The boy's breathing slowed. His wild, panicked movements became smoother, more controlled. For a moment, Kael thought he had finally gained the upper hand. The boy's once erratic attacks were now carefully calculated, even if his body still seemed to be wracked with spasms.
Zappy's voice buzzed in Kael's ear, a faint tinge of warning. "Kael, be careful. Something doesn't feel right. This... this is a trap."
Kael didn't respond. His focus was entirely on the boy, who was now standing still, chest heaving as if fighting an internal battle. Kael had seen the shifts in his opponent before—every spasm, every jerk of his muscles, and the sudden surge of power. He was certain there was something more to it than just raw strength.
But Kael was too focused on the wrong thing. He wasn't paying attention to the most obvious answer.
The boy's dark eyes flickered, narrowing, and a small, almost imperceptible smirk curled on his lips.
---
Kael blinked, his mind momentarily slipping as the boy seemed to regain composure. His posture straightened, and the overwhelming energy that had been consuming him disappeared entirely. Instead of the furious, uncontrollable fighter Kael had been facing, the boy was now calm. Too calm.
The boy lunged, faster than before, but this time Kael's instincts screamed at him. This wasn't desperation. This wasn't a last-ditch effort to break free.
It was a trap.
Kael sidestepped just in time, his gaze flicking toward Zappy's warning, but it was too late. The boy had already anticipated his move.
With swift, practiced movements, the boy unleashed a series of brutal strikes. Each one was perfectly timed, with no wasted motion. Kael was forced to defend, but it was clear now—the boy wasn't some helpless fighter struggling against a greater power. He was a fighter who had been toying with him, making him believe he had the upper hand.
The smirk returned to the boy's face. "You thought I was weak? You thought I was out of control?" His voice was calm, almost amused. "This is my nature. I fight when I need to. And when I fight, I fight to win."
---
Zappy's voice crackled through Kael's earpiece, more urgent now. "Kael! I told you—this isn't what you think! He was playing you!"
Kael's chest tightened as the boy's assault intensified, his strikes becoming more calculated, more precise. The blows landed with a force Kael hadn't expected—each one felt like a test of his limits. Despite his speed and strength, Kael was slowly being pushed back.
The boy wasn't overpowered by a curse or a force beyond his control. He was a strategist, using every trick in the book to make Kael believe he was on the verge of losing.
Kael was not used to being outsmarted.
---
Kael's breathing became heavier. Each block, each dodge, was becoming more strained. It was no longer just about power—it was about the boy's ability to read him, to predict his every move. Kael's mind raced, but it wasn't enough. He was too wrapped up in the fight, too wrapped up in the mystery of his opponent's power.
"Kael, focus!" Zappy insisted, frustration lacing his voice. "You're letting him manipulate you! This isn't some power struggle! You've got to stop playing his game!"
Kael's gaze flicked to the boy, and everything clicked into place. The boy wasn't fighting to survive. He was fighting to win—and he knew exactly how to get inside Kael's head.
---
The two fighters stood facing each other, the tension thick in the air. Kael's muscles ached, his mind working to process everything in a fraction of a second. The boy wasn't as powerful as he had first appeared. He had merely been playing a role. But now, Kael had to fight against a new challenge—the boy's tactics.
The boy took a step forward, his smirk still in place, but his eyes now filled with a new kind of respect. "You're not bad, Kael. But it's too late for you now. I've already won."
Kael tightened his fists, a spark of determination igniting in his chest. This was far from over.
---
Just as Kael prepared to strike back, the boy's posture shifted once more. His body froze for a split second. His eyes glazed over.
Before Kael could process what was happening, the boy's entire form seemed to twitch unnaturally. He staggered backward, his limbs jerking in strange, violent movements as if something was trying to take control once again. The smirk faded, replaced by a sudden look of desperation.
Kael's eyes widened as the boy dropped to one knee, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He was no longer in control.
"What...?"
Suddenly, the boy's body lurched forward, his eyes wide and unfocused, as if struggling against an invisible force. His hands clutched at his head, his muscles spasming violently.
Kael couldn't figure out what was happening, but one thing was certain—the fight wasn't over. Something darker was at play here, and the boy was once again losing control of his own body.
---
End of Chapter 55