Kain gazed up at Ethan's indifferent gaze, and an overwhelming sense of defeat surged within him, bitter and unyielding.
How could this have happened? Ten years—a decade of relentless cultivation, a decade spent chasing Ethan's shadow, always striving to prove his strength. Yet here, in a moment that felt stretched across an eternity, he realized the truth: he could not even withstand a single move.
His heart ached with the weight of loss and confusion, and despair gnawed at the edges of his pride.
Ethan approached, steps measured, presence as calm as the surface of Serene Mirror Lake before a storm. Stopping before Kain's ruined form, Ethan met his eyes—no contempt in his gaze, only a gentle, undeniable certainty.
"Why… why are you so strong?" Kain managed, voice trembling.
"How did you do it?"
Ethan's expression never wavered.
"No reason."
He spoke softly, almost as if coaxing a lost friend.
