"Zep, I can sense a human roughly 500 meters ahead. Just head straight."Maw's voice echoed calmly within Zephyr's mind.
Zephyr gave a slight nod as he adjusted his direction without hesitation.
"A candidate…" he murmured under his breath. "Maybe I can take some of his points."
There was no malice in his tone, only practicality.
In this trial, strength dictated survival and survival demanded results.
*****
Not far ahead, a boy stood amidst the aftermath of a hunt.
He was around five feet ten inches tall, possessing a lean yet well-defined physique. His body was clad in fitted leather armor, worn yet refined, with a distinct emblem emblazoned across his chest a clan insignia.
A mark of origin.
His brown hair fell loosely over his forehead, framing a pair of striking black eyes, thin, sharp, and unnervingly focused, resembling slits that cut through everything they observed.
With a calm motion, he pulled his sword free from the head of the beast he had just slain. Blood dripped briefly from the blade before sliding off into the earth.
He paused.
His head turned slightly, gaze shifting toward a distant direction.
A presence.
From beside him, a Wisp emerged...its form taking the shape of a single, floating eye. It hovered silently, its pupil narrowing as it focused on something beyond ordinary sight. The Wisp subtly moved, conveying its perception.
The boy understood immediately.
He nodded."I see…"
Far in the distance, a faint silhouette was approaching.
Fast...Very fast...
One of his abilities enhanced his vision beyond that of ordinary humans. What others could not perceive, he saw clearly.
"A candidate…" he muttered, his tone indifferent yet alert.
*****
Zephyr, on the other hand, had begun to make out the figure ahead.
A silhouette standing still.
"Will a surprise attack work…?"He narrowed his eyes slightly, assessing the situation.
His thoughts halted because he figure moved.
Not retreating to the depth nor running away.. it was advancing directly toward him.
"…So much for a surprise attack."
Zephyr exhaled lightly, adjusting his stance as he slowed down.
Within seconds, the distance between them closed.
They stopped while facing one another.
A silent tension filled the space between them, heavy and suffocating.
The boy spoke first.
"Which clan do you belong to?"
His voice carried confidence...no, authority.As his sharp eyes examined Zephyr from head to toe.
Zephyr scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh… I don't belong to any cl—"
Zephyr never finished his sentence.
A blade flashed. Cold steel almost pressed against his neck!!
'What the hell?!'Zephyr's mind erupted in alarm.
'At least let me finish talking, you bastard!'His body reacted instinctively.
He twisted, barely avoiding the lethal edge as he forced distance between them, his heart pounding violently.
'I almost got my head taken off!' Zephyr steadied himself, eyes narrowing as frustration surged.
'This guy is fast…' Zephyr assess what's in front of him
"You're quite elusive… for a miscreant!!!"The boy's voice rose slightly, laced with irritation.
'What's wrong with this guy?!'Zephyr's expression twitched
'Is it really that offensive that I'm not from a clan?!'Annoyance burned within him, yet he did not let it cloud his judgment.
Because the truth he was at a disadvantage.
A severe one.
In terms of raw strength, the boy clearly surpassed him.
In terms of speed...Even with Super Speed, Zephyr could feel the difference.
It was subtle..
'Elites… are built differently.'the thought crossed his mind, calm and grounded.
He didn't dwell on it though, there was no time for that.
Only action mattered now.
*****
The Boy's Perspective
'Who is this guy…?'The boy's thoughts churned rapidly as he observed Zephyr's movements.
'He's fast… far too fast for someone who came from outskirts.'
From his perspective, Zephyr was nothing more than an outsider an unrefined stray from the outskirts.
And yet, despite his lack of form, despite his seemingly chaotic movements—
He was dodging.Consistently.
'There's no structure… no technique... yet he's surviving my attacks?'It didn't make sense.
The boy's patience was thinning.
"…I've wasted enough time."His gaze sharpened."I've seen enough."
A faint shift occurred within his eyes.
The thin black slits...turned red. A deep, unsettling crimson.
Blood began to seep from the corners of his eyes, trailing slowly down his cheeks.
"Twisted Eyes."
He activated his skill.
*****
Back to Zephyr
The moment it happened—
Zephyr's instincts screamed.
Danger, Overwhelming and Immediate.
Without thinking he closed his eyes.A subconscious reaction.Whether it was the right choice or a fatal mistake.He had no way of knowing.
Then impact came.
A devastating force slammed into his abdomen.
His body was sent flying, as though he were nothing more than a ragdoll. He soared through the air for nearly ten meters before crashing violently into a tree.
Crack!
The outer layer of the trunk splintered upon impact.
"Ugh—!" A sharp cough escaped his lips as blood spilled from his mouth.
Pain surged through his entire body, dull yet overwhelming.
His mind raced.'What… just happened?'
He tried to open his eyes.
He can only see darkness, endless and absolute .
'I can't see…' panic threatened to rise—but he suppressed it immediately.
'This… must be his ability.'Complaining wouldn't help.Panicking wouldn't save him.
Only one thing would help him. A calm mind.
'I need to think.'He rolled his body sideways, forcing himself away from the tree despite the pain.
Just in time...
Slash!
A surge of energy cut through the space he had occupied moments ago.
The tree was split cleanly in half.
The boy had followed him relentless. Seeking to end it immediately.
"Damn it! Why are you so elusive, you miscreant?!"The boy's voice carried clear frustration now.
Blood flowed more heavily from his eyes.The strain of his ability was evident.
Zephyr, meanwhile, struggled to steady himself.The kick had done significant damage.
Each breath was labored and any movement is painful.
'I can't keep this up…' Retreat that word keep circling in his hed
That was the logical choice.Survival over pride.
But then something changed.
The suffocating darkness began to fade slowly and gradually.
His senses returned. Faint but still there...
'His ability… is weakening.'A realization struck him instantly.
"His limit…"Zephyr clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stand.
"This is my chance."Though his voice carried determination, his mind remained cautious.
He knew better than to underestimate his opponent.
This would not be easy not even close.
But for the first time since the fight began the odds had shifted.
Even if only slightly that was enough.