The smile on his face didn't fade.
"Now you're fighting."
My chest rose and fell heavily. Every breath burned. My body still ached from the hits, but something inside me had changed.
I wasn't frozen anymore.
I stepped forward.
This time—on purpose.
He noticed.
"Good," he said quietly.
Then he moved again.
Faster than before.
His fist came toward me.
I reacted—
Not perfectly.
But better.
I dodged slightly, the punch grazing past my face instead of landing directly. I felt the air shift as it missed.
I can see it now…
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But enough.
I tried to counter.
My fist moved forward—
Too slow.
He caught my wrist mid-air.
Tight.
Unmoving.
"You're improving," he said.
Then—
He twisted.
Pain shot through my arm.
I dropped to one knee again.
"Still not enough."
He kicked me back.
I hit the ground hard, sliding across the cracked stone.
My vision shook.
My body screamed at me to stop.
To give up.
But his words echoed again—
If you can't fight… you won't exist.
I clenched my fists.
Forced myself up.
Again.
The boy watched me.
This time… differently.
Not bored.
Not careless.
Focused.
"You're strange," he said.
I wiped the blood from my lip.
"You're trying to kill me and still talking."
"That's not what I meant."
He stepped closer.
"Your presence… feels familiar."
My heart skipped.
Familiar.
The same word the others used.
"The man outside said something like that too," I said.
"They called it… scent."
The boy's expression changed slightly.
Recognition.
"…so it's true."
"What is?"
He stared at me for a long second.
Then asked—
"Do you know someone named Lily?"
Everything inside me stopped.
My breath caught.
"…what did you just say?"
"Lily," he repeated.
"You carry the same presence as her."
My hands trembled.
"She's my sister."
The words came out before I could stop them.
Silence fell between us.
Heavy.
Real.
The boy slowly exhaled.
"…I thought so."
My chest tightened.
"You know her?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"I didn't know her personally."
My heart dropped slightly.
"But everyone here knows her name."
That hit harder.
"Why?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Because she survived."
The arena felt colder.
"Survived what?"
"This place."
He looked around.
"The Soulbound Arena."
My mind struggled to keep up.
"She was strong," he continued.
"Stronger than most."
A strange mix of emotions rose inside me.
Shock.
Confusion.
And something else…
Pride.
"But she wasn't like you," he added.
That snapped me back.
"What does that mean?"
"You don't belong here."
His voice was direct.
"She did."
The words felt like a weight.
Before I could respond—
He moved again.
Faster.
Stronger.
This time—
No hesitation.
His fist came toward me.
I focused.
Watched.
Waited—
Now.
I moved.
Just enough.
His attack missed.
Barely.
But it missed.
My body reacted immediately.
I stepped in—
And struck.
This time—
Cleaner.
Faster.
My fist connected with his chest.
He staggered back.
Surprised.
"You're adapting," he said.
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
Something inside me was shifting.
Not just mentally.
Physically.
My movements felt… sharper.
More natural.
Like my body was learning faster than it should.
The ground beneath my feet vibrated again.
The air around us tightened.
The arena was reacting.
The boy noticed.
"…so that's it."
"What?"
"You're not just an anomaly."
His gaze locked onto mine.
"You're a living soul."
The words echoed in my head.
Living.
Not dead.
"Which means…" he continued slowly,
"You'll grow faster than anyone here."
A chill ran down my spine.
That didn't sound like a good thing.
"That also means," he added,
"everyone will want to kill you."
Before I could react—
The air shifted violently.
The voice returned.
Cold. Absolute.
"Trial nearing conclusion."
My heart pounded.
The boy looked at me.
For the first time—
There was seriousness in his eyes.
"No more talking," he said.
"Now we finish this."
The pressure around us intensified.
The arena was closing in.
Only one of us would walk out.
I took a deep breath.
My fists tightened.
My body steadied.
Fear was still there.
But now—
It stood behind me.
Not in front of me.
I looked at him.
And said—
"Then come."