Two months had passed since the dungeon incident.
Kazimir approached the training grounds just beyond the academy's south wing, only to find Riah and Gendai nose to nose—again.
"I have a better body than you," Gendai said, arms crossed defiantly, tail flicking with irritation.
"You wish you did," Riah scoffed, flipping her silver-white hair. "I could dress up as a succubus and still outshine you. Besides—my boobs are slightly bigger."
"They're literally the same size," Gendai fired back, jabbing a finger into her rival's chest. "And at least my ass is better."
"Yeah, well, I'm prettier. And your ass? Barely noticeable."
Kazimir stood there silently, blinking. What did I just walk into?
Then both girls turned to him, like lionesses spotting prey.
"Kazimir," Riah said sweetly, her tone dipped in venom, "whose body would you prefer?"
"Why are you dragging me into this?" he replied flatly.
"Because a man's opinion matters," she said. "Especially yours."
"Yeah," Gendai added. "So tell us. Whose is better?"
Kazimir paused. Smirked. "Why not both of you? You're both… shapely."
Riah's eyes narrowed. "Kazimir…"
"Hi?"
She pinched his cheek with a scowl. "That's not the answer I wanted. Quit being nice to this devil."
"I think I'd prefer you burning me. This hurts more."
"Oh really?" Her skin began to glow with heat. "Wanna test that?"
"No thank you."
"Exactly." She let go, brushing her hands dramatically. "So? Why are you here?"
"I want to test you two," Kazimir said, finally getting serious. "Together. In a match."
Gendai blinked. "Why?"
"Because I think you two make a great team."
Riah raised a brow. "And what do I get if I win?"
"I'll do whatever you ask."
Her eyes lit up. "No way. You? Submitting to me? Gendai—I don't like you, but let's win this."
Gendai scoffed. "Kill yourself, stupid bird. But Kazimir—if I win, I want you to tell me everything about the Nullity."
Kazimir nodded. "Deal."
The Arctic Colosseum
The Vandors gathered as the group was transported to a barren, frozen battlefield. The air was thin, the skies a pale aurora swirl.
Jessie crossed her arms. "This better be good."
Neve giggled. "Oh come on, it's a two-on-one. Kazimir versus the other top two of the academy. It's bound to get fun."
A shadowy Vandor in all black grunted. "Let's see what those girls are made of. We already know Kazimir's potential. He's almost ready to join us."
"He's my little brother," Jessie said proudly. "With the sword, he's already surpassed me."
The match began.
Kazimir blurred forward, evading a dual assault. With a flash of lightning, he redirected Riah with a wave of his hand, then caught her mid-air.
"Don't hesitate just because it's me," he whispered. In a blink, he vanished—and reappeared clashing blades with her.
Gendai gritted her teeth. "You two are so fast… but I'll still give it my all!"
She lunged. Kazimir spun, dodged, and kicked, sending her tumbling into Riah. The two crashed into the snow in a tangle of limbs.
"That looked painful," Kazimir said with a chuckle.
As he moved forward, Riah's sword struck him—no, it wasn't her.
"That wasn't me," she smirked. "That was the Phoenix."
Kazimir staggered. "Didn't sense that one. Guess it's time." He pulled off his blindfold. His amber eyes glowed.
"Riah got stronger," Neve whispered. "He better not hold back."
Kazimir caught Riah and tossed her, then turned, grabbed Gendai by the neck, and slammed her into the ice.
"Don't be afraid. Look at Riah—fight with her."
"I… I'm not like her," Gendai muttered. "I'm not like either of you."
"You held your own in your last duel with her."
High above, flames rained down—Riah's apocalyptic barrage. Kazimir dodged with electric footwork.
"Gendai!" Riah roared. "Quit whining and fight! If you want to get stronger, prove it. Or you're just like the rest of them—powerless."
With a scream, Gendai charged, spear ignited. Kazimir blocked it with his blade, then conjured another lightning-forged sword to parry Riah.
"Wait—WHEN did you learn to do that?!" she shouted.
"The same time you learned from me," Kazimir smirked. "I learned from you."
"Childish," Riah huffed.
He flicked both of them away with a surge. Gendai's fire surged higher, her spear danced. Riah came in with a blazing spiral.
Kazimir grinned. Now they're in sync.
He dodged, splashed water into Gendai's face mid-attack, and zapped Riah out of the air. Gendai charged, only to be tripped and flung—landing on top of Riah.
Standing over them, Kazimir placed a hand to their backs and let loose a controlled shock.
"Match over."
"WE'RE NOT DONE YET!"
Kazimir's eyes widened.
Riah's irises burned like twin suns. Strange marks bloomed across her skin. Gendai snapped her fingers—icebergs surged around them. Kazimir shattered them, but his body locked mid-movement.
"A vortex?!" he growled. "What the hell—"
"Not done yet," Gendai hissed.
A meteor came crashing from the sky.
Kazimir slashed through it—only to be met by Riah bursting from the smoke, blade descending.
"FINISH IT, RIAH!!" Gendai yelled.
"THIS IS IT, KAZIMIR!" Riah's voice was layered with power.
He looked up, stunned—not by her attack, but by her. Her flames were darker. Her eyes no longer mirrored light—they radiated it.
He smiled. She's overloading…
Riah clashed with Kazimir in a burst of flame and steel, slamming him into the frozen ground. Her sword hovered over his throat.
Kazimir exhaled slowly. "Looks like I lost."
"I gave it everything," Riah said breathlessly. "But you didn't. I didn't see your marks… like last time."
"That's because it wasn't about winning. This was to show how strong you two are—together."
He gazed up at her eyes. "You're a Vrasnai, aren't you? Your eyes… they're the beginning to my end."
"I'm not as great as you."
"You will be. You're not far behind. Your flames—they've darkened. You overloaded. That desire… it made you evolve."
"This is Overload?" Gendai asked, kneeling beside them. "She looks different."
"Yeah," Kazimir nodded. "Her fire turned a darker red. Mine becomes deep blue. But Overload's hard to repeat. She's on the edge of an evolution."
Jessie stepped forward, arms crossed. "Well congrats, Riah. At this rate, you might actually win his heart."
"Wha—!?" Riah flushed crimson, nearly dropping her sword.
Gendai laughed.
Kazimir grinned up at them both. "Told you—you two make a great team."