The body on the ground didn't get up.
And no one had the courage to go to it.
The entire field froze for a second.
A second way too long.
— …who was it?
Lyra's voice came out low.
No one answered.
Because everyone already knew.
But no one wanted to confirm it.
Lilith stood still.
In the same place.
Unhurried.
No emotion.
Like it meant nothing.
— Hey…
Mike said.
Low.
— Hey.
He took a step.
— This… isn't fun anymore.
Silence.
Kael turned his head slowly.
— Mike, don't—
Too late.
He was already moving.
Not running.
Walking.
But the space around him…
was no longer the same.
— You…
Mike looked straight at Lilith.
— you don't get to do this and pretend it's fine.
She tilted her head.
Curious.
— You learn, right?
Mike continued.
— Then learn this too.
He snapped his fingers.
And the world changed.
It wasn't an explosion.
It wasn't impact.
It was… broken logic.
The ground became a board.
Squares appeared.
Some solid.
Others not.
Lilith stepped.
The ground vanished.
She fell.
For half a second.
And that was enough.
Mike appeared above her.
With a massive hammer.
Absurd.
Out of proportion.
— Here.
He brought it down.
The impact was ridiculous.
The ground sank.
But not just that.
A wall appeared behind her.
Lilith hit it.
No time to react.
First clean hit.
Silence.
— …he hit her.
Elion said, disbelieving.
— Don't stop!
Kael shouted.
But Mike was already in another rhythm.
He spun midair.
Created momentum.
Changed direction three times.
Vanished.
Appeared at her side.
Now with a spear.
Which became three.
Which became ten.
— Let's see you keep up with this!
The spears came.
From every angle.
Lilith dodged.
But not all.
One grazed.
Another hit.
And for the first time—
she was pushed.
Two steps.
Lyra's eyes widened.
— …that's impossible.
— No.
Rivel said.
— It's different.
Mike landed.
But got up instantly.
Smiling.
— See?
He took a deep breath.
— I don't need to follow any rules.
The air around him distorted.
And that's when it changed.
His body… got lighter.
His movements looser.
His smile more… off.
— Mike…
Kael froze.
— What are you doing?
Mike looked at his own hand.
And laughed.
— I don't know.
He spun.
And his body followed like a drawing.
No weight.
No limits.
— …but it's working.
Lilith looked.
And this time—
it wasn't curiosity.
It was focus.
She moved.
Fast.
Much faster.
Mike didn't dodge.
He… warped.
His body bent.
Stretched.
Snapped back.
Like physics didn't apply.
— You can't catch me.
He appeared behind her.
Created a chain.
Held her.
Created another.
And another.
Lilith broke free.
But it took time.
Enough time.
Kael stepped in.
Elion with him.
Lyra too.
Combined attacks.
Now with rhythm.
Now with real pressure.
Lilith stepped back.
Again.
But this time…
different.
She was being forced.
— Keep going!
Mike raised his hand.
And created something new.
A cannon.
Ridiculous.
But powerful.
— Let's see you learn this.
He fired.
The blast tore across the field.
Exploded behind.
And hit her.
Direct.
Silence.
Dust rising.
Everyone watching.
— …did it?
Lyra asked.
Mike stood still.
Breathing hard.
Eyes locked.
— No.
The dust parted.
Lilith was there.
But this time…
injured.
For real.
And looking at him.
Different.
— Now…
Mike smiled.
— now you're paying attention.
Silence.
And then—
she smiled back. The smile changed everything.
It wasn't bigger.
It wasn't crueler.
It was… aware.
She wasn't just learning anymore.
Now she was… responding.
— Alright.
Mike took a deep breath.
— Then let's do this for real.
His body moved strangely.
Not heavy.
Not light.
Loose.
Like each part of him had its own will.
He stepped.
The ground turned spring-like.
He launched.
Vanished midair.
And appeared above her.
But this time—
no weapon.
A scenario.
The sky darkened.
For a second.
And dozens of objects started falling.
Not meteors.
Things.
Doors.
Chains.
Chunks of structures.
All at once.
— Let's see you understand this.
Lilith moved.
Fast.
Dodging.
Breaking.
Adapting.
But it was different.
Because there was no pattern.
Mike appeared in the middle.
Spinning.
Created a wall.
She dodged.
Created another behind.
She hit it.
No time to react.
— Now!
He pulled his arm.
And space bent.
Lilith was dragged.
Straight to a point.
Where there was already—
a blade.
She blocked.
But late.
Cut.
Deeper this time.
Silence.
Lyra's eyes widened.
— He's… dominating?
— No.
Kael answered.
— He's breaking everything.
Mike landed.
Laughing.
— This is way more fun!
He raised his hand.
And created something else.
A field.
Closed.
Like an arena.
— Now you don't run.
Lilith looked around.
And for the first time…
hesitated.
She didn't respond immediately.
— Got you.
Mike whispered.
He moved.
Faster.
Creating momentum in the air.
Changing direction without logic.
Appearing and disappearing.
Each attack different.
Each move new.
Lilith started making mistakes.
Small ones.
But she did.
— MORE!
Mike shouted.
His body warped.
His arm stretched.
Hit from distance.
He pulled her.
Created a wall.
Slammed.
Created another.
Slammed again.
Three times.
Direct.
Real impact.
Silence.
— He… did it.
Elion said low.
— Keep going!
Lyra shouted.
But Mike stopped.
Breathing heavy.
Body shaking.
— …it's not over.
Lilith was still standing.
Injured.
But standing.
And then—
she did something different.
Didn't attack.
Didn't dodge.
She stood still.
And looked at him.
Direct.
— I understand.
She said.
Absolute silence.
— …no.
Mike stepped back.
— You can't understand this that fast.
But it was already too late.
The space around her changed.
Not like his.
But close.
— …oh no.
She moved.
Now unpredictable.
Not the same.
But enough.
Mike tried to react.
Created a wall.
She went through.
Created a chain.
She broke it.
Created a creature.
She ignored it.
And appeared in front of him.
Direct.
— MIKE!
Too late.
She struck.
The impact was sharp.
Heavy.
Real.
He was thrown.
His body hit the ground.
Rolled.
Stopped.
Silence.
Lyra froze.
— …get up.
Kael didn't move.
— Get up.
Mike didn't answer.
But… moved.
Slowly.
— …I…
He lifted his head.
Blood.
But smiling.
— …almost had it.
Silence.
And that's when—
the air changed.
Heavy.
Different.
Ancient.
Kael felt it first.
And closed his eyes.
— …it's here.
Everyone looked.
And on the horizon—
a presence.
That didn't need to run.
Didn't need to arrive fast.
Because the world already knew.