Kael kept walking before stepping into the next room to meet his opponent.

A Beastkin. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

A Wolf Beastkin in particular.

The moment Kael entered, the young man stared at him with visible confusion.

It wasn’t the reaction Kael was used to receiving.

Most people entered these rooms already prepared for a fight.

This one looked surprised.

"I wasn’t expecting to meet you. What happened to the other Beastkin?" he asked, looking curiously at Kael.

Kael shrugged his shoulders.

"You know the normal. He was weak so I eliminated him."

The Wolf Beastkin blinked.

For a moment he wasn’t sure if Kael was joking or serious.

Unfortunately, Kael looked completely serious.

Kael kept walking before stopping a few meters away from him.

"For some reason he seemed scared of you, so you’re strong. Can I know your rank?"

Kael tilted his head slightly.

"Obviously you’re in Class A, but I don’t know your exact rank in the class."

The Beastkin grinned.

"Oh, this is quite funny."

"But since you’re asking, I’m Rank 75 in Class A."

He folded his arms.

"Although I feel it’s a bit disappointing myself."

Kael nodded.

"Rank seventy-five."

"Not bad."

The Beastkin frowned.

The way Kael said it sounded more like a teacher evaluating a student than someone facing an opponent.

"You remind me a bit of Roy."

The moment Roy’s name left Kael’s mouth, the atmosphere changed.

The Beastkin’s expression darkened instantly.

Before Kael could continue, the Wolf Beastkin vanished from his position.

A claw swept toward Kael’s neck.

Murderous intent accompanied the strike.

Kael reacted immediately.

Clang!

His blade intercepted the attack.

Instead of blocking normally, he struck directly into the Beastkin’s palm, disrupting the force behind the attack.

The Wolf Beastkin was forced to halt midway.

"Well now."

Kael jumped backward.

"Someone seems angry."

A grin appeared on his face.

"I guess you are related to him."

The Beastkin didn’t answer.

Instead, he continued attacking.

His claws tore through the air repeatedly.

Kael avoided the first strike.

Then the second.

Then the third.

The fourth nearly caught his shoulder.

He twisted his body just enough to avoid a direct hit before kicking toward the Beastkin’s stomach.

The Wolf Beastkin crossed his arms to block.

The impact still pushed him several steps backward.

"You are strong."

The Beastkin narrowed his eyes.

"But you aren’t in Class A."

"Why is that?"

Kael simply smiled.

"I guess you have a lot of misconceptions."

He casually pointed his sword downward.

"This tournament is meant for people in lower ranks to rise."

"And trust me, not all of you in Class A will remain in Class A."

The Wolf Beastkin frowned.

Although Kael’s tone was casual, there was confidence behind every word.

"Although I’m not entirely sure since I really don’t know some people in this set of students."

Kael rolled his shoulder.

"But I’ll do you a favour."

The Beastkin paused.

Out of everything Kael had said, that statement interested him the most.

"What do you mean by doing me a favour?"

Kael’s grin widened.

"Since you’ve met me, it means you aren’t going to meet Roy."

The Wolf Beastkin froze.

"Or fight him."

Silence filled the room.

"What makes you so sure you’re going to win?" the Beastkin asked.

Kael laughed.

"Come on."

"Because Roy is weak."

The Beastkin’s eyes widened.

"And if he’s your opponent or the one you hold a grudge against, well this fight isn’t going to mean much."

Kael slowly raised his blade.

"But speaking of my favour..."

The Wolf Beastkin squinted.

"What is it?"

Kael’s eyes suddenly glowed.

"How about fighting Roy right here, right now?"

For a brief moment, the Beastkin didn’t understand.

Then Kael’s posture changed.

His expression changed.

Even the way he held his sword changed.

The shift was so sudden that the Beastkin instinctively stepped backward.

The pressure coming from Kael felt different.

Wild.

Savage.

Animalistic.

Just like Roy.

The Wolf Beastkin’s pupils contracted.

For a second he genuinely felt like Roy was standing before him.

"No..."

His thoughts stopped.

Kael was already moving.

A casual upward slash appeared before him.

The Beastkin immediately jumped backward.

Too slow.

A burning pain exploded across his shoulder.

Blood splashed into the air.

His eyes widened.

"When—"

Before he landed—

Kael was already there.

Another slash came toward his face.

The Beastkin twisted desperately.

The blade narrowly missed.

Then Kael spun in mid-air.

His foot crashed into the Beastkin’s chest.

Boom!

The Wolf Beastkin shot across the room.

The moment his feet touched the ground Kael was already pursuing him.

Their weapons collided repeatedly.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

The room echoed with the sound of metal.

The Beastkin defended desperately.

He managed to avoid direct hits.

Yet every exchange left another small cut.

Another graze.

Another wound.

Meanwhile Kael looked like he was enjoying himself.

His grin never disappeared.

The Beastkin grew increasingly frustrated.

Why?

Because this wasn’t Kael anymore.

Every movement reminded him of Roy.

The aggressive pressure.

The reckless advances.

The instinctive attacks.

The way he fought.

Everything felt familiar.

The Beastkin’s heart pounded.

Memories surfaced.

Training sessions.

Arguments.

Spars.

Years of competition.

It was as though Roy himself stood before him.

The Beastkin roared and unleashed a barrage of attacks.

Kael matched every single one.

Then suddenly—

Boom!

A kick landed squarely on Kael’s chest.

For the first time, Kael was launched backward.

He crashed against the wall.

Dust rose.

The Beastkin breathed heavily.

Finally.

A clean hit.

Kael slowly stood up.

Rubbing his chest.

"Well that’s quite some kick."

He rolled his shoulder.

"But I’m more used to gravity holding me in place when I receive a strike like that."

The Beastkin remained silent.

His breathing steadied.

His instincts sharpened.

Something wasn’t right.

The more they fought—

The less Kael resembled Roy.

And the more he resembled...

Him.

The realization sent chills down his spine.

"No way."

The Beastkin stared carefully.

Every attack.

Every movement.

Every habit.

Kael was copying him.

Not Roy.

Him.

The realization made his blood run cold.

"In that case..."

The Beastkin lowered his stance.

"There is no need to hold back."

Mana exploded around him.

His muscles expanded.

His claws lengthened.

The pressure around him intensified.

Then he vanished.

Appearing beside Kael instantly.

Kael’s grin widened.

"Nice."

"You decided to stop holding back."

The two rushed each other again.

This time the clash was completely different.

The floor shattered beneath them.

Shockwaves spread through the room.

The Beastkin had enhanced both his speed and strength using a technique.

Yet Kael kept up.

No.

He matched him.

Strike for strike.

Step for step.

Exchange for exchange.

The Beastkin’s eyes widened.

"How are you keeping up with me?!"

he screamed.

Their blades collided again.

And again.

And again.

The Beastkin soon realized something horrifying.

Kael wasn’t fighting like Roy anymore.

Their fighting styles were synchronizing.

When he stepped left—

Kael stepped left.

When he attacked high—

Kael attacked high.

When he retreated—

Kael retreated.

It was like looking into a mirror.

They struck each other simultaneously.

Blocked simultaneously.

Dodged simultaneously.

Even their breathing matched.

The Wolf Beastkin suddenly jumped backward.

His face turned pale.

For the first time during the fight—

Fear appeared.

He wasn’t fighting Roy.

He wasn’t fighting Kael.

He was fighting himself.

Every strength.

Every weakness.

Every habit.

Every instinct.

Everything was being reflected back at him.

"Who are you?"

Both his arms shook.

The question escaped his mouth before he could stop it.

The Beastkin stared at Kael.

For the first time in years—

He felt like he couldn’t win.

Not because his opponent was stronger.

But because his opponent understood him completely.

A true genius.

A monster.

Kael looked down at him.

Then sighed.

"No."

"This is just boring."

The Beastkin froze.

"I guess it’s onto the next opponent."

Kael casually adjusted his grip on his sword.

The Wolf Beastkin felt humiliation and fear at the same time.

Then Kael turned toward him one last time.

"Time to check whether you’ll die."

The Beastkin’s body stiffened.

Kael entered his stance.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

The Wolf Beastkin’s instincts screamed.

Run.

Run now.

Run.

Kael vanished.

A slash appeared.

Straight toward his neck.

The Beastkin watched death approach.

Before the blade connected—

The tournament domain activated.

His body disappeared.

The attack passed through empty air.

Kael clicked his tongue.

A little disappointed.

But only a little.

He lowered his blade.

Then continued walking toward the next room.

"On to the next opponent."

he muttered.

The air in the room still carried the sharp scent of blood and spent mana. Kael rolled his neck, feeling the strain from that last kick, but the ache was dull, almost comforting after days under Stella’s weights. He glanced back once, noting the scorched floor where the Beastkin had stood. The domain had saved him, but Kael had seen the truth in his eyes before he vanished.

Kael exhaled. "I guess it’s into the next opponent, but I seem to be understanding the pattern of this domain bit by bit," Kael said with a grin.