Kota disappeared.
For a moment, the entire training ground stood frozen.
Remi's eyes darted across the courtyard. Nothing. No movement. Not even a trace of Kota's presence.
Then a gust of wind struck him from behind. His body reacted before his mind could. He spun and raised his arm.
Kota's fist stopped just short of his face.
Remi's eyes widened. Kota vanished again.
"Damn it," Remi muttered.
He turned sharply. Kota appeared several feet away. Remi charged. Kota stepped aside. Remi's fist cut through empty air as Kota disappeared once more.
Strikes came from both sides in quick succession. Remi blocked left, then right, then left again. His arms moved faster and faster as he tried to keep up. Kota was everywhere. The sound of their movements echoed across the training grounds.
The nobles watched in silence.
Soho's eyes followed Kota, but even she struggled to track him.
"Roco," she called.
Roco didn't answer.
"Soho, don't distract me," she said.
"You can't see him either, can you?" Soho asked.
Roco's eyes narrowed. "Not completely," she answered.
Soho grinned. "I knew it."
Roco glanced at her. "Knew what?" she asked.
Soho pointed toward the battlefield. "He may actually be faster than you."
Roco's jaw tightened. "I wouldn't go that far," she said.
"But you just said you can't completely follow him," Soho pressed.
Roco stayed silent.
Soho's grin widened. "Exactly."
Across the courtyard, Caldera remained still. Her attention stayed locked on Kota. She watched every movement, every step, every disappearance, every reappearance.
Something about it bothered her. Kota wasn't fighting like someone desperate to win. He wasn't even fighting like someone trying to defeat Remi. He was experimenting. Learning. Testing the limits of his own body.
Caldera motioned toward Noire. "What do you think of him?" she asked.
Noire kept watching the fight. "He's interesting. His speed is rare," she said.
Caldera's brow lifted slightly. "Rare?"
Noire nodded. "But he's still holding something back. Remi will win this one."
Caldera looked back at the battlefield. "Not by strength?" she asked.
"No. Remi isn't stronger or faster. I just can't put my finger on why yet," Noire answered.
Kota vanished. Remi turned. Kota appeared behind him. Remi barely blocked the strike. The impact sent him sliding across the ground.
Noire continued, her voice lower. "Whatever we're seeing isn't the full picture. I sensed something different back in the council room. This one might be more dangerous than he looks."
Caldera's eyes narrowed. Her gaze shifted toward Harlan, who stood at the edge of the training grounds with his arms folded, displeasure clear on his face.
"Then we must protect him from Harlan and anyone who sides with him," Caldera said.
Noire looked at her. A faint smile touched her lips. "That's a hard task you're bestowing upon us."
Caldera didn't smile. "Can you do it?" she asked.
Noire turned her attention back toward Kota. "I'll try."
Another violent impact interrupted them. Everyone looked toward the center of the training grounds.
Remi had managed to catch Kota. His hand was wrapped around Kota's wrist.
Kota looked down at it.
Remi grinned. "Got you."
Kota looked back at him. "You did."
Remi tightened his grip.
Kota stared at him.
For the first time since the fight began, Remi looked confident. The nobles watched closely. Harlan's eyes sharpened. Finally.
Remi yanked Kota forward and swung hard. Kota dropped under the punch as the air cracked past his ear. Remi's knee shot up. Kota twisted around it, the impact grazing his side, and slammed his forearm into the next strike with a sharp jolt that rattled both their arms.
Their arms locked. Remi pushed hard, trying to force Kota back. Kota didn't move. For a moment they stood face-to-face, breath mixing in the short space between them.
Remi smiled. "You're not going anywhere."
Kota's eyes stayed cold. "Are you sure?" he asked.
Remi's smile faded just as Kota's wrist slipped free. Remi's eyes widened. Kota stepped back, clean and easy, like the hold had never been there.
For the first time since the fight began, he stopped moving. He stood in the middle of the battlefield, completely still. His silver hair shifted gently in the wind.
Remi watched him carefully. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Kota lifted his eyes. "You wanted to see the real me?"
Remi's face changed.
Kota lowered his stance. "Let me give you a show."
Kota stepped forward. His body strained under the demand. Muscles locked tight. His breathing turned heavy. He forced another step and his leg trembled hard.
He gritted his teeth and pushed through it. His chest rose sharply as he dragged in air.
"Kota," Leiya called, eyes wide.
He didn't stop. He forced himself forward again. The speed was still there, but his body was fighting it now. His hands shook. His vision blurred for a second.
Not yet.
He pushed harder. Pain shot up both legs. His breathing turned ragged.
He tried to vanish again.
His body lagged.
For a split second he stayed visible longer than he should have, feet scraping the stone instead of leaving it cleanly. The delay was small, but it was enough. His next step almost buckled.
Soho watched Kota's hands tremble as he forced another step. Her expression shifted.
"Kota, stop," the girl beside him called.
Soho's jaw tightened. She leaned toward Roco.
"She's telling him to quit," Soho muttered.
Roco glanced at her. "What?"
"That girl. She's calling him off." Soho's eyes stayed on Kota. "He's still trying and she's telling him to stop. That would piss me off."
Roco looked back toward the fight. "Or she's the only one who can actually stop him."
Soho didn't answer. She kept watching Kota push through the strain, frustration clear on her face.
Leiya stepped forward. "Kota, stop," she said.
He didn't answer.
"Kota, you're done."
He looked at her. Her face was firm. "Stop before you hurt yourself," she said.
Kota stood there a second longer, chest heaving. He glanced at Remi, then down at his own trembling hands.
His legs still shook. The pain hadn't faded. One more push and he wasn't sure his body would answer.
Slowly, he walked back, sat down, and exhaled.
"I give up," he said. He looked at Remi. "You win."
Silence fell across the training grounds.
Remi stared at him. For several seconds he didn't move. Then his expression softened. "I won?" he asked.
Kota nodded. "Yeah."
Remi lowered his fists. He looked around at the nobles before turning back to Kota. "I'll accept it."
Leiya crouched beside him. "You scared me," she said.
Kota glanced at her. "I told you I knew my limits."
"You almost ignored them," she said.
"But I stopped," Kota replied.
Leiya sighed. "Barely."
Across the courtyard, Harlan remained silent. His eyes stayed locked on Kota.
The boy had given up. Not because Remi had defeated him. Not because he was weaker. He had simply stopped when his body could no longer keep up with what he demanded from it.
Harlan's face darkened. What exactly are you?
Kota looked toward the surrounding nobles. Their expressions had changed. Some were curious. Some were afraid. Some were already calculating.
And Harlan…
Harlan was staring at him like he had just become a problem that needed to be solved.