Chronos Elior

  The familiar hum of Selena’s lab filled the air as I stepped through the portal, the sterile scent of disinfectants and burning circuits reminding me exactly where I was. Also the obscene thick smell of coffee was a dead giveaway.

  Selena was hunched over her desk, surrounded by holographic displays and scattered notes, her seaweed-green hair even more of a mess than usual. The moment I walked in, she barely spared me a glance, too engrossed in her work.

  “Back already?” she muttered, tapping away at her console. “I figured you’d still be off making my Rai-Bear suffer.”

  I ignored the jab and leaned against the wall, rubbing the bridge of my nose. “Have you found anything?”

  Selena finally looked up, narrowing her eyes at me. “Why do you sound like you’ve been thinking too much?”

  I exhaled. She always caught onto things too quickly. I glanced at the screens filled with Rai’s medical data but didn’t comment on them yet. Instead, I focused on the thought that had been nagging at me for weeks now.

  “…His training,” I said. “It’s progressing too fast.”

  Selena’s eyebrows raised slightly. “Too fast? Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

  I nodded, pushing off the wall. “That’s the problem though, it’s way too fast. You already know how long it usually takes someone to refine their senses, right?”

  Selena snorted. “Obviously. Just getting the basics down, especially hearing, should take months.”

  I crossed my arms. “Rai did it in two weeks.”

  That made her stop completely. She turned in her chair, blinking at me. “…You’re fucking with me.”

  I shook my head. “I wish I was.”

  Selena frowned, tapping her fingers against the desk. “Walk me through it.”

  I leaned against her worktable, "At first, I figured he’d struggle like everyone else. But instead, he adapted too fast. Every stage I threw at him? He’d struggle at first, sure, but then he’d grasp the concept faster than he should. Every single time.”

  I ran a hand through my hair, "It’s not normal, Selena. This level of improvement isn’t just ‘talented.’ It’s… something else.”

  Selena leaned back in her chair, watching me with a thoughtful expression, "And now it’s bothering you.”

  I exhaled, "I’m used to seeing prodigies. I’ve trained monsters before. But this—this is unnatural. I’m not saying it’s entirely a bad thing, I just need to know if there’s something I need to be concerned with. If not then he’s simply a genius and I can continue with his training as usual.”

  Selena stayed silent for a moment, then turned back to her screens, "Well, lucky for you, I was just about to go over my findings.”

  Selena flicked a few keys, and a projection shimmered into the air, an overlay of neural activity, muscle response times, and physiological changes recorded from Rai’s training sessions.

  I crossed my arms, "Alright, explain.”

  She spun her chair slightly, glancing at me over her shoulder, "We already knew Rai was improving too fast. But after running deeper comparisons, I found something… weird.”

  I raised a brow, "Weirder than him picking up skills like he’s remembering them instead of learning them overtime?”

  Selena smirked, "Exactly that, actually.” She gestured at the data, "Look at this. His learning curve isn’t just fast—it’s irregular.”

  I stepped forward, analyzing the patterns. His neural response times fluctuated in a way that didn’t make sense. There were spikes, moments where his reaction speed, instinctive movements, and mental processing shot through the roof before leveling out again.

  I frowned, "These peaks… they match up with high-stakes moments, don’t they?”

  Selena nodded, "Bingo. The more pressure he’s under, the sharper he gets. His instincts become almost inhumanly refined.”

  I leaned against the table, thinking, "It’s not normal. A prodigy learns fast, sure, but this? This isn’t learning. It’s like something inside him is waking up when he’s pushed.”

  Selena sighed, "And that’s what concerns me. Because I think I know why.”

  She flicked the screen, pulling up another set of data, this time, focused on Rai’s brain activity over time. The overlay showed fluctuations in neural pathways, synaptic responses, and impulse control patterns.

  I narrowed my eyes, "Wait a second. This… these scans. You don’t just get real-time data like this.”

  Selena didn’t respond immediately, instead tapping a few more keys.

  I turned to her fully, "Selena. Did you sneak a device on him to scan his brain during training?”

  She kept typing, "That’s not important.”

  I blinked, "It’s literally the most important question right now.”

  She waved me off, "The data is what matters, Chronos. Focus.”

  I opened my mouth, then closed it. Stared at her, "You absolutely did.”

  She gave me a tight-lipped smile, "Moving on.”

  I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples.

  Of course, she did.

  She tapped the projection again, highlighting a pattern in the spikes, "You noticed how he only gets like this when the situation is serious, right? When he’s in an actual fight, or when something feels real?”

  I nodded, "Yeah. He switches. One second, he’s sharp but controlled, then suddenly, he’s someone else entirely. Almost like he stops thinking and just acts.”

  Selena pulled up a different screen, one I recognized instantly. The seal. Not visible through any normal scan, but the data she had overlaid told the story clearly.

  “I ran a deeper analysis,” she said, “and it all comes back to this.” She pointed at the patterns, "Every time he tries to awaken, he damages the seal a little more. And every time that happens, his Aura pushes back. Harder. Stronger.”

  I narrowed my eyes, "So his Aura is adapting to being restrained?”

  She nodded, "Exactly. Like tearing muscle fibers in training—except his Aura is literally forging itself under constant resistance.”

  I let out a low whistle, "Which means when he does Awaken…”

  Selena smirked, "It’s not going to be a normal awakening. His Aura won’t just release—it’ll explode out stronger than it has any right to be.”

  I exhaled, watching the data shift as the timeline moved forward. Being held back wasn't the only thing happening. He was being conditioned as a side effect of this. Most people awaken and gain access to their Aura like breathing in fresh air for the first time. Rai on the other hand is fighting tooth and nail for every inch forward. And every failed attempt meant that his eventual breakthrough would be stronger than anyone else.

  Selena smirked, "And that’s not even the craziest part.”

  I gave her a look, "Of course it’s not.”

  She pulled up another projection, a full-body scan of Rai’s muscle structure.

  I immediately saw the density readings. My eyebrows lifted, "This… this can’t be right.”

  Selena tapped the data, "Oh, it’s right. His muscle density is way beyond normal for someone his age and not to mention he’s unawakened.”

  I frowned, "I know he’s been using the anchors non-stop, but this level of conditioning—”

  Selena interrupted, “That’s exactly the problem. The anchors weren’t just training him, Chronos. They were basically giving him a full-body workout 24/7. Every single movement he makes is a high-resistance exercise. Walking, sitting, stretching—it all requires his body to constantly exert more force.”

  I rubbed my jaw, "So his body isn’t just strong—it’s been sculpted by constant, passive resistance.”

  She nodded, "Exactly, and here’s the kicker, his body has been forced to adapt so much that it’s almost unnatural. The only reason he hasn’t noticed is because it’s been gradual, but in terms of raw muscle efficiency?”

  She pulled up a comparison chart against other fighters his age and rank. The numbers were ridiculous.

  I exhaled, "...He’s built like a tank, isn’t he?”

  Selena grinned, "More than that. He’s built for efficiency. Every ounce of muscle he’s developed isn’t just bulk, it’s refined, conditioned, and optimized for peak combat performance. It’s why he moves so fast despite carrying extra weight. He’s not overpowering resistance, he’s using it. This is why he doesn’t walk around like he’s a swollen body builder.”

  I let that settle in. His training, while unorthodox, is paying dividends due to his condition. Rai’s body had fully adapted to constant stress. His base level of strength was unnaturally high, and when the anchors eventually came off?

  I smirked, "Oh, that’s going to be fun.”

  Selena rolled her eyes, "For you, maybe. For everyone else? Not so much.”

  I leaned back, arms crossed, "Alright. So we’ve got a kid who’s learning at an impossible rate, whose instincts are sharpening like something buried inside him is waking up, whose Aura is being forged stronger every time he fails, and whose body has literally been sculpted into a peak vessel.”

  Selena nodded, "Yep. That about sums it up.”

  I let out a slow breath, "Seriously, Rai doesn’t even realize what a monster he’s becoming, does he?”

  She grinned, "Not a clue.”

  I smirked, rolling my shoulders. Good, let’s keep it that way for now. While I do intend on removing his anchors, I can't do it just yet. If he can keep struggling for just a bit longer. The moment those anchors come off can be a game changer. I can't wait to see the look on his face once I take them off.

  One of my other concerns is the Skyhaven Sect. Not that they would be a genuine issue, it's just that there's no way Ella and Illya's father doesn’t know about Rai by now. Especially after he beat one of their Violet Ranks. I'm keeping an eye on him, just in case. I’m confident they won’t make a fuss about it publicly, it would ruin their reputation. The Vel’aeris family isn’t significant enough within the sect to cause a stir, and exposing that one of their Violet Ranks was defeated by an unawakened would only make them look weak.

  In the eyes of the sect, weakness is worse than failure. They wouldn’t risk being deemed pointless, especially not to the point of exile. If word got out, the Vel’aeris family would be seen as nothing more than a liability, unworthy of their position.

  After letting these thoughts marinate, I pulled out my phone to check the schedule I had made for him. All of the contests besides the gauntlet are all starting in a few weeks after the gauntlet.

  Maybe I should consider chess…

  Raiden Alaric

  Last day of school is about what I expected. Most classes were just killing time, movies, pointless group activities, teachers pretending to care while secretly counting down the minutes until freedom. One teacher even brought his dog. Pretty sure he was more popular than any of us.

  I didn’t bother trying to compete for the dog’s attention. Instead, I just leaned back in my chair and half-listened to people chatting. Plans for the summer, gossip about who was dating who, and the occasional argument over who was hosting the best party. Typical stuff. I was mostly zoning out, thinking about more interesting things, like why the hell Irena had been acting weird lately.

  She wasn’t exactly subtle about it. It started small, just catching her staring at me in class or in the halls. At first, I thought maybe I had something on my face or she was planning on asking me for a favor. Then it got weirder. Like, full-on lurking. She wasn’t great at it either, honestly looked more like a confused cat than a stalker.

  I caught her peeking around corners like she thought I wouldn’t notice, practically jumping out of her skin when I glanced her way. It would’ve been almost cute if it didn’t make me feel like I was being hunted by the world’s most indecisive predator.

  Naturally, I decided today was the day I figured out what the hell her deal was.

  The bell rang, and the chaos of the hallways hit like a tidal wave, people laughing, shouting, sprinting for the exits like they were being released from prison. I slipped through the crowd with ease, blending into the flow while keeping my senses sharp. Finding Irena wasn’t hard, new skills meant I could pretty much track her without even thinking about it.

  I caught a glimpse of her amber hair bobbing up ahead, and I slowed my pace, keeping my distance. She was with a couple of her friends, looking distracted and… nervous? That was new.

  I tuned in, letting their voices filter through the noise.

  “Has anyone seen Rai today?” Irena asked, her voice quieter than usual. There was a slight tremble to it, like she was working up the courage just to say my name.

  I raised an eyebrow.

  Alright, Stalkerella. What’s your deal?

  One of her friends scoffed, "Why are you looking for him? He probably bailed early. You know how he is, only sticks around if something’s interesting.”

  You build a hundred bridges…

  Irena’s shoulders slumped a little, "I just… needed to talk to him. It’s important.”

  The friend raised an eyebrow, "Important how? Did he do something to you?”

  Wow, just who do you take me for? Tony? Bill? The disappointment that is Mateo?

  Irena shook her head quickly, looking flustered, "No! It’s nothing like that. I just… need to ask him something. It’s kind of… personal.”

  The other friend leaned in with a grin, "Ooh, personal? Is it finally happening? Are you gonna confess?”

  What? Please don’t.

  Irena immediately went red, waving her hands frantically, "N-No! It’s not that! It’s just—” She cut herself off, biting her lip, "Just something I need to know, okay?”

  Her friend rolled her eyes, "Whatever. Just go find him, then. He usually hangs out by himself near the gym from what I heard. One of my friends told me that he spends most of his free time using the training dummies.”

  You… aren’t wrong.

  Irena sighed, clearly frustrated, and moved on, her friends chatting about something else entirely.

  I leaned against the wall, watching Irena and her friends split off at the end of the hallway.

  Personal, huh?

  Great, I came to get some answers, and now it seems like I’ll get them. Maybe.

  I thought about just following her, but that felt a bit too much like I was the stalker. Not really my style. Besides, if I happened to just be at the gym when she showed up? Totally a coincidence.

  I gave an impish grin and made my way through the halls, weaving through the clusters of students celebrating their newfound freedom.

  It didn’t take long to reach the gym. The door was propped open, and I slipped inside, feeling the familiar scent of sweat and old vinyl mats hit me. The training dummies were still set up in the far corner, and I made my way over, grabbing one by the shoulders and giving it a testing push.

  I wasn’t planning on actually using them right now, but it wouldn’t hurt to look like I was killing time. I gave the dummy a quick jab, followed by a knee strike that made it wobble on its base.

  As expected, I didn’t have to wait long. Footsteps echoed from the entrance, and I pretended not to notice, casually cracking my neck and sizing up the dummy like it owed me money.

  “Rai?”

  I turned and gave her a casual wave, "Oh. Hey, Irena.”

  She looked more hesitant than usual, almost like she was debating whether to be here at all.

  I raised an eyebrow, “What’s up?”

  She shifted awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable, "You… you’re not busy, right?”

  I gestured to the dummy, “Just settling an old score. Why?”

  She exhaled slowly, like she was working up the nerve to say something, "I needed to talk to you about something important.”

  I shrugged, "Sure. What’s on your mind?”

  Her fingers twisted together, and she glanced away, trying to collect her thoughts. Finally, she just took a breath and forced herself to look me in the eyes.

  “You know I don’t like talking about them often but…” She exhaled, “My family has been… keeping an eye on you.”

  My casual stance shifted just a fraction, but I didn’t let it show on my face, "Oh? Didn’t know I was that interesting.”

  Phew… at least it’s not a confession.

  She bit her lip, hesitating, "It’s not… it’s not because you did something. It’s just—” She grimaced, clearly frustrated with herself. “They’ve been keeping tabs on you ever since you participated in the martial arts contest.”

  I raised an eyebrow, "Did I leave that much of an impression? For a family clan I didn’t think they would use a small contest like that as a way of scouting.”

  I’m guessing they told her about the contest because I never mentioned it.

  She didn’t smile, though, "You aren’t entirely wrong… They actually started keeping an eye on you since… that incident last year.”

  “Last year? Oh with those three?”

  She nodded, “Yes when my family found them they explained what happened after they had left me and started chasing you. They didn’t tell me about it until recently so I had no idea you fought them off that day.”

  I tilted my head, “Why is it you only found out until today about what happened? I thought you knew.”

  She twirled her fingers, “They… asked me about you a few weeks ago. They wanted to know if you had any other affiliations mostly due to–” She trailed off as if she wasn’t entirely sure she should say it.

  “Mostly due to…” I motioned her to continue.

  “Mostly due to you having met with a high elf from the Skyhaven Sect. They assumed you were… dating.”

  That tone kind of hurt my feelings…

  I scratched the back of my neck, trying to keep my face neutral, "Dating, huh? Didn’t know I was such a heartthrob.”

  Irena’s face flushed red, and she immediately looked away, "It’s not funny! High elves aren’t supposed to casually mingle with outsiders, let alone… you know… date them.”

  Ouch…

  I raised an eyebrow, "You make it sound like I’m a plague or something.”

  She shot me a look, clearly annoyed, "That’s not what I meant! It’s just… My family is really protective about bloodlines and alliances. They highly value talent and they always keep their eyes on new blood. Skyhaven is one of the most prestigious sects out there, and seeing a high elf with someone like you—” She stopped herself, suddenly looking guilty.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  I just smirked, "Someone like me, huh?”

  You’re killing me Irena.

  She opened her mouth to argue but then hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers again, "That’s not… I mean… you’re just… different.”

  Please… I can… only take so much.

  “Yeah, I get that a lot,” I replied, leaning back against the dummy, "So, they’re watching me because they think I’m secretly dating a high elf?” I bumped my elbow into the dummy, “You hear that Troy? They think I’m enough of a ladies man to pull a high elf.” Yes the dummy’s name is Troy, put some respect on his name.

  She bit her lip again, looking more uncomfortable than before, "It’s not just that. They’re… they’re worried you might be affiliated with a sect. And if they think that, they might... take you in for questioning.”

  That actually made me pause, “Take me in for questioning? What did I do?”

  “It’s not what you did, it’s more along the lines of what they did.”

  I raised an eyebrow, not liking the sound of that, "So, they’re ready to just haul me off because I happen to know someone from a sect they don’t like? That’s a bit excessive.”

  Irena hesitated, shifting nervously on her feet, "It’s... It’s not that simple. When they found out about you being seen with that high elf, they started digging into your background. They’re... they’re trying to see if you have any other affiliations or connections. And if they find anything that looks suspicious, they won’t hesitate to—”

  She stopped herself, biting her lip hard.

  “To what?” I prompted.

  She glanced at me, worry etched across her face, "To take you away. Question you. Maybe even... hold you until they’re satisfied you’re not a threat.”

  My casual stance dropped for a second, and I let out a low breath.

  Great. Just what I needed. Babysitters. But… if they get a little aggressive then I wouldn’t mind throwing hands.

  She looked at me, eyes a little desperate, "I didn’t think they’d take it this far. I just... I only wanted to—”

  She froze, like she’d just said too much.

  My eyes narrowed slightly, "You wanted to what?”

  Her face went pale, "Nothing! I just... wanted to make sure they weren’t... you know... going too far.”

  My smirk returned, a little sharper this time, "You’re a bad liar, Irena.”

  She clenched her fists, refusing to meet my eyes, "It’s just... they wouldn’t have even thought about it if—” She cut herself off again, and I watched her carefully.

  “If?” I prodded.

  Her face flushed red again, and she stammered out, “If I hadn’t brought you up to begin with!”

  Silence.

  I blinked, processing that, "You... what?”

  Her shoulders slumped, and she wouldn’t look at me, "I didn’t think they’d take it seriously. I just... mentioned you once. That’s all. Just... once.”

  I stared at her, trying to wrap my head around it, "So you mentioned me, and now I’ve got an entire clan keeping tabs on me?”

  She winced, "I didn’t mean to! It just... slipped out. I was... I was talking to my father about what you did for me and... and about how nice you were. He just... asked some questions and... one thing led to another...”

  I let out a long, slow exhale, "Right. And somehow that turned into full-scale surveillance. You’re killing me here, Irena.”

  She bit her lip, looking like she was ready to sink into the floor, "I didn’t think they’d actually do anything. I just... I thought it was harmless.”

  I leaned back against the dummy, giving it a casual kick to let off some steam, "Harmless. Yeah, well, now I’ve got babysitters. Perfect.”

  She looked at me again, hesitating, "I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted... I don’t know. I wanted them to know you weren’t a bad person. After what you did for me... I thought it would help.”

  I scratched the back of my neck, letting out a soft chuckle, "You seriously thought telling your overprotective clan about some guy being nice to you was a good idea?”

  Her face went even redder, "I-I wasn’t thinking about it like that!”

  Sure. Right. Definitely not that.

  I sighed, "Alright, fine. But let’s rewind for a second. You said they got paranoid because I was seen with a high elf from the Skyhaven Sect?”

  She nodded, "Yeah. They... don’t like Skyhaven. Not since...” She trailed off, looking a little unsure.

  I raised an eyebrow, "Since what? What did Skyhaven do that’s got your family all riled up?”

  She hesitated, glancing down, "I... don’t actually know. I stay out of the family politics, and they don’t exactly tell me anything. From what I overheard, it’s more of a long-standing grudge. Something about one of Skyhaven’s higher-ups disrespecting our clan ages ago. Or... something like that. Honestly, it might not even be a real reason. Could just be an excuse to justify keeping tabs on you.”

  I let out a scoff, "So they’re using some ancient grudge to justify stalking me. Great. Real mature of them.”

  She looked up, fidgeting with her fingers, "I know it sounds bad, but... they’re just being cautious. They don’t want me involved in something dangerous.”

  I crossed my arms, "So, what, they think I’m secretly conspiring with Skyhaven or something? Just because I happened to be near a high elf?”

  She bit her lip, "I don’t think they believe that... but they’re still paranoid. They want to make sure you’re not... some kind of infiltrator.”

  I raised an eyebrow, "Me? An infiltrator? What am I infiltrating, the local high school?”

  She almost cracked a smile, but it faded quickly, "I know it sounds ridiculous. I just... wanted you to know. In case... you know... something happens.”

  I gave her a long look, weighing her expression, "So, let me get this straight. You accidentally put me on your clan’s radar, and now they’re watching me because I might be conspiring with Skyhaven. And you don’t even know why they hate Skyhaven to begin with?”

  She hesitated, then nodded.

  I shook my head, "You really are a piece of work, you know that?”

  She glared at me, a mix of guilt and frustration. “I didn’t mean to! I just... I didn’t want them thinking badly of you. They know I hang around you a lot, and... I didn’t want them to think you were only interacting with me because you had ulterior motives.”

  I grinned and tilted my head, "And instead they think I’m some secret agent plotting to take over your clan. Good trade-off.”

  She huffed, crossing her arms, "You’re impossible.”

  I shrugged, "You’re not the first to say that.”

  She looked like she wanted to argue more, but instead she just sighed, her shoulders slumping, "Just... be careful, alright? I don’t want anything bad to happen to you because of me.”

  I grinned, giving her a lazy salute, "Relax. If they come for me, I’ll just tell them you’re the mastermind behind everything. Problem solved.”

  She shot me a glare so fierce I almost thought she’d throw a punch, "That’s not funny.”

  “It’s a little funny.”

  “It’s not!”

  Before she could get too worked up, I reached out and gave her a light pat on the head, ruffling her hair just enough to mess it up. She froze, glaring up at me with a mix of irritation and confusion.

  I softened my grin, letting just a hint of seriousness slip through, "I’ll keep my head down, alright? No need to worry your pretty little head about it.”

  She didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at me like she was trying to figure out whether to punch me or not. Finally, she just huffed, batting my hand away but not bothering to fix her hair.

  “You’re an idiot,” she muttered.

  I just kept grinning, giving the dummy another light jab, "Wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t.”

  She hesitated again, looking like she wanted to say something else, but eventually she just sighed and gave me one last worried glance before leaving.

  As soon as she was out of sight, I let out a slow breath, my smirk fading. Skyhaven, huh? I hadn’t given much thought to them, but if they were paranoid enough to keep tabs on anyone who crossed paths with a high elf, that could become a problem.

  I glanced at the training dummy, imagining it as some self-important clan elder. I gave it a swift, satisfying punch to the gut.

  “Better stay on my toes,” I muttered, "Just in case they decide babysitting isn’t enough.”

  This weekend I had plans to meet with Ella again. This time, she was picking the spot.

  I was already reeling back at the thought because if the noble girl’s picking a spot, I’m expecting either places I can’t afford or places where rich people gather just to be seen. Either way, I’m not exactly looking forward to this in the slightest.

  I say that, but I’m actually hoping we’re spotted by one or two of her fiancé’s spies.

  Oh yeah, I caught a few.

  When I left school on Friday, I noticed a car parked a few blocks from the school that just so happened to be on the path I take home. Real subtle. They might as well have painted "Totally Not a Stalker" on the side.

  Then I noticed another one pretending to do roofing at some random house. Seriously? The guy was holding a hammer backwards and hammering the air. I almost felt bad for him. Almost.

  I had half a mind to walk right up to him and offer some "construction advice," but I figured that might tip them off that I knew what they were up to. Besides, why ruin their hard work of being completely and utterly obvious?

  If this is the kind of talent her fiancé’s got on payroll, then I’m honestly not sure whether I should feel insulted or just flat-out disappointed.

  Anyway, I’m guessing Ella picked a spot where we’d be seen. She knows what game I’m playing. Sure, she didn’t actually agree to start anything with me, but she knows how to use a situation to her advantage. It’s almost impressive, if I wasn’t directly in the middle of it.

  It’s not like I actually care about her fiancé’s little attempts to intimidate me. He can play dirty all he wants, doesn’t change the fact that I’ve already made it clear I’m not going to just bow out. Besides, the more I provoke him, the better. I just need to push him far enough to slip up.

  Until then, I guess I’ll just make a game of how many are following me.

  Ella sent me the location, a trendy little café on the edge of the shopping district. Classy but not overly expensive. I had to admit, I didn’t hate her choice. It was the kind of place where people with money go to pretend they’re like everyone else. The kind where they order coffee that’s more milk than anything and act like they’re just another face in the crowd.

  Also, the clothes I wore would help. This outfit I actually picked out. A striped button-up with the sleeves rolled up just past my elbows, paired with fitted ripped jeans and clean white sneakers. Casual, but still looked like I put in some effort. Even threw on a simple watch because it added just enough to make it seem like I actually cared.

  Granted, yes, I did ask for my father’s approval, which he gave me with a thumbs-up message. Not that I needed his fashion advice or anything, just, you know, confirmation that I didn’t look like a total idiot.

  When I arrived, I made sure to take the most casual route possible, walking right past the guy pretending to window shop with a camera that hadn’t been used since the 90s. I made sure to give him a thumbs-up just to see how fast he’d panic. He didn’t disappoint, nearly dropped the camera.

  Smooth.

  Inside, the café had that typical rustic aesthetic, wooden tables, dim lighting, and overly complicated drink names that just meant coffee with extra nonsense.

  Ella was already there, sitting near the window with a book open and a latte in front of her. When she spotted me, she gave a slight wave, her usual composed expression not giving away much.

  I pulled up a chair and dropped into it like I belonged there, "So, this is the spot, huh?”

  She smiled faintly, "Surprised?”

  “Honestly, yeah,” I admitted, "Figured you’d drag me to some five-star restaurant and make me try caviar or something.”

  She rolled her eyes, "Please. I don’t have that much patience.”

  I smirked, "Lucky me. Especially if it’s on your dime.”

  She took a sip of her latte, eyes briefly glancing past me out the window, "We’re being watched.”

  “I’m aware,” I muttered, leaning back in my chair, "Your fiancé's guys, right? They’ve been following me since I left school yesterday.”

  Ella paused mid-sip, eyebrows knitting together, "My fiancé’s... men? What are you talking about?”

  I raised an eyebrow, "You didn’t know?”

  She hesitated, setting her cup down, "No. Why would they be following you?”

  I couldn’t help but grin, "Gee, wonder why.”

  Her eyes narrowed at me, clearly not amused, "Rai, explain.”

  I shrugged, "Pretty sure it’s just his usual brand of paranoia. He’s been having me followed for a bit now. Not exactly subtle about it, either.”

  She looked genuinely surprised, "Why would he bother with that? What could he possibly think you’re up to?”

  I gave her a lazy grin, "I dunno, stealing his bride-to-be? Stepping on his ego? Making him look bad? Take your pick.”

  She looked at me flatly, "You’re enjoying this far too much.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle, "Just giving him a reason to sweat. He’s the one making this a game, not me.”

  She pursed her lips, clearly not thrilled about the idea of her fiancé acting like some paranoid watchdog, "It doesn’t make sense... he’s not the type to act openly hostile. He wouldn’t want his reputation to be tarnished by... something so petty.”

  I raised an eyebrow, "You sure about that?”

  She hesitated, glancing out the window, "He’s always been... calculated. Never reckless. It just doesn’t add up.”

  I didn’t bother pushing the topic. If she didn’t know, she didn’t know. Instead, I decided to switch gears, "You’re using me to make him look bad, aren’t you? Or is the postponement of the marriage just a generous side effect?”

  Her lips curled into a faint smile, "That wasn’t my intention. At least... not at first.”

  I didn’t even bother denying it, "Maybe. But let’s not pretend you’re the innocent party here. You would have dragged me into this even if you never told me your situation.”

  She didn’t say anything to that—just sipped her drink thoughtfully, probably piecing together what I just said. I glanced out the window and spotted one of the spies desperately trying to look like he wasn’t taking pictures of us.

  Come on man...

  I turned back to Ella, giving her my most exaggerated charming smile. Without a word, I leaned forward, reaching out to gently brush a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. My fingers lightly grazed her cheek, and I didn’t miss how she froze up completely, eyes wide and lips slightly parted.

  She immediately went red, almost choking on her drink, "W-What are you—”

  I smirked, pretending not to notice her reaction as I leaned back casually, acting every bit the smooth playboy. "Your hair was out of place. Gotta look perfect if we’re making a scene, right?”

  She opened her mouth to respond but seemed to lose her words entirely, her cheeks still tinted a deep red. I could practically hear the camera outside clicking furiously.

  Gotcha.

  I shot her a confident grin, giving her a playful wink. “Relax. You look good.”

  Ella’s flustered expression only deepened, and she quickly looked down at her book, pretending to focus on the pages. “I-I didn’t ask for your opinion.”

  “Didn’t need to,” I replied smoothly, leaning back and putting on a smug look. “Besides, gotta make sure I’m keeping your fiancé on his toes. Spice it up a little.”

  She glanced up, still pink around the ears, and gave me a narrow-eyed look, "You’re impossible.”

  “That’s part of my charm,” I shot back.

  Ella huffed, clearly still trying to regain her composure. After a moment, she just sighed and tried to hide her face behind the book, muttering something about “idiots with too much confidence.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself, stealing a glance at the spy outside. The guy was practically vibrating with excitement, clearly eating up the scene. Perfect.

  When Ella finally composed herself enough to look back at me, she raised an eyebrow, "Are you actually interested in the book, or just killing time?”

  “Killing time,” I admitted with a smirk, "But you seemed pretty into it.”

  She gave a soft, almost amused sigh, trying to act like she hadn’t just been flustered out of her mind. “It’s a political drama about family intrigue and betrayal.”

  I snorted, "Sounds familiar.”

  She looked at me with a glint of humor in her eyes, "Indeed.”

  I stretched my arms behind my head, glancing out the window again. The spy was still there, clearly glued to his post. I gave him a lazy wave just to mess with him, and he immediately ducked down, pretending to tie his shoes.

  Amateur hour.

  I stretched my arms behind my head, glancing out the window again. The spy was gone, but I knew better than to think we were in the clear. “Think they’re buying it?”

  She raised an eyebrow, "Buying what?”

  I gave her a lazy grin, "That we’re having a good time.”

  She looked at me skeptically, "You’re being oddly smug today.”

  “Just in a good mood,” I replied, leaning back in my chair. “Besides, you look way too tense. If we’re going to make it look convincing, at least pretend you’re enjoying yourself.”

  She huffed but didn’t argue, settling into her chair more comfortably, "Fine. Just... don’t overdo it.”

  I gave her a playful smirk, "No promises.”

  She took another sip of her drink, her eyes briefly flicking to me over the rim of her cup. “Be careful, Rai. I don’t know what he’s planning, but it’s not like him to be this reckless. Just... watch your back.”

  I gave a lazy wave, "Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind. Not too worried.”

  She didn’t look entirely convinced but didn’t push the topic either. Instead, she flipped a page in her book, content to let the silence settle between us.

  Let him keep watching. The more paranoid he gets, the more likely he’ll make a mistake. All I had to do was keep baiting him until he snapped. I smirked to myself, eyeing Ella briefly.

  We’re both playing this game for different reasons... but at least it’s keeping things interesting.

  The roar of the crowd filled the arena, echoing off the concrete walls like a living thing. I stood at the starting line, stretching my arms behind my head and doing a few quick leg shakes to stay loose.

  I have two more matches until the real fun begins. I glanced at the digital countdown hovering above the arena entrance, ten seconds to start. The announcer’s voice boomed overhead, hyping up the crowd about the “unbeatable underdog” facing his last round of the first stage.

  I smirked. Underdog? If only they knew how easy this was about to be.

  After everything Chronos drilled into me, this whole thing felt like a warm-up. I was practically bouncing on my feet from how easy the previous rounds had been. My senses were sharper than ever, instincts honed to a ridiculous level. This isn’t a challenge, it’s a victory lap.

  The buzzer blared, and the gates opened, revealing the sprawling urban setup in front of me. Winding alleys, crumbling buildings, and scattered obstacles designed to trip me up or slow me down. A second gate across the arena opened as well, and that’s when I saw him, my pursuer.

  Broad-shouldered, lean build, eyes like a hawk. His presence screamed predator. I couldn’t help the grin that stretched across my face. Finally, someone who might be fun.

  The announcer’s voice echoed overhead.

  “For this gauntlet, our contestant must survive for five minutes while being pursued by an expert tracker! If caught, it’s an instant loss. Let the chase begin!”

  The clock started ticking, and I didn’t wait for him to make a move. I bolted forward, weaving through the first alleyway with quick, light steps. I could hear him giving chase immediately, footfalls fast and relentless, keeping pace but not closing in. Smart. He was keeping me in sight without wasting energy.

  I twisted through a narrow gap between two crumbling buildings and heard the crunch of debris behind me. He was sticking close, but not enough to get a hand on me. I picked up speed, springing off a rusted pipe to leap onto a low roof, then dropping to the other side without a sound.

  When I landed, I rolled to absorb the impact and listened. Nothing. Had I lost him?

  A shadow shifted to my left. Instincts screamed at me to move, and I ducked just in time as a metal pipe whipped past my head, grazing my ear. I shot back to my feet, twisting to see him crouched on the ledge above, eyes locked onto me like a bird of prey.

  I grinned, "Almost got me.”

  He didn’t answer, just jumped down without hesitation, forcing me to bolt before he could close the gap. I zigzagged through a cluster of abandoned cars, vaulting over hoods and sliding under open windows. He followed with the same precision, barely losing ground.

  The clock ticked down. Four minutes left.

  I dipped into an old warehouse, darting through rusted support beams and smashed crates. The pursuer moved like a ghost, always right on my heels. I could feel his presence almost breathing down my neck.

  I spotted a hanging chain and leapt, grabbing it and using the momentum to swing myself up onto a higher platform. I landed in a crouch, barely making a sound, and peered down.

  He entered the warehouse, moving cautiously now. Smart move. His gaze scanned the area, sharp and focused. I stifled a chuckle. Time to make him sweat.

  Grabbing a loose chunk of metal, I tossed it to the far side of the building, where it clattered loudly. The pursuer immediately snapped his head in that direction and darted off. I dropped silently to the ground and slipped out the back entrance, picking up speed again.

  Three minutes left.

  Back on the streets, I made sure to put more distance between us, scaling another set of low rooftops to stay out of sight. I could hear him circling back, clearly realizing he’d been baited.

  Two minutes.

  I doubled back around, keeping low to the ground and slipping into an alley filled with stacked crates. I crouched behind one, controlling my breathing to keep quiet. His footsteps echoed nearby, and I could feel his presence on the other side of the alley wall.

  One minute left.

  I dared a glance over the crates, spotting him scanning the area, clearly agitated. My lips curled into a smirk. Too slow.

  Thirty seconds.

  He darted off down another path, convinced I had circled back toward the starting area. I remained hidden, just biding my time.

  The horn blared, signaling the end of the match.

  The announcer’s voice boomed.

  “Victory! Raiden Alaric has successfully evaded his pursuer! Unbelievable maneuvering and flawless instinct!”

  I stood up, dusting off my clothes, and gave the crowd a cocky wave. The pursuer returned, clearly annoyed but giving me a respectful nod.

  Before I could head out, one of the coordinators hopped down from the scaffolding above. The guy dropped at least twenty feet, hitting the ground with enough force that the concrete cracked beneath his feet. He just shrugged it off like it was nothing, adjusting his headset like he hadn’t just made a crater.

  He looked me over and gave a smirk, raising his microphone to his mouth as he roared to the crowd.

  “Ladies and gentlemen! Can you believe it? Raiden Alaric has done it again, outmaneuvering his pursuer with flawless precision!” The audience erupted, and the guy gave me an approving nod, "Impressive, kid. You’re making it look way too easy.”

  I just shrugged, smirking back, "Guess they’ll have to make it harder.”

  He let out a booming laugh that echoed through the arena, "Funny you say that! Because you’re being offered a BONUS ROUND!”

  The crowd went wild, and I raised an eyebrow. “Bonus round? What’s the catch?”

  He gestured toward one of the massive screens, and bold letters flashed across it:

  [BONUS ROUND: DRONE ONSLAUGHT]

  Survive a squad of attack drones for sixty seconds. Failure to evade results in disqualification from the guaranteed pass.

  He grinned and swung the microphone back to his mouth, " Win the bonus round, skip the final round of the prelims. The best part, get a single-use ticket to pick anyone you want to have a 1v1 with. So what do you say, kid? You got the guts to take it on? Or are you gonna play it safe?”

  I couldn’t help but grin, giving him a thumbs up, "Bring it on.”

  The crowd erupted again, and the coordinator gave me a nod, clearly enjoying the chaos. “Arena’s been prepped. Good luck.”

  I moved to the center, rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck. The arena shifted, platforms rising from the ground, creating obstacles and barriers at odd angles. Then I heard it, a faint buzzing noise, like angry hornets swarming overhead. I glanced up and saw them, drones descending in a swarm, each marked with a targeting symbol.

  I didn’t need to be told twice. The horn blared, and they opened fire, paint rounds buzzing through the air.

  I felt it, a subtle hum in the air just before they fired. I rolled sideways, springing to my feet and backflipping over a burst of rounds. The paintballs whizzed past me, each one giving off a barely audible whip as they cut through the air.

  Gotcha.

  Grabbing a piece of debris, I hurled it at one of the drones, knocking it out of the sky. The remaining drones adjusted, rotating to target me from different angles. I didn’t slow down, just kept moving, slipping between their shots, spinning and sliding to maintain momentum.

  One swooped in low, and I felt that slight vibration in the air as it lined up the shot. I dipped low and sprang upward, grabbing the drone by the arm and swinging it into another. Both hit the ground with a satisfying crunch.

  Thirty seconds left.

  The buzzing picked up, more aggressive now as the remaining drones moved in a coordinated pattern. I shifted my stance, listening carefully, and heard the faintest pop from one of the drones. Without even looking, I ducked, feeling the paint round zip past my shoulder.

  Ten seconds left.

  The last three drones tried to surround me, the buzzing growing louder as they closed in. I shot forward, closing the distance before they could react. I grabbed the nearest one and flung it at the other two, watching them all crash into the ground in a heap of broken parts.

  The horn sounded, and the crowd erupted.

  The coordinator’s voice came over the speakers. “Bonus round complete! Rai Alaric secures his spot in the final stage!”

  I gave a lazy salute, smirking up at the remaining functional drones still hovering in standby mode. “Too easy.”