The air was calm.
Too calm.
No cracks.
No distortion.
No chaos.
And that—
Was the problem.
Kael stood in the center of the ruined street.
Perfectly still.
Perfectly controlled.
Perfectly wrong.
"…You're not leaving like this," the man said.
His voice was steady.
But his stance—
Ready.
Prepared.
For a fight.
Kael turned slowly.
Eyes sharp.
Unfamiliar.
"…You're going to stop me?" he asked.
A faint smile.
"…You couldn't before."
The man didn't react.
"…That was before."
A pause.
"…This is different."
Silence stretched between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Then—
"…Move."
Kael's tone wasn't aggressive.
It was final.
The man didn't.
That was the answer.
Kael sighed softly.
"…Unfortunate."
And moved.
Faster than before—
But not chaotic.
Not wild.
Perfect.
A single step—
And he was already in front of him.
A strike—
Clean.
Direct.
The man reacted instantly—
Blocking—
But the force—
It was overwhelming.
He was pushed back—
Sliding across the cracked ground.
"…Stronger…" he muttered.
Kael didn't press immediately.
He waited.
Watching.
Analyzing.
"…You're adapting too slowly," he said.
"…Or maybe you're overestimating yourself," the man replied.
Then—
He moved.
Fast.
Precise.
He closed the distance—
Struck—
A sharp counter.
Kael blocked.
Easily.
Too easily.
"…Predictable," Kael said.
And countered.
Hard.
The impact sent the man back again—
But this time—
He adjusted mid-motion.
Redirected.
Recovered.
"…Still thinking like him…" the man said quietly.
Kael paused.
Just for a moment.
"…Explain."
"…You're strong."
A pause.
"…But you're not complete."
Silence.
Because that—
Hit something.
Deep.
"…You think this is incomplete?" Kael asked.
"…I know it is."
The man stepped forward again.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
But sharper.
Focused.
"…You gained control."
A pause.
"…But lose yourself."
For the first time—
Kael's expression shifted.
Slightly.
Almost—
Annoyed.
"…Irrelevant."
"…No."
The man stopped.
"…That's everything."
Silence.
Then—
Kael's energy flickered.
Just slightly.
A crack.
Small.
But real.
"…You feel it too," the man said.
"…The imbalance."
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Enough."
He moved again—
Faster than before—
Stronger—
More force—
A direct strike—
But this time—
The man didn't block.
He stepped in.
Closer.
Inside the attack.
And struck—
Directly at Kael's core.
Impact.
Clean.
Precise.
For a moment—
Everything stopped.
Kael froze.
Eyes widening slightly.
Because that hit—
Didn't damage his body.
It hit something else.
Something deeper.
"…What did you—"
The energy inside him reacted violently.
Not outward—
Inward.
Splitting.
Again.
"…You're not the only one who understands energy," the man said.
Stepping back.
Watching closely.
"…I just reminded you."
Kael staggered.
Just slightly.
But enough.
The perfect control—
Cracked.
"…You—"
His voice shifted.
For a second—
It wasn't layered.
It was just—
Him.
"…Kael…" the man said quietly.
"…Fight it."
Silence.
Inside—
The voice surged.
Angry now.
Sharp.
"…He's interfering."
Kael's head lowered.
Energy flickering again.
Unstable.
"…Stop…"
"…You're weakening us."
"…No…"
Kael's hands tightened.
"…You're taking over."
The balance shifted.
Back.
Unstable again.
Dangerous again.
The man stepped forward slowly.
Carefully.
"…You don't need it."
Kael's breathing steadied—
Just slightly.
His eyes—
Flickering again.
Light—
Dark—
Light—
Dark—
Then—
He looked up.
And this time—
There was conflict.
Real.
Visible.
"…I'm not done yet," Kael said.
One voice.
His voice.
The other presence went silent.
For now.
Watching.
Waiting.
The fight wasn't over.
But now—
It wasn't just strength vs strength.
It was control—
Vs control.