The air tightened.
The creature had changed.
Faster.
Sharper.
More aggressive.
Kael felt it instantly.
The moment he shifted his stance—
It attacked.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Just—
speed.
Kael moved.
He felt the shift—
Stepped aside—
But the second strike came immediately.
Too fast.
Impact slammed into his ribs.
His body lifted—
Then crashed hard across the ground.
"—!"
The air left his lungs.
Pain spread through his side.
Worse than before.
"…It's adapting…"
He pushed himself up slowly.
Breathing uneven.
His vision blurred for a second—
Then sharpened again.
The presence circled him.
Faster now.
Testing him.
Hunting him.
Kael steadied his breathing.
He could feel it—
The pattern.
But his body…
Wasn't keeping up anymore.
"…Not enough…"
The thought slipped out quietly.
His muscles were slowing.
His reactions are lagging.
And the creature—
Wasn't.
Another shift—
Another attack—
Kael reacted—
Too late.
A sharp strike cut across his arm.
Blood followed.
He stumbled back.
His breathing grew heavier.
"…At this rate…"
He already knew the answer.
He'd lose.
Behind him—
Silence.
The stranger didn't interfere.
Didn't speak.
Just watched.
Waiting.
Kael clenched his fists.
His gaze dropped briefly—
To his chest.
The faint glow beneath his skin pulsed slowly.
Waiting.
"…I don't have a choice…"
The words were quiet.
But steady.
"Aetherion."
Silence.
Then—
"Response acknowledged."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…I need power."
A pause.
Then—
"Warning."
"Energy output beyond the current threshold will destabilize the host."
Kael exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
"…I figured."
The creature moved again.
Closing in.
Fast.
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Then don't give me everything."
A brief pause.
"…Just enough."
Silence.
Then—
"Partial release… accepted."
The core pulsed.
Once.
Then—
It ignited.
Heat surged through Kael's body—
Not wild like before.
Controlled.
Focused.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened instantly.
The world slowed—
Just slightly.
Enough.
The creature attacked.
Kael moved.
Clean.
Precise.
He stepped past the strike—
Turned—
And struck back.
His hand connected.
Solid.
The distortion flickered violently—
Revealing more of its form.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He moved again—
Faster now.
Keeping up.
Matching it.
The creature lashed out—
Kael blocked—
The impact still hurt—
But he held on.
"Good."
The voice came from behind him.
Calm.
Observing.
Kael's breathing stayed steady.
His focus didn't break.
But—
He felt it.
The heat.
Rising again.
Slowly.
"…Time limit…"
His body wasn't stable.
Not like this.
The power surged again—
Trying to push further.
Trying to take more.
Kael clenched his teeth.
"…No."
He forced it down.
Hold it.
Controlled it.
The creature attacked again—
Kael stepped in—
Not back.
His hand struck forward—
This time—
Fully connecting.
The distortion shattered.
Just for a moment—
Its true form appeared.
Sharp.
Twisted.
Not meant to exist in any normal space.
Then—
It vanished again.
The air fell still.
Kael stood there—
Breathing hard.
The glow beneath his chest flickered—
Then dimmed.
The power faded.
His legs almost gave out—
But he stayed standing.
"…That's enough…"
Behind him—
Silence.
Then—
"…Not bad."
Kael let out a slow breath.
"…Yeah…"
He wiped the sweat from his face.
"…I'm still alive."
A pause.
Then—
"…Barely."