The sun blazed down over the Prismic Gathering Field, its golden light reflecting off the polished stone of the arena. Kazimir and Riah moved through the crowd, their steps deliberate, and the tension in the air was palpable. Ahead of them, Gendai strode with her spear in hand, her posture rigid, her every movement tense.
Riah leaned closer to Kazimir, her voice barely a whisper. "Have you noticed her behavior lately? It's like she's a different person. More confident, more aggressive. She's never been like this before—she usually holds herself back."
Kazimir's eyes narrowed slightly as he surveyed Gendai. "Yeah, she's acting strange. It's like she's trying to prove something. But… Tyrone's different now. He's trained hard these past few months. He's even stronger than Lihanna, and Lihanna's supposed to be on Gendai's level."
Riah raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Tyrone's really improved that much? For a human, that's incredible. Meanwhile, Raijin… well, he's too busy chasing after women instead of working on his skills."
Gendai, overhearing their conversation, turned her head slightly, her calm voice cutting through the air. "What are you two talking about?"
Riah hugged Kazimir's arm playfully, a teasing smile on her face. "Oh, nothing. Just arranging some time for training together."
Gendai's gaze sharpened, her lips curling into a faint smile that held no warmth. "Fine," she said coldly. "But watch closely, Kazimir. I'm going to crush him right in front of you."
Kazimir's lips parted but he didn't respond immediately. His eyes were distant, his mind elsewhere. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm. "Do as you please. If Tyrone defeats you, I won't interfere until one of you can no longer fight."
The arena buzzed with anticipation as Gendai stepped onto the stage, the eyes of the crowd locked on her. Tyrone, standing tall, twirled his scythe once before planting it firmly into the ground. The spectators hushed, waiting for the battle to begin.
Ding!
The moment the bell rang, Gendai moved like a blur, her spear aimed straight for Tyrone's face. His eyes flicked to her, and in the blink of an eye, he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike. With a swift kick, he sent her stumbling, crashing to the ground in a tumble of limbs.
Laughter erupted from the crowd. Some shouted insults, others mocked her. "What was that? A circus act?" one voice yelled. Gendai's cheeks flushed with humiliation as she struggled to rise, her spear still in hand.
She glared at Tyrone, her body tense with frustration, but instead of backing down, she focused. Channeling lightning into her spear, she sent a powerful arc of energy slashing through the air toward him. Tyrone didn't flinch—he swung his scythe and cut through the bolt of energy as though it were nothing. With a quick, fluid motion, he swung the handle of his scythe into her midsection, sending her crashing into the wall.
The crowd's laughter grew louder, mocking her for the one-sided battle. Gendai's heart sank as she glanced over at Kazimir and Riah. The two Vandors stood in silence, their eyes fixed on her, but their expressions unreadable. The weight of their gaze pressed down on her, and the taunts from the crowd became unbearable.
Tears welled in Gendai's eyes, but she refused to let them fall. The laughter continued, deafening. They shouted at her, asking if she was done. Her throat tightened, and a single word escaped her lips, raw with emotion.
"No."
Riah raised her hand high, her voice cutting through the mockery like a blade. "Enough!" she shouted, silencing the crowd instantly. "Do not bully her! None of you here are on the same level as Tyrone. He's receiving special training from Kazimir—show some respect, or leave!"
The crowd fell silent, but Gendai stood frozen, her hands clenched into fists.
In the stillness, her thoughts spiraled. "You think you're so smart… looking down on me to make yourselves feel better," she whispered to herself, her voice low and bitter. "You all think I'm nothing. I'm the underdog. I ruin everything."
Raijin's voice suddenly rang out, sharp and mocking. "Damn, Tyrone, I didn't know you were built like that! Gendai must be weak." He pointed a finger at her, his tone dripping with disdain. "Honestly, Gendai, what a waste. Tojo died to save this? You claim to get stronger, but all you do is cry and hold everyone back. You should've been the one to die instead of him. Just go back to the underworld and die already."
Something inside Gendai snapped. The cruel words hit her like a physical blow, but instead of breaking her, they ignited a fire inside. She placed her hand over her heart, her breath shallow as she whispered, almost to herself, "You can take over now."
The change was instant.
Her body shook as a new energy surged within her. Her once-dark hair split into two streams, black and white, flowing like the perfect balance of yin and yang. Her eyes burned bright ruby red, and her features shifted—more demonic, more powerful. Her every movement was fluid, as if she was no longer bound by the limitations of her former self.
The crowd fell silent, the air thick with tension. Gendai felt… different. She stepped off the wall, her aura crackling around her like an electric storm. Her gaze met Kazimir's for a moment, and for the first time, she saw something in his eyes—a flicker of recognition, though he said nothing.
Tyrone, now fully aware of the shift in power, gripped his scythe tighter. The air felt thick, charged with energy. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew this would be no ordinary fight.
With a snap of her wrist, Gendai summoned two dual swords of swirling energy, their edges glowing with a deadly light. She raised them high, and a wave of power surged outward, distorting the air around her. The wind howled, and the ground trembled beneath her feet.
Tyrone stood firm, but the weight of her presence made it difficult to focus. His eyes darted around, trying to locate her, but she was faster than he could track. The ground beneath him cracked and shifted as she appeared in front of him, her swords clashing against his scythe with a force that sent shockwaves through the arena.
She wasn't just strong—she was unstoppable.
In an instant, Gendai grabbed Tyrone, her power pulling him into her grasp. With a swift motion, she slammed him into the ground. He sprang back to his feet, but she was already gone. His eyes searched the arena, but there was no sign of her.
Then, above him, a sudden chill gripped the air. Ice slashed through the sky, sharp and deadly, falling like a hailstorm. Tyrone barely had time to react as one of the ice blades struck him clean through the chest. His body collapsed, disappearing in a flash of light.
The crowd was deathly silent.
Gendai stood victorious, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The transformation was complete. She had become a force to be reckoned with.
Kazimir's gaze softened, a slight nod of approval barely perceptible. Riah, beside him, placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice low but filled with something akin to respect. "You did it."
Gendai looked down at her hands, her heart still racing. For the first time, she felt in control—alive in a way she had never known before. She wasn't just Gendai anymore. She was something else entirely.