The ground cracked beneath him.
Ryo forced his body to move.
The gear roared—
and he launched sideways just as the creature's strike tore through the space he had been lying in.
Too close.
Way too close.
He landed hard, sliding across the broken ground before barely catching himself.
His breath came out sharp.
Unstable.
Move…
The thought barely formed before his body reacted again.
The Wrestling didn't stop.
It never stopped.
It turned instantly—its limbs twisting unnaturally as it shifted direction mid-motion—and lunged again.
Fast.
Too fast.
Ryo activated the gear—
but this time, he didn't rush it.
Not completely.
He waited—
just a fraction.
Then launched.
The pull hit him, dragging his body upward at an angle.
Not perfect.
But better.
The creature passed beneath him.
Missed.
Ryo twisted mid-air, forcing his arm to move—
The blade cut down.
A sharp motion.
Controlled.
—
Nothing.
The strike missed.
Again.
Ryo landed, his footing uneven.
His body shook slightly as he steadied himself.
I'm still off…
A sound behind him—
He turned—
Too late.
The creature was already there.
Its arm slammed into him.
The impact threw him back violently, his body crashing into a broken structure before dropping to the ground.
Pain shot through his back.
His vision blurred for a second.
Get up—
He rolled just as the ground beside him shattered.
The creature's strike hit again.
No pause.
No hesitation.
It was relentless.
Ryo pushed himself up, forcing air into his lungs.
His chest burned.
His arms felt heavy.
But he moved.
Again.
Launch.
The gear pulled him upward—
He adjusted mid-air—
This time—
he waited.
Just like before.
The creature moved beneath him.
Ryo's eyes locked onto it.
Now—
He swung.
The blade cut through—
Close.
Too close.
But still—
not enough.
The edge passed just beside the target.
A miss by inches.
Ryo landed roughly, stumbling forward.
His teeth clenched.
Why…
The creature turned again.
Already moving.
No delay.
It closed the distance instantly.
Ryo barely reacted in time—
He launched again—
But the timing was off.
The pull dragged him too far.
His body tilted.
Control slipping.
The creature's attack clipped him mid-air.
—
Pain exploded across his side.
—
Ryo hit the ground hard.
This time, he didn't get up immediately.
His body refused for a second.
His breath staggered.
Too slow…
The sound of movement approached.
Slow.
Measured.
Ryo forced his head up.
The Wrestling stepped toward him.
Not rushing.
Not attacking.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like it knew.
Like it understood.
Ryo's fingers tightened around his blade.
I can't win like this…
The thought hit harder than the pain.
Every move he made—
It answered.
Every mistake—
It punished.
He pushed himself up, legs shaking slightly.
The creature tilted its head again.
Then—
it vanished.
Ryo's eyes widened.
Where—
A shift in the air—
Behind.
He turned—
The attack came instantly.
Ryo raised his blade—
Too slow.
The impact slammed into him, sending him crashing across the ground again.
Dust filled the air.
His grip almost broke.
The sword nearly slipped from his hand.
No—
He tightened his hold.
Forced himself up again.
His body screamed in protest.
But he stood.
Barely.
His breathing was uneven now.
Rough.
Heavy.
The creature didn't give him time.
It moved again.
Faster than before.
Ryo's mind raced.
Think…
What am I doing wrong…
Training flashed in his mind.
The timing.
The wait.
Not too early.
Not too late.
—
Wait.
—
The creature lunged.
Ryo didn't move immediately.
For the first time—
he didn't panic.
He watched.
Just for a second.
Then—
Launch.
The gear activated.
His body rose—
cleaner than before.
More controlled.
The creature passed beneath him—
just barely missing.
Ryo twisted mid-air.
His grip steady.
His breathing sharp.
—
Now.
—
He struck.
The blade cut down—
Closer.
Closer than ever before.
The edge brushed past the chest—
just grazing it.
A faint mark.
Nothing more.
Ryo landed.
His eyes widened slightly.
I touched it…
But the moment didn't last.
The creature reacted instantly.
Faster.
Sharper.
Angrier.
It lunged again—
Ryo tried to move—
Too late.
The impact hit him head-on.
The force threw him back harder than before.
He hit the ground—
and didn't get up immediately.
His body trembled.
His vision blurred.
Everything felt heavy.
Distant.
…This is bad…
The creature approached again.
Slow.
Calm.
Certain.
Ryo's fingers tightened weakly around the blade.
His arms felt numb.
His legs refused to move.
For the first time—
he couldn't react.
The shadow fell over him.
The creature raised its arm.
—
No escape.
—
Ryo's eyes widened.
His chest tightened.
His mind screamed—
Move—
MOVE—
—
Nothing.
—
The attack came down.
—
At the last second—
the gear activated.
—
Instinct.
—
His body jerked sideways violently.
The strike missed—
barely.
The ground shattered beside him.
Ryo rolled across the ground, gasping for air.
His body shaking.
His heart pounding violently in his chest.
I almost—
He didn't finish the thought.
Couldn't.
He forced himself up again.
Slower this time.
Weaker.
But still standing.
His grip tightened around the blade.
His breathing steadied—
just a little.
His eyes lifted.
Locked onto the creature.
No fear this time.
Only focus.
He adjusted his stance.
The gear hummed softly at his side.
Unstable.
But ready.
The creature moved.
So did he.
This wasn't over.