s onto the bags I carried, and the baton he wielded felt like it could crush bones with a single strike

nder the impact, and I smiled weakly at her, attempting to reassure her that I was fine. But when Atlas's next blow landed on my ribs, I doubled over, feelin

h my entire body. An hour later, when the session ended, I fell to my knees, my arms trembling as they struggled to suppo

uipment. Atlas's training wasn't any kinder to her; he only adjusted the weight slightly to

y heaviest lift, and the third brought me to absolute failure. My arms trembled as I curled two jottagramme in each hand, the

d triceps exercises, hammering my arms with relentless focus. Every lift, every press, every ext

side by side, our hands finding each other in the stillness. I turned to her, brushing the hair from her face. Her eyes met

_____________

ene, her breath warm against my skin. I kissed her forehead gently and shifted her to the s

ed in my mind, a storm of uncertainty and dread. No matter how I analyzed it, every possible ou

peace, my freedom. Every moment of my life had been twisted by his manipulation

oft with the remnants of sleep. Her hair fell messily over her shoulders, and he

my chest, and I could feel the steady rhythm of her breathing as she fell asleep again.

he toilet flush and saw her return downstair

ly awake!" she teased

d still be dreaming of her," I said, pullin

touching as we spoke. But her expression s

asked, my voice st

e. "Something feels... off. There's this strange fe

ke a child seeking comfort from a nightmare. I stro

here. Nothing wi

palpable. I trusted h

ummoning clothes for both of us. Flora now wore her black leg

spered, "It's getting closer.

kness she felt, it wasn't just her imagination. And if it was

, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. His

o flaring to life. Its deep red glow bathed the barren field, crackling with unt

mpty landscape. "Oh, Nova, you truly are your father's son. So quic

king through the limits of sound. My fist collided with his chest, but

nience. His eyes glowed with an ominous purple light, and I felt his power surge around us. The ai

sing to show weakness. "

gs. With a burst of speed, I darted around Kai in a blur, delivering rapid, precise strikes f

u've improved your technique," he said, catching my fist mid-strike. His g

skidded against the hard ground, kicking up dust and rocks. The

My Crimson Halo blazed brighter, creating a sphere of pulsating energy around me. The g

nst an invisible barrier. His calm expression twist

ould react, his scythe materialized in his hand, and he swung it with deadly

ked it effortlessly with his forearm. Sparks flew as our auras c

e almost admiring. "I'll give you that

inning kick. This time, my attack connected, sending Kai flying backward.

dening. "You managed to draw blood.

te the strain on my body. I could feel the energy of my Crimson Ha

ee if you can survive this," he said, raising his scythe. The weapon began to

e of black energy that tore through the ground like a blade. I dove to th

vanced toward me. His aura was overwhelmin

h or skill-it was a battle of wills.

e dripping with malice. "Show me the f

eins, my eyes locking onto his. "You want fire?" I grow

crimson and black that lit up the bar

pushed me far beyond my limits. The universe around me was eerily silent, as if holding its brea

ver see h

, I could feel a faint presence-gentle yet firm.

ow, Nova. Not when y

fragment of my mind urging me to continue. The warm

the energy within me rekindled. My body, battered and broken, responded to the

he moon orbiting like silent witnesses to the destruction. My vision cleared

ile had returned, though it lacked the same confidence it once ca

ody screaming in protest. "I'm not done yet,

e. "You're persistent. But persistence doesn't equate t

an to coalesce, forming into tendrils that reached t

ifferent-more intense, more controlled. I could feel Flora's faith in me, Atlas's

d from my fists, cutting through the darkness like a blade. Each

It was a testament to everything I

I anticipated his move, sidestepping and countering with a powerful uppercut infused w

admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip

ering. "I'm fighting with everything I have-everything you've

oming more frenzied, more desperate. I matched him blow for blow

ining energy of my Crimson Halo, I unleashed a devastating punch to Kai's ches

rasp as he was hurled backward into the void. His a

stood there, my body tremblin

lness settled over the battlefield. The oppressive weight of his

ate yet. I had to ret

tether connecting me to her. It guided me back, pulling me throug

h beneath me a stark contrast to the cold void of space. Flora wa

hispered, her voice

be," I replied, lean

sense of peace. For the first time in what felt like an eternity,