Crow didn't wait.
The moment energy began condensing in the man's hand, he immediately moved sideways, pulling Livia away from the attack path. His reaction wasn't the result of careful calculation, but an instinctive impulse that came faster than logic. The next second, that blue light was released.
A short explosion struck the wall behind them.
The sound of impact filled the room, followed by fine cracks spreading like a spider's web across the wall surface. Dust fell slowly, creating a thin haze that made the atmosphere even heavier.
That attack didn't miss.
It simply no longer aimed at its original target.
The man observed the result without expression.
"Reflex response increased," he said softly, more like a note than a comment. "Still insufficient."
Crow stood up again, his position now slightly lower, his body tense. He could clearly feel the difference in strength. The opponent before him wasn't someone he could face directly.
The problem was, he had no other choice.
Livia took a quick breath behind him. "Crow… we can't fight him."
"I know," Crow answered briefly.
"But he clearly wants to kill you!"
"I know that too."
That answer sounded cold, but not because he didn't care. Quite the opposite—he was forcing himself to focus only on what he could control.
And right now, that wasn't victory.
That was survival.
The man stepped forward again, his distance growing closer, the pressure he carried feeling like something compressing the space around him. Each step made the situation more constrained.
"Resistance doesn't change the outcome," he said. "Only prolongs the process."
Crow didn't answer.
Instead, he took one step forward.
Not to attack—
but to draw attention.
"If your target is me," he said calmly, "why still care about others?"
The man paused for a moment.
Not because of doubt.
But because he was evaluating.
"Witnesses are variables," he answered. "Variables increase risk."
"So if there are no witnesses?"
A fraction of a second of silence.
"That is irrelevant," the man finally answered.
But Crow caught something.
That wasn't a refusal. That was avoidance.
(Warning: Subject beginning to analyze opponent patterns.)
(Suggestion: Exploit behavioral loophole.)
Crow exhaled slowly.
"Loophole," he murmured.
He wasn't stronger.
Not faster.
But if his opponent still followed certain rules…
then he could still be manipulated.
"Livia," he said without turning, his voice lower. "The moment I move again… you get out."
"What?" Livia's voice immediately tensed. "I won't—"
"You have to," Crow cut in.
His tone wasn't loud, but left no room for objection.
"If you stay here, he won't hold back."
Livia fell silent.
She knew that was true.
And precisely because of that, the decision felt even harder.
The man didn't give them more time.
Energy gathered again in his hand, this time larger, more stable. There was no sign he would restrain his power.
This wasn't a warning.
This was execution.
Crow moved first.
He took a quick step to the left, then suddenly changed direction, trying to disrupt his opponent's focus. His movement wasn't perfect, but enough to create small uncertainty.
The attack was released.
The second explosion struck the floor, creating cracks and loud sounds echoing throughout the room.
Crow was nearly hit.
Nearly.
"Now!" he shouted.
This time, Livia didn't hesitate.
She ran toward the door, her hands trembling as she grasped the handle, then disappeared into the hallway.
The sound of her footsteps faded away.
And within seconds—
Crow was alone.
The room felt more silent.
More confined.
More dangerous.
The man shifted his gaze from the door back to Crow.
"Variable eliminated," he said flatly. "Focus returns to primary target."
Crow smiled thinly.
"Good," he said softly. "Now it's simpler."
"Wrong conclusion."
"At least now… you don't have to pretend to be careful."
The energy appeared again.
Denser.
More lethal.
And this time—
no interference.
(Warning: Threat level increasing drastically.)
(Suggestion: Activate initial ability.)
Crow froze for a moment.
Again.
The same command.
The same ability.
That he didn't even understand.
"What exactly…" he murmured softly.
But this time, he didn't wait for an explanation.
He paid attention to the sensation.
That had been there all along… but he ignored.
There was something inside him.
Not emotion.
Not thought.
More like… a shadow.
Something without form, but clearly present.
Waiting.
The man began moving his hand.
The next attack would be released.
And Crow knew—
if he didn't do something now,
this would end.
He raised his hand slowly.
Not with confidence.
But with decision.
For a fraction of a second, nothing happened.
Then—
the air around him changed.
Dark.
Not because light disappeared.
But because something… absorbed it.
The man stopped.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"New phenomenon detected…"
Crow didn't fully understand what he was doing.
But for the first time since the system appeared—
he wasn't just reacting.
He was creating something.
And that something… answered.