The chamber went still.
Not quiet—
Still.
Like the air itself had stopped moving.
The fragments around Kael trembled.
Not from instability.
From instinct.
Fear.
Kael felt it too.
Something about the man standing at the entrance—
I was wrong.
Not chaotic like the fragments.
Not unstable.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
The man stepped forward.
His movements are calm. Measured.
Like he wasn't walking into danger—
But evaluating it.
"You've done well."
His voice was steady.
Almost… impressed.
Kael didn't respond.
His eyes stayed locked on him.
The fragments tightened their orbit.
"Who are you?"
The man stopped a few meters away.
"A collector."
A faint smile formed.
"Of things that don't belong in this world."
Kael's jaw tightened.
"…So you're here for me."
"Not just you."
His gaze shifted briefly—
Toward the fragments orbiting Kael.
"But you're the most valuable."
The air grew heavier.
Kael took a slow breath.
"Yeah…"
His voice lowered.
"That's not happening."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"…You misunderstand."
He took another step forward.
"You don't get to decide."
The pressure hit instantly.
Kael's body tensed—
As if the space around him had thickened.
The fragments reacted first.
They shot forward.
A swarm of controlled energy—
Directed straight at the man.
He didn't move.
"Predictable."
He raised his hand.
—Stop.
The fragments froze mid-air.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…What?"
They weren't just stopped.
They were being overridden.
One by one—
The fragments turned.
Facing Kael.
"Control is not unique to you."
The man's voice remained calm.
"You're just… inexperienced."
Kael stepped back slightly.
"System—what is he doing?"
"Unknown."
"Interference detected."
The fragments surged—
Now targeting him.
Kael reacted instantly.
He reached out—
Partial Assimilation.
The connection snapped back.
The fragments stalled again—caught between two commands.
Kael clenched his teeth.
"…You don't control them."
The man's smile widened slightly.
"No."
"I control the space they exist in."
That was worse.
Before Kael could react—
The man moved.
Fast.
Faster than anything Kael had seen.
He was in front of him instantly.
Impact.
Kael barely raised his arm in time—
The strike hit.
And sent him flying.
His body slammed into the wall—
Cracks spreading across the surface.
"—!"
Pain surged through him.
His vision blurred.
Too fast.
Too strong.
The man lowered his hand slowly.
"…Disappointing."
Kael forced himself up.
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
His chest pulsed violently—
Reacting.
Not in fear.
In response.
"You're strong…"
Kael muttered.
Then his gaze sharpened.
"…but not untouchable."
The fragments surged again—
This time not as a swarm—
But as a single stream of energy.
Directed.
Focused.
The man's eyes flickered slightly.
"Better."
He moved again—
But this time—
Kael moved too.
Their energies collided.
The chamber shook violently as the two forces clashed—
Control vs control.
And for the first time—
The man's expression changed.
Slightly.
"…Interesting."