Silence.
Heavy.
Every eye in the room was locked onto Kael.
The challenge hung in the air.
"Prove it."
Kael stepped forward.
The heat inside him stirred again.
Not wild this time—
But waiting.
Controlled… just barely.
"You sure about this?" someone muttered from the side.
"He just got here."
The boy smirked.
"That's exactly why."
Kael's fists tightened.
"I don't need time."
The boy's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Good."
The air shifted.
Then—
It exploded.
An invisible force slammed into Kael.
He reacted this time.
Kael crossed his arms—
BOOM.
The impact still sent him sliding back across the floor, shoes scraping hard against metal.
But he didn't fall.
The room went quiet.
"…He blocked it?"
Kael exhaled slowly.
His arms trembled—
But he stayed standing.
"Not bad," the boy said.
"But not enough."
He stepped forward.
The pressure increased.
Kael felt it.
Every step the boy took—
The air grew heavier.
Like gravity itself was turning against him.
"Host under external force."
"I can feel that…" Kael muttered.
He forced himself forward.
Step by step.
The floor dented slightly beneath his feet.
"Still standing?" someone whispered.
Kael looked up.
"I said… I'm not weak."
The energy inside him surged.
This time—
He didn't let it explode.
He held it.
Compressed it.
Electricity wrapped around his arm, tighter than before.
Sharper.
The boy's smile faded slightly.
"…Oh?"
Kael moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
He broke through the pressure—
And threw a punch.
The boy raised a hand—
Impact.
A shockwave burst outward.
The room trembled.
For a second—
Neither of them moved.
Then—
The boy slid back.
Just a step.
Silence.
"…He moved him."
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
He felt it.
That worked.
The boy looked at his hand.
Then back at Kael.
For the first time—
No smile.
"Interesting."
The pressure vanished.
Then—
It returned.
Stronger.
Kael's body dropped to one knee.
"What—?!"
"You think that was enough?"
The boy's voice was colder now.
The force crushed down harder.
Kael gritted his teeth.
His body shook.
"Host stability dropping."
"Not… now…"
The energy inside him began to spike again.
Faster.
Hotter.
Unstable.
"No control," the boy said. "Just like I thought."
Kael's vision blurred.
The hunger returned.
Violent.
Everything around him felt like something he could consume.
The energy lashed out—
Cracks spread across the floor beneath him.
"Wait—he's losing it—" someone said.
The stranger stepped forward slightly.
Watching closely.
Kael clenched his fists.
"No…"
The energy surged higher.
"STOP."
Something changed.
Not outside—
Inside.
Kael's breathing slowed.
The chaos—
Paused.
Just for a moment.
"…What?"
The voice of Aetherion shifted.
"Host adapting."
Kael's eyes steadied.
The energy around him—
Tightened.
Controlled.
Focused.
He stood up.
Slowly.
The pressure was still there—
But it wasn't crushing him anymore.
The boy's eyes narrowed.
"…So you're not completely useless."
Kael took a step forward.
Then another.
Each step steadier than the last.
"I told you…"
Energy gathered around his arm again—
But this time—
It didn't lash out.
It condensed.
"…I'm not weak."
He moved.
A burst of speed—
Faster than before.
He appeared in front of the boy—
And struck.
BOOM.
The impact sent a shockwave across the room.
This time—
The boy didn't stay still.
He was pushed back.
Several steps.
The room erupted.
"No way—"
"He pushed him back?!"
Kael stood there, breathing hard.
Still standing.
Still in control.
The energy flickered—
But didn't explode.
The boy stopped.
Then—
Slowly—
He smiled again.
But this time—
It wasn't mocking.
It was… interested.
"…Looks like you might survive after all."
The pressure disappeared completely.
Kael exhaled, his body finally relaxing.
His legs nearly gave out—
But he stayed up.
Behind him—
The stranger spoke.
"That's enough."
The room settled.
Kael looked around.
The way they stared at him now—
Had changed.
Less doubt.
More curiosity.
More caution.
The boy turned away slightly.
"Next time…"
He glanced back.
"…don't hold back."
Kael didn't respond.
Because deep down—
He knew.
Next time—
He might not be able to.