Reto barely had time to catch his breath before the air flashed.
Kaien dropped from above, landing a few steps away like he owned the place. No warning, no buildup. Just there.
Milo froze. "Yo, that's really him?"
"Yeah," Reto said, eyes locked on Kaien. "That's the guy."
Kaien looked calm, almost bored. "You copied my spectrum."
"Didn't plan to," Reto said. "You came looking for it, though."
Kaien nodded. "It's mine. I'm taking it back."
Before Reto could move, Kaien stepped forward and threw a straight punch. Simple move, Reto barely blocked. The hit still sent him sliding ten feet back.
"Too slow," Kaien said.
Reto wiped his mouth. "Guess I'll speed up."
He lunged. The two traded hits quick,. Reto's copies were faster but sloppy. Led an uppercut that connected. Kaien didn't flinch. He just looked down at the glowing bruise forming on his jaw.
"Not bad," Kaien said. "You're learning mid fight."
"That's kinda the point."
Kaien raised his hand, light building in his palm. "Then learn this."
He fired a burst straight at the ground. The explosion sent Reto flying back first through a wall.
Reto groaned, pushing himself up. "Yeah… that one sucked."
Kaien walked through the dust, calm as ever. "You don't understand what you're using."
Reto's hands glowed again. "Don't need to. It works."
They clashed again. Fists, light, concrete cracking under their feet. Kaien stayed composed Reto fought on instinct, copying everything. Each second, he matched Kaien a little closer.
Then Reto slipped a punch inside Kaien's guard and hit him dead center. The shock made Kaien stumble half a step. That was enough.
Reto stepped back, panting. "Looks like I'm catching up."
Kaien smiled faintly. "You really think that?"
He snapped his fingers. Seven colors burst out around him at once.
The pressure hit like a wall. Reto's knees almost gave out.
"Now," Kaien said, voice calm, "let's see if you can copy a Spectrum Saint."
Reto barely had time to catch his breath before the air flashed.
Kaien's colors flared. Red, blue, green, all spinning together. The ground shook. Reto could barely stand from the pressure alone.
Kaien raised his hand. "Prism Lock."
The air folded in around them. Walls of light boxed the street in, seven layers deep. No way out.
Reto looked around. "You serious right now?"
Kaien's tone stayed flat. "Let's end this."
He moved. One step, and he was already there. Reto blocked the first hit, missed the second, caught a kick to the ribs on the third. He hit the wall and dropped to a knee.
Kaien didn't stop. Every hit came from a different color red burned, blue froze, yellow blurred his vision.
Reto couldn't even breathe right. Every copy failed before it started. His body couldn't keep up with all seven at once.
"Pathetic," Kaien said, calm as ever. "You copy what you see as the ability . You can't copy the understanding of it."
Reto spat blood. "Then I'll make myself understand."
Kaien went for another hit. Reto forced his eyes open, focused on the rhythm again the tiny delay between each color. There. A gap.
He threw his hand forward, copying all seven movements at once. Gold light exploded off him, pushing Kaien back a few steps.
For a second, they froze. Both of them stared at the blast fading in the air.
His body shook. His vision went white. Every copied move was burning through him at once. His echo was spinning out.
Kaien lowered his stance. "You'll die if you keep that up."
"Maybe," Reto said, eyes glowing gold, "but I'm not stopping."
He charged again. Kaien's light met his, gold against every color at once. The explosion threw both of them across the street.
When the dust settled, Kaien stood. Reto was down on one knee, breathing hard but still conscious.
Kaien looked at him for a long moment. Then he turned away. "You'll either burn out or learn control. If you survive, come find me."
He walked off. The Prism Lock shattered as he left.
Milo and Taz ran out from behind the rubble. "Reto! You alive?"
"Barely," Reto muttered, trying to stand. His whole body was covered in faint gold cracks of light.