The air in the arena thickened as Kael and Kyoushiro squared off.
Kael's breath was steady, but his heart raced. After everything he'd seen and learned, this felt different. He'd trained for a year, pushing his limits, only to face someone whose presence alone made him feel like a child. Kyoushiro wasn't just an old man—he was a force of nature.
Kael gripped his armguards tightly, eyes narrowing as he focused. "I won't hold back." His voice was calm but fierce.
Kyoushiro tilted his head slightly, his eyes hidden under the shadows of his hood. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Kael charged first, his movements swift and calculated. He moved faster than most could follow, his fist aimed directly at Kyoushiro's chest. But—
Kyoushiro was gone.
The old man moved with the grace of a phantom, his body shifting through the air with barely a sound. Kael's punch collided with nothing but air, and before he could react, Kyoushiro was standing behind him.
"I told you... don't hold back."
Kael gritted his teeth, spinning around and unleashing a series of rapid strikes. Each punch was met with precision dodges or careful parries from Kyoushiro. It was as if the old man knew exactly what Kael was going to do before he even moved.
Kael's heart pounded, but his frustration didn't show. "I'm not giving up." He could feel his power rising, the rush of energy flowing through his veins as he activated his Voidstep.
Boom!
He vanished, reappearing at Kyoushiro's side, aiming a powerful kick to the ribs. This time, Kyoushiro seemed to falter. Kael's kick hit its mark, and Kyoushiro staggered back.
The crowd gasped.
But even as Kael stood there, breathing heavily, the old man smiled softly.
"You have potential, Kael Renji. But you're still too predictable."
With that, Kyoushiro raised his cane and tapped the ground twice. A subtle, dangerous ripple of energy spread across the arena floor. Kael's senses went on high alert as the air around him grew heavy.
Kael gritted his teeth. "This is it."
But just as he prepared to strike again, Kyoushiro raised his hand, his movements slow and deliberate. Kael's entire body went stiff.
Kyoushiro's voice was low, almost a whisper: "Do you know what true power is?"
Kael couldn't respond. All he could feel was the overwhelming presence of Kyoushiro, his energy far surpassing anything Kael had ever faced.
For a brief moment, Kael wondered if he had made a mistake—challenging someone like this.
But it was too late to turn back.