Elijah didn't hesitate.
With the thrust that already defined him, he launched forward at full speed, straight toward Reid.
But at the last instant—
Reid pulled one of his threads.
His body veered sharply, disappearing from the attack's path.
The blade cut through the air.
Nothing more.
And then it began.
Reid moved as if he never touched the ground. He pulled one thread, then another, changing direction midair, shifting at impossible angles.
Elijah chased him relentlessly.
Fast.Precise.But always one step behind.
—It looks like Reid has lost the initiative and can only run now!! —the announcer shouted.
For a moment… it seemed that way.
Reid spun in the air and, with a quick movement of his fingers, sent one of his threads toward Elijah's sword.
The thread wrapped around the weapon.
A sharp pull.
He was trying to disarm him.
But Elijah reacted instantly.
He twisted his wrist, tightened his arm, and with a sudden motion, shook the sword.
The thread tightened—
and snapped.
Clean.
Without stopping, Elijah continued the chase.
The "dance" went on.
Reid flying, dragged by his own threads.
Elijah advancing, getting closer.
More dangerous with every second.
—This is already decided —said Tarin beside me.
—Why? —asked Luca.
—Reid has lost his advantage —he explained without looking away—. His main technique won't work anymore. Elijah already knows how to counter it. It's only a matter of time before he catches him.
I nodded.
It made sense.
But Mira didn't seem convinced.
—I wouldn't be so sure —she said quietly—. Look closely at Reid.
I looked back at the fight.
I didn't see it.
It just looked like he was running.
—What? —Luca asked.
Mira narrowed her eyes.
—Wait… and you'll see.
I focused again.
Reid kept moving.
Thread after thread.
Strange trajectories.
Constant changes in direction.
Too many.
I frowned.
Something didn't add up.
And then—
Elijah stopped dead.
A small movement.
Almost imperceptible.
But enough.
A red line appeared on his arm.
Then another.
And another.
Blood began to slide down his skin.
My heart skipped.
—…what…? —I murmured.
Reid stopped a few meters away.
Smiling.
—Too late.
—It looks like Elijah is starting to bleed for no apparent reason! —the announcer shouted, completely baffled.
—What's happening, Mira? —Luca asked, leaning forward, uneasy.
But Mira didn't answer.
She had gone completely still, her gaze locked on the field. Her eyes didn't blink. Something didn't add up… and she had already seen it.
I looked too.
And then… it happened.
I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't exactly seeing them… it was more like, suddenly, my mind recognized them.
The threads.
They were everywhere.
Thin, almost imperceptible, crossing the air in every direction. The entire field was covered in them, like an invisible web.
And in the center…
my brother.
Trapped.
If he took a single wrong step, if he moved carelessly…
he would be cut from every angle.
A chill ran down my spine.
—…It's a trap —Mira finally said, quietly.
—What do you mean a trap? —Luca asked, confused—. He was just running!
—He wasn't running —she replied without looking away—. He was setting this up.
She gestured toward the field with her chin.
—All this time he's been filling the arena with threads. Every movement, every dodge… was to place them. Trying to take Elijah's sword… that was just to distract him.
Luca began to understand.
—So… the entire field is full of those threads?
—Exactly.
—And why are they cutting him now? Before, when he trapped him, he didn't hurt him at all…
Mira nodded, as if she had expected the question.
—Because before, he didn't want to hurt him.
There was a brief silence.
—Killing is forbidden in this tournament —she continued—. That's why he was using the threads in a "softer" way, so to speak. Thicker, less tense… to immobilize.
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
—But now… he's refined them.
—Refined? —Luca repeated.
—Yes. Much thinner… and much tighter.
I looked back at the field.
And this time I understood.
They weren't ropes.
They were blades.
—So Reid's real power… —Luca murmured, swallowing hard— isn't trapping…
—It's cutting —Mira finished.
The silence that followed was different.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
Because now we knew.
My brother wasn't fighting an opponent.
He was inside a death trap.
And the worst part…
was that he didn't know how he had gotten there.
A few seconds passed.
Elijah dropped his fighting stance. He lowered his sword slightly and stood completely upright, slowly turning his head, observing his surroundings… as if trying to see the invisible.
As if trying to understand.
And then, something changed in his expression.
—Looks like you've trapped me again… —he said calmly—. But this time with cutting threads. So this is your real ability, huh?
Reid gave a small smile.
—My first plan didn't work. So I had to move on to plan B.
Elijah let out a soft laugh, almost nostalgic.
—You know? This reminds me of that time we left the city and got lost in the forest…
Reid raised an eyebrow, curious.
—We were surrounded by noises everywhere —Elijah continued—. We couldn't see anything… but we knew there were things out there. Invisible threats.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
—Just like now.
Reid let out a brief laugh.
—Yeah… I remember. Good times.
His tone shifted, turning colder.
—But I guess this has to end somehow.
Without warning, he launched another thread.
It passed just inches from Elijah's neck.
So close… I felt my blood run cold.
But Elijah didn't move.
Not even a millimeter.
He didn't even seem to notice.
—You've got a thread capable of cutting steel just centimeters from your neck —Reid said, watching him closely—. I suggest you surrender. That way you'll avoid bleeding out more than you already are.
Elijah smiled.
Calm. Too calm.
—Thanks for the warning… but I'll pass.
He paused briefly.
—And thanks for telling me where the thread is. I guess deep down… we're still friends.
And then…
he did the most reckless thing I've ever seen.
He took a small step backward.
A thin cut appeared on his leg.
And he jumped.
—Elijah jumps!! —the commentator shouted— What is he trying to do!?
—What is he doing!? —Mira exclaimed, alarmed— When he lands, the threads will slice him to pieces! He's insane!
I didn't know what to think.
I trusted him.
But this… made no sense.
Time seemed to stop while he was in the air.
One second.
Two.
Eternal.
As he began to descend, I felt my heart tighten.
If he fell… it was over.
Everything.
But then—
he grabbed onto something.
A thread.
With his free hand.