The training chamber's atmosphere grew heavy with contained violence as two cousins faced each other across the artificial space. The room's adaptive systems recognized the impending confrontation, automatically reinforcing walls and ceiling with additional layers of protective alloy while creating a circular combat area marked by subtle shifts in the floor's illumination.
Kai stood twenty paces away, his Expert+ aura beginning to manifest around his powerful frame like liquid azure fire. His massive two-handed axe rested casually on his shoulder, its futuristic design gleaming with mana-enhanced alloys that sang softly in harmony with his spiritual energy. Despite his outward calm, his crimson eyes burned with months of accumulated resentment and the desperate need to prove that bloodline and dedication still mattered in a world that seemed increasingly willing to reward inexplicable talent over honest effort.
