The air felt different.
Heavier.
Not like before.
Eli stood in the middle of the street, shoulders slightly tense, eyes scanning everything around him. The distant fires still burned, but now—
It wasn't just destruction he felt.
It was pressure.
"…He's close," Eli muttered.
Not guessing.
Not assuming.
Knowing.
The energy in the air pulsed faintly—like something massive was breathing just out of sight.
[WARNING: HIGH-TIER ENTITY APPROACHING]
Eli exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah," he said. "I figured."
But this time—
He didn't run.
His grip tightened.
"Let's see how much I've actually grown."
A shadow stretched across the ground.
Then—
Veyr stepped into view.
Same black armor.
Same overwhelming presence.
But this time—
Eli didn't fall to his knees.
Not instantly.
Veyr noticed.
"…You're standing," he said.
Eli smirked slightly.
"Yeah," he replied. "Big improvement, right?"
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
Veyr took a step forward.
The pressure hit.
Hard.
Eli's legs trembled—
But didn't collapse.
"…Not bad," Eli whispered through clenched teeth.
Veyr's eyes narrowed.
"You've grown."
"Yeah," Eli said. "I've been busy."
Without warning—
Veyr moved.
Gone.
"—!"
Eli barely reacted.
A hand grabbed his face—
And slammed him into the ground.
BOOM.
The street cracked beneath him.
Pain exploded through his body.
"GAH—!"
Before he could recover—
Another strike.
Faster.
Stronger.
Eli was thrown across the street, crashing through debris.
"…Okay," he coughed, forcing himself up, "still… way stronger."
Veyr appeared again.
Right in front of him.
"You improved," Veyr said calmly. "But not enough."
Eli wiped blood from his mouth.
"Yeah," he said. "We'll see."
He raised his hand.
Focused.
No hesitation.
"Shadow Fracture!"
The ripple shot forward—
Stronger than before.
It hit.
This time—
Veyr didn't just flinch.
He paused.
For a full second.
"…Again," Veyr muttered.
Eli moved instantly.
He closed the distance—
Grabbed Veyr's arm—
[POWER LINK ESTABLISHED]
[STEALING: 2.3%]
"Got you," Eli grinned.
Energy flooded in.
Stronger than anything he had felt before.
It burned.
Like holding lightning.
"AH—!"
Veyr's expression darkened.
"You never learn."
BOOM.
Eli was blasted away again.
The connection snapped.
He rolled across the ground, gasping.
"…Still hurts every time…"
But—
He smiled.
Because he felt it.
More than before.
[SHADOW FRACTURE: 2% → 3%]
"…Worth it," Eli whispered.
Veyr stepped forward again.
Slower this time.
"…You're adapting faster than expected."
Eli stood up straight.
"…Yeah," he said. "That's kind of my thing now."
Then—
Something changed.
The air trembled.
Not from Veyr.
From somewhere else.
Both of them noticed instantly.
Veyr's gaze shifted slightly.
"…So it begins," he murmured.
Eli frowned.
"…What?"
The ground shook.
A deep, monstrous roar echoed across the city.
Louder than anything before.
Stronger.
Different.
[ALERT: BOSS-CLASS ENTITY DETECTED]
Eli's eyes widened.
"…Boss?"
From the distance—
Something massive emerged.
Towering over buildings.
A creature unlike the others.
Its body was covered in jagged, shifting armor. Its limbs were massive, dragging destruction behind it. Its glowing core pulsed violently in its chest.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Eli whispered.
Veyr watched it calmly.
"…A higher predator," he said.
Eli glanced at him.
"…You don't seem worried."
"I'm not," Veyr replied.
That made Eli more worried.
The creature roared again—
And charged.
Not at Eli.
At both of them.
The ground shattered with every step.
"…Okay," Eli said. "That's new."
Veyr didn't move.
"Show me," he said.
Eli blinked.
"…What?"
"Your growth," Veyr said.
"…You want me to fight THAT?!"
"Yes."
Eli stared at him.
"…You're insane."
"Prove me wrong."
The creature closed in fast.
Eli clenched his fist.
"…Fine."
His eyes sharpened.
"If I can steal from you…"
He looked at the monster.
"…I can steal from that too."
The creature attacked.
A massive arm slammed down.
Eli dodged—
Barely.
The impact shattered the street.
"Okay—WAY stronger!"
He moved again, circling.
Watching.
Learning.
Intent.
Not panic.
Not fear.
Focus.
"Shadow Fracture!"
The ripple hit—
The creature froze—
But only briefly.
"…Not enough," Eli muttered.
The creature roared and swung again.
Eli dashed forward this time.
Not away.
Straight toward it.
"Let's go!"
He jumped—
Grabbed onto its arm—
[POWER LINK ESTABLISHED]
[STEALING: 3.5%]
"…WOAH—!"
The energy was insane.
Way stronger than before.
It surged violently into him.
Almost too much.
"AH—!"
The creature thrashed wildly.
Trying to throw him off.
Eli held on.
"Not—letting—go—!"
[STEALING: 4.2% → 5.0%]
The creature slowed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Eli felt it.
Its power.
Its core.
"…There," he whispered.
He focused everything—
All his intent—
On one point.
Take it.
The energy surged—
Then—
The creature collapsed.
The ground shook as it fell.
Silence followed.
[BOSS DEFEATED]
[+300 EXP]
[LEVEL UP → 5]
Eli dropped to the ground.
Breathing hard.
"…Okay…"
"…That worked."
He looked at his hands.
They trembled.
But not from weakness.
From power.
Behind him—
Veyr watched.
"…Remarkable," he said quietly.
Eli turned.
"…Still want to kill me?"
Veyr stepped forward.
"…More than ever."
Eli smirked.
"…Good."
He clenched his fist.
"…Because next time…"
Energy flickered around him.
Stronger than before.
"…I'll take even more."