The room is quiet.
Kael slowly rises from the bed. He doesn't look back. He picks up the Axiom from the table and clips it to his belt. The crystal's pulse is steady.
He steps out the door. The morning air is cool. There's already movement on the street. People are heading for the gym. Kael silently walks among them.
A bus stops. It gets out. Inside, it's dim, quiet conversations. Kael sits by the window. The city slowly moves past him.
Yesterday's fight replays in his mind. Virex. The collision. The moment when his being and Virex's didn't just touch… but seemed to collide on some deeper level.
Kael clenches his fist.
"What was that…"
The Axiom on his hip flashes slightly. A short pulse. As if he wanted to answer.
Kael looks out the window. The stadium is already visible in the distance.
"It doesn't matter."
A longer pause.
"Not now."
The bus stops. Kael stands up, gets off.
There's a crowd in front of the stadium. Noise. Excitement. Kael cuts through them, heading inside.
Inside, the corridor is already familiar.
They stand there.
Shiro is leaning against the wall, arms folded. Akira is next to him, watching the arrivals.
When Kael gets closer, Shiro grins.
"Finally. I thought you fell back asleep."
Akira looks him over.
"You don't look good."
Kael stops in front of them.
"I didn't sleep much."
Shiro laughs.
"That's good. Then at least you're nervous."
Kael shakes his head.
"No."
A short pause.
"I was just… thinking."
Akira looks at the Axiom. The crystal pulses steadily.
"I see."
The announcer says,
"Next match: Kael vs. Garron Steele."
Shiro pushes himself away from the wall.
"Finally. This is going to be interesting."
Kael starts toward the arena. Shiro and Akira follow.
Kael pauses for a moment in front of the gate. The noise fades. His heart is calm.
"Now."
He exits.
The stadium explodes with noise.
Garron is already on the other side of the field.
"3… 2… 1… PEONZA!"
Kael pushes the Axiom away.
As the peonza hits the ground, energy erupts from it, and a creature of sharp lines rises above the Axiom.
Garron launches as well. The Iron Bastion slams into the ground, revealing a massive, armored creature behind it.
CLANG!
The Axiom bounces back at the first impact.
Kael doesn't react immediately. He watches.
The Axiom changes course. The creature moves with it.
"Axiom. Vector Shift."
A sudden change of direction. A side-on collision.
The two creatures collide. The Bastion staggers.
Garron charges.
The impact is hard.
The Axiom drifts to the edge of the field. The creature behind it tenses, holding it back.
The Axiom comes back.
Kael closes his eyes.
A beat.
The crystal's pulse and movement coincide.
He opens his eyes.
"Axiom. Pulse Break."
The Axiom slams low. The creature is hurled forward with him.
The Bastion flips on impact. He slides out.
"Winner: Kael."
The Axiom slows. The creature retreats into its peonza.
Kael picks it up. He watches for a moment.
"This isn't enough."
The noise around him returns. But he's already thinking about the next fight.