Kaiden leaned against the stone wall of the break room, his mind racing with the events of the previous duel. Luthor had been a formidable opponent—his raw strength and massive form had posed a challenge that Kaiden hadn't expected. But the real difficulty wasn't the fight itself; it was the way Luthor had adapted, using the environment and Flow to strengthen himself. Kaiden still couldn't shake the image of Luthor's transformation, his stone armor and the newfound speed. How did he do that? Kaiden thought, staring at the ground, lost in thought. What kind of Flow technique allows you to manipulate the earth like that?
The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He wanted answers, but he knew Luthor wouldn't be forthcoming. After the way he had mocked him during the fight, there was no chance he'd share any of his secrets.
"Forget it," Kaiden muttered, shaking his head. He decided it wasn't worth obsessing over. He had his own path to follow.
He glanced around the break room. The arena was quiet now, and Kaiden was given 30 minutes to recover before his next fight. His body was sore from the previous battle, but the adrenaline was still coursing through him. He knew he had to make the most of this time, and for once, Kaiden decided to do something like a second nature to him sleep.
He lay down on one of the nearby benches, closed his eyes, and decided to take a short nap. No distractions. I need to rest if I'm going to keep pushing forward.
The Next Fight: A Gloomy Presence
Kaiden woke up to a voice calling his name, dragging him from his brief slumber. His eyes snapped open, and he groggily sat up, stretching his arms as he tried to shake off the sleep. His body ached, but there was no time to waste.
"Your next match is about to begin," a voice said, echoing through the break room.
Kaiden groaned but stood up, his feet still slightly unsteady from the earlier fight. He walked to the door, taking a moment to breathe and steady himself. As he exited the break room, he was greeted by the sight of the arena again. This time, however, there was a distinct difference.
Standing across from him was a girl.
She was about his age—maybe a little older—and her presence instantly struck Kaiden. There was something about her that made the air feel heavier, like a cloud hovering over her. She exuded a gloomy aura, a sense of melancholy that hung around her like a veil.
Kaiden couldn't help but notice her beauty, though it was not the kind of beauty that seemed to invite admiration. It was almost... sad, like a flower blooming in the dark. Her long black hair fell in gentle waves down her back, and her sharp, yet delicate, features were framed by a faint shimmer in her eyes—a cold, distant look. Her eyes were an eerie shade of gray, not quite silver, but deep enough to give off a sense of knowing, of something hidden.
She wore a simple yet elegant combat uniform, but it was her body language that struck Kaiden the most. Her posture was relaxed, yet there was a certain stillness to her, like a predator waiting patiently for the right moment to strike.
Kaiden couldn't help but make an inward joke as he sized her up. Maybe I'll win just by her falling in love with me. I mean, who could resist this? He smirked at the thought. But that smirk quickly faded when his eyes wandered lower to her body. He could see three noticeable scars—long, raised stitches running down her arms, each one looking like it had been stitched together with the precision of a surgeon. These were no mere battle scars; they were marks of something deeper, something personal.
The Introduction
The commentator's voice boomed across the arena, filling the silence. "In this corner, we have Kaiden Solivare, the current Rank 1 of Group 6-A, known for his agility, cunning, and mastery of tactics. He has proven himself in previous matches with impressive feats of speed and adaptability!"
Kaiden stood tall, his mismatched eyes narrowing as he focused on his opponent. The crowd roared, but Kaiden's mind was entirely on the girl in front of him. He wasn't sure what to make of her, but one thing was certain: this fight was going to be different.
"And in the opposite corner," the commentator continued, "we have Nira Valen, Rank 1 of Group 6-B. Her opponents have spoken of her uncanny ability to read the flow of battle and her strange, unpredictable style. Will her mysterious presence overwhelm Kaiden, or will he continue his undefeated streak?"
Kaiden didn't flinch. Nira Valen... he thought. Her reputation was already speaking volumes. But he wasn't scared. He was more interested in what she would do next.
The Battle Begins
"Let's get this over with," Kaiden said, his voice loud enough to cut through the tension. He wasn't one for long speeches or dramatic introductions. His sword was already in his hand, ready for whatever came next.
Without warning, Nira moved. She darted forward with the kind of speed Kaiden hadn't expected. Her footfalls were almost silent as she closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.
What the hell? Kaiden barely had time to react before she was on him. Her movements were a blur, and before he could even raise his sword to defend himself, she slashed at his arm with a flash of steel.
"Ah!" Kaiden hissed as he pulled back just in time, feeling the sting of her blade grazing his arm. The cut wasn't deep, but it was enough to make him realize that he couldn't afford to underestimate her.
"Not bad," Kaiden said, his tone casual, but his mind was already racing. She's fast. Too fast.
Nira didn't answer. She simply stood there, her expression unreadable. Then, she spoke in a voice barely louder than a whisper. "You have pretty blood."
Kaiden blinked in confusion. "What?"
"I wonder how it tastes," Nira continued, her voice still cold, like a lullaby sung in a dream. Before Kaiden could react, she darted forward again, slashing with a black dagger that seemed to shimmer with an unnatural aura.
The cut was quick, too fast for Kaiden to dodge. This time, the dagger cut into his side, and he winced in pain.
But that wasn't the worst part.
As she plunged the dagger into the ground, a shadow seemed to ripple out from the earth. It wasn't just a shadow—this one moved. It rose up like a sentient being, and Kaiden's eyes widened as he realized what was happening. The shadow took form, solidifying into a perfect replica of Kaiden himself.
"A shadow clone?" Kaiden muttered under his breath. But it wasn't just any clone. It was an exact mirror of him, mimicking every move Kaiden made.
"What the hell..." Kaiden began, but the clone struck first, its black dagger moving just as quickly as Nira's.
End of Chapter 59
Kaiden is faced with a challenge unlike any other as he squares off against Nira Valen. Her eerie presence, coupled with her swift, unpredictable fighting style, keeps Kaiden on his toes. With a shadow clone now in play, the battle is only beginning.
To be continued...