Kaiguro flicked his finger with his thumb. The motion wasn't focused on power, yet the force it released was no small feat. A small burst of air slammed into Hazo’s stomach, cutting his momentum short and halting his punch mid-swing. It wasn’t a full-powered strike, maybe half of one, but after all the punishment Hazo’s body had already absorbed, the impact definitely hurt. His gut caved in slightly, the breath jolted from his lungs, and he stumbled back a half step before gritting his teeth. His eyes glimmered with a stubborn rage as he raised his fingers for another strike.

  Kaiguro responded with three flicks in rapid succession, so fast his fingers blurred. Invisible bullets of wind cracked through the air—one striking Hazo square in the face, another drilling into his groin, the last smacking into his shoulder with pinpoint precision. None of them had the raw force to send him flying, and Kaiguro clearly wasn’t aiming for that. If he did, the fight would reset, bringing Hazo back to square one.

  Hazo had to think fast. He knew it as well as I did—flicking fingers was the fastest, most economical movement a transcended could make. At this rate, he wouldn’t land anything.

  Still, Hazo roared and launched a quick uppercut, his arm cutting upward like a whip. Kaiguro only needed a single flick. His index finger snapped, and the air crushed against Hazo’s fist. The sound that followed wasn’t loud, but it was sharp—a hairline fracture, a small splinter of bone snapping under stress. Not enough to break, but enough to warn. Hazo couldn't take it anymore.

  And then Hazo did something no one expected. He spit in Kaiguro’s face. The man who prided himself on polish, elegance, and control reduced himself to a raw, animal tactic. While Kaiguro flinched from the unexpected insult, Hazo lunged and drove his hand into Kaiguro’s neck.

  Immediately, Kaiguro’s whole body spasmed. His muscles tightened like steel cords pulled too far, veins bulging against his skin. He staggered back a step, his balance failing him. His knees gave out, and he toppled onto his back with a heavy thud.

  Oh no.

  Kaiguro tried to move, and I could feel the pressure of his intent radiating. His willpower surged, but his body didn’t answer. He was paralyzed.

  Leo frowned.

  Leo is frowning?!

  Hazo loomed over Kaiguro, casting a long shadow across his chest. His expression was unhinged, desperate, almost triumphant. “This won’t end with just a burn.”

  Kaiguro’s chest rose sharply. He drew in a deep breath, deeper than anything he’d taken during the fight. His ribs stretched wide, his lungs filling until they seemed ready to burst. Was he preparing for his end?

  Then he let it out.

  The roar wasn’t just sound—it was a gale, a storm released from his very core. A cyclone exploded outward from Kaiguro’s mouth, the wind slicing and screeching with such force it tore the ground beneath them. Hazo’s face was caught full on. Flesh shredded instantly, peeling away under the invisible blades. Blood misted, and beneath it, I could see something horrific—his skull split open, brain matter exposed, glistening in the light.

  Yaro screamed, “Big bro!”

  His entire body trembled as he prepared to rush forward, killing intent boiling out of him uncontrollably.

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  Before he could take a step, Tektite’s hand clamped onto the back of his shirt collar. He yanked him back with overwhelming strength, planting him in place. Yaro’s glare was full of fury and grief, but Tektite’s eyes were merciless, his voice cold.

  “No.”

  Just that. A single word, heavy as stone.

  Yaro had loved his brother. He would have laid down his life without hesitation, and he knew his brother would have done the same. But faced with Tektite’s sheer presence, his body betrayed him. He could not move forward. His fists trembled uselessly at his sides as tears streaked down his face.

  Hazo’s body collapsed forward, falling atop Kaiguro. The fight was over. Kaiguro had won, but the victory was hollow—his own body was locked, frozen by the backlash of Hazo’s technique. He wouldn’t move again for at least a day.

  Leo stepped forward, calm as ever. With a flick of his wrist, he brushed Hazo’s limp body aside, and then crouched to hoist Kaiguro onto his back. He carried him as though Kaiguro weighed nothing. “Give us a few minutes.”

  Tektite handled Hazo’s body with a disturbing casualness. He dragged him a few meters to a small rise in the earth, kicked a deep hole into the hill with one brutal stomp, and tossed Hazo’s remains in. No ceremony. No pause. Just another task. He turned his head, expression hard, and barked, “Give me some stone!”

  A few soldiers scrambled forward, lugging a boulder between them. Tektite dropped it on the fresh grave with a heavy thud. With one finger, he carved into the rock.

  A loving man, Hazo Goko.

  Yaro cried openly now, his body shaking. His voice cracked as he screamed, “I’ll avenge you, brother!”

  Kaiguro’s soldiers gathered around Leo as he handed Kaiguro over into their arms. Kaiguro’s eyes barely opened. “Sorry, Leo. I didn’t expect him...”

  Leo reached down and rubbed his head, an almost fatherly gesture. “It’s fine. You won. That’s all that was needed.”

  We tied. Both combatants were gone, their short-term strength erased from the field. One buried in the dirt forever, the other bound for Grand Sasebella to recover. Not the best start.

  So who’s next?

  Caleb ran a hand through his hair, sighing as though his very nerves were unraveling. “Didn’t expect Kaiguro to be pushed that far. I want to go...”

  Finn cracked his fingers slowly. “Let me go. First time I could let off some steam ever since Vellin stole my revenge.”

  Leo smiled faintly, almost amused. “It wasn’t Toda.”

  Finn’s head snapped toward him, eyes wild. “Huh?”

  His killing intent spiked instantly, pressing on everyone around.

  Leo’s hand slid to his sword, fingers wrapping around the hilt. His gaze was unshaken. “Watch your intent, Finn.”

  Finn’s chest heaved, breath harsh. “How about you watch what you say next, fucker?”

  Leo’s voice was steady, calm, unflinching. “It was actually Tektite. Tektite and Toda look similar, and you only saw the kill from a mile away. I thought I could motivate you.”

  Finn roared, lifting Leo off the ground with both hands. His grip was iron, his face twisted with rage. “How dare you!”

  Dangling above, Leo looked down coolly, his words unwavering. “It was for your own good. If I told you the truth, you couldn’t have avenged her. Tektite was there to copy us, and he was successful. Toda hid him so he could make Tektite even stronger than himself. Now that Toda’s dead...”

  Finn’s grip loosened, his fury collapsing under the weight of realization. He dropped Leo back to the ground.

  Leo turned, eyes narrowing toward Tektite. “He’s strong, Finn. His copy is perfect. He is stronger, faster, and smarter than Toda. He’s the only one in this world who I’m not sure I can kill.”

  Finn stepped forward, his breath escaping in a white mist though the air wasn’t cold. Rage and grief turned his body into a furnace.

  Leo placed a firm hand on his chest, stopping him. “Do not throw away your life. That’s not what Elia would’ve wanted.”

  Finn’s voice cracked as he shouted back, “Then what?! He killed my wife, Leo! You don’t get it because you have a harem in the hundreds! I’ll abandon everything if it means killing him!”

  Leo shoved him back, forcing him down onto the dirt. His eyes burned with authority as he strode past. “I’ll beat him. Then, I’ll let you land the killing blow.”

  He drew his sword. The blade sang as it left its sheath, arcing upward toward the sky. “Tektite. Now’s your chance.”

  Tektite shoved Borschmack aside. He had no emotion on his face as he muttered. “You’ll regret this.”

  Leo’s scabbard hit the ground with a heavy clatter as he cast it away.

  “I won't regret this.”