The arena felt different this time. It felt heavier. The air seemed to get tighter as all the candidates gathered around. They were all talking in voices and paying close attention. The news had already spread.
People were talking about the boy who beat an Initiate Mid. This boy had no family and no presence. He did not seem to have any power. His name was Kael.
Now he was standing across from someone that everyone recognized. The instructor said "Match Seven" in a voice. "Kael versus Riven Tal" he said. The crowd started making noise away. Some people said "Finally". This should be interesting". Others said "Riven will crush him".
Riven stepped first. He looked confident and relaxed. He was not careless. He was looking at Kael with a lot of focus. "You surprised me" Riven said. "I thought you would lose in the round". Kael did not say anything. Riven smiled a bit. "But now I am curious" he said.
There was a surge of Aether around Riven. It was. Sharp. He was an Initiate Late. "Lets see what you are hiding" Riven said. Kael stepped into position. He was breathing slowly. His body was still.. Inside him something was moving.
The instructor raised his hand. Said "Begin". Riven moved away. He was faster than Daren. His presence was like a wave that was pushing Kael back from the first step. Kael tried to move. He was too slow. Riven hit him. Forced him backward across the floor.
Riven did not stop. He hit Kael again and again. Each time it was heavier than the last. Kael tried to block the hits. It was too much. He was getting overwhelmed. Riven said "So this is your level? Beating someone like Daren does not make you special".
Kaels defense was not strong enough. Riven hit him directly. Kael felt a lot of pain. He was forced back again. The crowd was saying "This is how it should be" and "Riven is too strong".
Kael took a breath and steadied himself. He thought "I need to be faster".. Riven did not slow down. He got faster and his movements became sharper. Kael was trying to keep up. It was not enough.
Riven said "This ends now". He used a technique called "Flame Drive". It was like a spear that was direct and unstoppable. Kaels eyes got sharper. He saw the structure of the technique. It was clear and perfect.
Kael thought "That is the problem". He stepped forward not backward. He raised his hand. Something formed. It was like a fracture. It was not visible. When Rivens attack came Kael reached into it. Not with his hand. With something deeper.
He broke the structure of the technique. It was like a ripple but it was devastating. Rivens attack lost its balance and control. Riven was surprised. Said "What?!" Kael moved quickly. Hit Riven. Riven stumbled back. His expression changed.
The crowd was silent. They did not understand what had happened. Kael did not say anything. He was in pain. His arm was trembling. The fracture was not stable. Riven got up. His eyes were intense. He said "You interfered with my technique".
Kael did not say anything. Riven. Said "Good". He attacked Kael again faster and more aggressively. Kael. Anticipated each strike. He touched the structure of the technique. Broke it just a little bit.
Rivens attacks were getting heavier. They were not as precise. Kael was gaining control. Riven was getting. His voice was showing it. "What is this?!" he said. Kael stepped in. Hit Riven again. Riven blocked it. He was still pushed back.
The balance had changed. Rivens eyes were. He said "Fine". He lowered his stance and Aether surged around him. He was pushing his limits. "If breaking one technique is not enough" he said, "then try breaking this".
He raised both hands and multiple flows of Aether formed. The air was heating up under the pressure. "Flame Drive. Twin Surge" he said. He attacked Kael with a strike. It was faster and heavier than before.
Kaels eyes got wider. This was different and more complex. His body was screaming in warning. It was too much and too dangerous.. Kael stepped forward. He was in pain. He formed the fracture again.
When Rivens attacks came Kael reached out. Broke them. The backlash was instant and violent. Kaels vision. Blood came out of his lips.. It worked. Rivens attacks. He was frozen.
Kael. Hit Riven one last time. It was an direct strike. Rivens body lifted up. Then crashed to the ground. There was silence. No one. Moved. The arena was frozen.
The instructor said "Winner... Kael". The sound broke the silence. Everything erupted. People were. Asking questions. Kael was standing there breathing heavily. His body was. His arm was barely stable.
He did not fall. Not yet. Riven was on the ground staring up in shock and disbelief. "I lost" he said. Kael. Walked away from the arena. He was ignoring the noise and the stares.
He could feel it. Everything had changed. The moment he broke that technique he showed his power. It was not hidden anymore. One of the instructors was watching him closely. "That was not Aether control" he said. "That was interference".
It was dangerous and unknown. Kael stepped off the arena and his grip tightened. The fragments inside him were stirring again this time.. They were still there. "I went far" he thought.
It did not matter. The moment had. The result was decided. The path ahead had changed forever. The tournament continued,. Now everyone was watching Kael. Not as the weakest. As something else. Something that did not fit.
For the first time the system of Aetherion had been challenged. Not, by strength. By a flaw.
A break in something is a fracture.
The Lost Path of Heaven was something that people did not know about for a time.
Now The Lost Path of Heaven is out, in the open and people can see it.