The alley trembled with tension.
Rain dripped from broken pipes.
Kai stood still—eyes faintly glowing red, breathing steady, fists clenched.
Across from him, the Dragon member smiled.
"Now we begin," they said.
They moved first.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kai barely blocked the first strike. The impact sent a shock through his arms, forcing him back a step.
Stronger than before…
Another attack—
Kai dodged, spun, countered.
This time, his punch landed.
Solid.
The Dragon member slid back slightly…
Then smiled.
"Good," they said. "You're adapting."
Kai didn't answer.
He moved again.
Faster. Sharper.
The fight exploded.
Blow after blow.
Movement against movement.
Precision against power.
But something was different.
Kai wasn't just reacting anymore.
He was predicting.
Reading.
Controlling himself.
Until—
The Dragon member stopped.
Mid-fight.
Kai froze slightly. "…What are you doing?"
The Dragon member tilted their head.
"Tell me, Kai…"
Their voice dropped.
"…do you even know where your power comes from?"
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"I don't care."
"You should."
Silence.
Rain hitting the ground.
Slow.
Heavy.
"Your mother," the Dragon member continued, watching him closely, "wasn't just taken."
Kai's body went still.
"…What?"
"She worked with us."
The words hit harder than any punch.
"No," Kai said immediately. "That's a lie."
The Dragon member didn't move.
"Then why do you think you have that power?"
Kai's breathing changed.
Slightly faster.
"Your mother helped create it," they said.
"She helped create… you."
Inside—
Something stirred.
The Underlord.
"…They speak truth," the voice whispered.
Kai's eyes flared red.
"SHUT UP!" he shouted—at both of them.
The Dragon member smiled faintly.
"There it is…"
They attacked again.
Kai blocked—harder this time.
Stronger.
Faster.
The red glow in his eyes intensified.
Not fully out of control—
But closer.
"You're losing it," the Dragon member said calmly.
"I said—" Kai pushed forward—
"I'M NOT USING IT!"
But his power answered anyway.
A burst of energy exploded from him.
Cracking the walls.
Shattering the ground beneath his feet.
The Dragon member jumped back.
"…So you can't control it," they said.
Kai stood there—breathing heavy.
Eyes glowing brighter now.
Inside—
The Underlord laughed.
"You see? You need me."
Kai clenched his fists.
"…No."
He forced the glow down.
Forced his breathing steady.
Forced control.
And slowly—
The glow dimmed.
The Dragon member watched carefully.
"…Interesting," they said.
Kai looked up.
Calm again.
Focused.
"My mom…" he said slowly, "…you're going to tell me everything."
The Dragon member smiled.
"Earn it."
They charged again.
This time—
Kai didn't hesitate.
He moved forward—
Not just fighting them…
But fighting the truth.
The voice.
The past.
Every hit now carried more than strength.
It carried questions.
Pain.
Purpose.
And deep inside—
The Underlord watched.
Silent.
Waiting.
Because the more Kai fought—
The closer he came…
To something he couldn't escape.