The moment shattered.
What had felt like rhythm—
Like control—
Collapsed instantly.
The creature moved.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
Haruki's vision flared—
But this time—
It wasn't enough.
A flash—
Karin attacking.
The creature evading.
Countering—
"Right—!"
Haruki shouted.
Too late.
The creature's strike slipped past Karin's guard—
Barely grazing her side—
But enough to throw her off balance.
"…Tch—!"
She stumbled back.
Haruki's chest tightened.
I saw that…
So why—
Another flicker.
The same moment—
Again.
Different outcome.
Karin dodges.
No—
Too slow.
"…Move sooner…" he muttered.
But the creature didn't wait.
It pressed forward.
Relentless.
Haruki's eyes darted—
Trying to keep up—
Too many possibilities.
Too many changes.
"…It's accelerating," he said.
Karin regained her footing.
"…No kidding!"
She lunged again—
This time more cautious.
But the creature adjusted instantly.
Blocking.
Countering.
Adapting.
Raizen watched.
Silent.
Unmoving.
Haruki noticed.
"…Why isn't he stepping in…?"
But deep down—
He already knew.
This is your fight.
Another clash.
Karin attacked high—
The creature ducked—
Countered low—
Haruki's vision flashed—
He saw it—
"…Back!"
Karin reacted—
Barely avoiding the strike.
Snow scattered as she slid backward.
"…You're cutting it close!" she snapped.
"…I know!"
But knowing wasn't enough.
Haruki clenched his fists.
Why am I still late?
I can see it—
So why can't I act in time?
Another flicker.
The creature attacking him.
Direct.
Fast.
He moved—
Dodged—
But not cleanly.
Its strike brushed past him—
Sharp.
Cold.
He staggered.
"…Haruki!"
Karin's voice snapped him back.
"I'm fine—"
He wasn't.
The visions—
Were lagging.
Just slightly.
But against something like this—
That was everything.
The creature paused again.
Watching.
Learning.
Its head tilted slightly—
Almost—
Curious.
"…It's adjusting to your timing," Karin said.
"…I know."
"…Then change it."
Haruki froze.
"…What?"
"…If it's learning your rhythm…"
She smirked slightly.
"…Then stop giving it one."
That—
Hit differently.
Stop giving it a pattern…
Another vision flickered.
The same attack—
But this time—
He moved differently.
Earlier.
No—
Later.
Unpredictable.
"…Okay…" he whispered.
"…Let's try that."
The creature moved again.
This time—
Toward him.
Fast.
Haruki's vision sparked—
He saw the strike.
But instead of reacting immediately—
He hesitated.
Just a fraction.
Then—
Moved.
The attack missed.
Cleanly.
The creature stopped.
Again.
That pause.
That awareness.
"…It noticed," Karin said.
"…Good."
Haruki exhaled slowly.
It's learning…
So I have to evolve faster.
The next exchange came quickly.
The creature attacked—
Haruki moved—
Not based on a fixed vision—
But instinct.
Guided—
Not controlled.
Karin joined in again.
This time—
Their movements didn't follow a set rhythm.
No predictable flow.
Chaotic—
But intentional.
The creature struggled.
Just slightly.
But enough.
"…Now!" Karin shouted.
Haruki saw it—
An opening.
Small.
Fleeting.
He moved.
Faster than before.
More decisive.
His strike connected.
The creature staggered back.
Its form flickering violently now.
But it didn't fall.
Instead—
It changed again.
Its movements slowed.
Not weaker—
More precise.
"…It's adapting again," Haruki said.
"…Of course it is," Karin replied.
"…This thing doesn't quit."
Haruki's breathing steadied.
"…Neither do we."
Another vision.
Clearer than before.
Not multiple paths—
Just one.
A sequence.
Attack.
Dodge.
Counter.
Not perfect—
But possible.
"…Karin," he said.
"…Yeah?"
"…Follow my lead."
She smirked.
"…About time you said that."
They moved together.
Not perfectly.
But in sync.
Haruki acted—
Not waiting for full confirmation.
Not hesitating.
The creature reacted—
But this time—
It was just a step behind.
A small difference.
But a critical one.
Their attacks landed—
One after another.
Not overwhelming—
But consistent.
The creature's form destabilized further.
Flickering.
Breaking.
"…We're getting to it!" Karin said.
"…Keep pressure on it!"
Haruki nodded.
But even as they pressed forward—
He felt it.
Something—
Off.
Another flicker.
A vision.
Different.
The creature—
Not retreating—
But changing.
"…Wait—"
Too late.
The creature's body distorted—
Shifting.
Evolving.
Its form stabilized—
But differently.
More solid.
More real.
And its eyes—
Locked onto Haruki again.
This time—
Not curious.
Focused.
"…It's not just adapting anymore…" Haruki said slowly.
"…It's improving."
Karin's grip tightened.
"…Yeah…"
"…I can see that."
Raizen finally spoke.
"…Now you understand."
Haruki didn't look back.
"…Yeah."
"This isn't about predicting it anymore…"
Another vision.
But this time—
It didn't show victory.
Only struggle.
"…It's about surpassing it."
The creature moved.
Faster.
Stronger.
And this time—
Haruki was ready—
But not ready enough.
The clash resumed.
More intense than before.
More dangerous.
And as Haruki fought—
One thought echoed in his mind.
I'm still…
Just a step too slow.