White.
For a moment—
That was all Elian saw.
No sound.
No wind.
No pain.
Just… nothing.
Then—
Everything came back at once.
The impact.
The force.
The pain.
"—ELIAN!"
Lyra's voice.
Distant.
Elian's body slammed across the chamber floor, rolling until he hit the base of a pillar. The ground cracked beneath him as he finally stopped.
He couldn't breathe.
"…gh—"
Every part of his body screamed.
His vision blurred.
"…I…"
The wind flickered.
Weak.
"Elian…"
"…I can't…"
For the first time—
He couldn't feel it clearly.
Not like before.
The connection—
Was breaking.
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Controlled.
The third Executor approached.
No rush.
No hesitation.
"…this is your limit," he said calmly.
Elian tried to move.
His body didn't respond.
"…no…"
He forced his hand to move—
Just a little.
"…not yet…"
The Executor raised his hand.
"…then end it."
The air warped.
A crushing force began to form—
far stronger than anything before.
The wind panicked.
"Elian… you must move—!"
"I CAN'T!" he shouted weakly.
Everything was too heavy.
Too slow.
Too late.
The attack was about to fall—
Then—
Silence.
Everything stopped.
Again.
But this time—
Not because of Elian.
Kael stood between them.
One hand raised.
The air around him—
Was absolute.
Still.
Untouchable.
The Executor's attack—
Frozen mid-formation.
"…you've done enough," Kael said quietly.
The three Executors looked at him.
For the first time—
There was tension.
"…so you finally decided to interfere," the first one said.
Kael didn't respond.
He took one step forward.
And the world shifted.
The air didn't move.
It obeyed.
Completely.
Lyra's eyes widened.
"…what is that…?"
Elian, still on the ground, forced himself to look up.
"…Kael…"
Kael's presence felt different now.
Not calm.
Not quiet.
But overwhelming.
"…you've mistaken something," Kael said.
A pause.
"…he is not your target."
The third Executor stepped forward.
"…and you think you can stop us?"
Silence.
Kael lowered his hand slightly.
"…no."
A faint shift in the air.
"…I'm saying…"
The entire chamber trembled.
"…you shouldn't have come."
BOOM.
Without warning—
The third Executor was sent flying across the chamber, smashing through two pillars before crashing into the wall.
Lyra staggered.
"…WHAT WAS THAT?!"
The other two reacted instantly—
But Kael was faster.
He moved—
And suddenly—
He was already there.
In front of them.
No wind.
No sound.
Just presence.
He raised his hand.
And pressed down.
CRACK.
Both Executors dropped to one knee instantly, the ground beneath them shattering under an invisible weight.
"…this is…" one of them struggled to speak,
"…impossible…"
Kael's eyes were cold.
"…no."
A pause.
"…this is control."
Elian watched, stunned.
"…so this is his real power…"
The wind whispered weakly—
"…he does not command…"
"…he defines…"
Kael stepped closer.
The pressure increased.
The Executors couldn't move.
Couldn't fight back.
Couldn't even stand.
"…leave," Kael said.
Simple.
Absolute.
Silence.
Then—
The three Executors disappeared.
Gone.
Like they were never there.
The pressure lifted.
The chamber fell silent again.
Kael stood still for a moment.
Then—
He turned.
And walked back.
As if nothing had happened.
Lyra stared.
"…I'm not even going to ask…"
Kael stopped in front of Elian.
"…can you stand?"
Elian tried.
Failed.
"…give me a second…"
Kael sighed slightly.
"…you pushed too far."
Elian laughed weakly.
"…you said don't fall behind…"
A small pause.
"…I tried."
Kael looked at him.
For a brief moment—
There was something else in his eyes.
Not judgment.
Not disappointment.
Recognition.
"…and you didn't."
The wind returned softly.
Stronger than before.
"Elian…"
He closed his eyes.
"…I'm still here."
A faint smile.
"…good…"
The chamber around them began to calm.
But the damage—
Had already been done.
Not to the place.
But to something else.
Because now—
The sky knew.
Not just of Elian.
But of Kael.
And next time—
They wouldn't send just Executors.