The battlefield didn't reset.
It evolved.
The spar had already lasted hours.
Not because they were slow—
But because neither of them could end it.
Two figures shifting in constant motion Afterimages overlapping like shattered glass Footwork carving invisible patterns into the ground Air pressure reacting to every step
Arios Dreamveil
Clean movement. Adaptive rhythm. Minimal waste.
Zefair
Perfect counterflow. Predictive instincts. Close-combat genius.
They clashed again—
Elbow met forearm.
Knee met block.
Palm strike redirected into a shoulder roll.
Spinning kick—
Evaded.
Counter strike—
Barely missed.
Neither landed a hit.
Not once.
And yet—
They were smiling.
Zefair exhaled mid-combo.
"You're… adjusting every time I adapt."
Arios slid under a strike, twisting his torso.
"You too," he replied. "You're reading faster than I can attack."
They reset distance instantly.
Then—
Moved again.
From the edge of the field—
The royal line watched.
Veldama tilted her head slightly.
"He's good in close-quarters combat."
Destiny narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah… they're evenly matched."
A pause.
"But I feel like Arios still has the upper hand… for some reason."
Lysera smiled faintly.
"You have good eyes, Destiny."
Borus glanced at her.
Lysera's crimson eyes didn't leave the fight.
"My brother is one of a kind," she continued calmly.
"If you hit him once… the same attack won't work twice."
Borus frowned slightly.
"…That's not normal."
On the field—
Arios exhaled.
Deep.
Slow.
Controlled.
I'm enjoying this a little too much…
His body adjusted instinctively.
Muscles tensed.
Breathing stabilized.
Something inside him clicked.
He raised his right leg slightly.
Then his right hand.
A faint warning flashed in his mind.
SYSTEM WARNING
Heaven Void Tian Quan activation is not recommended.
Muscle integrity risk: catastrophic damage
Host may experience full paralysis
Arios smiled slightly.
Paralysis… huh.
Worth it.
Across the field—
Zefair paused.
His instincts screamed.
Danger.
Not normal danger.
Not technique danger.
Something beyond combat.
He shifted backward instantly.
Distance creation.
Escape angle calculation.
Perfect retreat path—
But Jin's eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Too late."
Arios stepped forward.
Just once.
"Heaven Void Tian Quan…"
His voice was calm.
But the air bent around him.
"Heaven's Judgment."
He kicked.
Once.
No explosion sound.
No visible shockwave.
No energy flare.
Just—
Erasure.
The space in front of him folded inward like reality was being judged by something above it.
Everything in range began to collapse:
Matter distorted Energy destabilized Distance lost meaning Defense structures shattered conceptually
It didn't travel.
It decided.
From the sidelines—
Borus' eyes widened.
"…Look what he's been hiding."
Cecil leaned forward slightly.
"…That's unfair."
Destiny didn't speak.
She just watched.
Focused.
Calculating.
Veldama smiled faintly.
"Interesting…"
Lysera's eyes narrowed.
"…Arios…"
Zefair felt it.
Not with sight.
Not with hearing.
With instinct.
I will die if I stay here.
He moved instantly.
Maximum retreat.
Perfect angle shift.
Escape trajectory calculated—
But the attack wasn't following him.
It was already there.
Jin stepped forward.
A single motion.
He raised his hand.
And caught it.
The space around his palm distorted violently as Arios' kick collided with it.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Then—
Silence.
Jin exhaled slowly.
"…That's enough for you two."
The pressure collapsed instantly.
Reality stabilized.
Arios staggered slightly.
His body trembling.
But still standing.
Zefair landed a few meters back, breathing heavily.
Then—
He straightened.
Slowly.
Respectfully.
"I admit defeat."
The system chimed.
DING
Mission Complete
Reward: Adaptive Combat Enhancement + Stat Growth
Arios relaxed instantly.
A faint smile formed.
"You're not weak, Zefair," he said.
"I hope we can fight again."
Zefair nodded once.
"You're the strongest I've met today, Arios Dreamveil."
A pause.
"I'd like a proper fight between us someday too."
"Anytime," Arios replied.
Lysera walked over immediately.
Her expression was half annoyed, half relieved.
"You idiot…"
She sighed.
"You heard the warning, right?"
Arios chuckled weakly.
"Yeah…"
He swayed slightly.
"Can you… bring me over?"
"I can't move."
Lysera stared at him.
Then—
smacked him on the head.
"…Idiot."
She grabbed his arm and helped steady him.
Behind them—
Jin watched quietly.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
Were sharper than before.
Because now he understood something clearly:
Arios Dreamveil wasn't just talented.
He was dangerously evolving.
And evolution like that…
Never stayed peaceful for long.