The Domain had never felt this tense.
Not even during training.
Not even during Adrian's worst loss of control.
This was different.
This was quiet suspicion.
And it followed him everywhere.
Adrian noticed it the moment he stepped into the main hall.
Conversations stopped.
Eyes shifted.
Hunters who once ignored him now watched him openly.
Carefully.
Like he was something that might snap at any second.
"…Okay," Adrian muttered under his breath. "That's new."
He kept walking anyway.
Ignoring it.
Trying to.
But it wasn't easy.
"…They're staring," he said as Kai fell into step beside him.
Kai didn't look around.
"I know."
Adrian sighed.
"…You're not going to say anything about it?"
Kai's voice was calm.
"It doesn't matter what they think."
Adrian let out a dry laugh.
"It does if one of them decides I'm a problem."
Kai's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…Then they'll answer to me."
Adrian blinked.
"…That was… intense."
Kai didn't respond.
But he didn't take it back either.
---
The Tension Builds
Training resumed.
But it wasn't the same.
This time—
It wasn't just about control.
It was observation.
Evaluation.
Judgment.
Adrian stood in the arena again.
But now—
More hunters surrounded the edges.
Watching.
Whispering.
Not subtle.
"…They really don't trust me," Adrian said quietly.
Kai stood across from him.
"Then show them they're wrong."
Adrian smirked faintly.
"…Guess I don't have a choice."
Before anything else could happen—
A voice cut through the arena.
"Or prove them right."
Adrian turned.
A hunter stepped forward.
Not one he recognized well.
But something about his presence—
Felt off.
Sharp.
Focused.
Dangerous.
Riven stood nearby, watching—but not interfering.
"…You've got something to say?" Adrian asked.
The hunter stopped a few steps away.
"Yes."
A pause.
"I don't trust you."
Straightforward.
Blunt.
Adrian shrugged.
"…You're not the first."
The hunter's gaze hardened.
"But I might be the one who does something about it."
The room shifted.
Tension rising instantly.
Kai stepped forward.
"That's enough."
But the hunter didn't back down.
"No," he said. "It's not."
His eyes stayed locked on Adrian.
"You're unstable."
Adrian's expression didn't change.
"I'm working on it."
"That's not good enough," the hunter replied.
Adrian tilted his head slightly.
"…For you?"
"For anyone," the hunter said. "You're a risk."
Silence.
Then Adrian smiled faintly.
"…So what's your solution?"
The hunter didn't hesitate.
"Fight me."
The room went still.
Kai's voice dropped instantly.
"No."
But the hunter continued.
"If you can't handle me… you don't belong here."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And if I win?"
The hunter's expression didn't change.
"Then I'll reconsider."
Riven finally spoke.
"…This isn't part of the schedule."
But he didn't stop it.
Not yet.
Adrian noticed.
Of course he did.
"…You're letting this happen," Adrian said.
Riven crossed his arms.
"I'm observing."
Adrian let out a small breath.
"…Figures."
Kai stepped closer.
"You don't need to prove anything."
Adrian glanced at him.
"…Maybe not."
A pause.
"…But I want to."
Kai's gaze hardened.
"…Adrian."
Adrian met his eyes.
"I won't lose control."
Silence.
Kai studied him.
Then—
Slowly—
He stepped back.
"…End it quickly."
Adrian smirked slightly.
"I'll try."
---
The Duel Begins
They moved to the center of the arena.
The air shifted immediately.
Tense.
Heavy.
Waiting.
The hunter spoke first.
"No holding back."
Adrian shrugged.
"I wasn't planning to."
A pause.
Then—
"Begin."
The hunter moved instantly.
Fast.
Faster than the others Adrian had faced before.
"…Okay—!"
Adrian reacted—
Shadows forming around his arm—
Stable.
Controlled.
The hunter attacked.
A direct strike.
Adrian blocked—
But the force pushed him back.
"…Strong too."
The hunter didn't stop.
He pressed forward—
Relentless.
Adrian dodged—
Barely.
"…You're serious."
No response.
Just another attack.
Adrian countered—
His shadows striking back—
Precise.
The hunter deflected.
"…Predictable," he said.
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
"…Let's change that."
The shadows shifted.
Faster.
Sharper.
More fluid.
The fight intensified.
Blow after blow.
Attack after attack.
Neither side giving ground.
But then—
The mark pulsed.
Hard.
"…There it is…"
The voice returned.
"…You need more…"
Adrian's breath hitched.
"…No."
The hunter noticed.
"You're slipping."
Adrian clenched his jaw.
"I'm fine."
"…Take it…" the voice whispered.
"…Win easily…"
Adrian's hand trembled slightly.
Just for a moment.
The hunter saw it.
And struck.
Hard.
Adrian barely blocked—
But the impact sent him sliding back.
"…You're done," the hunter said.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…Not yet."
He closed his eyes briefly.
I don't want to disappear.
The thought grounded him.
The shadows steadied.
The voice faded slightly.
"…Again…" Adrian muttered.
He stepped forward.
This time—
Calm.
Focused.
Controlled.
The hunter attacked again—
But Adrian moved differently now.
More precise.
More deliberate.
He dodged.
Countered.
Struck.
The shadows responded perfectly.
No hesitation.
No instability.
Just control.
The hunter's expression shifted.
"…Better."
Adrian didn't respond.
He moved again—
Faster.
Their attacks clashed—
But this time—
Adrian gained ground.
Step by step.
Push by push.
The hunter faltered—
Just slightly.
That was enough.
Adrian struck—
A clean hit.
The hunter staggered back.
Silence filled the arena.
Adrian stood there.
Breathing steady.
Shadows calm.
Controlled.
"…Still think I don't belong?" he asked.
The hunter wiped a trace of blood from his lip.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"…You're improving."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"…That's not an answer."
The hunter straightened.
"…I'll keep watching."
Adrian sighed.
"…Of course you will."
---
Aftermath
The tension in the arena slowly eased.
But the eyes—
They were still there.
Still watching.
Still judging.
Riven stepped forward.
"…Interesting."
Adrian crossed his arms.
"You say that a lot."
Riven smirked slightly.
"Because you keep surprising me."
Adrian didn't respond.
Kai stepped beside him.
"…You held control."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
A pause.
Then he added quietly—
"…Barely."
Kai didn't miss that.
"…That's enough for now."
Adrian let out a breath.
"…For now."
The phrase felt different this time.
Not like a warning.
But like a step.
Forward.
But as Adrian turned to leave—
He didn't notice—
The hunter watching him from behind.
Eyes narrowed.
Thoughtful.
Calculating.
Not convinced.
And not done.