'It's just like that time.'
Malakai's perception of the world had shifted.
He had been moments away from getting his chin pierced by Aurelia's blade, only to feel a warmth spreading through him, followed by an overwhelming surge of power.
It was something he had felt before. Once. When he had been returning from his last mission at the Blackreach.
Back then, Malakai had been ambushed by the Maugrim and forced to run. He had just killed the Genesis stage Evolvers that were sent after him and had been trying to get away before he could be caught.
He had reached inside for power, just like today, and something had answered.
Malakai instinctively knew. Back then, he had considered the surge of power a fluke, especially when he returned to the clan and tried to call upon it again, only for nothing to happen.
It hadn't answered him then, but right now, when he was on the verge of losing, it had.
And as the warmth spread across his entire body, Malakai felt a power the likes of which he hadn't felt before.
His gaze lowered, glancing at Aurelia's dagger that had been screaming toward his chin. Only now, it wasn't screaming. In fact, it was barely moving.
In Malakai's eyes, the world had slowed to a crawl. He could see the veins pulsing in Aurelia's exposed arms. He could see the coldness in her gaze as she looked at him.
He could feel her Vita.
Every inch of her Vita had gathered into her right arm, fueling the strike that was meant to end the battle.
Its speed had been insane, and it would've done just that.
Unfortunately, the universe wasn't on her side.
The world resumed its motion. Aurelia's dagger rocketed forward with momentum. But Malakai had already moved.
His head whipped to the side, evading the dagger that tore through the space his chin had been moments ago.
Aurelia's eyes shot up in utter shock, her calm expression shattering. But she wasn't given a single moment to comprehend what had just happened.
Malakai's head filled her vision. Her heart thundered.
A sound ripped through the silence as skull and skull met. The force of the collision shattered the ground beneath them, sending Aurelia's figure tearing back at blinding speed.
She crashed through multiple trees in tandem, leaving a trail of splinters and dust in her wake.
The gazes of the watchers widened in shock as they turned away from Aurelia, only for their eyes to widen even further. Malakai had moved.
Aurelia felt her brain rattling. She felt '
An overwhelming pain surged through her body as she slammed into a large tree, its bark caving in.
Her eyes were open, but all she could see was blackness. Her thoughts were in disarray.
She couldn't comprehend it. She couldn't understand it.
She was so sure. Her dagger had been inches away from piercing Malakai's chin. She had seen the resignation in his gaze.
He had given up. And then suddenly… he had moved at a speed he hadn't shown since the battle began?
'Was he hiding his power?'
Aurelia felt like tearing her hair out. A boy who had evolved three months ago had been hiding his power against her!?
She felt like she was going insane. But now wasn't the time to think about that.
She shook her head as she fell from the tree she was lodged in, already planning her next move.
'I was sent flying far, but he'll come for me soon.'
There was no time to waste. An overwhelming pain wracked her entire body, but she shoved it all down. She hadn't trained this hard only to fall to pain.
Her grip tightened. 'I still have my dagger.' She felt its weight in her grasp.
She shook her head and forced herself to stand. The darkness flooding her vision began to recede. Just enough… enough to see him.
A boy whose gaze was cold as death.
Her heart skipped a beat. Malakai was already upon her!
Her instincts exploded. Her body moved before she could think. She pierced forward with all she had, daggers ripping the space in front of her.
She stabilized her stance, bracing for a clash that could shatter stone.
Malakai vanished from her front, and death gripped her spine.
She glanced down, and froze.
Malakai's arm was inches away from punching the dagger now lodged against her neck. There was no doubt. If it struck, it would pierce through.
Aurelia's mind reeled. She had come to the hunt confident. She was the oldest of the veins, the one with the most power. No one should be able to stand against her.
It wasn't arrogance. It was fact.
By nature, Aurelia was extremely vengeful. She spoke when necessary and only formed useful bonds. It was the reason she was always alone during class, no one else was worth her time.
But her vengeful spirit had awakened when Malakai had nearly killed her in class. Coming into this hunt, she had resolved to repay him.
But what was meant to be a quick battle had become a struggle. And now, she was about to lose.
Aurelia gritted her teeth, her blazing eyes meeting Malakai's.
"This is not over," she said, just as Malakai's hand reached for the dagger on her neck.
But before he could strike, Aurelia vanished.
His fist slammed into the tree behind her.
A wave of force ripped out as the tree was blasted into splinters, the shockwave barreling forward, unstoppable.
Silence gripped the entire region. The veins and youths that had been watching the battle unfold stood with their eyes widened, utterly speechless.
The silence stretched across the west. Every single person had been watching the battle between the Sixth and Ninth Vein unfold.
They had been at the edge of their seats during the battle, but now, they were just… stunned.