Night fell over Nova High.
The campus was quiet.
Too quiet.
Axel stood alone on the training field, lightning flickering around him.
"…I know you're here," he said calmly.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
A figure stepped out of the darkness.
Hood up.
Black mask on.
Eyes glowing faintly red.
Axel smiled.
"So you finally came."
Kai said nothing.
The air felt heavy.
Dangerous.
Axel stepped forward.
"No more hiding, right?"
Still no answer.
Only silence.
Then—
BOOM!
Axel attacked first.
Lightning exploded forward—
But Kai disappeared.
WHOOSH!
He reappeared behind Axel.
BAM!
A punch slammed into Axel's back.
Axel slid forward, quickly regaining balance.
"…Fast," he muttered.
He turned and unleashed a storm of lightning.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
The ground shattered.
But Kai moved through it effortlessly.
Dodging.
Reading.
Predicting.
Axel charged again.
Their attacks collided.
BOOM!
Shockwaves spread across the field.
Kai's eyes glowed brighter.
His movements became sharper.
Colder.
More dangerous.
Axel grinned.
"This is what I wanted!"
He pushed harder—
More power.
More speed.
But—
Kai stepped in.
Too close.
Too fast.
CRACK!
A brutal strike hit Axel's ribs.
Axel coughed.
Before he could recover—
BAM!
A punch to the face.
Blood splattered.
The King staggered.
Kai didn't stop.
Punch.
Kick.
Strike.
Each hit precise.
Relentless.
Axel tried to fight back—
But this time…
He was being overwhelmed.
BAM!
Kai slammed him into the ground.
THUD.
The field cracked beneath them.
Axel struggled to stand—
Kai grabbed him by the collar.
Lifted him slightly.
Their eyes met.
Axel smiled weakly.
"…So this is your real power."
Kai's voice was cold.
"You should've stayed out of it."
BAM!
He slammed Axel back down.
Silence.
Lightning faded.
Axel lay there—
Barely conscious.
Half dead.
Kai stood over him, breathing slowly.
His red eyes glowing in the darkness.
Then he leaned closer.
His voice low.
Dangerous.
"If you interfere again…"
A pause.
"I won't stop next time."
Axel let out a weak laugh.
"…You already didn't."
Kai straightened up.
The glow in his eyes slowly faded.
Without another word—
He turned and walked away into the darkness.
Leaving the King of Nova High…
Defeated.
—
From a distance…
A shadow watched everything.
Zara.
Her eyes wide.
"…That power…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"…Kai?"
The truth…
Was finally catching up.