The air was still for only a second.
Then Kaiba moved.
Rai barely registered it. One moment Kaiba stood across the street the next, his fist was buried deep in Rai's stomach. The shockwave followed a heartbeat later, launching Rai backward through a line of rusted cars. Metal crumpled. Glass exploded. Dust swallowed the street.
Rai slammed into the ground, gasping, clutching his abdomen.
"He's… fast!"
Kaiba walked toward him calmly, brushing dust from his coat.
"You were keeping up before," he said casually. "What changed?"
Rai forced himself up, coughing.
"Guess I just need to try harder."
Blue sparks flickered around his arms as he clenched his fists. This time, he didn't hesitate. Rai lunged forward, spinning midair into a heavy kick aimed at Kaiba's head. Kaiba ducked effortlessly, sweeping low. Rai barely avoided it by flipping over him, landing behind Kaiba and swinging a punch
Kaiba caught it with one hand.
"Too slow," Kaiba said flatly.
He twisted Rai's arm and hurled him over his shoulder, slamming him into the pavement hard enough to crack it. Rai rolled away with a groan, but still pushed himself up.
He charged again faster. Cleaner. Sharper.
Lee's training kicked in.
Rai feinted left, slipped right, then drove a jab toward Kaiba's ribs followed by a low kick. Kaiba blocked most of it, but Rai's final punch clipped his jaw, forcing Kaiba back a half-step.
Rai smirked.
"Not so easy now, huh?"
Kaiba slowly rubbed his chin. A faint grin appeared.
"You really shouldn't get cocky."
His aura erupted black and red sparks bursting outward like flames. The ground beneath him cracked as crushing pressure flooded the street. His relaxed expression vanished, replaced by something cold. Focused. His eyes glowed faintly red.
Rai's confidence wavered.
"Oh… crap."
Kaiba vanished.
Before Rai could react, a kick slammed into his back, launching him skyward. Kaiba appeared above him in an instant, grabbing him by the neck and driving him straight into the ground.
The impact shook the street.
Rai coughed blood, vision blurring. Kaiba landed lightly, dust swirling around his boots.
"Weakling."
Rai groaned, forcing himself onto one knee.
"I can still fight…"
Kaiba raised a hand lazily.
"Then prove it."
A crimson sphere formed in his palm small at first, then rapidly growing, pulsing with raw energy. The ground trembled beneath Rai.
Rai roared and charged, blue aura flaring as he ran straight into the pressure. Their energies collided in a thunderous shockwave, shattering nearby windows.
For a brief moment, Rai's punch landed square in Kaiba's chest, forcing him back a step.
But Kaiba barely flinched.
The crimson sphere pulsed brighter.
"You still don't get it," Kaiba said.
He fired.
The explosion swallowed Rai whole, launching him through a half-collapsed building. Rubble collapsed in its wake, smoke consuming the street.
Rai lay motionless for a moment. His ears rang. Breathing hurt.
Kaiba walked through the dust, calm as ever.
"You fought better than most," he said. "But this city belongs to us now."
Rai twitched, trying to rise but Kaiba kicked him back down effortlessly. He pressed his boot against Rai's chest, studying him with mild curiosity.
"Tell me something," Kaiba said. "Ever heard of the Juvenile Tournament?"
Rai's vision swam.
"The… what?"
"It's where the real fighters gather. The best from every territory," Kaiba said. "I plan on entering."
Rai struggled to move, but his body refused.
"Why… tell me this?"
Kaiba smirked faintly, leaning closer.
"Because I wondered if you'd join. But as you are now…" His voice dropped. "You'll never beat me."
A larger black sphere began forming in his hand, humming violently.
Rai's heart raced. He tried to move anything but pain locked him in place.
Kaiba's aura burned brighter.
"Goodbye, Optimus boy."
Then
BOOM!
A massive shockwave ripped through the street, blasting Kaiba's attack into the sky. Red and white light tore through the clouds.
When the dust settled, someone stood between them.
Lee.
Calm. Unshaken. His coat fluttered in the heated wind.
He glanced back briefly.
"You did good, kid. Catch your breath."
"L-Lee…?" Rai muttered weakly.
Lee turned his gaze to Kaiba.
"You hit him harder than I expected. Didn't think the Valiant sent someone this young."
Kaiba straightened, wiping blood from his lip.
"Lee… so you're still alive."
"You sound disappointed," Lee replied evenly. His blue aura flickered to life.
"You trained the boy well," Kaiba said. "But he barely made me sweat."
"Give him time," Lee answered. "He'll wipe the floor with you."
Kaiba lowered into a stance, dark energy coiling around him.
"You sure about this? You know how this ends."
Lee cracked his knuckles.
"Yeah. You lose."
Their auras collided, cracking the street beneath them. The pressure warped the air.
Then nothing.
Kaiba relaxed, smirk returning.
"Another time. I've done enough damage."
He crushed a small capsule. Thick black smoke flooded the area.
When it cleared, Kaiba was gone.
Lee exhaled, his aura fading.
"Tch. Figures."
He crouched beside Rai.
"You alive?"
"Barely," Rai coughed.
Lee checked his injuries.
"He didn't hold back much."
"He mentioned a tournament…" Rai muttered.
Lee's expression hardened and would think internally
'The Juvenile Tournament… If that's his goal, things just got complicated.'
He helped Rai to his feet. Though limping, Rai stood tall.
"I'll get stronger," Rai said quietly. "Next time, I won't lose."
Lee nodded approvingly.
"Good. Don't forget that."
They retreated toward a military transport before enemy soldiers arrived.
Far away, atop a ruined building, Kaiba watched them leave.
He smirked.
"Rai, huh? Not bad."
He turned away.
"But next time… let's see how far you've come."