Kairos could feel the tension building in the courtyard. Kieran stood a few feet away, his expression cold and calculating. The air between them crackled with the energy of unspoken challenges. It was clear that Kieran wasn't just here for a casual spar—he wanted to test something, to push Kairos to his limits.
Kairos smirked. "Ready to see what happens when you poke the bear?"
Kieran's lips twitched into a sly smile. "I'm more than ready."
Without another word, Kieran launched forward in a blur of motion, his body cutting through the air like a blade. Ice began to form around his hands, his signature element—sharp, dangerous, and capable of freezing anything it touched.
Kairos's instincts kicked in. His feet shifted, and he slid backward, narrowly avoiding the first strike—a jagged spear of ice that shot from Kieran's hand. The moment it passed him, Kairos retaliated with a burst of speed, his body blurring as he charged toward Kieran with a single intent: to make this quick.
His hand moved, crackling with raw energy, and he aimed a punch directly at Kieran's chest. But Kieran was fast. A wall of ice surged between them, blocking the strike. The force of Kairos's punch shattered the wall in an explosion of ice shards, but Kieran was already moving again, his feet gliding across the ground as he weaved around the debris.
Kairos's eyes narrowed. His power—his resonance—was shifting in real time. He could feel his body adapting, the energy around him coalescing into something new. The Echoflow ability kicked in, and suddenly, the movements of Kieran weren't just fast—they were predictable. Kairos could sense the rhythm, the flow of his opponent's motions.
Now.
Kairos's fist shot out in a precise motion, aiming not at Kieran's body but at the ground beneath him. The shockwave of his punch cracked the earth, sending a ripple of energy through the courtyard. Kieran staggered for a split second, and that was all Kairos needed.
With a burst of speed, Kairos closed the gap, his body moving faster than Kieran could react. He landed a blow to Kieran's side, a pulse of energy bursting from his fist as the strike landed. Kieran grunted, his body twisting with the impact, but he quickly recovered, his expression flickering with annoyance.
"I underestimated you," Kieran muttered, raising his hand. Ice began to form again, this time coalescing into a swirling vortex of cold that encircled him like a barrier.
"Not this time," Kairos shot back. He took a deep breath, his mind focusing. The Echoflow was working, but he needed to push it further.
His body hummed with power as he moved again, weaving through the ice shards that Kieran sent flying in his direction. With a single motion, Kairos dropped low, spinning on his heel to slam his palm into the ground. The earth beneath him cracked open, releasing a wave of energy that surged forward like a tidal wave.
The icy vortex around Kieran shattered under the force of the shockwave, but Kieran wasn't done. He raised his other hand, and the air around him began to distort. A beam of concentrated cold shot out toward Kairos, faster than any previous attack.
Kairos barely managed to sidestep, feeling the icy beam graze the side of his arm. The skin where it touched instantly numbed, and he gritted his teeth. This guy doesn't quit.
The cold radiating off Kieran was starting to suffocate the air, but Kairos refused to back down. His hand began to glow with an unstable energy, pulsing with the full force of his Echoflow.
Kairos dashed forward again, closing the gap before Kieran could react. This time, he didn't aim for a direct strike. Instead, he tapped into the Riftstep ability. The moment Kieran released another blast of ice, Kairos disappeared, his form slipping between the cracks of reality.
Kieran's eyes widened as Kairos reappeared behind him, his fist already charged with enough energy to level the area.
Kairos slammed into Kieran's back, and the impact sent him skidding across the courtyard. The ice around Kieran shattered into jagged shards as he hit the ground, but he was already back on his feet, panting heavily.
"This… is getting interesting," Kieran said, his voice a little more breathless than before. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "You've got power. But I need to know something else…"
Kairos frowned. "What?"
Kieran smirked, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Can you survive me at my full strength?"
Suddenly, the ground beneath them shuddered. A wave of ice cascaded from Kieran's body, enveloping the entire courtyard in a dense, freezing fog.
Kairos's eyes widened as the temperature dropped dramatically. His breath came out in visible clouds, and the air itself felt like it was trying to suffocate him. But this wasn't just a typical ice attack. This was something more.
Kieran's voice echoed through the freezing fog. "I've been holding back, but no more."
The ground cracked open, and massive pillars of ice shot up from below. The arena began to distort with the weight of the ice, the energy from Kieran's power pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
Kairos's heart raced. This is bad. I need to finish this now.
He clenched his fist, drawing upon the power of the Echoflow. His body adapted in an instant, focusing all of his energy into his legs. In the next moment, he shot forward, faster than the eye could follow.
The ice barriers and pillars shattered as he made his way through them, finally reaching Kieran.
Kieran's eyes widen.
This time, Kairos wasn't holding back. He pushed his strength to the limit, unleashing a punch that would split the very atmosphere.
The strike hit Kieran square in the chest.
The explosion of energy sent shockwaves through the arena, shattering the remaining ice and sending Kieran flying. He hit the ground with a crash, skidding across the frozen earth until he came to a stop.
Kairos stood over him, chest heaving as he caught his breath. Kieran, though dazed, pushed himself up, smirking despite the blood dripping from his lip.
"You're... stronger than I thought."
Kairos wiped the sweat from his brow, looking down at his opponent. "Is that enough for you?"
Kieran grinned. "For now." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "But don't think this is over. I'll be watching you."
Kairos nodded, turning away. "I'll be ready."
The fog around them began to dissipate, and the academy grounds returned to their normal, calm state. Kairos's mind raced. There was no doubt—he had just faced one of the strongest opponents at the academy. But the Echoflow had allowed him to adapt, to survive.
Yet, something gnawed at him. Kieran wasn't the only challenge he'd face. There were others—forces, entities, and mysteries waiting for him on the path ahead.
And with each step, the cycle he'd been thrust into was becoming clearer.
Soon, the true battle would begin.