The city fell silent.
No wind.
No sound.
Just pressure.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Two figures stood across from each other.
Adrian.
And the man sent to test him.
"…Name," Adrian said calmly.
The man smiled faintly.
"…Kael."
A pause.
"…You'll remember it."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…We'll see."
First Move
Kael vanished.
BOOM
The ground exploded where he stood.
Adrian reacted instantly—
[Predator Instinct Activated]
Time slowed.
Barely.
Kael appeared in front of him—
Fist already swinging.
Adrian blocked—
CRACK
The shockwave shattered the pavement.
Both slid back.
"…Strong," Adrian muttered.
Kael smirked.
"…You too."
Then—
They moved again.
Close Combat
Fist.
Blade.
Impact.
Every clash sent shockwaves through the street.
Windows cracked.
Cars shook.
The air itself trembled.
Adrian slashed—
Kael dodged—
Countered—
A kick slammed into Adrian's side—
[HP -18]
He slid—
Then stopped himself.
"…Not bad."
Kael tilted his head.
"…You're holding back."
Adrian's gaze sharpened.
"…So are you."
Silence.
Then—
They both smiled.
Slightly.
Power Revealed
"…Fine," Kael said.
He stepped forward.
"…Let's stop pretending."
The air around him warped.
Dark energy surged.
Not like ash.
Not like mana.
Something heavier.
More violent.
The ground beneath him cracked—
Then lifted.
Floating.
"…What is that…" Adrian muttered.
Kael's eyes glowed faintly.
"…My domain."
Graviton Domain
The world bent.
Literally.
Gravity increased instantly.
Adrian's body dropped slightly—
The ground beneath him cracked.
"…Tch."
Even breathing felt heavier.
"…Gravity control…" Adrian muttered.
Kael stepped forward slowly.
Unbothered.
"…Everything bends."
A pause.
"…Everything falls."
He raised his hand—
And the air itself collapsed toward Adrian.
BOOM
Adrian was slammed into the ground.
Crater forming instantly.
Dust exploded outward.
"…Adrian!" a distant voice shouted.
From afar—
Seo watched.
Unable to intervene.
"…This is bad…"
Buried
Inside the crater—
Adrian lay still for a moment.
Then—
He laughed.
"…Good."
Ash began to rise.
Even under pressure.
"…This is what I needed."
His eyes opened.
Cold.
Focused.
"…Let's answer properly."
Ash Domain vs Gravity
"…Domain."
The world shifted again.
Gray overtook reality.
Ash filled the air.
The pressure—
Met resistance.
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…So you have one too."
Adrian stood.
Slowly.
The gravity still pressed down—
But weaker now.
Balanced.
"…Now we're equal."
Kael smiled.
"…No."
A pause.
"…Now it gets interesting."
Domain Clash
Gravity pulled down.
Ash pushed outward.
The space between them warped violently.
Cracking.
Distorting.
Their powers collided—
Constantly.
Relentlessly.
Adrian moved first.
Ash surged—
Forming blades—
Chains—
Spears—
They shot toward Kael.
But—
CRUSH
They collapsed mid-air.
Crushed by gravity.
"…Not enough," Kael said calmly.
He stepped forward—
And punched.
The air compressed—
Exploding toward Adrian.
Adrian countered—
Ash condensed—
Blocking—
But still—
BOOM
He was pushed back.
Sliding.
"…He's stronger…" Adrian muttered.
Not by much.
But enough.
Escalation
Kael raised both hands.
"…Let's end this."
The gravity increased again.
Heavier.
Stronger.
The ground began to collapse entirely.
Buildings nearby cracked.
Streetlights bent.
"…If this keeps going…" Seo whispered.
"…the entire block will be destroyed…"
Breaking Point
Adrian stood firm.
Barely.
His body strained.
His domain flickered—
"…So this is your limit…"
Kael's voice echoed.
"…Disappointing."
Silence.
Then—
Adrian smiled.
"…You talk too much."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…What?"
Ash began to change.
Darker.
Heavier.
Denser than before.
"…I haven't used everything yet."
The air trembled.
Even Kael felt it.
"…This…"
Adrian stepped forward.
Despite the gravity.
"…is only the beginning."
The ash surged violently.
Unstable.
Evolving.
Something new—
Was about to be born.