บท 11: Whispers of the VOID
Kane walked into the lobby and felt as though everyone was staring at his uncovered eyes.
He was used to the stares but couldn't help but feel vulnerable without the comforting shroud of his blindfold.
But he remembered what Mystery Woman had said… and he realized, a god would not feel self-conscious about his appearance.
He noticed some of the event staff members preparing an arena in the lobby's center. Large holograms were positioned throughout the foyer, projecting a bracket that previewed the upcoming duels.
Kane then went to a random seat, where he sat down.
Darian and Amira noticed Kane sitting in the audience and walked towards him. "There you are!"
Kane smiled at them, "Yeah, hey."
Amira's eyes sparkled as she joined in, "We were wondering where you disappeared to. Ready to share how strong you've gotten with your dad?"
"Yes." He replied with a smile as he glanced around at the crowd that had formed.
Hundreds of people watched the arena with anticipation as Mystery Woman walked onto the stage, a microphone in hand.
The crowd erupted wildly and loudly, everyone cheering for her.
She raised a hand for silence as she stood there for a moment. She smiled brightly at the audience before turning and pointing towards Kane.
"Today, we have the first two duelists of this little event." As the crowd roared once again, she announced, "Two young men from slightly different backgrounds!" She declared, "Kane, Healer, and son of Ex-Pillar... Pius!" She paused as the crowd cheered, "And... Jacob, an Elementalist of Algaria Academy!"
The crowd cheered and shouted with excitement.
"Did she say a Healer?"
"Isn't that unfair? A Healer against an Elementalist?"
The man next to Mystery Woman leaned closer and whispered something into her ear.
She nodded before continuing, "There are a few rules. We're sticking to a maximum of three rounds. The one who loses two rounds or throws in the towel concedes the match. If, at any point, a contender can no longer continue, it's an automatic forfeit."
"Let's go! First fight! Kane of Elysium! Against Jacob of Algaria! You two hurry here." Mystery Woman excitedly announced, clapping her hands together as the crowd roared. "Let the duels begin." She declared.
"Woohoo!!"
The two children walked towards the makeshift arena while the crowd cheered enthusiastically.
The roaring of the small crowd was deafening; it would've been overwhelming to an average person.
But…
To Kane, it was just white noise. His focus was solely on Jacob. Kane was a head taller than the other boy, with a fairly lean build for his age visible under his formal attire.
Jacob, who was expecting a 'healer', couldn't hide his surprise at Kane's unexpected physique.
His eyes widened ever so slightly, but he quickly masked his reaction with a confident smirk.
He was a product of the academy. Jacob carried himself with an air of arrogance, his confidence palpable.
Stemming from professional education and training in combat, he believed the duel was already his for the taking.
However, Jacob's surprise at Kane's stature was obvious, and despite his quick recovery, Kane had noticed.
It was time to show everyone, especially the cocky Academy boy, just how much of a formidable fighter a healer could be.
Kane began to loosen up his muscles, preparing for the upcoming clash. He had never been one to back down from a challenge, and this was no different.
He had honed his skills with Elder Amira as much as he could; Kane had to admit that she had taught him well.
As the crowd quieted down, Mystery Woman signaled for the fight to officially begin.
Jacob immediately went into action, charging towards Kane with his wooden sword raised high.
Kane, however, stood still, thinking about how Jacob got his hands on a sword.
Why hadn't he received any choice of weapon?
Anyway, Kane continued to observe Jacob, waiting for the perfect moment to move. He knew better than to underestimate an opponent, and he couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
Kane dodged Jacob's attack with precise timing and agile movements and quickly countered with a swift fist to the ribs.
The crowd gasped in surprise as Jacob stumbled back.
But Kane wasn't finished yet. He continued to strike with calculated accuracy, each move more powerful and precise than the last.
As the fight went on, Jacob's arrogance slowly turned into frustration and anger. He couldn't understand how he was being outmatched by a mere healer.
Kane, on the other hand, was getting bored. He knew he had gotten stronger, especially after absorbing that wolf.
But wasn't this guy too weak?
Or had he gotten used to Amira's speed and uncanny strength?
As Jacob's attacks became more desperate, Kane couldn't help but feel disappointed.
He had been hoping for a slight challenge and was waiting for this Elementalist to show off his ability, as this fight was turning out to be far too easy.
But just when he was about to give up hope for any real excitement, Jacob suddenly lunged forward with unexpected vigor.
Kane barely had time to react before Jacob's sword came crashing down towards his head.
With a quick sidestep, Kane avoided the blow and used Jacob's momentum against him, causing him to stumble and fall onto the ground.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Kane stood over Jacob, seemingly victorious.
But instead of announcing his win, Mystery Woman raised a hand, signaling for everyone to simmer down.
As the cheers gradually faded, she focused on Kane and Jacob. The latter of which was now on the ground, in pain, and seething with frustration.
"An impressive display," Mystery Woman remarked, her eyes holding a glint of disappointment.
"But remember, victory in one round doesn't guarantee the outcome of the entire duel."
Mystery Woman turned her attention to Jacob, who was picking himself up from the floor. She held eye contact with him for the briefest of moments before looking away.
"Seems like the academy didn't teach you much," Kane said, his tone laced with mockery towards the arrogant boy.
Jacob shot him a glare, brushing off the comment. "Hmph, this is far from over," he sneered, rising fully to his feet.
"Round two awaits," Mystery Woman declared, her voice echoing through the area. "The duel continues!"
Kane noticed the hologram above him flickered, updating to display the information of the ongoing battle.
He took a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline rush through his veins. As both he and Jacob squared off, the atmosphere around them crackled with intensity.
The unfolding duel promised more surprises and challenges for Kane.
As they clashed once again, it was clear that Jacob had something new up his sleeve.
His hands started to glow with an intense orange light, and Kane could feel the temperature rising around him.
His hands went up in flames as he shouted, "I'll burn you into a pile of ashes!" A powerful wave of fire shot towards Kane, who barely managed to dodge in time.
'Fire indoors?' Kane couldn't help but notice that the flames weren't harming Jacob, nor were they spreading around the arena.
The impact of the blast left a scorch mark on the ground where he had stood just moments ago.
This was a fight between two super-powered individuals. If this were an ordinary scuffle, Kane would come out on top eleven out of ten times.
His grueling training with Elder Amira had honed his skills and perception to a razor's edge, and the strength he absorbed from the wolf made him physically superior to most.
Unless, of course, they possessed a brute-type physical enhancement ability.
Jacob was a wildcard. His flames were unpredictable and ferocious, it was a stark contrast to Kane's more calculated approach.
Kane managed to land multiple blows, each one forcing Jacob to step back. But Jacob's flames only grew hotter, brighter, and more erratic with each blow.
Suddenly, Jacob sprang to his feet, a determined look in his eyes. He swung his wooden sword, now engulfed in flames, at Kane. The latter tried to dodge, but he wasn't quick enough.
The fiery blade slashed across his forearm, leaving a searing wound.
Kane gritted his teeth against the pain, stumbling backward. Jacob didn't waste any time gloating; he prepared another strike.
Kane retreated, and with his other hand, he reached toward his wound. The crowd watched in awe as his skin mended itself almost instantaneously.
The burnt flesh was gone, and the wound closed under his touch.
Within moments, it was as if he'd never even been injured.
The crowd erupted once more, amazed at the spectacle of his healing powers.
In the crowd, Darian and Sadie had a proud look on their faces.
However, Elder Amira looked a little different.
A hint of disappointment crept into her eyes as she hoped her protege, her 'kitten' as she fondly referred to him, would put on a show of overwhelming power that would leave everyone surprised.
But he had shown a moment of vulnerability, and the need to use his healing ability was not a part of her ideal vision.
Kane was back on the offensive, he wouldn't give Jacob another chance to land a hit.
But Jacob was relentless, his flames ever burning brighter and hotter. His wooden sword whirled around him like a fiery tempest.
Until something shifted within Kane, his void-like eyes began to shine. The black holes within them spinning, continuously growing and shrinking.
The cheering of the crowd died down as they stared at his eyes, trying to understand a sliver of what was happening.
Suddenly, a ripple spread out from Kane, distorting the air around him.
BZZT!
The arena shook as he had somehow torn through the very fabric of space itself.
The crowd, frozen in awe, witnessed a surreal sight as Kane's form walked through the vortex of energy and disappeared.
Everyone gasped, their eyes darting around the arena, trying to find where Kane had gone.
Jacob looked equally surprised, his flaming sword lowering slightly as he scanned his surroundings.
Then, just as suddenly as he had disappeared, Kane reappeared, behind his enemy.
Despite his confusion at this newfound ability, Kane spared no time as he drew on all the strength his juvenile body could muster.
He wrapped his arms around Jacob's neck and tightened his grip, using his forearm to apply pressure on Jacob's carotid artery—a move he learned from Elder Amira—Jacob struggled in Kane's grip, his flames flickering as he tried to break free.
But Kane held on. He only needed to maintain the pressure for a few more seconds.
And…
Jacob stopped struggling.
His eyes rolled back and his body went limp.
As quickly as he had initiated the move, Kane released him. Jacob crumpled to the ground, unconscious. The flames surrounding Jacob flickered extinguished as he lay motionless.
The arena fell silent, Kane stood over Jacob, his void-like eyes slowly returning to their usual resting state.
The crowd erupted into a mix of astonishment and confused cheers, unsure of what had just happened.
Darian and Sadie, among the spectators, exchanged bewildered glances.
Elder Amira, despite her initial disappointment, was completely flabbergasted. The unexpected turn of events had added another item to her little list of Kane's mysterious abilities.
As the realization of what he did settled, Kane felt a connection to something vast and ancient.
It was like a whisper in the back of his mind, a faint echo.
It was telling him something.
Something important. But he just couldn't make out what it was saying.
Kane stilled. To the surrounding crowd, it looked like he had paused for a mere second, but for him, time seemed to slow to a standstill.
He was caught in a torrent of images, each one more confusing than the last.
He saw a woman, alone, in the void of space.
His eyes widened at her otherworldly form. She was dressed in the most magnificent dress he had ever seen, it clung to her figure—accentuating any and every curve.
The dress was a deep and dark purple, filled with countless stars and swirling galaxies that shifted with her movements.
Her hair cascaded in silky waves, each strand shimmering like stardust. Framing a face of such exquisite beauty that it didn't seem to belong to a human.
The woman stood amidst a vortex of pulsing energy, manipulating space just as he had done moments ago.
When she stepped through the folds of space, she didn't appear behind someone or anywhere nearby.
No, instead, she emerged beside a planet, suspended somewhere in the void of space.
But it didn't make any sense...
Her hands, though proportionate to her form, were large enough to cradle the planet.
She picked it up like a child might pick up a marble. To her, the planet was nothing more than a tiny sphere that fit perfectly in the palm of her hand.
And with strength that belied her elegant appearance, she took hold of the planet and, with casual ease, crushed it to dust in her palm.
The sight was terrifying, what unimaginable power!
As the remnants of the planet drifted around her, she turned her gaze towards Kane.
Though this seemed to be a memory or even a vision of sorts, it felt as if she was looking directly at him.
Her lips curved up into a soft smile, as she seemed to bow in reverence and say something Kane couldn't understand, sending a shiver down his spine.
Just as abruptly as the vision had come, it began to fragment. The images shattered like glass, each piece falling away until nothing remained.
The woman, the weird magic, the destroyed planet… all of it collapsed in on itself, leaving Kane standing alone in the vast emptiness of his mind.
When he finally returned to reality, the crowd was still cheering, their voices seeming distant and muffled. They were completely oblivious to whatever just happened to him.
Kane was left standing in the arena, his mind reeling from the vision. The woman's power, her control over space, and her easy destruction of a planet... these were abilities beyond his comprehension.
But there was a familiarity to it all, a sense that he was connected to her actions in some weird way.
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