The arena crackled with a tense energy, the air thick with anticipation. Kael's steady gaze never left his opponent. The boy, once again clutching his head in apparent agony, staggered on his feet. He had been playing the part of a fighter on the verge of collapse, but Kael wasn't buying it. Not anymore.
Overseer AI's voice echoed, laced with sarcasm:
"Oh my, what a dramatic display! Is the boy on the verge of defeat? Or is he pulling some sort of... 'masterful' ploy? This is like watching a play, but I have no idea what the plot is anymore!"
Kael didn't respond to the AI's jabs. His focus was entirely on the boy. The way he swayed, the twitch of his muscles, the almost imperceptible smirk that kept flickering across his face—it was all part of the act.
The boy's body trembled with exertion, his expression contorted in feigned pain. But underneath, Kael could see the cracks in the performance. There was no desperation in his eyes, no true vulnerability. The boy was playing a game, hoping Kael would fall for it.
The boy's voice came out, strained but full of mock defiance.
"You think you've got me figured out, don't you? You think this is over?"
He staggered forward, his steps unsteady, but his eyes gleamed with confidence. He still believed Kael was buying the act.
Kael tilted his head slightly, not saying a word. His posture remained calm, almost relaxed. He watched the boy closely, the tension building between them.
The boy took another step, then another, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. He was playing his hand well, letting Kael think he was losing control, hoping that Kael would get too eager, too hasty.
Kael remained unfazed. He simply observed, letting the boy believe that Kael was starting to get overconfident.
Zappy's voice crackled in Kael's ear, a tone of urgency beneath her calm words.
"Kael, don't get tricked. He's faking it. He wants you to think he's losing control, that he's desperate. But this is all part of his plan. He's trying to make you underestimate him."
Kael gave no outward sign that he heard Zappy. His eyes narrowed slightly as he sized up his opponent, whose grin only widened in response. The boy still believed that Kael thought he was in control, that Kael was falling for his act. The boy's overconfidence was almost palpable.
The boy lunged, his movements wild, as though he was giving everything to a final, reckless attempt to land a blow. His fists came at Kael like twin hammers, crashing toward him with all the force of a desperate man on the edge.
But Kael was already several steps ahead. He sidestepped the first strike effortlessly, his movements fluid, almost casual. He could feel the boy's confidence from here—he was still trying to manipulate Kael, trying to make him believe this was a fight that could go either way.
Kael let the boy's momentum carry him forward, then moved in with quick precision, striking at the boy's ribs. But even as Kael made contact, the boy's grin didn't waver.
The boy's voice was low, dripping with false confidence.
"You really think you can beat me this easily, huh? I'm not some weakling you can just knock down."
His body jerked again, as if fighting against some invisible force, but Kael could see it for what it was. The boy was pretending, playing the role of the struggling underdog to lure Kael into a false sense of superiority.
Kael didn't take the bait. He pressed his attack, but not with the intensity that might suggest he thought the boy was truly in trouble. Instead, he played it cool, letting the boy think he still had control over the fight.