Sosuke returned to the palace under the dimming light of dusk, the weight of the katana at his side feeling heavier with each step. The crisp evening air did little to soothe the tension that had built within him since the dungeon. As he approached the courtyard, the faint crunch of gravel underfoot was interrupted by a sharp voice.
"Sosuke," Ren called out, stepping from the shadows of a nearby pillar. His silver eyes gleamed coldly in the fading light, his posture rigid, dagger already in hand.
Sosuke stopped, his brows furrowing. "Ren? What are you doing out here?"
Ren didn't answer immediately, his gaze fixed on the katana at Sosuke's side. "So, you really went alone. No backup, no plan—just you throwing yourself into danger like an idiot."
Sosuke's hand instinctively brushed the hilt of his blade. "I handled it. What's this about?"
Ren stepped closer, the faint edge in his voice sharpening. "You think you're untouchable because of your bloodline? Because of that sword? You keep charging ahead like you're the only one who matters."
Sosuke's jaw tightened. "What's your problem? I've never claimed to be better than anyone."
"Maybe not with words," Ren shot back, his silver eyes narrowing. "But your actions say it loud and clear. Every mission, every fight—it's always about you. Your glory, your power, your victories."
Sosuke's hand tightened on the katana's hilt, his voice low. "If you've got something to say, just say it."
Ren tilted his head slightly, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "You've been treating this like it's all about proving yourself, but what about the rest of us? While you're off being reckless, we're left cleaning up your mess. You're not as invincible as you think, Sosuke."
Sosuke took a step forward, his violet eyes flashing. "And you think you can do better?"
Ren's grip on his dagger tightened. "I don't think. I know."
Sosuke frowned, stepping into a cautious stance as he mirrored Ren's movements. "Ren, what's gotten into you? Where's this coming from?"
Ren scoffed, circling him, his silver eyes glinting like ice under the pale light. "Don't act clueless, Sosuke. You've always had everything handed to you. The name, the power, even the praise—while the rest of us had to claw our way up. I'm done standing in your shadow."
"Ren, this isn't the way—" Sosuke began, but Ren dashed forward without hesitation.
The dagger was a blur, its blade aiming straight for Sosuke's face. Sosuke's katana swung up just in time, the sound of metal clashing against metal ringing out in the courtyard. Sparks flew as the two weapons met, their owners locked in a tense standoff.
"Didn't I say?" Ren growled, pushing harder against Sosuke's blade. "You're still my rival. You're not stronger than me, and you never will be!"
Sosuke's violet eyes narrowed, his stance steady as he pushed back. "You want to settle this? Fine."
The two broke apart, only to clash again moments later. Ren's dagger struck with precision and speed, its small size allowing him to dart in and out of Sosuke's guard with ease. Sosuke countered with deliberate, powerful swings of his katana, each blow forcing Ren to retreat or redirect.
Their weapons collided repeatedly, the force of their strikes creating bursts of energy that echoed through the courtyard. Sosuke pivoted to avoid a quick jab, his katana sweeping in a wide arc to force Ren back. Ren flipped to the side, his dagger glinting as he lunged again.
For every calculated strike Ren delivered, Sosuke responded with raw power, the two seeming evenly matched. Their movements became faster, more aggressive, their determination burning brighter with each clash.
Neither gave an inch, the tension between them building with every clash of their blades in a relentless exchange of skill and will.
"Gale Blast!" Ren's voice cut through the chaos as he thrust his free hand forward. A burst of wind erupted, catching Sosuke off guard and hurling him backward. He slammed into a brick wall with a deafening crash, bringing it down around him in a cloud of dust and rubble.
"You're causing too much damage! We have to stop this!" Sosuke shouted, pulling himself out of the debris.
"Then stop getting hit," Ren shot back, a sharp grin twisting his features. He raised his dagger to his throat with slow, deliberate intent. "I've honed my skills far beyond yours, Sosuke. Let me show you what real power looks like!"
Ren sliced the edge of his neck, allowing blood to drip onto his blade. The air around him shifted as a chilling mist swirled to life, shrouding him in icy energy. His dagger morphed into a sleek, pure white sword, the frost radiating off it making the air sting. Ren pointed the gleaming weapon at Sosuke. "White Star!"
A massive blast of ice in the shape of a crystalline star shot toward Sosuke, tearing through the ground with terrifying speed. Sosuke rolled out of the way just in time, the projectile smashing into a nearby statue and shattering it into frozen shards.
"Ren! This is insane! What are you doing?" Sosuke's voice was edged with desperation.
"Will you stop whining and fight me already?" Ren sneered. He plunged his sword into the ground, summoning a jagged wall of ice spikes that erupted toward Sosuke. One spike grazed his side, slicing through his shirt and skin before he managed to leap clear of the rest.
"You're not even trying," Ren taunted, his grin taking on a darker edge. He pointed his blade once more, the frost at its tip intensifying. "Cryostasis."
A sphere of shimmering ice formed around Sosuke, trapping him within a freezing, airtight dome. The temperature plummeted as the walls of the sphere thickened, glowing faintly with ominous energy.
Ren circled his creation, trailing a gloved hand along its surface. "Inside that trap, you'll freeze bit by bit, until there's nothing left but a lifeless husk. The temperature won't stop dropping until you're dead." He let out a heavy sigh, as if disappointed. "But that would be too easy, wouldn't it?"
Inside the sphere, Sosuke felt the cold bite deep into his skin, his breath turning to frost with each exhale. The walls seemed to close in, oppressive and unrelenting.
"Not yet…" he muttered, his voice a strained whisper.
Lightning sparked faintly around his body, flickering weakly at first. Then it surged, growing brighter and wilder with each passing second.
Ren stepped back as cracks began to form along the icy dome.
"Ren, stop this!" Sosuke's voice thundered from within as the lightning grew more unstable.
With a roar, the dome shattered, shards of ice flying in all directions as Sosuke emerged, his body surrounded by a chaotic storm of violet lightning. Sparks raged around him, his energy unrestrained and volatile.
Ren smirked, gripping his sword tightly. "Finally, you're taking me seriously."
The courtyard trembled as the two prepared to clash once again, their powers surging with renewed intensity.
"A Praise, power, and fear! That's the real currency of the world!" Ren shouted, his voice sharp and commanding. He stomped the ground, sending clumps of frozen dirt hurtling toward Sosuke as deadly ice shards.
Sosuke slashed through the barrage, slicing the shards effortlessly until the last one flew toward him. He caught it mid-air, its frozen surface steaming against the heat of his lightning-infused grip. "What are you babbling about, Ren? Cut the act! What's this really about?"
Ren smirked, ignoring the question as he raised his sword high, its tip glimmering with frost. The icy mist swirled violently around him, forming a massive meteor of ice above the battlefield. "You're running out of options. Stop stalling and use your technique!"
He brought his sword down with a decisive strike, and the enormous meteor hurtled toward Sosuke, its size casting a shadow across the courtyard.
Sosuke tightened his grip on his katana, his purple eyes narrowing. The meteor loomed closer, its freezing energy chilling the air. At the last moment, he slashed horizontally in a blindingly quick motion, sheathing his blade in a flash of violet lightning. The meteor exploded into a chaotic mixture of ice and energy, much of it vaporizing on contact with the lightning.
Ren lowered his sword, letting it dissolve into the air. "Sometimes the right thing to do is also the hardest," he said casually, crossing his arms as if the battle had meant nothing.
Sosuke's chest heaved, his hands still steady on the hilt of his katana. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ren stepped closer, tilting his head with a faint grin. "I was testing you."
Sosuke blinked, stunned. "What?"
Ren shrugged, resting his hand on Sosuke's shoulder. "Commander Quinn asked me to do it. Said you needed to be prepared for 'special training.' It was about testing your emotional control under pressure. I also agreed because, well… you owe me for burning me back at the warehouse." He pulled back his sleeve, revealing faint scorch marks on his arm.
"You're kidding me. That… was just a test?" Sosuke's voice was incredulous.
Ren nodded, his expression smug.
"That's stupid!" Sosuke barked. "You could've just told me or something!"
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that defeat the purpose? You were confused, unsure of my intentions, and conflicted emotionally." Ren flicked his eyes toward the sky. "Having a friend attacking you out of the blue would cause emotional conflict right?" He shook his head. "The point was to see if you could control your lightning even under those circumstances. And you did."
"Still seems like a poorly designed test to me," Sosuke muttered, scoffing as he relaxed his stance.
Ren smirked. "Take it up with Commander Quinn."
As the dust settled and the courtyard returned to quiet.