Kaiden's body ached, his movements sluggish as the battle continued. The arena's walls loomed around him, an almost oppressive force, and the sound of his footsteps echoed in the still air. The girl before him—Nira Valen—was still standing, her face unreadable, her dagger now planted firmly in the ground.
And then, the shadow.
The moment she struck the earth, the black mass that had emerged from the ground seemed to come alive. The shadow was an eerie mirror of Kaiden, moving with the same fluidity, the same grace—no, more than that. This shadow was fast, much faster than Kaiden anticipated, and it mirrored his every move. If Kaiden dodged, the shadow dodged. If he struck, the shadow struck.
It's like fighting myself... but better, Kaiden thought, his teeth gritted as he slashed at the shadow with his shortsword. The blade passed cleanly through the dark form, but it seemed to ripple, like the air itself was bending. The shadow didn't falter. It continued its advance with relentless speed.
Kaiden had fought many tough opponents in his life, but this? This was a new level of difficulty. The shadow not only mirrored his moves—it anticipated them. The more he fought, the more he realized the truth: he was being outpaced.
The Shadow's Speed
With each swing of his sword, Kaiden found himself losing ground. The shadow was everywhere, cutting him off at every angle, its black dagger flashing through the air faster than he could react. The speed was almost impossible to track—too fast for his mind to keep up with, and even faster than his own movements.
The weight of the battle was pressing down on him, and for the first time in this tournament, Kaiden felt the sting of being outclassed. His breathing was labored, his muscles screaming for relief. Every time he tried to regain the initiative, the shadow was there—mocking his every movement, mirroring him with terrifying precision.
"Damn it," Kaiden muttered, taking a step back. He had to find a way out of this, some angle to exploit. But he couldn't figure it out. The shadow wasn't just an opponent. It was a perfect replica of himself, only faster, more vicious, and unrelenting.
He looked to Nira.
She stood there, as still as ever, not moving an inch. Her face was blank, but her eyes followed every motion Kaiden made, observing, calculating. Kaiden could feel the weight of her gaze, but it wasn't enough to stop him from pressing on.
Activation of Transparent World
Think, think! Kaiden's mind raced as he fought the shadow. It was like trying to fight against the wind, every move countered with ease. But Kaiden was used to thinking on his feet—used to analyzing his opponents in the heat of battle. He needed something, anything, that could turn the tide.
"Transparent World."
Kaiden activated the technique again, his eyes lighting up with clarity. The world around him shifted into sharp focus. For a moment, the air seemed still as Kaiden's enhanced perception washed over the shadow. He could see the flow energy coursing through his own body, and, to his surprise, the shadow had none of it.
Wait— Kaiden's heart skipped a beat.
The shadow wasn't using Flow. It can't use Flow.
This realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. If the shadow wasn't using Flow, it meant it wasn't truly alive, not in the way Kaiden was. The shadow was connected to Nira. He could see faint threads of Flow extending from her fingers, winding around the shadow's form.
Kaiden's mind whirred. She's controlling it—pulling the strings like a puppet.
Battle Strategy: Cutting the Strings
Kaiden's eyes scanned the shadow, and sure enough, he could see the faint Flow strings attaching it to Nira. His next move was clear. He had to cut those strings. But it wasn't going to be easy.
He knew Nira was watching, waiting for him to make a mistake. She wasn't moving; she was orchestrating the fight from the sidelines, like a conductor leading an orchestra. He needed to get to her.
But first, he had to deal with the shadow.
Kaiden took a deep breath. The pain from the earlier battles was beginning to wear on him, but he couldn't afford to slow down. This was his chance to end it.
The shadow lunged at him again, its black dagger slashing through the air. Kaiden barely dodged in time, his sword scraping against the shadow's form. He countered with Fourth Form: Cyclone Slash, a spinning attack meant to clear any space around him. The shadow was knocked back, but only for a moment before it recovered, its movements unnervingly fast.
Kaiden's gaze remained locked on the shadow's form. He could feel the Flow energy building up, his movements more precise now that he had a clear target. Vanguard's Grip. He had to use it—had to adapt. He couldn't keep dodging forever.
He stepped into the shadow's range, using Second Form: Gale Step to weave around the strikes, closing in. This time, he used Sixth Form: Shatter Strike, a heavy blow designed to break through armor or defenses. He aimed for the shadow's core, but it swiftly dodged, twisting like a phantom.
"Damn it," Kaiden muttered, frustrated. He needed to cut those strings. He couldn't keep fighting like this.
A Shift in Tactics
Kaiden stopped, breathing heavily. The shadow mirrored his stance. It was almost like a sick dance, the two of them circling each other. Kaiden glanced at Nira again. She was still motionless, her face unchanged, but Kaiden knew that wasn't a good thing. He had to force her hand.
Kaiden suddenly changed his approach, going on the offensive. With Tenth Form: Sovereign's Wrath, he struck at the shadow with a flurry of high-speed slashes, aiming for the weak points in its form. The shadow parried and dodged every strike, but Kaiden's eyes were locked on the strings extending from Nira's fingers.
Almost there...
With a grunt of effort, Kaiden activated Eighth Form: Tempest Surge, pushing himself beyond his limits. The speed of his strikes increased, and with a final slash, he managed to cut one of the strings connecting Nira to the shadow. The dark figure stumbled, its form flickering like a dying light.
Nira's eyes widened, and for the first time, she shifted her stance. But Kaiden wasn't done.
The Final Move
Kaiden's sword glowed brightly as he surged forward, his every step powered by his focus. He knew this would be the hardest part—he had to take down the shadow before Nira could react.
He unleashed a final strike with Fifth Form: Stormbreaker, his blade slicing through the air with devastating force. The shadow's form rippled, but this time, it couldn't dodge in time. The blow landed cleanly, and the shadow disintegrated into nothingness, the Flow that had animated it dissipating into the air.
Kaiden stood over the vanquished shadow, panting heavily. He turned back to Nira, his eyes narrowing.
"Your puppet show is over," he said, his voice steady despite his exhaustion.
But Nira wasn't where he expected her to be.
The Twist
Before Kaiden could react, he felt a sharp pain in his back. He staggered forward, a gasp escaping his lips as he reached behind him, feeling the blood trickling down his skin.
Nira stood behind him, her black dagger now embedded in his back. Her eyes gleamed with cold amusement as she twisted the blade.
"You're fast," she murmured, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "But not fast enough."
End of Chapter 60
The battle between Kaiden and Nira takes an unexpected turn as Kaiden manages to defeat the shadow, but Nira's silent manipulation proves to be a challenge he wasn't ready for. With one final strike, Kaiden is left vulnerable, and the true fight is only just beginning.
To be continued...