“What the hell happened to you in that illusion that made you come out semi-decent?”

In all honesty when I was offered a few moments to speak with my ‘mother’ before the final, my immediate thoughts were to reject the proposal and ask to simply get on with the fight.

However, just as the word no was about to leave my mouth, a cold shiver was sent up my spine, and I snapped my head back to see Artemis staring right through me. So now here I was five minutes later in the empty waiting room, with my ‘mother’.

“How do you know I wasn’t hiding my strength before? I was a fighter you know.” I replied.

“Without a single win on your record, and you were there for like two weeks top so don’t give me that bullshit kid. What really happened.” She placed her hand on my shoulder oppressively.

“What really happened,” I smacked her hand away, “Is none of your fucking concern, do you understand? Don’t think that because I’m working for you means you have some kind of high position over me. I don’t owe you shit. So I’m going to fight, and I’m going to win, then I’m going to finish my half of the mission and get out of here.” I turned to walk away.

“You won against a couple of brats, and now you think you’re untouchable?” She grabbed my shoulder, jerking me backwards.

“I don’t know, let’s test it out.” I gripped my Weaver tight in my hands.

“Times up, you gotta get out there.” The referee walked in, he observed the situation for a second and a look of confusion appeared on his face. “Everything alright here?”

“All good, kid just doesn’t realize I’m worried about him.” Artemis laughed and smacked the back of my head.

My hands curled into tight fists, but I decided not to speak up.

“Let’s go.” I walked past the referee.

The stadium had been returned to its original state, now one singular ginormous battleground. The shocking aspect was that it had seemed to be almost brand new, not even a speck of dust could be found.

My opponent, the Silent Swordsman as people liked to call him, a tad bit cheesy if you ask me but whatever, was already meditating on the other end of the platform. I walked over, just to try to gauge the difference in our skill.

“You are weak and cowardly, but you’ve made it this far, so I will not treat you like the weakling that you are. You will die by my sword, you should feel honoured.” He spoke up before I was even a meter away from him.

I almost gagged from the arrogance he exuded. Of course, he wasn’t all talk, considering his extensive track record so far, but there was a vast difference between being arrogant and confident. For some odd reason, I thought maybe he wouldn’t let the fame get to his head, and maybe he’d be a normal guy. I could not have been more wrong.

“Don’t count me out of the fight so early.” I turned to walk back to my side, pausing for a moment. “What do you mean cowardly?”

“A warrior who dodges and rolls on the ground like a mutt, if that is not a coward then what is.”

I wanted to punch him in the face more than anything, but unfortunately I maintained my composure.

‘Well, what do you think? Can I win?’ I asked Hadeon upon arriving back at my side of the platform.

‘Maybe if he was seriously injured or brain-dead. You’d probably have to die trying to win against him.’ Hadeon replied, not even a hint of emotion behind his words.

‘That was unsurprisingly helpful in no way. Infra what about you, you think I can do this.’

‘A petty robot and a pessimistic cat-knight. What more could a man ask for.’

I sat down cross-legged, meditating. I’d already broken through to high-order of the Macin stage unknowingly after the three fights, but the change wasn’t as noticeable as I hoped. My recovery speed had improved a bit and my Tecz reserve had expanded, but my battle prowess was barely a smidge better. The worst part of it all was that the second stage wasn’t even close to visible, meaning I’d have to take the main exams for the Academy at the first stage.

And though seeing everyone's minor stages throughout the tournament was roughly the same as me or a bit higher, I had some hope that second stages weren’t the norm for the younger generation. But you’d never know when a freak comes along and ruins all your plans.

“You understand the rules?”

I opened my eyes and saw the referee staring at me with a concerned expression. I nodded my head.

“Good, cause I really didn’t want to waste any more time explaining. Hey you know if you ever feel like you’re about to lose, or you know, die, you can always give up. Just so you know.” He stammered, staring at my opponent.

It was odd to hear the concern in his voice compared to his smiling expression from earlier, but remembering his line on betting, I assumed he’d changed his bets last second after some idiot convinced him to. I nodded my head once more but said nothing.

He stayed staring for a few moments before walking to the middle of the stadium. We both stood up at the same time, and waited for the referee's signal. The crowds went silent, and not even the slightest movement was made. Finally, the referee raised his hands and dropped them in one fluid movement, and we were off.

The most important fight for me so far has begun, and I will win it.

We dashed forward simultaneously, neither using our aura—for different reasons. He likely believed he wouldn’t need it, while I wanted to feel out his strength first. The clash was immediate and intense. Our weapons slammed together in a violent stalemate, the force of the collision ringing through my bones. We leaped back in unison. A grin spread across my face, while frustration darkened his.

He adjusted his stance, gripping his sword with both hands. A deep breath escaped him, and he swung down, but instead of the impact I expected, there was only air. Lowering my guard, confusion tightened in my chest. What was the point of that swing?

“Don’t tell me you thought I could hit you from this far away?” His smug smile twisted my insides.

“Then why—”

“But I can from here.”

His voice came from beside me. My arm shot up instinctively, just in time to block the incoming strike. The force sent me skidding across the ground, my feet digging in to stop the momentum, but the throbbing pain in my arm was undeniable. I gritted my teeth, exhaling sharply as I clutched my arm, feeling the tissue and muscles being knit back together. He’d disappeared again, leaving only silence behind.

My eyes darted around, scanning the platform, straining for any sign of movement. My heart pounded in my chest. Where was he? A breath, a step, a vibration, anything to give him away.

His voice cut through the stillness. “I had no plans to mess around at first. When you blocked my strike, I considered taking you seriously. But seeing you now, I’m thoroughly disappointed. Let’s finish this quickly.”

I barely had time to react.

‘Now.’

His sword tip darted toward my spine. I dropped to the ground, kicking out with both legs. He deflected easily, switching his sword hand without breaking a sweat. I spun on the floor, sweeping my leg, launching upward with a kick that connected. He stumbled back, his balance slightly off, but still standing. I surged forward, refusing to let up. My Weaver burned with aura, the Tecz adding to its rising power, coursing through it like a raging river. Everything in me screamed to finish this now, before he regained control.

Our blades met again, but this time, mine carried more weight. I pressed down with every ounce of strength I had, my blade inching toward his neck.

“Concede!” I shouted, my voice raw.

“Never!” he roared back, his face contorting as he pushed against me.

“Good,” I whispered, letting go and stepping back.

He stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden release of pressure. I seized the moment, swinging my Weaver with all the force I could muster into his abdomen. His bones crunched beneath the blow, and he was sent flying across the platform.

“You’re already out of strength? We’ve exchanged what, five blows?” I taunted, retracting my aura from my weapon. But as he rose, something shifted. The arrogance was gone, replaced by a calm that churned my stomach.

He rose from the ground slowly, wiping the dirt and debris off of himself. His gaze had softened, and a strange presence wrapped itself around him. It was as if one blow had completely changed him. It was inconceivable.

“You’re right. I apologize. I don’t usually talk this much during a fight. Now then, allow me to show what true power is” His voice was eerily steady. His aura exploded into life, a dark, foreboding red cloud swirling around him. My breath caught as he toyed with his sword, twirling it casually.

I raised my Weaver in front of me, every muscle tensed, preparing for another sudden attack. But he didn’t strike. He walked. Slow, deliberate steps. The distance between us shrank, and dread pooled in my gut. My body screamed at me to move, to do something, but I was frozen.

He stopped, only a sword’s length away, lifting his blade to point it at me. His eyes closed, a moment of eerie silence passing before he flipped the sword.

I was hit by a spaceship.

Or something with that kind of power. My entire being, inside and out, was torn apart, shredded by invisible forces, only to be painfully stitched back together in seconds. My mind screamed in agony, but when I opened my eyes, I realized I hadn’t moved. Neither of us had. Yet, the weight of defeat hung heavy in the air, suffocating me.

“That was not an illusion,” he said quietly, “but the future. You will die, and you know it. Let me help you reach your end.”

His sword descended, and with it came a calamity so overwhelming, I felt my entire existence buckle. I fought to stay standing, my body trembling as my legs gave way, forcing me to my knees. Sweat poured from my skin, each breath laboured, desperate. I could feel it, the crushing realization that I was utterly outmatched.

‘What the hell do I do?’

‘You could give up,’ Hadeon’s voice suggested, maddeningly calm.

‘Be serious!’ I screamed in my head as my arm shook violently, the pain blurring my vision.

‘Fine,’ Hadeon sighed. ‘I’ll guide you. But the outcome is yours. I’m not wasting my energy.’

‘Just tell me!’ I could feel the darkness pressing in on my mind, dragging me under.

‘Let him break your arm.’

‘Let him break my what?!’

‘You don’t have the time to be bickering. Just do it.’

Fuck!

I let my Weaver drop, my heart pounding, and in one swift, desperate motion, I shoved my left arm into the path of his descending blade. The impact was immediate—white-hot pain seared through my shoulder as the bone tore free from its joint. It wasn’t life-threatening, but it was excruciating, and in the heat of battle, it was the last thing I needed.

Every nerve in my body screamed in agony, but my plan had worked. The unexpected action left him momentarily confused, and that brief moment was all I needed. With a sharp intake of breath, I dodged backward, gaining precious distance.

I clenched my teeth, my mind racing.

Think, think, think.

I had heard about this once before, but never thought I’d end up in a situation where I’d have to try it out. Curling my right arm tightly around my dislocated left, I inhaled deeply, my chest rising as I braced myself for what was to come. With a sharp exhale, I forced my arm back into its socket. The pain was unbearable, blinding, but I felt the bone shift, the joint clicking back into place. I swung my arm a few times, testing it. It worked, albeit shakily, but at least I wasn’t crippled. Relief flooded through me, though it was short-lived.

‘What now?’ I thought, watching as my opponent resumed his ominous march forward, his calm, unrelenting presence gnawing at my nerves.

‘Dash to his left, and roll right,’ Hadeon’s voice echoed in my mind, steady and sure.

I nodded, trusting the instinct that wasn’t entirely mine. With a burst of speed, I lunged forward, my body leaning slightly askew from his path, moving faster than I thought I could. My heart pounded, my legs burning with the effort.

Once I had gained enough distance, I rolled hard to the right, my shoulder slamming into the ground with a thud that reverberated through my entire body. The earth beneath me cracked, but I couldn’t afford to stop. I forced myself up, my vision swimming, dust and debris flying around me.

‘Don’t lose momentum. Get up there, high and fast.’

I didn’t hesitate. My legs coiled beneath me like springs, and I launched myself upward with everything I had. The air rushed past me, cold and sharp, as I shot into the sky. My muscles burned, but the adrenaline coursing through me drowned out the pain. I spun in the air, the motion disorienting yet calculated, my Weaver leading the way like the tip of a drill.

‘Do that stupid spinning thing you did earlier, only harder. Break up the battlefield as much as you can.’

I wanted to argue, to protest the insanity of Hadeon’s plan. The force of hitting the ground at this speed, with that much momentum, would be devastating—to both of us. But I knew better than to resist. My grip on my Weaver tightened as I spun faster, the world around me becoming a dizzying blur. The ground rushed up to meet me, and just as I was about to make impact, I caught sight of my opponent watching—his eyes fixed on me, unblinking.

Too late.

The earth exploded beneath me with a deafening roar, as if a meteor had struck the battlefield. The ground cracked and shattered, sending jagged pieces of debris flying in every direction. Dust clouds erupted, swallowing the area in thick, suffocating darkness.

I hit the ground hard, my body bouncing with the shock of impact, the force nearly knocking the wind out of me. For several long moments, I couldn’t move—everything spun in wild, uncontrollable circles. My stomach churned, and it took every ounce of strength I had to push myself to my feet.

‘What the hell did I just do?’

My thoughts were scrambled, my head spinning as I tried to get a grip on my surroundings. Dust coated my skin, clinging to the sweat beading on my brow. I glanced around, struggling to see through the thick haze. The battlefield was completely transformed—what had once been a solid platform was now a treacherous mess of jagged rocks and gaping holes.

‘Remind me again why you made me destroy the entire floor,’ I grumbled, wiping the dust from my eyes. ‘How am I supposed to navigate this without falling over?’

Hadeon’s voice rang out with a mocking edge. ‘That’s the point, idiot. If you can’t navigate it, how much worse do you think that guy’s going to be?’

I frowned, my eyes narrowing as I tried to make sense of his words.

‘What does that even mean?’ My opponent was still standing amidst the chaos, completely unfazed, his expression unreadable as ever. I searched for an answer, but nothing came.

‘You haven’t noticed?’ Hadeon’s voice held a mix of impatience and amusement. ‘God, you’re so stupid.’

‘Just tell me what I’m not seeing!’ My frustration boiled over, the adrenaline from the fight making me snap. My mind raced, trying to piece together the clues.

Then it hit me. The realization crashed over me like a tidal wave, leaving me momentarily stunned. My breath caught in my throat, my pulse quickening.

‘Your opponent is blind, Cyrus.’

The words echoed in my mind, sending a chill down my spine. I stared at the figure before me, everything suddenly clicking into place. His calculated movements, the way he never reacted to anything he couldn’t immediately sense, or that wasn’t in proximity to him and the deliberate, methodical nature of his attacks.

He wasn’t watching me, he never was.

He was feeling the battlefield, relying on senses beyond sight.

The destruction I had caused wasn’t just collateral damage, it was the key to survival.