The air in the arena turned heavy. A subtle shift had occurred—one that even the less experienced spectators could feel. Leon was no longer holding back.
Kairos' fingers twitched as he adjusted his stance. His body was still processing the last exchange, instincts screaming that whatever was coming next would be different.
Leon exhaled slowly. The smirk he had worn at the start of the duel was gone. His gaze locked onto Kairos with razor-sharp focus.
"I'll admit, you're strong. Stronger than I expected." He rolled his shoulders, then clenched his fists. "But let's see how you handle someone truly elite."
Then he disappeared.
Kairos barely had time to react before a crushing force slammed into his side. His vision blurred as he was sent skidding across the stone floor, his feet barely catching traction before he was forced into a roll. He twisted mid-air, righting himself just as Leon appeared again—this time above him.
Impossible speed!
Leon's foot came down like a hammer. Kairos barely dodged in time, leaping backward as the impact left a crater where he had just been standing. Dust exploded outward, momentarily obscuring the arena.
The audience erupted into stunned whispers.
"What the hell was that?"
"He's that fast?!"
Kairos gritted his teeth. Leon's speed had skyrocketed—but how? Was it a skill? A technique?
No time to think.
Leon was already moving again, a blur of motion weaving through the dust cloud. Kairos strained his eyes, trying to track his opponent's movements. It was almost like Leon was flickering in and out of existence.
Then, instinct flared.
Kairos ducked just as a fist whistled past his temple. He twisted, aiming a counterstrike—only for Leon to vanish again. A phantom afterimage.
A sharp impact slammed into Kairos' back. He stumbled forward, breath catching in his throat.
I can't keep up like this.
His mind raced. He was growing stronger—his system had proven that—but it wasn't instant. He needed time. And Leon wasn't giving him any.
Another attack.
Kairos dodged—barely. A gust of wind from Leon's fist grazed his cheek.
Then, something clicked.
A feeling deep in his core.
The same feeling he had when he first unlocked his evolution.
The system was waiting.
Waiting for him to push beyond his limit.
Kairos' pulse pounded in his ears. He could feel it. A barrier within himself—one he had yet to break.
He just needed to reach for it.
Leon struck again. Kairos reacted—not by dodging, but by meeting the attack head-on.
The impact cracked the air.
A shockwave erupted between them, sending both fighters sliding backward.
Leon's eyes widened. "You blocked that?"
Kairos exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
Something was different.
His body felt lighter. His senses sharper. Strength surged through him, the pain from previous blows fading like an afterthought.
He looked at his hands. His skin shimmered faintly, almost imperceptibly, before settling.
Leon frowned. "What the hell did you just do?"
Kairos clenched his fists, testing his grip. His strength—it was more.
Not just an increase in power.
An evolution.
"I don't know," Kairos admitted, looking back at Leon. His heartbeat steadied. His body moved with a new fluidity. "But let's find out together."
Leon narrowed his eyes. "Heh. Fine by me."
Then they clashed again.
But this time, Kairos was keeping up.
Their movements blurred. Fist met fist. Kick met block. Every exchange sent shockwaves rippling across the arena.
Kairos wasn't just reacting anymore—he was predicting. His body adjusted mid-motion, adapting to Leon's movements before they even finished.
Selene, watching from the sidelines, grinned. "That's more like it."
Aether leaned forward, eyes narrowed in thought. "What is he?"
The battle raged on, neither side relenting.
But Kairos knew one thing for certain—he was no longer fighting to survive.
He was fighting to win.