The echoes of their FNCS win hadn't faded. In fact, it felt like the storm KyoZ3ro and Clix unleashed was only gaining strength. Hype videos, breakdowns, memes, and thinkpieces flooded social media. Sentinels leaned into the narrative, branding KyoZ3ro as "The Machine with a Mind." Clix, ever the firestarter, streamed almost daily, riding the wave with glowing energy.
But KyoZ3ro? He disappeared for a moment. Not from Fortnite, but from the spotlight. Instead of capitalizing on the fame immediately, he did what very few understood.
He trained.
---
Kyo turned his room into a controlled arena. Dual-PC setup. Triple-monitor layout. Noise-canceling pads, biometric keyboard, cooling pads, and diet plans monitored by Horikita, who had now fully moved in.
She wasn't just staying over. She had set up a workspace, taken over the kitchen, and even rearranged Kyo's sleep schedule.
"You're not operating at max efficiency with four hours of sleep," she said flatly one morning, dropping a protein-packed bento in front of him.
Clix, who was on Discord with Kyo at the time, laughed. "Yo, she's got you on military time."
Kyo didn't reply. He simply opened the box, took a bite, and nodded in appreciation. He wasn't the type to say thanks. But Horikita didn't need words.
---
They streamed together often, but it wasn't what fans expected. KyoZ3ro had started to open up slightly, showing occasional mic moments, letting Clix do most of the talking. Their chemistry was undeniable: Clix, reactive and loud; Kyo, focused and surgical.
On one gym IRL stream, the internet nearly exploded.
KyoZ3ro in person. Hoodie up, jaw tight, leaner than people expected. Clix flexed for the camera. Kyo simply lifted, his form perfect.
"This man trains like he's prepping for war, not gaming," Clix joked, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Y'all wonder why he's a demon? Look at this."
Chat flooded with:
> "IS THAT KYOOOO??" "WHY IS HE JACKED??" "Horikita must be cooking CLEAN fr."
---
Horikita herself had gained a fanbase. Quiet but sharp, she occasionally appeared on Kyo's streams, correcting Clix's grammar mid-sentence or discussing the science of caffeine absorption.
Clix, amused, started calling her "Sensei."
"Hey, Sensei, what's the optimal reaction time for someone on two hours of sleep and a Monster?"
"You? Crashed in 43 minutes."
"Daaaamn."
---
Meanwhile, the Fortnite world buzzed.
The next FNCS was around the corner.
With Kyo and Clix now an official duo under Sentinel, expectations were astronomical. Scrim analysts called them the "Balance Meta." Kyo's calculated IGL calls and storm knowledge paired with Clix's mechanical aggression created something terrifying: duality.
Pros started reacting to every VOD, dissecting Kyo's rotations like ancient scrolls.
"He predicts storm like it's coded into him."
"Nah bro, he's not even taking fights—he's placing traps three minutes in advance."
"Clix + KyoZ3ro is unfair."
And it wasn't just hype. Their practice was relentless. Kyo had started using eye-tracking software. Horikita tracked his daily dopamine spikes and reduced sugar intake. Clix, inspired, cleaned up his own diet. Horikita sent over daily plans. He didn't ask for them. She just did it.
---
One night, during a quiet moment off-cam, Clix leaned back in his chair and looked at Kyo, who was reviewing rotations on a second monitor.
"You ever think about slowing down? You're already top."
Kyo didn't look up.
"The second you slow down, someone else speeds up."
Horikita, who was slicing vegetables nearby, glanced over. "He's right. Stability is a myth when you're at the top."
Clix blinked. "Man, y'all are built different."
---
The first day of FNCS Qualifiers arrived.
Their drops were perfect. Coordination silent. Mechanical play? Nearly untouchable.
On stream, Kyo finally spoke more. Still calm, but now giving callouts, mid-fight reads, and sometimes dry humor.
"Rotate northwest, edge third. Don't pad. It's bait."
"Focus back tarp. They're overcommitting."
"Clix, you missed that shot like a rookie."
Chat exploded:
> "KYO FLAMED HIM??" "KyoZ3ro with the ICE callouts." "Clix + Kyo duo is peak content."
---
By the end of the first weekend, they sat at the top of the leaderboard.
Clix posted a photo of them reviewing replays on the couch. Horikita, in the background, was asleep with a tablet still in her hand.
Caption:
> "Teamwork. Grind. And Horikita's protein cookies. FNCS loading. 🔥"
The storm was building again.
But this time, Kyo wasn't alone in the silence.
He had Clix in the spotlight beside him—and Horikita in the shadows, ensuring the machine never broke.
---
End of Chapter 15