The air stood still for a moment.
Not calm.
Not peaceful.
Tense.
The three hunters didn't move.
But their presence alone felt like pressure pressing down on Elian's chest.
"They're analyzing you," Kael said quietly.
Elian didn't take his eyes off them.
"Great… I feel so honored."
The wind circled him rapidly.
"Elian… they are not like the others…"
"I can tell," he muttered.
One of the hunters stepped forward.
No sound.
No wasted movement.
Then—
It vanished.
"Elian!" the wind warned.
Too late.
The attack came from the side—
Elian twisted his body at the last second, barely avoiding the strike as it sliced through the air beside him, leaving a deep scar in the ground.
"They're faster…" he thought.
He jumped back, trying to create distance.
But another one was already behind him.
"Above!" the wind shouted.
Elian dropped instantly—
A force tore through the space where his head had been a fraction of a second earlier.
His heart pounded violently.
"I can't keep up…"
Kael still hadn't moved.
"Stop thinking," Kael said.
Elian gritted his teeth.
"Kind of hard NOT to—"
Another attack.
This time—
Elian didn't dodge.
He turned.
Faced it.
His hand shot forward.
The air compressed—
CRACK.
The incoming force shattered against an invisible barrier just inches from him.
Elian's eyes widened.
"I stopped it…"
The hunter paused.
Then—
All three moved at once.
"ELIAN!" the wind roared.
Too fast.
Too many.
Elian's body reacted instinctively—
He pushed.
Everything.
Outward.
BOOM.
A violent burst of air exploded from him in all directions, forcing the hunters back several meters. The ground cracked beneath his feet as dust and debris spiraled into the sky.
Silence.
For a brief second—
Nothing moved.
Elian stood at the center, breathing heavily.
"…I can do this…"
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…interesting."
But the fight wasn't over.
The hunters rose again.
Unaffected.
Unshaken.
"They're not slowing down…" Elian said, panic creeping back in.
"Of course not," Kael replied.
A pause.
"They do not feel fear."
The hunters raised their hands together.
The air around them twisted violently.
Stronger than before.
Far stronger.
Elian felt it instantly.
"This is bad…"
The wind surged wildly.
"Elian… you cannot block this…"
His heart raced.
"…then what do I do?!"
Silence.
For the first time—
Even the wind didn't answer.
The attack formed.
Three forces merging into one—
A massive distortion tearing through the air straight toward him.
Everything slowed again.
The sound faded.
The world narrowed.
And Elian realized something.
He had been reacting.
Surviving.
Running.
But not choosing.
Not controlling.
"…enough," he whispered.
The wind stilled.
For a brief moment—
Everything listened.
Elian stepped forward.
Into the attack.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…so that's your choice."
Elian raised both hands.
Not to block.
But to shape.
The air around him bent—
Twisted—
Flowed.
Like it was alive.
The incoming force reached him—
And split.
Dividing around his body like water around a stone.
BOOM.
The ground behind him shattered as the attack passed through—missing him completely.
Silence.
The hunters froze.
For the first time—
They didn't move.
Elian stood still.
His breathing slow.
Controlled.
"…I don't need to fight it," he said quietly.
"I just need to understand it."
The wind returned—
Stronger than ever.
"Yes…"
Kael stepped forward.
"…that is the difference between power…"
A pause.
"…and mastery."
The hunters stepped back.
Then—
Without a word—
They disappeared.
Gone.
Just like that.
Elian blinked.
"…they're leaving?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
"No."
He looked up at the sky.
"They've seen enough."
A chill ran down Elian's spine.
"…What does that mean?"
Kael's expression darkened slightly.
"It means…"
A pause.
"…next time, they won't come to test you."
Silence.
"They'll come to kill you."
The wind whispered softly.
"Elian…"
His fists tightened.
"…then I'll be ready."
Above them—
The sky shifted once more.
Watching.
Waiting.
And now—
Interested.