The air screamed.
Not metaphorically.
Not dramatically.
Literally.
The pressure between Kael and the Executor distorted everything around them—sound, light, even space itself.
Then—
they moved.
BOOM.
The ground vanished beneath them.
Not cracked.
Not broken.
Erased.
Kael's body surged forward, black energy wrapping around his arm like a living force.
He swung—
The Executor vanished.
Too fast.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…Left."
He turned instantly—
blocked.
CRACK.
The impact shattered the air.
The Executor's strike collided with Kael's defense, sending shockwaves ripping across the academy ruins.
"…You've improved," the Executor said calmly.
Kael smiled slightly.
"You're slower than I expected."
The voice wasn't fully his.
The Devouring King was pushing forward.
"Push harder," the voice inside him whispered.
Kael's grip tightened.
"…Not too much…"
"Too late for that."
The Executor disappeared again.
Kael reacted faster this time—
but still not fast enough.
BOOM.
A direct hit to his side.
Kael was sent flying again, crashing through what remained of the outer wall and into open air.
He flipped mid-air—
landed roughly—
skidding across the ground outside the academy.
Dust rose.
Silence—
for half a second.
Then—
the Executor appeared above him.
"End of evaluation."
His hand lifted.
Energy gathered—
not explosive—
not flashy—
Condensed.
Deadly.
Kael's body tensed.
Inside—
the Devouring King surged.
"Move."
Kael hesitated.
"…I can handle this—"
"No."
The voice snapped.
"You can't."
The Executor's attack dropped.
Time slowed.
Kael saw it clearly—
the impact—
his body breaking—
everything ending—
And for the first time—
he didn't think.
He let go.
"…Fine."
The moment he did—
everything changed.
⚠️ CONTROL SHIFT
HOST: 31%
ENTITY: 69%
Kael's eyes darkened completely.
The attack landed—
But Kael wasn't there anymore.
He had already moved.
Behind the Executor.
Fast.
Too fast.
Even the Executor reacted late.
"…What—"
Kael's hand reached forward—
And grabbed his shoulder.
Silence.
The Devouring King spoke softly:
"Found you."
BOOM.
The explosion wasn't large.
But it was dense.
Focused.
The Executor was launched across the battlefield, crashing into the ground and carving a deep trench through the earth.
Dust filled the air.
Kael stood still.
Breathing steady.
Too steady.
"…This is better," the Devouring King said.
Kael's voice—faint, distant—responded:
"…You're taking too much…"
"I'm keeping you alive."
Kael's fingers twitched.
Trying to move.
Trying to resist.
But slower now.
"…Give… it back…"
The Devouring King didn't answer.
Because something else had appeared.
The dust cleared.
The Executor stood up.
Uninjured.
Completely intact.
"…So this is your real state."
Kael tilted his head slightly.
"And you're still standing."
The Executor brushed dust off his sleeve.
"Of course."
A pause.
"Did you think I came unprepared?"
The air shifted again.
But this time—
different.
Not pressure.
Containment.
Kael's movement slowed.
Just slightly.
The Devouring King frowned.
"What is this…?"
Symbols appeared around the battlefield.
Massive.
Ancient.
Locking into place.
The First Forgotten Legend's voice echoed in the distance:
"…They're sealing the area!"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Too late."
He stepped forward—
but stopped.
For the first time since taking control—
his body didn't respond properly.
"…What?"
The Executor raised his hand calmly.
"This is not for you."
A pause.
"It's for what's inside you."
Kael's chest tightened.
The Devouring King's voice dropped.
"…They built this specifically for me."
The symbols activated.
BOOM.
Chains of light erupted from the ground—
not binding Kael—
Binding inside him.
Kael screamed.
Not from pain—
From resistance.
"DON'T—!"
The Devouring King roared:
"YOU THINK THIS CAN HOLD ME?!"
The chains tightened.
Kael dropped to one knee.
⚠️ ENTITY SUPPRESSION INITIATED
CONTROL SHIFT REVERSING
Kael's vision flickered.
"…No… wait…"
The Devouring King struggled—
violently—
But something was wrong.
He was being pushed back.
Forced inward.
"This isn't enough to seal me—!"
The Executor stepped closer.
"I know."
A pause.
"I don't need to seal you."
Kael looked up weakly.
"…Then what are you doing…?"
The Executor's eyes locked onto him.
Cold.
Certain.
"I just need to separate you."
Silence.
Then—
Kael felt it.
Not suppression.
Division.
Something inside him—
being pulled apart.
"…No…"
The Devouring King's voice dropped.
For the first time—
uneasy.
"…That's not supposed to happen…"
The chains tightened again.
Reality trembled.
And something impossible began.
Kael—
was being split.