Kael moved through the trees, his footsteps light but deliberate as he approached Beni and Vish. The wind carried the subtle rustle of leaves, but his eyes were locked on the two figures ahead. Beni stood confidently, his sword still crackling with energy, while Vish kept his distance, eyeing Kael with a mixture of wariness and calculation.
The air between them felt thick, the tension palpable as Kael closed the gap, each step drawing him closer to the two warriors. Vish shifted his stance, his hand hovering near his weapon, as if prepared for anything. His eyes flickered to Beni, who remained eerily calm, the faintest smirk playing on his lips.
Kael stopped a few paces away, his expression unreadable as he glanced between them. "You're using your Shastra now?" he asked, his voice calm, but a sharp edge of caution underneath.
Beni chuckled, his grin widening as he twirled his sword lazily. "Haha, you're out of luck now, Kael," he said, a gleam of amusement in his eyes.
Vish's eyes narrowed, not answering right away, as if measuring Kael's intent. "We were told it's allowed now," he said carefully, his tone guarded. "You came here alone? Where's your partner?"
Kael's gaze flicked briefly behind him before settling back on Vish. "I told him to stay put," he said calmly. "I didn't need him to take on the two of you." His stance remained relaxed, but there was an edge to his voice that made Beni and Vish exchange wary glances.
Vish opened his mouth to speak, but before the words could leave his lips, Kael's figure vanished from sight. In an instant, he reappeared beside Vish, sword slicing through the air with terrifying speed. Just as the blade was about to meet Vish's throat, Beni's sword clashed against Kael's, stopping the strike at the very brink of disaster.
The force of Kael's blow sent a shudder through Beni's arm as he gritted his teeth, struggling to hold back the attack. Vish stood frozen, eyes wide with shock, realizing just how close he had come to death. Kael's calm gaze never wavered.
Vish jumped backward, gasping in shock. "He's using Laura's technique again!" he muttered, his voice trembling. But this time, something was different. It wasn't just a mere imitation like before—Kael had mastered it. The fluidity of his movements, the speed, the precision—it all spoke of someone who had perfected the skill. "Be careful, Beni!" Vish warned, panic creeping into his tone. He knew Kael's newfound mastery made him far more dangerous than before, and Beni, standing between them, now had to face that deadly expertise head-on.
Seeing Kael's swift mastery, Beni attacked without hesitation. His sword moved in a fluid arc, a blur of precision. Kael dodged instinctively, but as Beni's blade sliced through the air, fiery lines erupted from each stroke. One flame caught Kael off-guard, searing into his left arm.
Despite the searing pain in his arm, Kael surged forward, determination fueling his every movement. He swung his sword, a fierce arc aimed at Beni, the flames dancing along the blade as though he were wielding the very fire that had scorched him. Just as his sword neared Beni's neck, a chill ran through the air.
Suddenly, four spears, crafted from a dark, gleaming material, shot toward Kael with deadly precision.Each spear whistled through the air, intent on halting his advance. Kael's eyes widened, and he instinctively shifted, preparing to evade the onslaught while keeping Beni in his sights.
Vish's voice sliced through the tension as he shouted, "These aren't the same spears as before! I've infused them with my chakra since the start!" His eyes narrowed, a fierce intensity igniting within them. "I was just tossing spears before, but now they're charged with my chakra!"
Kael felt a rush of adrenaline as he registered the warning. He glanced at the approaching spears, their dark sheen glimmering ominously in the light. Vish's newfound strength would make this fight even more unpredictable. He had to stay sharp.
Beni didn't give Kael a moment to breathe. In a flash, he lunged forward, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Kael barely had time to react as Beni's blade arced toward him, a blur of silver that threatened to cut him down. The intensity of Beni's attack left no room for hesitation.
The blade nicked Kael's cheek, drawing a thin line of crimson against his pale skin. He winced, the sting igniting a spark of fury within him. In the chaos, two spears whizzed past him, tearing through his shirt and leaving jagged rips in the fabric. The sharpness of the attack sent adrenaline coursing through his veins.
Kael gritted his teeth, the pain sharpening his focus. He could feel the heat of battle intensifying, and with a determined glare, he prepared to retaliate, refusing to back down despite the injuries. The fight was far from over.
With a surge of chakra, Kael propelled himself forward, his legs a blur as he lunged at Vish. The determination in his eyes burned bright as he closed the distance, ready to strike. Behind him, Beni dashed forward, his sword gleaming with intent, determined not to let Kael escape. Vish, sensing the impending attack, readied his spears, each one infused with his chakra, shimmering with a deadly light.
Just as Kael was about to strike Vish head-on, two spears hurtled through the air with lethal intent—one aimed at Beni from behind, the other speeding toward Vish . Time seemed to slow as Beni leaped into the air, narrowly evading the deadly projectile, while Vish swiftly countered with one of his own spears, deflecting the oncoming attack.
Seeing Vish distracted, Kael seized the opportunity to launch a swift attack, catching him off guard. Kael's sword cut through the air, aimed precisely at Vish, who was still recovering from the recent skirmish.
Meanwhile, as Beni soared upward, his instincts kicked in. From his elevated position, he caught a glimpse of Jin leaping from a nearby tree, a surge of chakra propelling him upward. Jin's eyes were focused, determination etched on his face, as he held a spear firmly in his hand, ready to strike. The atmosphere thickened with anticipation as the battle unfolded in a chaotic dance of power and precision.
Just as they were about to land their attacks, a sudden burst of energy engulfed the area. In an instant, Kael, Vish, Beni, and Jin vanished from sight, caught in a whirlwind of shimmering light. The tension of the moment hung thick in the air, replaced by an eerie silence.
"Round one goes to Team Rudra!" Rudra announced, a hint of disappointment lacing his voice. He surveyed the battlefield, a slight frown replacing what could have been a satisfied grin as he took in the weary expressions of Kiran.
"What happened?" Jin, Kael, Beni, and Vish asked in unison, their voices echoing through the tense atmosphere. They exchanged confused glances, their brows furrowed in disbelief. As they scanned their surroundings, their eyes fell upon Lorik, crouched low and hidden behind a nearby boulder.
Lorik was shimmering as if scared of something, while Kiran stood with an attentive look, observing him closely.
Kiran tapped Lorik's forehead gently, and a soft light flickered to life, momentarily illuminating Lorik's features before he slumped forward, unconscious. With a swift motion, Kiran caught him, hoisting him effortlessly onto his shoulder. The group watched, a mix of concern and curiosity etched on their faces, as Kiran moved with purpose, his expression resolute.
Kiran approached Rudra, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "You win this match," he said, his tone light. Turning to Tarek, he gently patted her head. "It was not your fault, kiddo. Don't sweat it." He then gestured for Beni and Vish to join him. As they walked away, Beni turned back to Kael "Next time, I'll win for sure!" And with that, they went off.
As Jin and Kael were about to ask Rudra what had just happened, he looked at them, a serious expression crossing his face. "Save it for now, Kael. You're on the brink of unlocking your second orbital. Just a little push, and you'll be able to access it."
Jin, excitement gleaming in his eyes, chimed in, "Congrats! It seems you're opening it sooner than expected—"
But before he could finish, Rudra suddenly lunged forward, delivering a swift punch right into Kael's stomach. The wind whooshed from Kael's lungs as he doubled over, but the force of the blow sent him flying backward. He fell, rolling across the ground before coming to a stop, breathless and momentarily dazed.
Jin's eyes widened in shock, and then a smirk crossed his face. "Wow, congrats, Kael! You're going to be dying before you expected too!"
Rudra shot Jin a sidelong glance, a mix of disbelief and exasperation in his expression, as if questioning how Jin could find humor in the situation.
"Go bring him up; he's probably knocked out," Jin said, starting to step forward.
Before Jin could go far, Kael sprang up, brimming with energy as if it were overflowing from him. His posture radiated vitality, and he moved with a newfound confidence, each step purposeful and grounded. "Woah i am overflowing with power." he exclaimed, a fiery determination in his eyes.
Rudra, watching in disbelief, thought to himself, How did he not get knocked out? What a monster Kael is. The sheer tenacity and resilience Kael displayed left him momentarily stunned
Rudra addressed all his students, his voice commanding yet calm. "The match is now over. Go and rest. Jin, if you aren't able to open your second orbital by this evening, you won't be joining us. All the others have successfully opened their second orbitals."
Kael and Jin turned toward Tarek, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. "Tarek, did you also open yours?" Kael asked, incredulity lacing his voice. Jin nodded in agreement, eyes wide with curiosity.
Tarek smiled awkwardly, a hint of pride in her voice. "Yes, I was able to do it," she admitted, his cheeks flushing slightly. The nervousness in her expression faded as she saw the excitement in Kael and Jin's eyes, making her feel a little more at ease.\
Jin turned to Rudra, curiosity etched on his face. "But didn't Darin take days to stabilize his orbital after opening it? How come both of them are fine?"
Rudra responded, "Darin opened his orbital out of pure anger, so he had to stabilize it more. Tarek did it too, but not with control; it was desperation. She should have needed to stabilize hers as well. That ring is more mysterious than I thought; it must have helped her stabilize it. As for Kael, I don't know about him. Maybe he's a genius born once in a century."
"So I just need to open my other orbital, right? Then I can come with you? This is easy!"Jin said with a grin on his face.
"Then do it, genius," Rudra emphasized, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Jin sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'm not feeling well right now. I'll do it at night."
Rudra rolled his eyes, "You guys get some rest. We'll be leaving tomorrow. Most likely, I have to go check on something. Meet me at the academy gate by noon."With that, he vanished, leaving only a faint ripple in the air behind him.