Atlas had intensified our training to levels I hadn't thought possible. He strapped even heavier weights onto the bags I carried, and the baton he wielded felt like it could crush bones with a single strike. He hit harder and more frequently than before, leaving me spilling blood onto the floor with each blow.
Flora glanced at me from her cable pushdowns, her wide eyes reflecting horror as she watched Atlas drive another brutal hit into my stomach. My body jerked under the impact, and I smiled weakly at her, attempting to reassure her that I was fine. But when Atlas's next blow landed on my ribs, I doubled over, feeling like my organs were about to burst. Sweat poured from every inch of me, pooling beneath my hands as I pressed them against the floor to keep from collapsing.
Panting heavily, I tried to gather my strength, but Atlas delivered one final blow to my back that sent shockwaves through my entire body. An hour later, when the session ended, I fell to my knees, my arms trembling as they struggled to support me. Blood dripped from my mouth, mixing with the sweat on the floor. My vision blurred, and I fought the urge to vomit.
Then it was Flora's turn. She exchanged places with me as I dragged myself toward the gym equipment. Atlas's training wasn't any kinder to her; he only adjusted the weight slightly to match her capacity. Even so, she spat out far more blood than I did. But she didn't complain.
I began my workout with incline bicep curls, pushing myself through three grueling sets. The first was a warmup, the second my heaviest lift, and the third brought me to absolute failure. My arms trembled as I curled two jottagramme in each hand, the weight testing the limits of my muscles. After a two-minute break, I finished with a lighter failure set at one yottagramme.
Next came shoulder presses, cable preacher curls, and lateral raises. I rotated between bicep and triceps exercises, hammering my arms with relentless focus. Every lift, every press, every extension pushed me closer to my limit. By the time I finished my final sprint, I was utterly spent.
Flora and I limped back to the house, collapsing onto the bed. Our breathing was heavy and sweat clung to our bodies. We lay side by side, our hands finding each other in the stillness. I turned to her, brushing the hair from her face. Her eyes met mine, and I leaned forward to kiss her softly. She latched onto me, and the rest of the day became a blur of quiet intimacy.
The next morning, I woke to the soft weight of Flora sleeping on my chest. Her face was serene, her breath warm against my skin. I kissed her forehead gently and shifted her to the side without waking her. After slipping out of bed, I headed downstairs and sank into a chair.
I sighed—a small, sharp exhale that carried the weight of my thoughts. The battle with Kai loomed in my mind, a storm of uncertainty and dread. No matter how I analyzed it, every possible outcome ended in my defeat. Probability manipulation didn't matter; Kai always seemed untouchable.
The thought made my stomach churn. He had taken everything from me—my mother, my peace, my freedom. Every moment of my life had been twisted by his manipulations, his games. But this was my chance for revenge. This time, I wouldn't back down.
I sensed Flora's presence before I saw her. She walked into the room, her face soft with the remnants of sleep. Her hair fell messily over her shoulders, and her oversized shirt hid her figure, making her look younger and even more beautiful.
She approached me and sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around me. Her head rested against my chest, and I could feel the steady rhythm of her breathing as she fell asleep again. I patted her back and kissed her shoulder. For a moment, the weight of my thoughts lifted.
When I woke again, Flora was gone. I heard the toilet flush and saw her return downstairs, her long shirt swaying with her movements.
"Oh! Look who's finally awake!" she teased with a bright smile.
"Well, if it wasn't for someone special, I'd still be dreaming of her," I said, pulling her into a kiss as she sat back on my lap.
We exchanged good mornings, our foreheads touching as we spoke. But her expression shifted, a shadow of worry clouding her face.
"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice steady but concerned.
She looked around, her movements slow and deliberate. "Something feels... off. There's this strange feeling. It's so dark, so heavy. It's suffocating me."
Her voice trembled, and she clung to me tightly, like a child seeking comfort from a nightmare. I stroked her back, whispering reassurances into her ear.
"It's okay. I'm here. Nothing will happen to you."
But her fear was real, palpable. I trusted her instincts implicitly.
Without hesitation, I teleported us to a smaller dimension, summoning clothes for both of us. Flora now wore her black leggings and purple top, her pendant clutched tightly in her hand.
Her hands trembled as she whispered, "It's getting closer. Whatever it is, it's coming."
The weight of her words pressed against my chest. Whatever darkness she felt, it wasn't just her imagination. And if it was tied to Kai, then we were in more danger than I had anticipated.
Kai's refusal only fueled my anger. My hands clenched into fists, my nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood. His smug smile ignited a rage within me that burned hotter than ever.
"You don't get to toy with me, Kai!" I growled, stepping forward, my Crimson Halo flaring to life. Its deep red glow bathed the barren field, crackling with untamed energy. "You will tell me what I want to know, or I'll beat it out of you!"
Kai chuckled, a dark, bone-chilling sound that echoed through the empty landscape. "Oh, Nova, you truly are your father's son. So quick to anger, so predictable. You're not ready to face the truth yet."
"Stop talking in riddles!" I roared, lunging toward him, my speed breaking through the limits of sound. My fist collided with his chest, but it felt as though I'd struck an immovable wall. Kai didn't even flinch.
"Still not enough," he said with mock disappointment, brushing my hand away like it was an inconvenience. His eyes glowed with an ominous purple light, and I felt his power surge around us. The air grew heavier, crackling with an oppressive energy that seemed to sap the strength from my limbs.
I gritted my teeth, refusing to show weakness. "Don't underestimate me!"
I leaped back, creating some distance before focusing the power of my Crimson Halo into my legs. With a burst of speed, I darted around Kai in a blur, delivering rapid, precise strikes from every angle. The ground beneath us cracked and shattered under the force of our movements.
Kai dodged each blow with ease, his movements almost lazy. "Impressive. You've improved your technique," he said, catching my fist mid-strike. His grip was unyielding, like iron. "But power without control is meaningless."
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled me across the field. My body skidded against the hard ground, kicking up dust and rocks. The impact jarred every bone in my body, but I forced myself to stand.
"Control this!" I snarled, channeling all my energy into a devastating burst of power. My Crimson Halo blazed brighter, creating a sphere of pulsating energy around me. The ground trembled as I released the full force of my aura, sending a shockwave toward Kai.
He raised a hand, and the shockwave dissipated against an invisible barrier. His calm expression twisted into a wicked grin. "Not bad, but still lacking."
Kai vanished from sight, reappearing in front of me in an instant. Before I could react, his scythe materialized in his hand, and he swung it with deadly precision. I barely managed to duck, feeling the blade graze the air above me.
I countered with a rising knee, aiming for his ribs, but he blocked it effortlessly with his forearm. Sparks flew as our auras clashed, the intensity of the battle shaking the ground beneath us.
"You're persistent," Kai said, his tone almost admiring. "I'll give you that. But persistence alone won't save you."
"Maybe not, but it's a start!" I retorted, pouring all my energy into a spinning kick. This time, my attack connected, sending Kai flying backward. He landed gracefully, wiping a speck of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Well, well," he said, his smile widening. "You managed to draw blood. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."
I didn't respond. My focus was absolute, my breathing steady despite the strain on my body. I could feel the energy of my Crimson Halo surging through me, its power both exhilarating and terrifying.
Kai straightened, his expression turning serious for the first time. "Let's see if you can survive this," he said, raising his scythe. The weapon began to glow with a dark, malevolent energy, its edges shimmering like liquid shadow.
Before I could react, he swung the scythe in a wide arc, unleashing a wave of black energy that tore through the ground like a blade. I dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the force of it sent me tumbling.
I scrambled to my feet, panting, as Kai advanced toward me. His aura was overwhelming, suffocating, but I refused to back down.
This wasn't just a battle of strength or skill—it was a battle of wills. And I would not let him break mine.
"Come on, Nova," Kai taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "Show me the fire that makes you your father's son."
I tightened my grip on the energy coursing through my veins, my eyes locking onto his. "You want fire?" I growled, my aura flaring brighter. "I'll burn you to ashes."
Our auras collided again, a clash of crimson and black that lit up the barren field like a storm of pure energy.
As I fell, my consciousness flickered. My body screamed in agony; the strain of the battle having pushed me far beyond my limits. The universe around me was eerily silent, as if holding its breath. My last fleeting thought before the darkness consumed me was of Flora, her smile, her warmth.
Would I ever see her again?
Time seemed to lose meaning. Floating in the void, I could feel a faint presence—gentle yet firm. A voice broke through the haze, soft but resolute.
"You can't give up now, Nova. Not when you've come this far."
It was Flora. Or perhaps it was a memory of her, a fragment of my mind urging me to continue. The warmth of her words reignited something deep within me.
I felt my Crimson Halo stir, faint embers beginning to burn brighter. Slowly, the energy within me rekindled. My body, battered and broken, responded to the call. My fingers twitched, and I gasped for breath as my eyes fluttered open.
I was still afloat in the vast expanse of space, the shattered remnants of the moon orbiting like silent witnesses to the destruction. My vision cleared, and there he was—Kai, on one knee, his aura diminished but still menacing.
"You're still alive," he said, his voice low and guttural. His smile had returned, though it lacked the same confidence it once carried. "I have to admit, you're more resilient than I anticipated."
I forced myself upright, every muscle in my body screaming in protest. "I'm not done yet, Kai. Not until one of us is finished for good."
Kai rose to his feet, his stance less stable than before. "You're persistent. But persistence doesn't equate to victory. Let me show you what true despair looks like."
He raised his hands, and the darkness around him began to coalesce, forming into tendrils that reached toward me. They writhed and twisted, radiating malice.
I steadied myself, my Crimson Halo flaring to life once more. This time, it felt different—more intense, more controlled. I could feel Flora's faith in me, Atlas's relentless training, and my own resolve merging into a singular, unyielding force.
Kai's tendrils lashed out, and I met them head-on. Flames erupted from my fists, cutting through the darkness like a blade. Each clash sent shockwaves through the void, but I didn't back down.
This wasn't just a battle anymore. It was a testament to everything I had endured, everything I stood for.
Kai lunged, his scythe materializing once again. He swung with vicious precision, but I anticipated his move, sidestepping and countering with a powerful uppercut infused with the flames of my Crimson Halo. The blow connected, sending him spiraling backward.
"You're stronger than I gave you credit for," Kai admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. "But strength alone isn't enough to defeat me."
"I'm not just fighting with strength," I said, my voice unwavering. "I'm fighting with everything I have—everything you've taken from me. And that's something you'll never understand."
Kai's expression darkened, and he charged again, his attacks becoming more frenzied, more desperate. I matched him blow for blow, each strike resonating with the weight of our shared animosity.
Finally, with one decisive move, I created an opening. Channeling all the remaining energy of my Crimson Halo, I unleashed a devastating punch to Kai's chest. The impact was seismic, the force tearing through the fabric of space itself.
Kai's body crumpled, his scythe slipping from his grasp as he was hurled backward into the void. His aura flickered, sputtered, and then vanished entirely.
For a moment, all was still. I stood there, my body trembling, my breaths ragged. Had I won?
Kai's form floated motionless in the distance, and a strange stillness settled over the battlefield. The oppressive weight of his presence was gone, leaving behind only the cold expanse of space.
But I couldn't celebrate yet. I had to return to Flora. To Earth.
Summoning the last vestiges of my strength, I focused on the faint tether connecting me to her. It guided me back, pulling me through the emptiness until I felt the familiar pull of gravity once more.
I collapsed onto the ground near our home, the warmth of the earth beneath me a stark contrast to the cold void of space. Flora was there, her arms around me before I even realized she'd found me.
"You're back," she whispered, her voice trembling with relief.
"I promised I would be," I replied, leaning into her embrace.
As the exhaustion took over and my eyes closed, I felt a profound sense of peace. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I allowed myself to rest, knowing that the battle was over—for now.