Compri
I could feel it.
Not around me.
Inside me.
And that was the worst part.
Every time I moved, every time I breathed, it was there… pressing, waiting, like it was just looking for a crack. Just one mistake. One moment of weakness.
And I knew it.
If I slipped—
Even for a second—
I wouldn't be the one holding the sword anymore.
I'd be the one being held.
I tightened my grip.
"…Not happening."
My voice came out low. Rough. Not as steady as I wanted it to be.
But it was still mine.
That was enough.
For now.
---
The leader was already moving.
He didn't wait.
Didn't hesitate.
Like he knew this was the moment everything could go wrong—or right.
For him.
For me…
For whatever this thing really was.
I pushed myself forward.
No thinking.
No overanalyzing.
If I started thinking too much right now, I'd lose it.
We clashed again.
---
The impact ran straight through my arm.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Controlled.
He was still precise. Still clean. Every movement calculated like he wasn't even fighting me—just correcting something that shouldn't exist.
Me.
"…You're breaking down," he said.
I pushed harder.
"Not yet."
But he wasn't wrong.
I could feel it.
My control wasn't stable anymore.
Every strike I made—
It hit harder than I intended.
Faster than I expected.
Like something inside me was adding more to it.
More force.
More weight.
More something.
---
He attacked again.
I blocked—
But the feedback hit immediately.
My arm trembled.
Not from impact.
From inside.
"…Tch—"
I stepped back, just enough to reset my footing.
Bad move.
He didn't give me time.
He never did.
---
He was already in front of me again.
Closer.
Faster.
His strike came low this time—
I barely caught it.
The ground cracked beneath us.
And for a second—
Just one second—
My focus slipped.
---
That was all it took.
---
The thing inside me pushed.
Hard.
Violently.
Like it had been waiting for that exact moment.
My vision flickered.
Not darkness.
Something worse.
Something deeper.
---
I saw it again.
That place.
That endless space filled with blades.
Floating.
Watching.
Waiting.
---
"You cannot hold forever."
---
"…Shut up."
I forced myself back.
Back into my body.
Back into the fight.
Back into me.
---
But it didn't stop.
It never stopped.
---
The energy around me spiked suddenly.
Wild.
Uncontrolled.
The ground beneath me cracked again.
Rin's voice hit my ears.
"Kael! You're losing it!"
"I'm fine—!"
I wasn't.
Not even close.
---
Faye's voice cut through sharper than the rest.
"No, you're not. Control it now or we're all in danger!"
Yeah.
I figured that part out already.
---
The leader stepped back slightly.
Watching.
Not attacking.
Just observing.
"…This is the outcome," he said calmly.
"Carrier instability."
I glared at him.
"Say that again and I'll break your face."
He didn't react.
Of course he didn't.
---
The pressure built again.
Stronger this time.
Heavier.
Like it was pressing from both sides now.
Him.
And whatever was inside me.
---
I exhaled slowly.
"…Alright."
If I kept holding back—
I'd lose control.
If I let go completely—
I'd lose myself.
So that left me with one option.
---
Balance.
---
Not perfect.
Not clean.
But enough.
---
I adjusted my grip on the sword.
Loosened it slightly.
Not resisting as much.
Not forcing it.
Just…
Letting it move with me.
Not against me.
---
For a second—
Nothing happened.
---
Then—
The energy changed.
---
Not weaker.
Not stronger.
Just…
Quieter.
---
Faye noticed immediately.
"…He stabilized it."
Rin blinked.
"…Wait—seriously?"
Taro didn't lower his guard.
"…Temporary."
Yeah.
I knew that.
Better than anyone.
---
I looked up at the leader.
"…Let's finish this."
This time—
I meant it.
---
He moved first.
Of course he did.
---
But I was ready.
---
We clashed again.
Faster.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
---
This time, I wasn't just reacting.
I was reading him.
Anticipating.
Matching his rhythm instead of fighting against it.
---
His strike came high—
I deflected.
Countered.
Stepped in.
---
For the first time—
He had to block.
---
Rin laughed behind me.
"YES! That's it!"
"Don't distract him!" Lira snapped.
---
I didn't hear the rest.
Not really.
Because now—
Everything was focused.
Narrow.
Clear.
---
The world shrank down to just one thing.
Him.
---
He attacked again.
Faster.
More direct.
No wasted motion.
---
I met it.
Matched it.
Pushed back.
---
The impact cracked the ground beneath us again.
But this time—
I didn't lose balance.
---
I stepped forward.
Closed the distance.
Struck again.
---
His defense shifted.
But slower than before.
Just slightly.
---
That was enough.
---
The blade connected.
---
Not deep.
Not clean.
But real.
---
The leader stepped back.
For the first time—
Actually pushed away.
---
Silence hit the battlefield.
---
Rin blinked.
"…Did he just—?"
Taro nodded once.
"…Yeah."
---
I didn't celebrate.
Didn't relax.
Didn't breathe.
---
Because inside—
It was still there.
Still watching.
Still waiting.
---
"You are learning."
---
"…Not from you."
---
I tightened my grip again.
Just enough.
---
The leader looked at me.
Not calm anymore.
Not fully.
---
"…You're accelerating the breach," he said.
I shrugged slightly.
"…Then stop me."
---
A pause.
Then—
He stepped forward again.
---
"…Very well."
The pressure surged.
Higher than before.
Stronger than before.
And I knew.
This next exchange
Would decide everything.
I raised the sword.
Took one step forward.
"…Let's end it."
To be continued… 🔥