## Chapter 7: Sparks of Rivalry
The next morning, Lucas felt a surge of energy as he made his way back to the training ground. The previous day's session with Ember had been incredible, and the fusion of their quirks left him excited for what they could accomplish together. Today, however, he would focus on refining his abilities alone, pushing his control further.
As he approached the clearing, he noticed the silver-haired man standing near the edge, observing him with a calm yet intense gaze. Lucas wondered just how powerful this man was. His control over energy was immense, but he hadn't yet revealed much about his own quirk or abilities.
"You're early," the man remarked as Lucas approached. "That's a good sign. Ready to push yourself further?"
"Yes, sir," Lucas replied, his voice full of confidence. "Yesterday, Ember and I experimented with combining our abilities. I feel like I'm starting to get a better grasp of my quirk."
The man raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Combining abilities, you say? Interesting. Partnerships like that can reveal new potential, but they also have risks. Relying on someone else's power can become a crutch if you're not careful."
Lucas nodded, understanding the warning. "I know. That's why I want to make sure I'm strong enough on my own. I don't want to rely on anyone too much."
"Good. Today, we'll work on precision and endurance," the man said, stepping back to give Lucas more space. "You've learned to shape your energy and project it. Now, I want you to maintain that control over longer periods and with more intricate forms."
Lucas braced himself, feeling the energy stirring within him. He knew this training would be difficult, but he was determined to rise to the challenge. He closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath as he focused on gathering the formless energy around him.
"Start with the triangle again," the man instructed. "But this time, keep it stable for as long as you can. Don't let it flicker or waver."
Lucas visualized the glowing triangle from the previous session. He concentrated, molding the energy into shape. It emerged smoothly from his hands, hovering in the air, but he could already feel the strain of holding its form.
"Steady. Don't rush it," the man reminded him.
For several minutes, Lucas held the triangle, but his focus wavered as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. The energy flickered and, eventually, the triangle dissipated.
"Not bad for a first attempt," the man said, his tone even. "But you need to work on maintaining it longer. Again."
Lucas gritted his teeth and tried again, this time summoning the energy with more caution. He felt the strain immediately but fought to keep his focus sharp. The longer he held the triangle, the more his body seemed to resist, his muscles tensing from the effort of control.
He clenched his fists, pushing through the fatigue. He couldn't let the energy slip away again—not after all his progress.
Just as he began to stabilize the triangle once more, a voice called out from the edge of the clearing.
"Well, well. Practicing already?"
Lucas turned, momentarily distracted, and the triangle vanished. He frowned, looking toward the source of the interruption. A figure stepped into view—a boy around his age, tall with sharp features and an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance. His piercing blue eyes and messy black hair gave him an intimidating presence.
Lucas didn't recognize him, but the silver-haired man seemed unfazed.
"Kai," the man acknowledged with a nod. "What brings you here?"
Kai smirked, his gaze flicking to Lucas. "I heard about your new student and wanted to see if the rumors were true."
Lucas blinked, confused. "Rumors?"
Kai stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he sized Lucas up. "That you've got some unique quirk. Formless energy manipulation, right?"
Lucas felt a twinge of unease. Kai's tone wasn't friendly, and the way he spoke made it clear that he wasn't just here to chat.
"Yes, that's right," Lucas replied cautiously.
"Interesting," Kai mused, crossing his arms. "I've never seen anyone with a quirk like that before. Most people stick to the elements."
Lucas was about to respond when the silver-haired man cut in. "Kai is one of my more advanced students," he explained. "He specializes in thunder manipulation. His control over it is exceptional."
Kai grinned, as if proud of the praise. "Exceptional is putting it lightly."
Lucas clenched his fists, feeling the challenge in Kai's words. He didn't like the arrogant way Kai carried himself, but he wasn't about to let someone like that get under his skin.
"Are you here to train too?" Lucas asked, keeping his voice neutral.
"Not exactly," Kai replied, his smirk widening. "I wanted to see how strong you are. There's been talk of your progress, and I like to test anyone who gets attention around here."
The tension between them was palpable, but Lucas stayed calm. "I'm not here to compete. I'm just focused on mastering my quirk."
Kai shrugged. "Suit yourself. But you won't really know how strong you are until you face someone in a real battle."
Lucas's jaw tightened. He didn't want to get pulled into Kai's games, but there was a part of him that wanted to prove himself. He had been training hard, and a sparring match could show him how far he had come.
Before he could respond, the silver-haired man intervened. "Lucas, you don't have to take on every challenge that comes your way. There's wisdom in knowing when to fight and when to walk away."
Lucas hesitated, glancing between the two. The man was right—there was no need to rush into a fight just to satisfy Kai's ego. But a part of him wanted to test his limits, especially against someone as skilled as Kai.
"I'll spar with you," Lucas finally said, his voice steady. "But only if it's a fair fight."
Kai's grin widened. "Of course. I wouldn't want it any other way."
The silver-haired man sighed but stepped aside to give them room. "Very well. But keep it controlled. This is a sparring match, not a fight to the death."
Kai rolled his shoulders, crackling electricity beginning to dance around his fingertips. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."
Lucas took a deep breath, gathering his energy. He focused on the lessons from his training, keeping his thoughts clear and steady. This wasn't about proving anything to Kai—it was about testing himself.
The air between them seemed to hum with tension as they faced off. Kai moved first, his hand shooting forward as a bolt of lightning crackled through the air toward Lucas.
Reacting instinctively, Lucas summoned a barrier of energy, the translucent shield appearing just in time to block the attack. The electricity sizzled against it, but Lucas held firm, the energy barrier absorbing the impact.
Kai raised an eyebrow, impressed but not deterred. "Not bad."
Without hesitation, he launched another bolt of lightning, faster and more precise. Lucas dodged this time, rolling to the side and summoning a small sphere of energy. He projected it toward Kai, but the boy easily sidestepped the attack, his movements swift and fluid.
Lucas gritted his teeth, focusing harder. He needed to stay calm, to control his energy better. He formed another triangle, this time making it larger and more stable, and hurled it toward Kai.
Kai responded by raising his hand, and a barrier of crackling electricity appeared in front of him. The triangle struck the barrier, but the energy dissipated as the two forces collided.
Lucas could feel the strain of keeping his energy in check, but he wasn't ready to give up. He summoned more energy, shaping it into a larger sphere this time. He focused on Kai, waiting for the right moment to strike.
But before he could release the attack, Kai surged forward, his body moving like a blur of lightning. In an instant, he was in front of Lucas, his hand crackling with energy.
"Too slow," Kai said with a grin, sending a burst of electricity toward Lucas.
Lucas barely managed to raise his barrier in time, the electricity slamming into the shield. The impact sent him skidding back, his heart racing from the close call.
Kai stepped back, crossing his arms. "You've got potential, but you're not ready to face someone like me."
Lucas clenched his fists, frustrated but unwilling to let Kai's words affect him. He had learned a lot from the fight, even if he hadn't won.
The silver-haired man stepped forward, ending the match. "That's enough. Lucas, you did well for your first real sparring session. Kai, remember that power isn't everything. Control is just as important."
Kai shrugged, but there was a glint of respect in his eyes as he looked at Lucas. "You're not bad, Lucas. Maybe next time, you'll give me a real challenge."
Lucas nodded, determined to grow stronger. "Next time, I will."
As Kai walked away, the silver-haired man turned to Lucas. "You handled yourself well. Don't let his arrogance get to you."
"I won't," Lucas said, though the fire in his chest burned brighter than ever. He had a long way to go, but now he knew what he was up against.
---