The air grew heavier with every second.
Not because of the chamber.
But because of them.
The Executors.
Elian stood still this time.
No rushing.
No reckless moves.
His breathing slowed.
"Aeris…" he whispered.
The wind answered.
Not loudly.
But precisely.
The first Executor stepped forward again.
"…you've adjusted."
Elian's eyes locked onto him.
"…and you're still in my way."
The man vanished.
Instant.
But this time—
Elian moved before the attack came.
He turned—
Raised his hand—
The air tightened—
CRACK.
The incoming strike stopped—
Not fully.
But enough.
Elian twisted his body—
Redirected it—
BOOM.
The attack slammed into the ground behind him.
The Executor reappeared, slightly off balance.
For the first time—
A mistake.
Elian didn't waste it.
He stepped in—
Fast.
Compressed wind gathered around his arm—
Sharp.
Focused.
"…Aeris."
He struck.
BOOM.
The impact sent the Executor sliding back across the floor.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…HE HIT HIM?!"
But—
The man stopped.
Still standing.
Uninjured.
"…better," he said.
Elian's expression tightened.
"…you've got to be kidding me…"
The second Executor moved.
The woman raised her hand—
The air around Elian twisted violently—
Not wind.
Something else.
Pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Elian dropped to one knee.
"…what is this…?!"
"…control," she said calmly.
"Not force."
Elian tried to move—
But his body wouldn't respond.
The air itself was holding him down.
The wind struggled.
"Elian… we can't—"
"I know…!" he gritted his teeth.
This wasn't like before.
This wasn't something he could overpower.
It was—
Superior.
The third Executor stepped forward.
Silent.
Watching.
Then—
He raised his hand.
Kael moved.
In an instant—
Everything stopped again.
The pressure vanished.
The air froze.
Even the Executors—
Paused.
"…you're interfering too much," the first man said.
Kael's voice was calm.
"…you're pushing too early."
A pause.
"…he's not ready yet."
Elian looked at him.
"…don't decide that for me."
Silence.
Kael glanced at him.
For a moment—
Something shifted.
"…then stand," Kael said.
The stillness broke.
The pressure returned.
Stronger.
Elian's body trembled.
"…get up…"
His arms shook.
"…GET UP."
The wind roared.
But not outward.
Inward.
Deeper.
"Aeris…!"
This time—
He didn't push back.
He didn't fight the pressure.
He flowed through it.
The air shifted.
The weight—
Slipped.
Elian stood.
The Executors paused again.
"…impossible," the woman whispered.
Elian's breathing was heavy.
"…no…"
A step forward.
"…you're just doing it wrong."
The wind sharpened around him.
Thinner.
Sharper.
More precise than ever before.
He moved.
Faster than before.
Cleaner.
No wasted motion.
He passed the first Executor—
A single strike—
CRACK.
A deep line formed across the man's chest.
Blood.
For the first time.
Silence.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…he actually—"
The Executor stepped back.
Touching the wound.
"…so you've reached it…"
Elian didn't stop.
He turned—
Faced all three of them.
"…I'm not the same as before."
The wind circled him—
Perfectly aligned.
For the first time—
Not wild.
Not reactive.
But controlled.
Kael watched silently.
"…good," he murmured.
But his expression—
Was serious.
"…but still not enough."
The third Executor stepped forward.
Finally.
The moment he moved—
Everything changed.
The chamber trembled violently.
The air distorted.
Even Elian's control—
Shook.
"…this one…" Kael said quietly,
"…is different."
Elian felt it.
A presence far beyond the others.
"…so this is the real one…"
The man raised his hand slowly.
No rush.
No effort.
And yet—
Elian felt it.
Danger.
Real danger.
"…Elian…"
The wind trembled.
"…this one can break you…"
Elian clenched his fists.
"…then I'll just have to break first."
The attack came.
And this time—
Elian couldn't see it.
Couldn't feel it.
Couldn't react.
BOOM.
Everything went white.