Kay's fingers dug into the blue crystal.
Cold, smooth, pulsing with power.
It was his lifeline.
His only chance to escape the slums.
He glared at Karl, eyes burning with unyielding fire.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Only a raw, desperate determination.
I won't let you take it.
Not now.
Not ever.
The thought flashed through his mind, sharp and clear.
He'd fought too hard to get here.
Endured too much mockery, too much pain.
This crystal wasn't just a resource.
It was his pride.
His father's hope.
Ella stepped forward, right beside him.
Her small frame trembled a little, but her back was straight.
Her eyes were fierce, matching Kay's.
"Karl, this is ours."
Her voice was steady, despite the slight quiver in her hands.
"Leave us alone. Go find your own treasure."
Karl laughed.
Loud. Cruel. Contemptuous.
The sound echoed off the stone walls of the chamber, sending chills down the spine.
"Ours?"
He repeated the word like it was the funniest joke he'd ever heard.
He took a slow step forward, his expensive combat suit glinting in the crystal's blue light.
"In this world, slum rat, there's no 'ours'."
"Only what the strong take."
His two lackeys moved at once.
Flanking Kay and Ella, cutting off their escape routes.
They cracked their knuckles, smirks on their faces.
One of them, a burly boy with a scar across his cheek, leaned in.
"Give it up, you two."
His voice was low, menacing.
"You're outnumbered. Outmatched. You can't fight us."
He spat on the ground, right at Kay's feet.
"Save yourselves the pain. Hand over the crystal, and we'll let you walk away with a few bruises."
Kay's jaw tightened.
He could feel the energy in the crystal thrumming against his palm.
Warm. Powerful.
It was already seeping into his body, strengthening his thin Interstellar Battle Energy.
Just a little more time.
If he had just a little more time, he could break through completely.
But he didn't have time.
Karl was growing impatient.
Kay took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling.
He leaned in, whispering to Ella so only she could hear.
"Be ready to run."
His voice was low, urgent.
"If things go bad—if I can't hold them off—run for the exit. Don't look back."
Ella's eyes widened.
She shook her head, gripping his arm tightly.
"I'm not leaving you."
"Ella, please."
Kay's voice softened, but his tone was firm.
"Survive. That's all that matters. If I'm caught, I can handle it. But you—"
He cut himself off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
In the slums, nobles like Karl didn't show mercy.
Ella bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears.
But she nodded.
She knew he was right.
She'd be no help if she got caught too.
"Okay."
She whispered, her voice barely audible.
"I'll be ready."
Karl watched them, his smirk growing wider.
"Whispering secrets, are we?"
He clapped his hands, mocking.
"How cute. But it's time to end this."
He took another step forward, his body tensing.
Interstellar Battle Energy flared around him—bright, steady, far stronger than Kay's.
It was the energy of someone who'd trained since birth, who'd never gone a day without proper resources.
"Last chance, Kay."
His voice was cold, no more mockery.
"Hand over the crystal. Or I'll break every bone in your body."
Kay raised his head, chin held high.
Defiance blazed in his eyes.
"No."
He said it loud, clear, unflinching.
"We found it fair and square. It's ours."
Karl's face darkened.
All trace of humor vanished.
Anger boiled in his eyes, hot and violent.
"Then you'll pay the price."
The words were barely out of his mouth when he launched his attack.
He lunged forward, his fist wrapped in bright battle energy, aimed straight at Kay's chest.
The force of the energy made the air hum.
Kay reacted on instinct.
He activated his spatial talent, that faint, elusive power warping the air around him.
He shifted his body to the side, just in time.
Karl's fist slammed into the stone wall behind him.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the rock.
Dust and debris showered down.
Kay stumbled back, his chest heaving.
The spatial shift had drained him—his thin battle energy was already stretched thin.
But he didn't have time to catch his breath.
Karl spun around, launching another attack, faster this time.
His foot lashed out, aimed at Kay's legs.
Kay jumped, narrowly avoiding the kick.
The energy from Karl's attack grazed his ankle, stinging sharply.
He landed hard, rolling to the side.
The crystal slipped in his hand, but he clamped down tight, refusing to let it go.
"Kay!"
Ella shouted, her voice filled with fear.
She looked around frantically, searching for a way to help.
The chamber was small, surrounded by crumbling stone walls and rusted metal debris.
Her eyes darted to the ceiling—cracks were spreading, held together by a few thin metal beams.
A weak point.
An idea sparked in her mind.
She fumbled in her bag, pulling out a small, crudely made explosive device.
She'd made it for emergencies, never thinking she'd have to use it here.
It wasn't powerful, but it was