Kael's shadow smiled—slowly, coldly—as if time itself had chosen to slacken its pace, yielding only to the rhythm of his own breathing.
"Good. Let's begin the game."
The words lingered in the air for a heartbeat—then, without haste, the shadow of Kael stepped back with movements that were elegant yet lethal. His acrobatic leap erased distance itself; within a few breaths, he had withdrawn, landing no more than a hundred meters from Kael's unmoving body. Every motion felt like a ritualized threat—calm, calculated, and dismissive.
Kael blinked slowly, steadying the thoughts that tried to drag him into hatred. He lifted his face, drew a brief breath, then tilted the corner of his lips in a gesture that resembled courtesy tinged with mockery.
"Yes. My apologies for making you wait so long." His voice was flat—but beneath it glinted something sharp, like a thin blade honed by unwavering conviction.
The shadow of Kael snorted, still grinning. Fear never crossed his expression; instead, there was a trace of satisfaction, like a spectator who already knew how the play would end.
"In return… I'll end your story right here. Quickly. And slyly."
Kael raised an eyebrow, yet his reply remained calm—not because he was afraid, but because he had redirected that fear, intent on making it turn back on its source.
"Of course. I don't plan to linger in this place either. I'm curious about that new world. I want to have friends… or perhaps a lover who can accept me as an assassin."
The shadow of Kael regarded him with contempt, narrowing his right eye until the purple iris glowed like embers peering from a dark crack. His voice curled softly, steeped in ridicule.
"A new world? Friends—maybe even a lover? You're still clinging to that hope? Don't be absurd. Even if you succeed, you'll remain nothing more than a puppet in their hands."
Kael let out a small huff, his retort snapping lightly, the familiar impudence returning. "That line again—don't you have anything else besides belittling me? You're running out of material. Always calling me a puppet, as if you've never once looked at yourself in the mirror."
The shadow straightened, briefly projecting a sense of authority meant to mask his irritation. His gaze remained flat, his voice level but layered with provocation.
"And what's the point of talking like that? Confidence is fine—so long as you can prove it. If all you can do is talk without acting, you might as well step aside."
Kael clenched his fist, then loosened it with a small, deliberate motion—a pause, intentionally drawn out.
"Ah, yes, yes—you're right, me. That is exactly what I intend to do now." The tone sounded as though he were laughing at his own words.
The shadow of Kael shifted into stance. His muscles tightened, his entire body coiling for an imminent explosion—an unspoken signal: he was ready to strike at any moment.
"Then I'll speed things up."
Kael shook his head, closing his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, his right index finger lifted, pointing upward as if giving a subtle signal.
"No, that won't do. How about this instead…" He paused for a moment, then continued. "I have an idea. Though I doubt you'll like it."
The shadow of Kael glared, his posture lifting slightly—curiosity laced with caution. "Rules?"
Kael lowered his finger and nodded faintly. His voice was light, filled with certainty.
"Correct. Seems you understood right away. Good."
The shadow smiled, his tone turning into something sweetly challenging. "Rules to see who's better—and who deserves to leave, I assume? Fine by me."
Kael returned the smile, his voice clear. "Yes. Before we begin, I want to make this game more interesting—for those who are watching us. Three rules of proof: who is more worthy, who is superior, and who among us is truly real. Agreed?"
The shadow's body appeared relaxed, the smile on his lips thinning into one of satisfaction. Something akin to excitement crept into his voice—the sense that this performance was finally reaching its desired climax.
Kael nodded, then explained the rules calmly and plainly, as though outlining the structure of a match. "I can tell… your expression already gives me an answer I can understand."
He raised his left index finger. "First rule: the fight begins bare-handed." His middle finger rose. "Second: we proceed with weapons." Then his ring finger. "And lastly—no restrictions."
The shadow of Kael frowned, doubtful of the third condition. "No restrictions?"
"Yes," Kael repeated. "You can use anything. There are no prohibitions. Whatever you want—fast and sly, or however you prefer."
The shadow's smile widened, though a faint flicker of concern passed through his eyes; he knew that rule stripped away some of his advantages. "Are you serious? That's incredibly unfavorable for you."
Instead, Kael wore a thin, confident smile—almost like a child daring his teacher. "It doesn't matter. As long as I'm still better than you, and understand more clearly who I truly am. I'll survive."
That smile remained—not arrogance, but danger, poised to erupt. On the surface of the water between them, small ripples began to form, arranging themselves like slow, creeping applause. Limbus Reveria stirred; its sky seemed to bow ever so slightly, awaiting the first move.
Between shadows and reflections, the two Kaels—one real, one a demonic mirror—sealed an unspoken vow: this was not merely about victory or defeat, but about who would rewrite the word 'I' for their shared future.
The battle was about to begin not only with fists, but with reasons, memories, and every wound that would decide which of them deserved to be called truly real.
They remained still, separated by a hundred meters. The expanse of black water between them rippled gently, each wave like a heartbeat echoing into the void.
Above Kael's head, the cosmic sky opened, revealing a pale white light—like a sacred moon drifting through a sea of stars. Its glow fell softly upon him, carving calm reflections across the water at his feet.
On the opposite side, directly above the shadow of Kael, a crimson universe roared. Its color was dense, like thick blood flowing across the heavens, radiating an aura of wrath and destruction. The water beneath him darkened to a murky red, as though poisoned by the fury pouring from his gaze.
The white and the red did not touch. They held their distance—yet the tension was unmistakable, like two absolute forces waiting for the boundary between them to shatter.
Kael drew a slow breath, staring straight at his opponent, his face calm but brimming with readiness. The shadow of Kael lowered his chin slightly, eyes blazing as he returned the stare, oppressive and unyielding.
The pool of water reflected the two figures like a mirror dividing light from shadow. It was as if the space itself understood: one more step, and the clash would shake not only the water beneath their feet, but the cosmic sky stretching above their heads.
Their grins were unmistakable—purple eyes bulging like embers of impending chaos, and narrow red eyes filled with absolute confidence in victory. Neither expression spoke of mere battle-lust; they reeked of domination, of an unyielding will to crush.
Then—
They stepped forward.
Slow at first—one step, then another, feet parting the water with small ripples.
Then faster.
CLAK… CLAK… CLAK… CAK!
Water splashed upward, ripples spreading like cracks through glass. Their strides carved wavering trails that rushed toward one another, erasing the distance between them.
The cosmic sky watched from above. Two different universes—holy white above the true Kael, blood-red above the Shadow—trembled faintly, as though witnessing the imminent collision. They stood as silent observers, like two gods waiting to see who would fall first.
Closer.
Faster.
Kael's grin widened, teeth clenched while his eyes burned bright. The Shadow of Kael answered with a low laugh, breath heavy, as if his very body hummed with chaos.
And at the instant the gap vanished, two fists rose.
Then—
DRARHKK!!!
Two brutal punches collided in the heart of that empty space.
The impact shattered the silence. Water exploded like an underwater detonation, spraying upward in shimmering black droplets. The shockwave spread outward, forcing the pool to recoil from the point of impact until a hollow ring formed between them.
Their auras erupted.
From the true Kael's body, deep gold flared—dense yet calm, spiraling like a vortex in the abyssal sea. It was the mark of someone who had come to terms with his wounds and his truth: a power steady, even in its coldness.
From the Shadow of Kael, blood-red fire surged wildly, dripping like molten flame. That aura screeched with rage, hatred, and lust for domination, as if it sought to devour Kael whole and drag him into chaos.
The two forces collided, clashed, screamed.
Deep gold against blood-red.
Calm against fury.
Truth against oppression.
This was no mere physical clash—it was the collision of two identical souls, two paths that could not coexist.
Kael grinned, his eyes blazing with a fighter's thrill. "Hhh—harder than I imagined."
The Shadow exhaled sharply, lips curling into a savage smile. "Hah! You still haven't seen anything. I'll erase you from every trace you ever fought to leave behind."
The water continued to roar, the cosmic sky trembling. And thus began the battle that would decide who truly deserved to be called the Kael who exists.
Their fists were still locked, auras screaming against one another, until at last both bodies were forced backward. The water split, spraying to the left and right.
But they did not stop. As if the recoil itself were a whip, calling forth the next movement.
With a single stomp, both surged forward again. This time their bodies lifted—two legs spinning fast, slicing through the air with full force.
SMASHH!
Two shins collided midair, the impact deafening. The thunderous crack spread outward, tearing through the rippling water below as though a small black sea had been caught in a storm.
Their bodies fell almost simultaneously, feet slamming into the water's surface, sending rolling waves racing outward.
The shadow of Kael moved first.
He surged forward, his right fist shooting straight toward Kael's jaw. Kael lifted his chin just a fraction, his left hand rising to meet it, stopping the blow with a rigid palm. The dull crash of flesh and bone rang out.
No pause.
The shadow twisted his body, driving his left elbow toward Kael's abdomen. Kael dipped for a split second, his right hand snapping up to catch the elbow midair. Water around them sprayed high from the force of the clash.
Kael countered—his knee surged upward, crashing toward the ribs. The shadow rotated his hips, blocking with his own knee.
Bone met bone, igniting pain neither of them allowed to show on their faces.
The shadow hissed, then spun again, his right leg lifting into a flat kick aimed at Kael's head. Kael leaned back, almost brushing the water's surface, but his arm swept upward, deflecting the kick as he twisted sharply. In the same motion, his fist lashed out toward the shadow's ribs.
The shadow blocked with his elbow and shoved back. Both bodies were thrown several steps apart, water splitting violently beneath them, yet their gazes never broke.
A fraction of a breath.
Then they advanced again.
This time the shadow thrust out his left fist. Kael knocked it aside and followed with an elbow strike. The shadow pivoted, slamming an open palm toward Kael's chest. Kael shifted his footing, blocking with his forearm.
Hand against hand. Foot against foot. Their movements flowed relentlessly, without a single pause.
Like two mirrored shadows, each fighting the worst version of themselves.
Kael grinned, breath heavy but eyes blazing. The shadow let out a low laugh, his voice cold.
Every punch sparked. Every kick shattered the water into ripples. Every collision echoed upward, reverberating into the cosmic sky above—making the white and red universes tremble harder, as though they too were being set ablaze by the duel below.
Kael's body was hurled backward. A brutal blow to his lower abdomen split the water wide, black spray bursting upward like shards of liquid glass. Normally, a strike like that would fold any human body in half.
But Kael landed solidly. His feet dragged through the black water for several meters before stopping, his chest rising and falling slowly. His face showed no pain. No groan. No grimace.
Only a gaze that grew sharper, as though his body refused to acknowledge the word weak.
The shadow grinned and shot forward again at lightning speed, leaving behind a faint red streak of light. He moved so fast that the glow lingered like a demonic afterimage chasing his own body.
Kael lowered his stance. One foot stepped slightly forward, the other braced behind. Both hands rose before his chest—not open palms of classical forms, but two tightly locked fists, hard and upright.
One fist forward, the other slightly back, elbows drawn in. The stance was simple, yet the aura radiating from it was sharp, refined, and brimming with confidence.
For a brief moment, Kael drew in a breath, lowered his head slightly, then lifted his gaze. A deep blue glow flickered faintly from his body, flowing in rhythm with each breath.
And when the shadow reached him—
The second collision began.
Red and gold fists slammed together. This time, it wasn't only the water that shattered. Trails of light exploded as well. The shadow's movements left behind fragments of red—wild, burning, a heartbeat slower than his body, like infernal embers tearing through the air. Kael, by contrast, left behind heavy traces of deep gold, as if every strike carried the weight of an abyssal tide sweeping in with full force.
The lights coiled and crossed each time their hands and legs met.
Fist against fist. Kick against kick. Elbow against elbow. Their heads nearly collided, but both veered away at the last instant, flowing straight into the next attack without pause.
Every movement became a dance of gold and red flashes. Every impact sparked radiant bursts, like blades of light slashing against one another. The white universe above Kael quaked, casting reflections that rippled across the water. The red universe above the shadow flared even more fiercely, its color dripping like blood seeping into the sky.
Kael grinned mid-motion, eyes burning with certainty. "Hhh—you're too slow."
The shadow answered with a low laugh, purple eyes wide, teeth bared in cruelty. "I'm not slow. I'm just waiting for the right moment to bury you."
They attacked again—Kael's fist shot toward the shadow's face, only to be stopped by a glowing red palm. The shadow countered with a high spinning kick; Kael blocked with both arms, then shoved him back. Water erupted once more, blue and red auras splashing like a storm of color.
This was no longer just a duel of bodies.
It was a clash of convictions—two lights, two lives, refusing to fade.
***