The flames hit before Kai could fully react.
A burst of heat tore through the air, forcing him to raise his arms instinctively. The impact slammed into him, sending him skidding backward across the floor.
"…gh—!"
The heat lingered.
Not just burning—
Pressuring.
Like it carried intent.
"…she's not holding back…" Kai muttered, pushing himself up.
"…of course she isn't," Riven said from the side.
He hadn't moved.
Just watching.
Waiting.
Mira stepped forward again.
Slow.
Controlled.
Her flames danced lightly around her hand, responding to her breathing.
"…get up," she said.
Kai wiped his mouth, steadying himself.
"…I'm already up."
"…then fight properly."
She moved.
Faster this time.
A streak of flame followed her motion, cutting through the air.
Kai reacted—
Late.
He dodged, but the edge of the attack grazed him, heat biting into his side.
"…too slow," she said.
Kai clenched his teeth.
The pressure returned.
The memory.
The pain.
"…focus…"
The world shifted slightly.
Not fully.
But enough.
Mira's next movement slowed—
Just enough for him to see it.
Kai stepped aside.
Clean.
For once.
"…there…" he whispered.
He countered.
A quick strike toward her shoulder—
She blocked it instantly.
"…predictable."
Her flames flared.
Kai jumped back as a wave of heat burst outward.
"…you're relying too much on reaction," she said.
"…that's all your Echo does."
Kai steadied himself.
"…it's enough."
"…no," she replied.
"…it's not."
She rushed again.
This time—
Faster.
Stronger.
Kai focused harder.
The memory surged.
The distortion deepened.
The world bent slightly.
He saw her movement.
Anticipated it.
Moved before it happened.
He dodged.
Then countered.
A clean strike.
It almost landed—
But Mira twisted her body mid-motion, her flames pulling her just out of reach.
"…better," she said.
"…but still not enough."
She retaliated instantly.
A close-range burst of fire exploded between them.
Kai barely blocked, the impact throwing him backward again.
He hit the ground hard.
"…gh—!"
"…you're hesitating again," Mira said.
Kai pushed himself up, breathing harder now.
"…I'm not hesitating…"
"…you're thinking too much."
Kai froze for half a second.
That was enough.
Mira appeared in front of him.
Her hand ignited fully this time.
Bright.
Intense.
"…and that's why she died."
The words hit harder than the flames.
Kai's eyes widened—
The attack came.
He reacted—
Barely.
The explosion of heat forced him back again.
The ground beneath him cracked from the impact.
"…stop saying that…" Kai muttered.
"…why?" Mira replied.
"…because it's true?"
Kai's chest tightened.
The Echo inside him stirred again.
Unstable.
"…not like this…"
Riven's voice came from the side.
"…control it."
Kai clenched his fists.
"…I'm trying…"
Mira didn't wait.
She attacked again.
Relentless.
Strike after strike.
Each one sharper.
Faster.
Hotter.
Kai struggled to keep up.
Dodging.
Blocking.
Getting hit.
Getting back up.
Again.
And again.
"…you're still weak," she said.
"…even after everything."
Kai's breathing grew heavier.
"…I know…"
"…then why are you still standing?"
Kai paused for a split second.
Then—
"…because I don't get to fall."
The pressure surged again.
But this time—
He held it.
Not perfectly.
Not cleanly.
But enough.
The distortion returned.
More stable.
More focused.
Mira noticed instantly.
"…finally."
She smiled slightly.
Not warm.
But satisfied.
"…now fight me properly."
She stepped forward—
And this time—
Kai moved first.
He closed the distance.
Fast.
Faster than before.
Mira blocked—
But the force pushed her back slightly.
"…good," she said.
Their powers clashed.
Fire against distortion.
Heat against memory.
The air between them cracked under the pressure.
Kai moved again.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
Guided.
Not by panic—
But by intent.
Mira responded.
Precise.
Controlled.
Each movement efficient.
Deadly.
They exchanged blows.
Back and forth.
Neither giving ground.
Kai slipped—
Recovered.
Mira pushed—
He resisted.
The fight escalated.
Faster.
More intense.
The pressure in the room rising with every second.
Riven watched closely.
His expression unreadable.
But his stance ready.
Because he could see it.
Kai was close.
Too close.
"…don't break…" Riven muttered.
Kai's vision flickered slightly.
The pressure spiked—
Then steadied.
"…I won't…"
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"…prove it."
She launched forward—
Full force.
No hesitation.
Kai stepped forward to meet her.
No fear.
No retreat.
Just movement.
Just resolve.
"…I'm not running anymore."
Their attacks collided.
And this time—
Neither backed down