Chapter 7: Kaito's Trial by Fire
The arena hummed with anticipation, a sea of faces blurring into a mass of excited energy. Kaito Tadashi stepped forward, the weight of the crowd pressing down on him like a physical force. His vermilion eyes flickered softly—an ember's glow barely restrained beneath his calm exterior.
Across the arena stood Jin Takahashi. Tall, lean, with sharp features, Jin's piercing blue eyes crackled faintly with telekinetic power. He was known as a master tactician, able to manipulate the battlefield from a distance and strike with precision.
The referee's voice cut through the noise. "Fight!"
Without hesitation, Jin's hands surged upward, blue light blooming around his fingers like sparks from a forge. The very air seemed to ripple as debris—rocks, chairs, even loose dirt from the arena floor—began to levitate and circle him in a menacing cyclone.
Kaito's heart beat faster, but he forced himself to breathe steadily. This was more than a fight. This was his chance to prove the strength behind the mysterious power hidden in his eyes, a legacy passed down through his family but still an enigma even to himself.
"Alright, Jin," Kaito whispered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "Let's see what you've got."
Suddenly, Jin hurled a volley of rocks toward Kaito. The projectiles screamed through the air, sharp and deadly. Kaito's reflexes kicked in—he flipped backward, twisting mid-air to avoid the oncoming barrage. His jacket tore slightly as a jagged stone grazed his shoulder, but he didn't falter.
Then, from the shadows behind him, three indistinct figures emerged—clones, formed by Kaito's unique red vermilion eyes. Unlike the orange-eye clones Akia wielded, these copies shimmered with a smoky darkness, almost ethereal, their edges flickering as if they might vanish at any moment.
Each clone moved with purpose, splitting in different directions to confuse Jin. One darted forward, another flanked from the right, and the third circled wide.
Jin's eyes widened, his telekinetic field flaring in response. With a swift motion, he slammed one clone against the arena wall. But just as impact seemed inevitable, the clone evaporated into a wisp of smoke, leaving Jin grasping at empty air.
The real Kaito used the distraction to close the distance.
His footsteps were silent on the ground, his fists glowing faintly as they burned with the latent energy from his eyes.
Jin barely had time to react before Kaito's fist crashed into his ribs. Jin grunted, stumbling backward under the sudden assault.
"You're fast… but not fast enough," Jin growled, recovering and sending a wave of telekinetic force toward Kaito.
Kaito leapt, feeling the wind rush past his face as Jin's power smashed into the ground beneath him, sending shards of stone flying upward.
The clones regrouped, circling Jin like a pack of predators. One clone lunged, while another distracted with feints and misdirection.
Jin's blue eyes narrowed as he lifted an arm, and the clones were hit with sharp telekinetic blasts that scattered them apart. But the real Kaito was relentless.
His vermilion eyes flared suddenly, brighter and hotter, as a surge of strength flooded his limbs. His punches came faster, strikes fueled by a fire deep within.
The crowd's cheers swelled as Kaito pushed Jin back, every hit a statement of raw power and determination.
"Now!" Kaito shouted.
At his command, all three clones converged in a synchronized strike, their fists colliding with Jin's chest in perfect harmony.
Jin's telekinetic defenses flickered under the onslaught. He grunted, struggling to maintain his footing.
Kaito's final punch, glowing with fiery energy, slammed into Jin's side, sending him crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.
Breathing heavily, Jin tried to rise, but the referee's voice rang clear.
"Winner: Kaito Tadashi!"
The crowd erupted in a mixture of cheers and shocked whispers. The clones faded, leaving Kaito standing alone, chest heaving, sweat glistening on his forehead.
As he caught his breath, Kaito glanced toward the stands, meeting his brother Tae's cold, unreadable gaze. There was a shadow in Tae's eyes—a darkness that unsettled Kaito more than any opponent in the arena.
The fight was over. But the real battles—those of loyalty, power, and destiny—were only beginning.