The distance felt wrong.
Ethan stood in the center of the empty lot, the faint echo of the city far behind him.
Lena was there—
But not here.
Far enough that the connection felt thin.
Distant.
Unreliable.
"…You ready?" Kai asked.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…No."
Kai smirked faintly.
"Good."
That meant he understood the situation.
Because readiness wasn't the point.
Control was.
Ethan rolled his shoulders slightly.
"…What's the plan?"
Kai didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He stepped back.
Further.
Out of reach.
Out of interference.
"…There is no plan," he said.
Ethan frowned.
"…That's not helpful."
Kai's voice remained calm.
"Then make one."
Before Ethan could respond—
That feeling hit.
Sharp.
Fast.
Close.
Ethan's body tensed instantly.
"…Already?" he muttered.
Kai didn't respond.
Because this wasn't training.
Not anymore.
This was real.
Ethan focused.
Not outward.
Not wide.
Controlled.
He searched for the presence—
Found it—
But something felt off.
"…It's faint," he said.
Not hidden.
But muted.
That was new.
"…They're masking themselves," he realized.
Kai's voice came quietly from a distance.
"Adapt."
Of course.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Then—
He changed approach.
Instead of searching for presence—
He watched for intent.
Movement.
Shifts.
The air.
Anything.
And then—
A flicker.
Left.
Ethan turned—
Just as a figure appeared.
Close.
Too close.
The attack came instantly—
Fast.
Precise.
Ethan moved—
Barely avoiding it.
"…Your detection is slower without the anchor," the attacker said calmly.
Ethan didn't respond.
Because they were right.
Everything felt delayed.
Less clear.
More uncertain.
The attacker didn't rush.
Didn't press.
Just watched.
"…So this is your baseline," they said.
Ethan steadied his breathing.
"…Yeah."
Not strong.
Not enhanced.
Just him.
"…Then let's see how long it holds."
The attacker moved again.
Faster this time.
Ethan reacted—
But slower than before.
He barely shifted out of the way.
Too close.
"…Your reactions are inconsistent," the attacker observed.
Ethan clenched his jaw.
"…Still adjusting."
But adjusting wasn't enough.
Not here.
Not now.
He needed to stabilize.
Now.
Ethan inhaled slowly.
Then—
He stopped moving.
The attacker paused.
"…You're giving up movement?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Because he wasn't giving up.
He was resetting.
Everything.
His breathing slowed.
His thoughts cleared.
The noise—
Reduced.
The distraction—
Faded.
He wasn't trying to track the attacker anymore.
He wasn't chasing their presence.
He was controlling himself.
Fully.
Completely.
The attacker moved again—
But this time—
Ethan didn't react late.
He moved—
Exactly when needed.
Not early.
Not delayed.
Perfect timing.
"…Better," the attacker said.
Ethan exhaled.
Because that felt different.
Not forced.
Not guided.
Just—
Right.
The attacker pressed again—
Faster.
Sharper.
But Ethan held steady.
He didn't try to overwhelm.
Didn't try to disrupt.
He focused on:
Position.
Timing.
Control.
Each movement—
Precise.
Minimal.
Efficient.
"…You've improved your baseline," the attacker noted.
Ethan didn't respond.
Because he was focused.
Fully.
No distractions.
No shortcuts.
Just—
Control.
The attacker shifted angles—
Trying to break rhythm.
But Ethan adapted.
Quickly.
Not by force—
But by understanding.
He wasn't reacting anymore.
He was reading.
Not emotions—
Movement patterns.
Intent.
Flow.
"…Interesting," the attacker muttered.
Because now—
The gap was closing.
Ethan stepped forward.
Not aggressively.
Deliberately.
The attacker paused.
"…You're pushing?"
Ethan met their gaze.
"…Yeah."
Because now—
He understood something.
Even without his ability—
He wasn't weak.
He was just—
Less enhanced.
And that difference—
Could be overcome.
The attacker moved again—
Fast—
But this time—
Ethan was ready.
He shifted—
Closed distance—
Redirected the movement—
Minimal force—
Maximum efficiency.
The attacker stepped back.
"…You've stabilized," they said.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
But he wasn't done.
Because now—
He needed to test it.
He reached for his ability—
Carefully.
Not forcing it.
Not relying on it.
Just—
Layering it.
On top of his control.
A small pulse—
Subtle.
Contained.
The attacker paused.
"…You're integrating it."
Ethan nodded slightly.
"…Not relying on it."
That was the difference.
The attacker moved again—
But slower now.
More cautious.
Because the balance had shifted.
Ethan stepped forward—
Controlled.
Focused.
And for the first time—
Fully independent.
The exchange continued—
But it had changed.
No longer pressure.
No longer testing.
Now—
It was evaluation.
Final.
After a few more exchanges—
The attacker stopped.
Completely.
"…Enough."
Ethan didn't lower his guard.
Not immediately.
"…That's it?"
The attacker nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"You've passed."
Ethan frowned slightly.
"…Passed what?"
The answer came calmly.
"Baseline stability."
Silence.
That mattered more than any victory.
Because without it—
Everything else would collapse.
The attacker stepped back.
"…You're progressing faster than expected."
Ethan didn't respond.
Because he'd heard that before.
"…But your weakness remains," the attacker added.
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"…Which is?"
The attacker's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Your attachment."
Silence.
Ethan didn't deny it.
Because he couldn't.
"…Then I'll control it," he said.
The attacker studied him for a moment.
Then nodded.
"…We'll see."
And just like that—
They were gone.
Ethan stood still.
Breathing steady.
Mind clear.
Kai approached slowly.
"…Well done," he said.
Ethan exhaled.
"…That was harder than before."
Kai nodded.
"As it should be."
Because this time—
There was no support.
No anchor.
No safety net.
Just him.
Lena walked back over.
"…You okay?" she asked.
Ethan nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
"…Better than before."
She smiled slightly.
"…You didn't reach for me."
Ethan looked at her.
"…I didn't need to."
That didn't mean he didn't want to.
But that difference—
Mattered.
Kai crossed his arms.
"…Now you understand."
Ethan nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
Because now—
He wasn't just reacting.
He wasn't just adapting.
He was building something stronger.
A foundation.
One that wouldn't break under pressure.
One that didn't depend on anything else.
And next time—
When the real threat came—
He would be ready.
Not just with power.
But with control.