Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Confrontation of Blood
In the days following Dragon's defection, the tension within the Marine Headquarters became palpable. The elder Vice Admiral found himself caught between two worlds: one built on the honor of duty, and another pulsing with the revolutionary fervor of his brother's ideals. The once inseparable bond was now a battleground of conflicting loyalties. Each passing day deepened the divide, and whispers of an inevitable confrontation grew louder with every strategic meeting and silent glance exchanged among the officers.
A fateful day arrived when Dragon, emboldened by his newfound supporters, openly challenged the established order. The two brothers met on a secluded training field—a place once filled with youthful laughter and shared dreams. Now, under a sky heavy with foreboding clouds, the air was thick with anticipation. The elder's eyes, reflecting both resolve and sorrow, met Dragon's fiery gaze. They exchanged no pleasantries; every word that followed was a clash of principles.
"I have sworn to protect order and the values that have defined our family for generations," the elder declared, his voice firm yet laced with the pain of betrayal. Dragon retorted with equal fervor, "And I have chosen to fight for a future where the people are not shackled by outdated codes!" The verbal sparring quickly escalated into a physical demonstration—a carefully measured bout rather than a frenzied brawl, as both men sought to express their convictions without completely severing the bond that still tethered them. Each maneuver, every calculated strike, was imbued with the weight of shared memories and the agony of divergence.
Their confrontation was not about victory or defeat—it was a crucible in which the true nature of their ideals was tested. Spectators, hidden in the shadows, witnessed a duel that was as much a battle of the heart as it was of skill. With every exchanged move, the elder hoped to rekindle the brother he once knew, while Dragon's every counter was a testament to the resolve of a man who believed the system was broken beyond repair. In the end, as the duel subsided into exhausted silence, neither emerged as the clear victor. The confrontation left both men bruised, not only in body but in spirit, as they confronted the painful reality that some wounds might never fully heal.