he arena was a coliseum of echoes and tension. The final round approached, and the spectators—mortal and divine alike—held their breath. The Awakener Gathering, held once every three years, was approaching its climax. Gods and constellations monitored via the system interface, observing each candidate with an unblinking, calculating gaze. Kairis Ash stood at the edge of the arena, cloak drawn lightly around his shoulders, his brownish-black eyes calm yet alive with a faint violet glow—a signal of his latent gravitational power.
He had used his daily Gacha and Roulette spins. The system interface had rewarded him with:
> [Dark Matter Catalyst – +15% absorption for 24 hours]
[Gravity Surge Lv.3 Efficiency Boost]
[Passive: Gravitational Anchoring – +10% control radius for 24 hours]
Not an overwhelming arsenal, but enough to remind him that the system favored those who planned and observed.
---
The Calm Before the Storm
Kairis's gaze swept over the arena. The coliseum was massive, circular, with multiple tiers and platforms. Energy fields hummed faintly around the edges, acting as containment measures for the violent exchanges that could easily destroy the ground beneath them.
> "Almost time," Kairis thought. "The final opponent is stronger than Theron. I can feel it."
He reflected briefly on the other matches. Each battle had provided him with Dark Matter absorption, XP, and a clearer understanding of his own limits. Yet every fight had also revealed one undeniable truth: even as the Apostle of Void, he could be pushed.
He flexed his fingers. Graviton Edge hummed faintly at his side, ready to manipulate space with precise lethality. His body, honed by constant hunting and battle, held a calm, measured tension—a predator prepared for its apex confrontation.
> "This isn't just about winning… it's about surviving, adapting, and proving that I belong here."
The gates at the far end of the arena slid open with a mechanical groan. A figure emerged, silent and imposing. Even from a distance, Kairis could sense the oppressive aura radiating from the newcomer.
> [Opponent: Zephyrion Vael'Thar]
[Title: Apostle of Ragnis – Fire & Temporal Sub-Affinity]
[Level: 12+]
[Abilities: Flamewave Manipulation Lv.3, Temporal Shift Lv.2, Infernal Resonance Lv.2, Combat Foresight Lv.2]
Zephyrion was taller, broader, and carried an aura of disciplined arrogance. His eyes burned like molten gold, and his movements, even as he casually adjusted his stance, suggested a lifetime of combat and refinement.
Kairis's lips curled into a faint smirk.
> "Finally… someone worth the title."
He strode to the arena's center, cloak lightly swaying with his gravitational manipulation. Despite the tension, he radiated an air of effortless confidence, the type of predator who had seen the world's cruelty and refused to be afraid.
Zephyrion moved first, a wave of concentrated fire erupting from his palms, scorching the arena floor. The heat rippled outward, forcing Kairis to immediately adjust gravity under his feet, subtly shifting the floor to absorb and redirect the energy.
> [Kairis Ash – Ability Ready: Graviton Edge, Gyro-Telekinesis, Black Hole Lv.1, Gravity Surge Lv.3]
Kairis didn't waste time. He launched a Graviton Edge strike, not to directly hit Zephyrion, but to distort space around him, bending fire and molten fragments aside while testing the speed and reaction patterns of his opponent.
Zephyrion smiled faintly, almost imperceptibly. He had already anticipated the move, shifting his weight and using Temporal Shift to blink a fraction of a second forward, avoiding the spatial distortion entirely.
> "Impressive… fast, precise… but predictable."
System Updates Mid-Battle
As their powers collided, Kairis's System Interface updated in real-time:
> [XP Gained: 1,800]
[Dark Matter Absorbed: 3.2 units]
[Level Progress: 10.3 / 11]
[Ability Upgrade Ready – Gravity Surge Lv.4 / Black Hole Efficiency +20%]
Even in battle, the system's interface pulsed silently, almost instinctively calculating new potential, Dark Matter absorption, and the synergy of his abilities.
Kairis's eyes glinted faintly violet. His mind, calm and analytical, noted:
> "Temporal manipulation… he's faster than Theron, but not infallible. I'll wait for the moment he overextends."
For the next several minutes, the battle became a dance of destruction.
Kairis used Gyro-Telekinesis to manipulate debris, creating shields and projectiles simultaneously.
Zephyrion countered with Infernal Resonance, amplifying flames and creating a heat field that distorted gravity slightly around Kairis.
The arena floor cracked and fissured, smoke rising in swirling columns as gravitational distortions and fire collided.
Close combat exchanges were brutal; punches and kicks sent concussive shockwaves, and Kairis twisted in mid-air to redirect Zephyrion's attacks while landing lethal counters.
> "He's strong… no, stronger than I anticipated… but I'll find a crack."
Mental Chess
Kairis remained calm, almost arrogant in demeanor. He taunted subtly, speaking just above a whisper:
> "Come on… I expected more flair from an Apostle of Ragnis."
Zephyrion's eyes narrowed, a flicker of irritation at being underestimated. He fired a concentrated Flamewave barrage, forcing Kairis to bend space aggressively, creating tiny rifts to deflect each projectile.
> "Testing my patience… fine," Kairis thought.
Every action was calculated. Absorb, analyze, strike, a cycle of predator logic honed by months of hunting monsters and surviving against impossible odds.
As the fight progressed, Kairis felt his Dark Matter affinity pulsing. Each strike, dodge, and gravitational manipulation fed into his internal reservoir.
> [Dark Matter Absorbed: +0.6 units per second from environment and opponent energy]
[Ability Synergy Detected: Graviton Edge + Gyro-Telekinesis = Space Compression Lv.1 ready]
He allowed a small gravitational pull to subtly distort Zephyrion's trajectory, a near-imperceptible tactic that would soon create the opening he needed.
The arena shook. Dust and fire swirled around the combatants. Both Apostles were breathing steadily, showing no outward sign of fatigue, yet the energy radiating from them hinted at near-limit exhaustion.
Kairis's mind raced, calculating the next move. The final strike needed finesse, Dark Matter optimization, and timing precision. He flexed his fingers, and a faint, violet distortion shimmered around him.
Zephyrion raised a brow, a challenge unspoken.
> "Let's see if you can survive this, Apostle of Void."
And at that moment, the arena held its breath.
The final confrontation—gravity versus fire, void versus temporal energy—was about to reach its peak.