The ground was cold.
Hard.
Unforgiving.
Kael lay there, breathing heavily, his body refusing to respond properly. Every muscle screamed. Every bone felt like it had been broken twice.
But his eyes…
Still open.
—
"…Again."
His voice was low.
Hoarse.
Barely holding.
—
The young guy blinked.
"…You serious?"
—
"…He is," the leader said calmly.
—
The blue-haired girl didn't move.
Just watched him.
—
"…Stand," she said.
💀
—
Kael's fingers dug into the ground.
Slowly—
Painfully—
He pushed himself up.
His legs shook.
His balance unstable.
But he stood.
Again.
💀
—
"…You're learning," the leader muttered.
—
"…He's just stubborn," the young guy replied.
—
Kael ignored them.
His focus was forward.
On her.
—
"…This time…" he whispered,
"…I'll land a hit."
💀
—
Silence.
—
Then—
(Step.)
He moved.
—
Slower than before.
—
Not rushing.
Not desperate.
—
Watching.
—
The blue-haired girl stepped forward too.
—
(SLASH.)
Her blade cut through the air—
—
Kael moved.
—
Not fast.
Not strong.
—
But different.
—
He stepped aside.
Barely.
—
The blade missed.
💀
—
A pause.
—
The young guy's eyes widened.
"…Oh?"
—
Kael's fist moved.
—
(PUNCH.)
—
She tilted slightly—
—
The punch grazed her shoulder.
💀
—
Silence.
—
Everyone froze.
—
Kael froze too.
—
"…I… touched her?" he whispered.
—
The blue-haired girl stepped back slightly.
Looking at her shoulder.
—
Then at him.
—
"…Again," she said.
💀
—
Kael's heart started beating faster.
—
Something inside him shifted.
—
Not power.
—
Awareness.
💀
—
(Step.)
He moved again.
—
This time—
More focused.
—
(SLASH.)
She attacked—
—
He dodged.
Cleaner.
—
(PUNCH.)
He attacked—
—
She blocked—
—
(CLASH.)
Their movements collided.
—
Not one-sided anymore.
—
For a moment—
Just a moment—
They were equal.
💀
—
Then—
(THUD.)
She hit him again.
Hard.
—
Kael fell back.
(CRASH.)
—
Silence.
—
"…Still too slow," she said.
—
Kael coughed.
But—
He smiled.
💀
—
"…I saw it," he whispered.
"…I actually saw it…"
—
The leader's eyes narrowed slightly.
—
"…He's adapting."
—
"…That fast?" the young guy muttered.
—
Kael pushed himself up again.
—
But this time—
Something strange happened.
—
A faint flicker.
—
Inside his vision.
—
[ … ]
—
He froze.
"…What…?"
—
[ Synchronization… 3% ]
💀
—
"…You saw that?" he muttered.
—
"…Saw what?" the young guy asked.
—
Kael didn't answer.
—
The text disappeared.
—
Like it was never there.
—
"…What the hell…"
💀
—
The blue-haired girl stepped forward again.
—
"…Focus."
—
Kael snapped back.
—
"…Right…"
—
(Step.)
He moved again.
—
Faster.
—
Sharper.
—
(SLASH.)
She attacked—
—
He dodged.
—
(PUNCH.)
He countered—
—
(CLASH.)
Blocked again.
—
But—
Closer.
—
Closer than before.
💀
—
"…Interesting," the leader muttered.
—
"…He's changing," the young guy added.
—
Kael's breathing slowed.
—
His movements… stabilizing.
—
Still weak.
Still imperfect.
—
But evolving.
💀
—
Then—
(SLASH.)
A sudden attack—
—
Too fast.
—
Kael's eyes widened.
—
He couldn't dodge.
—
(CUT.)
A deep slash across his chest.
—
He dropped to one knee.
Blood falling.
—
"…Tch…"
—
The blue-haired girl lowered her sword.
—
"…You relaxed."
—
Kael looked up.
—
"…No…"
He smiled weakly.
—
"…I pushed too far."
💀
—
Silence.
—
The leader stepped forward slightly.
—
"…That's enough for today."
—
"…Already?" the young guy complained.
—
"…His body won't handle more."
—
Kael tried to stand again—
—
Failed.
—
"…Yeah… I figured…"
💀
—
The blue-haired girl turned away.
—
"…Next time…"
A pause.
—
"…last longer."
💀
—
Kael let out a small laugh.
—
"…I'll try not to die first."
—
The young guy grinned.
"…Now that's the spirit!"
—
The leader looked at Kael one last time.
—
"…Rest."
—
"…You'll need it."
💀
—
As they started leaving—
—
Kael stayed there.
Lying on the ground again.
—
Breathing.
Thinking.
—
"…Synchronization…"
—
His eyes closed slowly.
—
"…What are you…"
💀
—
Far away…
—
"…It's growing."
—
"…Yes."
—
"…Then we're running out of time."
💀💀💀
End of Chapter 18
Did you notice the change in Kael's movements… or is something else helping him?
What do you think that "Synchronization" really is?
And do you think he can reach full control… before they find him again?
Drop your thoughts below 👇 things are about to escalate 😈🔥