The night was so much normal them usual
The jungle was silent.
At Base
Deep within an abandoned forest near their hometown, a hidden base stood—old, worn, yet alive with an unseen energy.
Tejas and Mizuki had brought Ks there.
An hour passed.
Then—
Ks's eyes slowly opened.
His vision blurred at first, the ceiling above him unfamiliar. A dull ache spread through his body as he tried to sit up.
"Well, look who's finally awake."
Ks turned his head.
Mizuki stood nearby, arms crossed, a teasing smirk on her face.
"So, Mr. Powerful… feeling better?"
Ks frowned slightly, still disoriented. "Where… am I?"
"Relax," she replied casually. "This is our base."
Ks fell silent, trying to make sense of everything.
But before he could ask anything more, a heavy presence filled the room.
Tejas stepped forward.
His eyes were sharp. Serious.
"Tell me something, Ks," he said coldly. "That power you used… you stole it, didn't you?"
Ks's expression hardened. "What are you talking about? I don't even know how I got it."
Tejas stared at him for a moment… then let out a quiet scoff.
"Oh really?"
A faint smirk appeared.
"Then prove it."
Mizuki immediately stepped in. "Hey, wait—both of you—"
"Fine," Ks cut in, pushing himself to his feet despite the pain. "I accept."
The battlefield
The battlefield outside the base was rough and open—perfect for a fight.
Ks stepped forward, steadying his breath.
Inside his mind, he called out:
Dragoon… can you hear me?
A calm voice answered.
Yes, Master.
Tell me… what's Tejas's power? And his beast?
There was a brief pause.
He wields the power of fire. His beast is Dronzar—the Fire Bird.
Ks's eyes narrowed.
Any special abilities?
Dragoon's tone turned serious.
Fire Bird: Flame Charge. A move powerful enough to destroy an entire mountain.
Ks's heart skipped a beat.
A mountain…?
"I'm not going easy on you," Tejas said, flames beginning to rise around him. "Be ready."
Ks clenched his fists.
"I don't need mercy."
In an instant—
Tejas moved.
A burst of flames shot toward Ks. He barely managed to dodge the first strike—but the second hit him directly, sending him crashing across the field.
Before he could recover—
Another attack.
Then another.
Tejas's speed was overwhelming.
Ks struggled to keep up, his movements slow, unrefined.
Within moments, he was completely on the defensive.
His breathing grew heavier.
Blood slowly trickled from his mouth.
"You're weak," Tejas said, standing tall amidst the flames. "You can leave this fight… and give up that power."
Ks's body trembled.
But he forced himself up.
Wiping the blood from his lips, he looked straight at Tejas.
"I said… I don't need your mercy."
From the sidelines, Mizuki's expression tightened.
"Tejas, that's enough!"
But he didn't listen.
The attacks continued.
Every strike landed.
Every second, Ks grew weaker.
He couldn't even land a single hit.
Still—
He refused to fall.
Time passed.
Ks's body was barely holding together.
Tejas stopped for a moment, looking at him with cold disappointment.
"You're just a coward," he said. "End this."
Flames gathered around him, growing larger… hotter… more destructive.
"Fire Bird: Flame Charge."
The air trembled as the attack formed.
Ks stood there, barely able to move.
But he didn't step back.
Even as the blazing attack rushed toward him—
He stayed.
Ten meters away—
The flames suddenly vanished.
Silence.
Tejas lowered his hand.
For a moment, he simply looked at Ks… then smirked.
"I like that stubbornness."
He turned away.
"I'll give you one week."
Ks's vision blurred.
"Get stronger… then we fight again."
Without another word, Tejas walked off.
Mizuki rushed forward immediately.
"K—!"
But before she could finish—
Ks collapsed onto the ground.
Unconscious.
Defeated
Chapter end.