It's been two long years. I've lost two brothers—ruined one in the form of Fin, and another was Silver, my adoptive brother. And not just that, I lost my ability.
I tried using mana ascension to push my power to new heights, but all it did was crack my core. I have one last shot at restoring it, but if I mess up, I'll never be able to use my ability again. The only reason I'm still in the top ten of the academy is because the higher-ups have kept my condition a secret. But the truth? I'm not the warrior I used to be. Everything's been spiraling downhill.
Until today.
A rematch is happening between me and Ryuga. He's ranked second now, and I'm clinging to the number ten spot. I figured if I show everyone that I've lost my power, I'll be challenged less and less until I'm finally kicked out of the school. That's the plan, at least.
Walking into the coliseum, I could feel the weight of it all bearing down on me. The spectators murmured as I passed, knowing this wasn't the Keiko they used to cheer for. Ryuga stood at the center, his fur more prominent than ever, and his black aura radiated off him like a suffocating fog. He was stronger now, almost untouchable. I felt inferior just looking at him.
I summoned my sword—an echo of the strength I once had—but that was all I could manage. My ability didn't extend any further, and I knew this would be the last time I'd stand in this arena with any semblance of dignity.
The match began, and in an instant, Ryuga knocked me to the ground. Pain shot through my body as I struggled to get back on my feet. He sneered at me, raising his massive fist cloaked in black magic.
"How pathetic," he spat. "The once-strong Keiko can't even muster an ounce of power."
I glanced at the stands, my eyes finding Silver. His gaze was cold, filled with disdain and disappointment. It felt like I was sinking into a dark abyss, swallowed by the ridicule and failure surrounding me. The crowd's laughter echoed in my ears.
What am I missing? I thought. Why am I acting as if I've already lost when I haven't even tried?
The moment that thought crossed my mind, something snapped inside me. Mana burst out of me—wild, raw, untamed. It was as if, in that moment, I finally understood something crucial about my power.
Dynamokinesis.
I had spent so long mourning the loss of my ability that I hadn't realized the evolution happening inside me. I thought back to my fight with Fin, to the way my mana had responded on its own. It was like my energy was trying to protect me all along, as if it held the key to a deeper power I hadn't unlocked.
Ryuga, meanwhile, gathered his strength for a final, devastating strike. His black mana mixed with gold, forming a massive energy ball above him. He grinned, the dark power of the Monkey King coursing through him. "Since you were once a great warrior, I'll show you no mercy on this last strike."
The energy surged forward, and I felt the world slow down. Everything around me blurred, but inside, my vision became clearer than ever. I felt the universe filling in the gaps within me—a connection to something larger than myself. A light blue aura enveloped me, then shifted to green. My eyes snapped open, and the crest on my hand glowed a vivid red.
My voice came out with a strange, echoing resonance. "Wind of Collision."
A mix of blue and green energy converged around me, swirling with purpose. A new ability, one I'd never tapped into before, had filled my core slot. My eyes glowed green, a hex pattern forming within them. For the first time, I could see mana in its truest form, tracing every flow, every pulse in the air.
Ryuga's enormous energy ball, once black and gold, now shimmered with green and blue as my power twisted it, reshaping the magic into something new. The energy surged back towards Ryuga with double the force, hurtling at him with devastating speed.
Silver, watching from the sidelines, reacted in a flash. He leapt between Ryuga and the attack, his sword slicing through the colossal ball of energy with precision and ease, dispelling the danger in an instant.
Silver turned to the crowd, announcing in a calm but firm voice, "That's enough. Keiko, you win this match."
But as he said it, his eyes still held a hint of disdain, as though he hadn't fully forgiven me yet. I glanced away, unsure of how to feel about the victory. It felt hollow, like I had only barely scratched the surface of what I could truly be.
But then, for a brief moment, Silver's lips curled into a faint smile. It was almost imperceptible, but it was there—a small acknowledgment.
Finally, brother, I heard him whisper, his thoughts as clear as if he had spoken them aloud.