The streets of Althmire hummed with the steady rhythm of morning life. Merchants called out their wares, and the scent of spiced meats and fresh bread lingered in the air. The distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer provided a familiar backdrop to the early bustle. Benedict Voss took a deep breath, stretching his arms behind his head as he and his brother Kalen moved through the winding streets on patrol."Alright, I'll say it," Benedict muttered. "The apples in this city? They taste like damp wood." He tossed the half-eaten fruit over his shoulder with a disappointed sigh. "I don't know how you do it, Kalen. Yours always taste better."Kalen barely spared him a glance, his focus fixed ahead. "Because I make them better."Benedict grinned, nudging his brother. "Then make me a new one."Kalen exhaled through his nose, flicking his fingers as he drew on the Weave. The discarded apple twisted in the air, its structure reforming as it landed back in his outstretched palm—redder, shinier, and undoubtedly sweeter.Benedict took a bite, humming in satisfaction. "See? This is what being a Threadbinder is for."Before Kalen could respond, a sudden chime rang through the air—sharp and urgent. The city alarm.The brothers exchanged a glance."Trouble?" Benedict asked, already shifting into a battle stance.Kalen pressed his hand against the stone beneath them, sending a pulse through the Weave. His expression darkened. "A rupture in the Weave. And... someone strong."Benedict cracked his knuckles. "Finally. Something interesting."The two sprinted toward the disturbance, their boots pounding against the cobblestones. The city's usual bustle fractured into panic, civilians scrambling for cover as the presence of something unnatural thickened the air.Then, they saw him.Standing amidst the chaos, cloaked in an unsettling calm, was Drevin. His long coat swayed in the wind, and his sharp, piercing gaze landed on them as if he had been expecting their arrival. A man they once called comrade."Voss brothers," Drevin greeted, his voice smooth and devoid of urgency. "It's been a while."Benedict didn't hesitate. His body tensed like a coiled spring before he launched forward, crossing the distance between them in an instant. His fist aimed straight for Drevin's jaw.Drevin leaned back just enough to evade, his footwork impeccable. But Kalen was already moving. His hand swept across the air—stone erupted from the ground behind Drevin, cutting off his escape.Drevin clicked his tongue. "Predictable."He twisted his body midair, landing lightly on the wall Kalen had created and using it as a springboard to propel himself upward."He's fast," Kalen noted.Benedict was already moving again, leaping toward Drevin just as he landed on the rooftops. His fist lashed out, but Drevin intercepted with a gloved hand, absorbing the impact with eerie ease."You always were too straightforward, Benedict."Benedict's grin widened. "And you always talked too much."The streets of Althmire had taken on an eerie stillness. The wind had stilled, and even the distant calls of birds had ceased, as if the very air around them held its breath. Kalen and Benedict stood side by side in a narrow alley, the high walls of the city closing in around them. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a blade.Benedict's breath came in sharp bursts as he adjusted his grip on his sword, his eyes narrowed in concentration. Kalen, ever calm, stood still, his gaze sweeping the surroundings with practiced caution. His hand rested on the hilt of his own blade, but his mind was elsewhere—calculating, assessing. His power was the silent protector, the shield for Benedict's brash and fiery offense.Kalen muttered, his voice low. "Keep your guard up. He's no longer just a Threadbinder. He's... something else now."Benedict scoffed, his grin wide and reckless. "Doesn't matter. I'll carve him up just like we always do. He's no match for the Voss brothers.""Stay focused," Kalen said, his tone hardening. His eyes flicked to Benedict's sword, the glint of its edge reflecting the pale light. "You charge him, I'll cover you. But don't get reckless. We can't afford to underestimate him.""Kalen, Benedict..." Drevin's voice was soft but carried undeniable weight. "I knew you'd be sent. But you should have stayed away. This is the end of the road."Benedict's hand tightened on his sword. "The only end you'll see, Drevin, is the one where I cut you down.""Such fiery words." Drevin's lips curled into a thin smile, his eyes glinting with something darker. "But words won't save you."Kalen's voice was quiet but firm. "Stay in your lane, Benedict. Let me set up the field."Benedict snorted but didn't argue. He understood the drill. As the more impulsive of the two, he was always the first to charge into battle, but Kalen had long ago mastered the art of controlling the battlefield, allowing Benedict to unleash his full potential.Kalen raised his hand, his fingers flicking through the air with precision. The Weave around him hummed, responding to his command. The ground beneath their feet began to shift and warp, and a rectangular barrier of solid stone rose up, forming a confined space around them. Kalen's voice cut through the air."Arena."The walls of the arena rose higher, restricting movement and cornering Drevin in. Benedict wasted no time. His legs tensed, and with a burst of speed, he charged directly at Drevin, his sword raised high."Here I come, Drevin!" Benedict shouted, his voice full of reckless confidence.Drevin tilted his head slightly, watching Benedict's approach with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. He didn't move immediately. Instead, his eyes flicked to Kalen, who stood still, a calculating expression on his face as he analyzed every potential outcome.As Benedict closed the distance, his sword slashing through the air with incredible speed, Kalen anticipated the move. He knew Drevin would likely dodge, just as he always did. The moment Drevin moved, Kalen would be ready.True to form, Drevin stepped back, his body vanishing in a flicker of movement, his figure blurring as he moved through the Weave. He stepped out of the immediate path of Benedict's strike, but Kalen was already prepared. With a swift motion, Kalen manipulated the terrain, creating a wall of stone to block Drevin's retreat."Move!" Benedict yelled, pushing himself to follow through on his attack, but Drevin was too fast, appearing behind him in an instant. His hand reached out, crackling with energy, and Benedict barely had time to react."Behind you!" Kalen shouted, his voice ringing through the confined space.But it was too late. Drevin's hand shot forward, and Benedict felt the sharp sting of the Weave's power as it raked across his side. Drevin's energy lanced through the air with such force that the very air seemed to warp and crack under the pressure.Benedict grunted, his vision blurring as his body staggered back. The wound wasn't deep, but it was enough to slow him down."Damn you!" Benedict roared, spinning around to face Drevin, his body moving with a speed and precision that few could match. His sword slashed forward in an arc, aiming directly for Drevin's throat.But Drevin was already gone, his form flickering once more as he moved like a shadow through the Weave. He appeared behind Kalen, his eyes fixed on Benedict, who was still recovering from the blow."You still don't get it, do you?" Drevin's voice was cold and calculating. "You're no match for me anymore. The power of the Weave is mine to command."Kalen's face tightened, but he didn't falter. He could feel it—the desperation in Benedict's movements, the rush to prove himself. He knew they had to end this quickly, or Drevin would overwhelm them both.Drevin now had the abilities of a Horizon Walker, and Kalen had noticed. His hand shot forward again, and the stone walls of the arena shifted once more, creating a narrow corridor that funneled Drevin's movements in one direction. Benedict, seeing the opening, leaped forward again, his sword slashing with renewed purpose."You can't dodge forever!" Benedict shouted, a grin flashing on his face as he pressed his advantage.Drevin narrowed his eyes, stepping into the narrow corridor Kalen had created. It was a trap, but he wasn't about to fall for it. He moved, but this time, it wasn't a simple shift of position—this was something far more dangerous.He reached out, his fingers weaving through the threads of reality itself, and a rift opened up in front of him. The Weave bent and twisted, the air around him rippling like water disturbed by an unseen force.Benedict was charging, his eyes locked on Drevin. He didn't see the rift until it was too late.A scream tore through the air as the rift expanded, its jagged edges reaching out like the claws of some monstrous entity. The ground beneath their feet shifted again, and Benedict barely had time to twist his body to evade the attack. His sword cleaved through the air, but Drevin wasn't there.A split second later, Benedict was sent flying backward, his right arm severed at the shoulder. The world spun, and his sword clattered to the ground as he tumbled through the air. His breath was ragged, and his vision blurred as the pain hit him like a freight train."Kalen!" Benedict gasped, his voice barely audible as he fought to stay conscious.Kalen's face turned pale as he saw his brother fall. The arena shifted around him as he quickly moved to intercept Drevin. His fingers traced through the air again, his movements precise, and the stone walls of the arena closed in, trying to trap Drevin once and for all.But Drevin was already moving, his form flickering again as he stepped through the Weave, the rift closing behind him. His eyes locked onto Kalen, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips."You're too late," Drevin said. "The game is over."Kalen's heart thundered in his chest. He knew what he had to do. This fight wasn't over yet. Not as long as his brother was still breathing."Benedict... use it." Kalen's voice was strained, but there was no doubt in his words. "Limit Break. Now."