The wind whipped across the open plateau, dust and leaves spiraling around the three figures as Tessandra and Alzwalt faced each other. Kaelen crouched to the side, his eyes wide, heart pounding—he could feel the immense pressure radiating off them. This was a fight on a level he had only read about in legends.
Tessandra shifted her stance, muscles coiled like springs. "You've grown stronger since last I sensed you," she said to Alzwalt, her violet-silver hair whipping behind her. "Let's see what you can do."
Alzwalt smiled faintly, golden wings shimmering in the sunlight, the faint hum of his luminous circuit enveloping him. "Gladly."
And then they collided.
Their fists met in a blur of motion. Each strike sent ripples through the air; Kaelen's eyes struggled to keep up as they moved faster than the eye could see. Dust and stone cracked beneath their feet, and within moments, they were soaring into the sky, exchanging blows midair.
Tessandra's circuit flared—a dual-nature combination of Chrono Manipulation and High-Precision Reflexes, allowing her to slightly alter her perception of time and react to attacks that would normally be instantaneous. Her strikes were surgical, each one aimed at breaking Alzwalt's guard, testing his limits without intent to kill.
Alzwalt's luminous circuit, in contrast, enhanced speed, strength, and endurance. His aura acted like a shield and amplifier simultaneously, every blow radiating shockwaves that could level trees if released fully. He wasn't going all out—yet—but the force behind even a single strike could pulverize a mountain boulder.
They danced between the sky and the ground, trading blows, kicks, and counters. One moment Tessandra's leg shot out, Alzwalt deflecting with a forearm and countering with a spinning punch that sent her skidding across the plateau. The next, they were midair, somersaulting over each other, strikes chaining together like lightning crashing across a stormy sky.
Kaelen's eyes widened as Tessandra's abilities unfolded.
Temporal Reflex: She could slow her perception of time for a fraction of a second, letting her dodge what should have been unavoidable. Circuit-Enhanced Precision: Each strike targeted weak points with uncanny accuracy, capable of bypassing even energy-based defenses. Enhanced Aura Flow: Her movement generated micro-currents of energy, subtly affecting Alzwalt's positioning, forcing him to adapt continually.
Kaelen could barely process it. Every attack he thought he understood, every tactic he had studied, fell apart under her control of circuits. And yet Alzwalt matched her seamlessly, his own energy a radiant force that compensated for her precision with sheer overwhelming power.
They fought across the plateau, soaring over mountains, diving through the forest below, each movement leaving trails of light and energy. When they landed, the earth itself shook, fissures opening under the shockwaves of their blows.
Kaelen's mouth hung open. "They… they're not just strong… they're—"
"Titans," John muttered beside him, leaning casually against a rock, watching with a faint smirk.
Even when they slowed for a moment to assess each other, the tension remained palpable. Neither was truly holding back, but neither had gone all-out. Every strike exchanged was enough to devastate a normal circuit user, yet they tested, calculated, and measured one another—fighting not just for victory, but for the pure challenge of combat.
After what seemed like hours, the two finally stepped back simultaneously, breathing evenly, the energy around them simmering down. Tessandra's hair clung to her face with sweat, Alzwalt's wings still faintly glowing.
"It seems… we're evenly matched," Tessandra said, her voice calm but with a hint of amusement.
Alzwalt's smile widened, a small laugh escaping. "Agreed. Not bad at all. We could do this forever."
Kaelen's jaw hung open, and he sat down hard on a rock, his mind spinning. "I… I can't even begin to imagine fighting like that," he muttered. His circuits were still buzzing from the residual energy of their clash, and he could feel, deep in his bones, that this was a level far above him.
John's eyes glinted as he glanced at Kaelen. "Keep watching, kid. If you think that's impressive, you ain't seen half of what this world has to offer."
Kaelen swallowed hard, fists clenching. "I'm going to… I'm going to be able to do that one day."
Tessandra straightened, adjusting her coat, the faint wind carrying it dramatically behind her. "One day, yes. But first, you need to survive everything else Kael'Ar throws at you."
Alzwalt chuckled, wings folding slightly as he rested. "And maybe… have a little fun while you're at it."
Kaelen looked between them, awe and determination mixing. The path ahead had never seemed so clear—and yet so terrifying.