Reality dissolved once more as Fenix found himself standing on the infinite black plane, but this time his entire demeanor had transformed. Gone was the desperate observation of previous attempts, replaced by something far more dangerous - the focused determination of someone who had finally understood not just what needed to be done, but how to accomplish it.
The mysterious being stood across from him with the same eternal patience, its piercing blue eyes holding depths of knowledge that seemed to encompass eons of perfect practice. But Fenix no longer felt intimidated by that overwhelming presence. He had studied this opponent through forty-one deaths, cataloged every micro-movement, analyzed every technique down to its most fundamental components.
More importantly, he had a plan.
