Kael's body trembled as he struggled to rise. He had pushed himself to the absolute limit, but it still wasn't enough. His head spun from the overwhelming force Kyoushiro had unleashed. Every blow he had tried to land seemed futile, and no matter how fast or powerful he became, the old man anticipated his every move.
A final strike from Kyoushiro, a swift palm strike to Kael's chest, sent him crashing to the ground. The arena was silent for a moment as Kael lay there, gasping for breath, his chest heaving.
"Is this really the limit of your strength?" Kyoushiro's voice was calm, as though the battle hadn't even phased him. He stood tall, unscathed, while Kael lay on the floor in agony.
Kael clenched his fists, trying to force himself to stand, but his body refused to obey. His muscles were burning, his head pounding.
Hana was already rushing to his side. "Kael!" She called out, panic in her voice as she knelt beside him, trying to help him up. Her hands shook as she supported him, lifting him from the ground.
"It's okay, Hana," Kael managed to croak, though his voice was weak. "I'm fine…"
But as he tried to stand on his own, his knees buckled, and he collapsed against her. She caught him, her face filled with worry and concern.
Kyoushiro looked down at Kael, his expression unreadable. He didn't say anything—he didn't need to. His actions had spoken louder than any words could.
Kael, exhausted and battered, allowed Hana to help him out of the ring. His vision blurred as she supported his weight, leading him slowly toward the exit. The crowd was silent, the shock of his defeat still hanging in the air.
As they reached the edge of the ring, Tetsu and Ryuu exchanged worried glances. But it was clear that the battle had ended before it had even truly begun for Kael.
Kael's thoughts were foggy as Hana guided him through the arena. The pain in his body was almost unbearable, but his mind was racing, trying to process what had just happened.
The door to the infirmary opened, and Hana gently helped him onto one of the medical beds. Eri was already there, waiting with a concerned expression on her face.
"What happened?" Eri asked, her tone firm but worried. "You were doing so well before."
Kael sighed, closing his eyes. "I wasn't ready for him."
Eri moved to his side, applying some ointment to his bruises. "You fought valiantly, Kael, but you should've known. Kyoushiro is no ordinary fighter."
Kael groaned, his head sinking into the pillow. "I thought I was strong enough… I thought I could at least stand my ground…"
Hana sat beside him, brushing his hair back gently. "Kael, you were amazing out there. But Kyoushiro…" She trailed off, unable to find the right words.
Kael looked up at her, his eyes filled with frustration. "I need to be stronger. I can't keep relying on others to protect me."
Eri gave him a small smile as she finished tending to his injuries. "No one expects you to be perfect, Kael. Strength comes in many forms. You'll learn this lesson—just like everyone else who's stood against Kyoushiro."
Kael let out a long sigh, his eyes closing. His body was exhausted, but his mind refused to stop racing.
"One day, I'll be strong enough," Kael whispered, almost to himself. "I'll make sure of it."
As the darkness of sleep began to overtake him, Kael's last thoughts were on his journey—the path ahead was long, but he wouldn't stop until he surpassed everyone, even Kyoushiro.