The tension inside the white chamber could be cut with a blade. Air hung thick with heat and adrenaline. Rei steadied his breathing, the burn of his last clash still thrumming in his wrists. Across from him, Nikolai stood motionless. Silver hair slicked back, rainbow eyes shimmering like fractured light.

  For a moment, everything was still. Then the floor trembled. Niko lunged.

  The sound of impact cracked the air. Wood against metal, breath against breath. Rei caught the first swing, sparks dancing where the weapons met. He moved on instinct, foresight painting faint golden lines across his vision.

  His right eye flared, predicting the arc of Niko’s next strike. Rei shifted left to counter but the strike came from the right instead.

  The wooden blade hit his ribs. The shock sent pain searing through his side, forcing the breath out of him. He stumbled back, one knee nearly touching the floor. Gasps rippled from the observation deck above.

  “Wait—what just happened?” Lysander’s voice broke through the murmurs. “Rei should’ve seen that coming!”

  A calm voice answered. “Because he couldn’t.”

  Everyone turned to the speaker. Carmen Vance, leaning casually against the glass railing of the observation platform. Her eyes were sharp, almost unreadable.

  “Nikolai’s grace,” she said, “is called Mutatio. The ability to adapt and counter any grace it’s up against. The power molds itself to whoever he faces. Right now…” she paused, eyes flicking down to the two in the ring, “Mutatio decided Rei’s foresight should be met with mind reading.”

  The silence that followed was heavy.

  Zane blinked. “You’re saying he can literally read Rei’s thoughts?”

  “Not exactly thoughts,” Carmen replied, “but his intentions. Every twitch, every planned movement. Niko perceives it before it happens. That’s what makes him dangerous.”

  Daisy’s lips parted slightly. “So… Rei’s fighting someone who sees his moves before he even makes them.”

  Lysander whistled low. “That’s—”

  “Rei’s worst matchup yet,” Carmen finished.

  Below, Rei tightened his grip on the sword. His vision blurred at the edges, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He could feel Niko watching him, studying every flicker of hesitation.

  “You’re holding back,” Niko said, voice even. “Or maybe you realized it doesn’t matter. Foresight’s useless when your opponent’s already inside your head.”

  Rei exhaled sharply, staying silent.

  Niko smiled. “Fine. Let’s make this fun.”

  He moved again, fast. Faster than before. Rei raised his blade to block, but Niko was already two steps ahead, pivoting low, striking for the legs. Rei jumped back, countered with a swing meant to disarm but Niko twisted, ducked, and his blade grazed Rei’s arm, leaving a red streak across the skin.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  A chorus of shouts erupted above. Carter leaned forward, gripping the railing. “He can’t even react! It’s like Niko knows everything he’s about to do!”

  “That’s the point,” Violet murmured from behind him, her amber eyes narrowing. She leaned on the glass, her tone calm but edged with experience. “Once Mutatio locks onto your power, it doesn’t just counter. it dissects. You’re basically fighting a reflection that learns as you do.”

  Rex crossed his arms beside her. “We’ve fought him before. Trust me, that’s not something you brute-force your way through.”

  Celeste, balancing her chin on her palm, smiled faintly. “Still, I like this kid’s spirit.”

  Meanwhile, Rei’s breaths came shorter. Every move he made felt exposed. Every instinct punished. His foresight flickered, showing him Niko’s possible motions but they were useless when those possibilities shifted faster than he could think.

  Niko advanced, relentless. “What’s wrong, pinkhead? You look like you’ve lost your spark.”

  Rei’s teeth clenched.

  Niko pressed harder, the rhythm of his strikes like a storm. The crack of wood against metal echoed through the chamber, each blow forcing Rei back. His arms trembled under the pressure. When Niko swung low, Rei barely managed to deflect it but the follow-up strike clipped his shoulder, throwing him off-balance.

  Niko didn’t give him time to breathe. “Come on,” he goaded, “where’s that confidence from earlier? Use your grace. Show me that fancy golden trick again.”

  He slashed again, a clean diagonal meant to provoke. Rei blocked, but the impact rattled his grip. His pulse raced.

  He’s baiting me.

  “Don’t tell me you’re scared?” Niko’s tone dropped lower, cold and amused. “Or maybe you realized that without your grace, you’re nothing.”

  That one landed harder than any strike. Rei’s chest burned. Not from pain, but anger.

  He swung back, teeth gritted, aiming for Niko’s chest. But Niko caught it mid-motion, parried easily, then twisted Rei’s blade aside and slammed his shoulder into him. Rei hit the ground hard.

  The sound of his fall echoed through the room.

  From the observation deck, Violet’s eyes softened. “He’s strong, but he’s fighting the wrong battle.”

  Beside her, Felix exhaled and turned away. “It’s over. The kid can’t win a mental game against Nikolai.”

  But Aiden’s voice cut through the murmurs. “Sit back down, Felix.”

  Felix frowned. “What?”

  “The fight’s not over,” Aiden said, arms crossed. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp, trained on Rei. “He’s not the type to fold. He’s processing.”

  Elijah nodded in agreement. “He’s adapting slowly, watch.”

  Below, Rei’s knuckles pressed against the cold floor. His body screamed for him to stay downbbut his mind refused.

  Adapt, Aiden’s word echoed faintly in his head.

  Adapt like you always do

  But adaptation alone wasn’t enough. Not this time.

  He remembered the forest. The wind whispering through the leaves. Ariel’s calm voice.

  "You can regret the past. You can worry for the future. But what will you do in the present?"

  The memory echoed, slow and deliberate.

  He tried to grasp it, turning the phrase over in his mind as Niko’s footsteps approached.

  Regret the past. He’d done that plenty.

  Worry for the future. Every day and every fight.

  But the present… what will you do in the present?

  He frowned.

  What does that even mean?

  The thought barely formed before Niko’s shadow loomed over him.

  “Still thinking?” Niko asked, twirling his blade lazily. “You’re wide open.”

  He swung down.

  Rei raised his sword just in time, the crash echoing like thunder. Sparks scattered between them.

  “Not bad,” Niko said, pushing down. “But you’re still holding back.”

  Rei forced his arms to hold. Muscles screamed in protest. “And you talk too much.”

  Niko laughed, pressing harder. “Oh, that’s cute. Guess you still have some fight left.”

  He pulled back suddenly, spinning into a roundhouse kick that slammed into Rei’s stomach. The same place Rei had struck him earlier. The blow sent Rei flying backward, crashing into the wall. His sword clattered to the floor.

  Rei coughed, the air knocked from his lungs.

  From above, gasps filled the observation deck.

  “Rei!” Daisy’s voice echoed faintly, but he couldn’t look up.

  Niko straightened, the faint hum of Mutatio’s power still flickering in his eyes. “Consider that payback,” he said simply, then pointed his blade toward Rei. “So? You done?”

  The room fell silent again.

  Rei’s head hung low, breath shallow. Every nerve screamed to stop. But then, he remembered Ariel’s words again, clearer this time.

  What will you do in the present?

  Not yesterday. Not tomorrow. Now.

  He let out a low laugh, surprising even himself.

  Niko tilted his head. “What’s so funny?”

  Rei lifted his gaze, golden light flickering faintly in his right eye again. “Thanks, jackass,” he said, voice steady despite the pain. “You just made me level up.”

  The gold spread, brighter, stronger. But this time, something else stirred. His left eye igniting with a deeper radiance, a burning golden-white that pulsed like a heartbeat.

  The floor beneath him shimmered faintly as his focus returned sharper than ever. His stance shifted—light, balanced, ready.

  Up above, the air stilled. Carter blinked. “Both eyes—”

  “They’re glowing,” Zane said, disbelief cutting through his voice.

  Elisa gripped the railing, eyes wide. “He’s evolving his grace!”

  Carmen smiled faintly, her expression unreadable. “No… he’s understanding it.”

  Niko’s smirk faded. For the first time, he felt something new coil in his chest: unease.

  Rei raised his sword, calm and grounded. “Let’s try this again.”

  And before Niko could read the thought. Before Mutatio could catch the rhythm, Rei moved.

  Fast.

  [End of Chapter]