Tempest surged toward Knox like a storm unleashed, her electrified aura searing the air around her. Each of her attacks was precise and ferocious, forcing Knox into a relentless game of evasion. His suit hummed as he dodged, each movement calibrated to avoid her strikes by mere inches.
"Stop running, Knox!" she screamed, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Face me!"
Knox remained silent, his focus entirely on survival. Kaelina's voice echoed in his mind, calm but urgent. "Knox, you need to escape. You can't overpower her in her current state."
"Tell me something I don't know," he muttered, ducking another blow that cracked the ground beneath them. "What's the plan?"
"A calculated retreat. You'll draw her into a false sense of control, then use her momentum against her to create an opening."
Knox smired. "You've been thinking about this, haven't you?"
"Always."
Tempest's strikes grew faster, her frustration mounting with every missed attack. "Fight me, damn it!"
Knox leaped into the air, activating his thrusters, but Tempest was on him in an instant, her speed unmatched. Crimson lightning arched around her, and she lashed out with a powerful strike. Knox narrowly evaded, the shockwave sending him spiraling.
"She's too fast," he gritted out, "Kaelina, now would be a great time for that opening."
"Keep her chasing. She's expending energy at an unsustainable rate. When she falters, you strike."
The chase continued, Tempest matching Knox's every maneuver. But just as Kaelina predicated, her relentless pursuit began to take its toll. Her movements slowed, her breathing ragged, and Knox seized the moment.
He dove toward a narrow alley, twisting sharply at the last second. Tempest followed, but her speed worked against her—she crashed into a wall, the impact sending debris flying.
Knox didn't hesitate. Activating his suit full speed, he shot into the distance. Tempest recovered quickly, screaming after, "Get back here, coward!"
She landed heavily on the ground, her fists clenched and her eyes blazing with fury. "Damn you, Knox," she snarled.
The other heroes approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension.
"What... was that?" Seraph asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Tempest exhaled sharply, her anger barely contained. "That," she said, "was me surpassing my limits."
...
The meeting room at the GPA headquarters buzzed with tension as a board member replayed footage of the battle. The video froze on the moment Tempest unleashed her newly refined power, her crimson lightning illuminating the screen.
The board member turned to her, his gaze sharp. "Tempest, explain. How did you become so powerful all of a sudden? How did you turn the tide against Knox?"
Tempest stood, her voice steady but firm. "My system evolved."
The room fell silent, confusion etched on every face.
"Evolved?" Seraph echoed.
Tempest nodded. "It spoke to me—introduced itself as Aetheris. It explained that there are seven tiers of systems: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary, Mythical, and Divine. Systems in the Mythical and Divine tiers are sentient and can communicate with their hosts."
The revelation hung heavy in the air.
Tempest continued, "It told me that I was able to evolve because I pushed myself and my power to their absolute limits. After evolving, since Aetheris classified itself as new, it gave me a starter package. My abilities and combat capabilities improved drastically."
The heroes exchanged uneasy glances, and the board member leaned forward. "And you're saying this system can detect the tiers of others?"
"Yes," Tempest confirmed. "Titan, Seraph, Phantom, Cryo, Inferno, Warden, Echo, and Vanguard—you all have Legendary systems."
Shock rippled through the room.
The board member's expression shifted to one of intrigue. "Interesting," he murmured. He fixed his gaze on Tempest. "And the man you were fighting? What of him?"
Tempest's eyes darkened. "That bastard Knox had a Mythical System from day one. That's why he's so powerful."
The board member steepled his fingers, a faint smile playing at his lips. "This is valuable information. Everyone here will now train—not casually but with purpose. You will push yourselves to your absolute limits until your systems evolve."
Vanguard, the tea leader, hesitated. "Sir, Tempest only evolved because she faced a real battle—a powerful foe who pushed her beyond her limits."
"Exactly," the board member said, standing. "And since Tempest has reached—no surpassed—Knox, she will push all of you to your limits. From now on, she is not your friend or your companion. She is your enemy. Now, head to the training rooms."
The heroes rose reluctantly, filing out as the weight of the board member's words settled over them.
...
Back at his base, Knox sat in the dimly lit room, replaying the fight in his mind. The memory of Tempest's evolution, her raw power, and her ability to counter his every move left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Kaelina's voice broke the silence. "Knox, as of now, you are no longer the strongest."
"I know," he said quietly. "But her raw power after evolving her system was..."
"Formidable," Kaelina finished. "You need to train. You still have five days left of 10x training effect. Use it"
Knox's gaze hardened. "And the other?"
"They're already trying to evolve their systems. Tempest likely told them everything."
Knox rose to his feet. "Then I need to stay ahead. I need Max."
He gathered his team—Isaiah, Jonathan, Alex, and Mary. "I need weighted wristbands and boots that I can adjust the weight of. Can you make them?"
They exchanged determined looks before Isaiah nodded. "We'll have them ready in a few hours."
Knox thanked them and headed to the gravity room. He pressed the symbol on his suit, unequipping it before stepping inside. With a deep breath, he increased the gravity to 20x normal.
The wright crushing him, driving him to the floor. But slowly, painfully, he began to rise. Each movement was a struggle, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.
"Let's see who breaks first," he muttered, determination blazing in his eyes as he began his training.