The noise of the city reached them before anything else.
Mike noticed it first.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't some strange sensation.
It was people.
— Damn…
He stopped in the middle of the street.
— I forgot how loud this place is.
Kael, beside him, didn't even slow down.
— You were gone for three months.
— In there.
— Out here, nothing changed.
Mike picked up his pace, walking alongside him.
— It did change.
Kael glanced at him.
— What?
Mike shrugged.
— Me.
A short silence.
Kael didn't answer right away.
Just let out a quiet "hm."
But it wasn't indifference.
They kept walking.
People passing by.
Voices overlapping.
Normal.
But Mike… wasn't ignoring it anymore.
He looked.
He noticed.
— Hey.
Kael turned slightly.
— That guy over there…
A vendor arguing with a woman.
— What are they fighting about?
Kael glanced quickly.
— Price.
— Seriously?
— Seriously.
Mike watched a bit longer.
— …that's kind of stupid.
— It is.
— But it matters to them.
Mike thought about it.
— That's weird.
— What?
— Before… I wouldn't even notice something like that.
Kael gave a faint smile.
— I know.
Silence.
They kept walking.
Until—
— HEY!
A kid bumped into Mike, dropping a bunch of stuff on the ground.
— Sorry!
Mike crouched immediately.
— It's fine.
He started helping.
— You okay?
— Yeah!
The kid gathered everything quickly.
— I'm late!
— For what?
— Work!
Mike paused for a second.
— You work?
— Everyone works.
Simple answer.
The kid ran off.
Mike watched him go.
Silence.
— Kael…
— Hm?
— Is this normal?
— What?
— People living like this.
Kael didn't answer right away.
— Yeah.
— And it's heavy.
Mike stayed quiet.
— …I never thought about it.
— I know.
Silence.
They kept walking.
Until a group passed by.
— Did you see the announcement?
— It's out already?
— Just came out!
Mike turned immediately.
— Announcement for what?
The man looked at him.
— You're not from here?
— I am.
— I just don't pay attention.
— That's obvious.
He laughed.
— Tournament.
Silence.
— What tournament?
— Seriously?
— Do you live in a cave?
Mike opened his mouth—
Kael cut in.
— Leave it.
The man continued:
— Capital tournament.
— Hunters, fighters…
— strong people.
— Everyone's going.
Mike looked at Kael.
— Are we going?
Short silence.
Kael answered simply:
— You are.
Mike blinked.
— Me?
— You want to get stronger?
— Yeah.
— Then stop asking.
Silence.
Mike smiled slightly.
— Alright…
— then I'm gonna win.
Kael let out a quiet laugh.
— Start by not blowing up half the arena.
— No promises.
They kept walking.
But now—
the world didn't feel so distant.
Mike looked at it differently.
Not like someone who just sees.
But like someone starting to understand.
---
On the other side of the city—
— He's back.
A woman leaning against a wall spoke quietly.
— Who?
— The kid.
— Merlin's.
Silence.
— And?
She watched the movement in the street.
— He changed.
— Is that good or bad?
A small pause.
— I don't know yet.
---
Meanwhile—
high above—
Riven watched.
— Movement increased.
Draka stood beside him.
— Because of the tournament?
— Not just that.
— They're using it.
— As cover.
Draka smiled.
— Good.
— More people to hit.
Riven didn't take his eyes off the city.
— You never get tired of that?
— No.
— Do you get tired of breathing?
— Fair point.
Silence.
— So we're entering too?
— Yeah.
— Tournament's the best place to find them now.
Draka spun the axe on her shoulder.
— Perfect.
---
Far from there—
a silent place.
And Elion… standing still.
Not moving.
But the space around him…
still breaking.
— They're gathering.
Silence.
— Let them.
His answer was simple.
— Makes it easier.
And for a moment—
the void responded.
Not with a voice.
But with presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
The arena wasn't even officially open yet.
But it was already full.
Not of ordinary people.
Of presence.
Mike felt it before seeing it.
— This place is… weird.
Kael didn't answer immediately.
He was looking at the center of the arena.
Empty.
But heavy.
— It's not weird.
— It's dangerous.
Mike let out a low "hm."
— You say that like it's normal.
— For me, it is.
Silence.
Mike looked around.
Different people.
Different weapons.
Eyes that weren't normal.
— Everyone here fights?
— Almost everyone.
— And the rest?
— Watches.
Mike gave a small smile.
— I'd rather fight.
Kael glanced at him.
— I know.
Silence.
They walked down the stands.
Closer to the arena.
Closer to the center.
Mike stopped.
— Kael.
— Yeah?
— You really knew?
Kael exhaled lightly.
— I did.
— Since when?
— Before we left the dimension.
Mike stayed quiet for a few seconds.
— And you didn't say anything.
— No.
— Why?
Silence.
Kael thought.
— Because I needed to see how you'd come back.
Mike frowned.
— That doesn't make sense.
— It does.
— I didn't want to put this in your head too early.
Mike crossed his arms.
— So you decided alone.
— Yeah.
Silence.
Mike looked at the arena.
— I don't like that.
— I know.
— But I get it.
Kael turned to him.
— You do?
— You do that all the time.
— Protect… without saying anything.
Short silence.
Kael didn't deny it.
— Yeah.
Mike let out a breath.
— Don't do that anymore.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
— Do what?
— Leave me out of it.
Silence.
— I'm not just a kid anymore.
Kael looked at him.
And this time… really looked.
— I know.
— Then act like it.
Silence.
A small pause.
Kael nodded slightly.
— Alright.
— I'll try.
Mike smiled faintly.
— That's a start.
Silence.
A deep sound echoed through the arena.
Like a bell… but heavier.
The crowd reacted.
— It started.
Kael spoke quietly.
Mike looked at the center.
— Now?
— Now.
A man appeared in the arena.
— LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—
His voice cut through everything.
Mike tilted his head slightly.
— Does he always talk like that?
— Always.
— Kinda dramatic.
— It works.
Silence.
— TODAY—
— YOU WILL SEE THE TRUE LEVEL OF THIS WORLD!
The arena roared.
Energy rising.
— Opening match—
A brief pause.
— KAEL.
Silence.
Not empty.
Heavy.
Mike looked to the side.
— Go.
Kael didn't respond.
He just started walking.
Steady steps.
No hesitation.
Mike watched.
Different now.
Not like someone admiring.
But like someone who understands the risk.
Kael stepped into the arena.
The ground reacted to his weight.
Subtle.
But real.
Mike stayed above.
Arms resting on the railing.
Eyes fixed.
— …don't lose.
He said it low.
Almost like Kael wouldn't hear.
Maybe he did.
Because Kael paused for half a second—
then kept going.
Silence.
— AND ON THE OTHER SIDE—
The voice returned.
But now—
the atmosphere changed.
— A NAME THAT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION.
The arena grew quieter.
Instinctively.
— ELION.
The space… failed.
It wasn't an entrance.
It wasn't a step.
It was presence.
He was already there.
Standing.
As if he had always been.
Mike felt it instantly.
— …that's not right.
Kael felt it too.
But didn't step back.
Elion raised his gaze.
And met his.
Total silence.
— You came.
His voice was different.
Lower.
Emptier.
Kael answered simply:
— You too.
— I chose to.
— I know.
Silence.
Mike gripped the railing slightly.
— He's not normal…
No one answered.
Because everyone already knew.
Elion took a step.
The ground didn't react.
As if it refused.
— You took your time.
— I needed to see.
— What?
A small pause.
Kael answered:
— If there was still you in there.
Silence.
Elion tilted his head slightly.
— And is there?
Kael didn't answer.
Because…
he had already seen enough.
The air grew heavier.
The entire arena felt it.
— Then…
Elion opened his hand slightly.
And something… disappeared.
Didn't explode.
Didn't break.
It just… stopped existing.
Mike's eyes widened.
— …what the hell was that?
Kael got serious.
Now… for real.
— I understand.
Silence.
Elion smiled.
But it wasn't a normal smile.
— Good.
— Then come.
And in that moment—
it wasn't an introduction anymore.
It was a confrontation.