped her eyes, her voice steadier now. "I promise, next time... I won’t disappoint you."

Yurei smiled gently. "I never was disappointed in you, Sayaka. Now, come... take your seat."

As Sayaka walked back toward her clan’s delegation, Miles stood at a distance watching her. Their eyes never met, but Lady Yurei looked over from her place beside Sayaka and gave him a gentle bow with a kind smile—an unspoken gesture of respect between masters. Miles returned it with a composed nod of his own.

The host’s voice rang out across the arena:

"With this, the Phoenix Clan reclaims the title of Clan Supreme after five long years! The mantle passes once more! Congratulations to their challenger, Miles, and to Clan Leader Clarissa!"

Applause erupted from the arena. Cheers echoed from all corners — celebratory banners waved, and disciples of the Phoenix Clan stood and roared with pride.

In the audience, Elena clapped, her eyes shimmering with proud tears. Daniel gave a quiet, proud nod to himself. Hope was practically bouncing in her seat, and Asher shot to his feet with both fists in the air.

"Big brooo is the bestttt!" Asher shouted.

"He won! He really won!" Hope squealed, pulling her mother’s arm with excitement.

Elena laughed, brushing her daughter’s hair gently. "Yes... yes, he did."

Clarissa, standing just at the edge of the main platform, couldn’t hide her smile. Her usual calm expression softened, and for a rare moment, her pride in Miles was unguarded. As he stepped off the arena floor, she walked toward him, her steps light.

"You did it," she said.

Miles chuckled. "I said I would."

Clarissa shook her head, amused. "You’re impossible."

From the elders’ section, murmurs circled.

One elder leaned in and whispered, "This boy... he’s something else entirely."

Another nodded. "We must not let him go. The future of the Phoenix Clan is standing right there."

A third added, "Clarissa made the right choice. We’d be fools not to recognize what we have."

As the sun dipped low behind the mountain peaks, casting long golden beams across the arena, a light breeze swept through the stands. The celebration continued—music began to play, petals were thrown into the air, and disciples formed lines to offer their respect.

In the midst of it all stood Miles — not just as a warrior, but as a symbol of something new. A bridge between worlds. A future waiting to unfold.

The courtyard of the Phoenix Clan glowed under the warm amber hue of twilight as the Succession Ceremony reached its final moment. The drums quieted. The crowd stood in silence, and all eyes turned to the raised platform where Miles stood beside Clarissa.

Miles looked out at the gathered elders, disciples, and guests before turning toward her. His voice rang clear, confident, and full of honor.

"I, Miles Sterling, acting as the victorious challenger in the Clan Supreme Contest, declare Clarissa, daughter of the Phoenix Clan, as our new Clan Supreme. May she lead with wisdom, fire, and strength."

A respectful wave of murmurs spread across the platform.

From the Snow Women Clan delegation, Lady Yurei stepped forward, her expression calm and dignified. In her hands, she held a folded ceremonial robe — deep crimson with threads of gold shaped like flames curling at the edges. As she approached Clarissa, she gave a nod of approval.

"You’ve earned this," she said softly, then draped the robe over Clarissa’s shoulders with care. The fabric shimmered as it caught the sunlight.

Clarissa bowed respectfully, both to Lady Yurei and the elders.

The crowd erupted into applause, petals rained down from above, and the Phoenix Clan disciples knelt in respect to their new leader.

After the ceremony, Miles made his way back to the waiting area where his family had gathered.

Elena stood first, her face glowing with relief and joy. She wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug."You did it, my son," she whispered, brushing a tear from her eye. "I worried for nothing."

Daniel placed a firm hand on Miles’s shoulder. "You fought with grace and honor. I’m proud of you, son."

Hope and Asher bounced up beside him, nearly bursting with excitement."This is the BEST vacation ever!" Hope squealed."Thanks, big brooo!" Asher added, throwing a playful punch at his side.

Miles laughed. "The vacation’s not over yet. We’re staying a few more days, remember?"

Just then, Clarissa stepped into the room, now adorned in her formal Clan Supreme robes — though her smile still carried the familiar mischief."But before that," she said, clapping her hands together, "who’s ready for a celebration tonight? We’re hosting a huge barbecue party on the southern terrace. Who wants to join?"

Hope and Asher’s eyes widened with pure delight."Big Sister Clarissa, congratulations!" they said together, practically glowing.

Clarissa smiled and ruffled their hair. "Thank you, little ones."

Miles crossed his arms, pretending to be serious. "Wow, look at that — the Clan Supreme herself is personally inviting us."Elena chuckled behind him, shaking her head fondly.

Clarissa narrowed her eyes playfully. "You’re not coming, Champion?"

Miles raised a brow with a grin. "Oh, I’m coming. I wouldn’t miss barbecue for anything."

The room erupted into shared laughter, and the warm spirit of family and joy filled the air.

That evening, the celebration truly began. The southern terrace overlooked the glowing valley, lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. Grills lined the open stone floor, sizzling with skewers of meats, vegetables, and seafood. The aroma of spices, herbs, and grilled goodness filled the air.

Clan members toasted to Miles and Clarissa, music played, and laughter echoed into the stars.

Miles stood surrounded by disciples and elders who offered their praise.He smiled — not just because of victory, but because his family was safe, happy, and with him in a place he once thought he’d never belong.

The celebration continued deep into the night.