The battlefield was a mess of shattered ground and smoking craters, with the bodies of the defeated Demon Minotaurs littering the area. Bolt stood at the center of the destruction, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His body was aching, but the storm inside him surged with power.
And yet, he wasn't given a moment to rest.
From atop a broken cliff, Kairos stood watching, his arms crossed and his smirk unwavering.
"You've gotten stronger, Bolt," Kairos mused. "But you're still holding back, aren't you?"
Bolt wiped the blood from his lip, eyes narrowing. "I don't need to go all out against a coward who hides behind monsters."
Kairos chuckled. "Is that what you think?" He rolled his shoulders, and suddenly, his entire aura shifted.
The air grew heavy.
The pressure was suffocating.
A storm of flames ignited around him, burning with black and crimson hues—not demonic, but celestial in nature.
Bolt's eyes widened. That energy… it wasn't normal.
Kairos smirked at his reaction. "That's right, Bolt. I'm not like those mindless beasts. I was once part of the Celestial Tempest—just like you."
Bolt's heart pounded. "You… you knew?"
Kairos took a step forward, the ground beneath him cracking under his sheer power. "Of course, I knew. Unlike you, I accepted what I was a long time ago." He cracked his knuckles, his eyes glowing with raw power. "And now, I'm going to show you what happens when you stop denying your true self."
The moment the words left his mouth, Kairos vanished.
BOOM!
Bolt barely had time to react before a fist slammed into his gut, sending him flying hundreds of feet through the air.
CRASH!
He smashed through a massive rock formation, tumbling across the battlefield before finally skidding to a stop. Dust and debris filled the air, but Bolt quickly pushed himself to his feet, coughing.
Kairos was already standing in front of him.
"Too slow."
Before Bolt could react, Kairos spun and delivered a devastating kick to his ribs. The impact sent Bolt flying again, his body crashing into the dirt like a broken ragdoll.
The pain was instant. Kairos was fast—faster than anything Bolt had fought before.
But Bolt wasn't done yet.
Lightning crackled across his body as he flipped mid-air, using the momentum to land on his feet. His breath was ragged, but his eyes burned with determination.
Kairos grinned. "That's more like it."
Bolt clenched his fists. "I don't care what you've accepted. I'll never stand by and let you betray everything we fought for."
Kairos chuckled. "Then show me, Bolt. Show me the power of someone who still believes in that lie."
Then he charged again.
This time, Bolt was ready.
Lightning erupted from his body, his reflexes sharpened as he dodged Kairos' punch at the last second. The moment Kairos' fist whizzed past his face, Bolt retaliated—a lightning-infused uppercut aimed right at his jaw.
CRACK!
Kairos' head snapped back, but he didn't stumble. Instead, he let out a low chuckle, grabbing Bolt's arm before he could pull back.
"You're getting serious now," Kairos said, eyes flashing. "Good."
BOOM!
Bolt was lifted off his feet and slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater. Kairos didn't stop—he stomped down, but Bolt rolled away just in time, barely avoiding the attack.
This wasn't going to work.
Kairos was stronger than him. Faster. More experienced.
Bolt needed to push past his limits.
He needed more power.
Kairos walked forward, his aura burning brighter. "Come on, Bolt. I know you're not using everything you have."
Bolt gritted his teeth. He could feel it—the storm raging inside him, demanding to be unleashed.
But could he control it?
Kairos smirked. "Guess I'll just have to force it out of you."
He vanished again.
But this time, Bolt saw it coming.
His instincts screamed at him, and he acted without thinking.
Lightning surged through his body.
And for the first time—he moved faster than Kairos.
BOOM!
Their fists clashed in midair, the shockwave splitting the clouds above and shaking the very foundation of the battlefield.
Kairos' eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Finally."
Bolt's gaze hardened. His body crackled with electricity, his energy surging.
He had just unlocked 10% of his true power.
Kairos licked his lips, eyes burning with excitement.
He took a step back,rolling his neck.
Then, he raised his fists and smirked.
"Let's roll."
The real fight begins.