The forest blurred around me, each pounding step a drumbeat of desperation. My sister’s muffled cries cut through the wind, igniting a fire in my chest. The bandit who’d taken her was close, and I wasn’t going to stop until she was safe. No pain, no exhaustion, no fear—nothing else mattered.

Ki surged within me, coursing through my veins like liquid power. It pushed my body beyond its limits. At ten years old, my frame wasn’t built for this kind of power. I could only push my 12 year old body so far until the pain appeared.

I forced my focus inward, shutting out the thundering of my heart. Ki wasn’t just a power booster—it was the very essence of life that flowed through every living being. It was strange how few people knew about it, let alone how to control it and hide it. I could feel it pulsing all around me, like invisible threads connecting us all.

The distance was no challenge. The moment I tuned in, I felt the presence of others. About half a mile ahead, there was one strong, steady ki signature. It belonged to a man—his power clear and defined. A second, fainter signature hovered nearby. That had to be my sister, her energy soft yet unmistakable, like a flame hidden behind a veil of smoke.

Another signature, distinct but weaker, flickered in the distance, just 300 feet behind them. It belonged to the carriage driver—his ki far less refined, but no less real. The pattern of their energies was clear. The locations were set.

I sharpened my senses, pushing my awareness deeper into the flow of Ki, piecing the landscape together like a puzzle, every detail vivid and undeniable.

He’s close to the wagon. No time to hold back.

I slammed through the barriers I’d carefully built around my power, letting ki flood my system.

Times four.

The forest floor cracked under my feet as I sprinted, faster now, closing the distance. My breath burned, but I welcomed the ache. Every second counted.

The wagon came into view, rattling along the uneven forest trail. The bandit glanced back, alerted by the driver’s frantic shout. His face twisted in panic as he saw me barreling toward him. A flick of my wrist sent a blade of water slicing through the wagon’s hitch, the sharp crack of wood splitting the air. The horse reared and bolted, dragging the driver into the trees.

The bandit swore, tightening his grip on my sister. But before I could close the gap, a gust of wind slammed into me like a hammer. I hit the ground hard, the impact stealing the air from my lungs.

I rolled, coughing, as the bandit stepped forward. His hand hovered in the air, swirling with power. My sister no where in sight.

“A wind mage,” I muttered, spitting dirt. Of course it couldn’t be easy.

The bandit grinned, confidence radiating off him. “Cute trick, kid. But you’re out of your depth.”

His hand shot forward, and a blade of compressed wind screamed toward me. I ducked, the attack cleaving through the trees behind me like a knife. Splinters rained down as the trunks toppled.

He’s smart. Baiting me with the first strike to land the second.

He whipped his hand through the air, and a gust of wind rushed at me, distorting the space behind it. I barely had time to react before his fist slammed into my gut, the impact like a hammer striking steel.

He used the distortion of his wind spell to sneak attack me! He seems very calculated, so his weakness most likely lies in chaos. I will have to catch him off guard.

Pain exploded through my body, and I staggered, my vision blurring for a second. But I wasn’t out—not yet.

I gritted my teeth, forcing myself upright. My hands moved instinctively. The air around me crackled as I summoned water, weaving it into a lasso. With a snap, it shot forward and wrapped around his left ankle, yanking him off balance. He gasped, his eyes wide with surprise.

I didn’t hesitate. A blade of water sliced through the air, sharp and deadly. It caught him across his left arm, and he screamed, a deep, guttural sound that sent a chill down my spine. His skin split, blood pouring from the wound as he staggered back.

But pain only fueled his rage. His hands surged with energy, and with a roar, he unleashed a torrent of wind that slammed into me like a wall. The force sent me flying backwards, crashing to the ground hard. My water whip shattered in an instant, scattering into droplets that evaporated in the wind.

I pushed myself to my feet, blood dripping from my lip, and met his furious gaze. He was breathing heavily, his body twitching with the need to strike again. But I could see the doubt in his eyes—the hesitation beneath the anger. He’d felt my power. He knew I wasn’t just another opponent to brush aside.

But it wasn’t enough yet. I wasn’t finished.

Another gust whipped toward me, but I was already moving, darting in a wide arc around him. My mind raced, calculating. He was stronger than me—at least for now. I needed to outthink him.

Bandit’s POV

“Damn brat.” I snarled, hurling another blast of wind. He dodged again, his movements too quick, too precise. It didn’t make sense. He was just a kid—small, wiry, no match for someone like me.

But no matter how much I poured into my attacks, he stayed ahead. Faster than the boss. Faster than anyone I’d fought. My frustration mounted as he darted through the trees, a blur I couldn’t pin down.

My wind blades cut through the air, each one sharper than the last, but none of them found their mark. He was too fast, too precise, slipping past each attack with a fluidity that made me feel like I was moving through molasses. I could feel my mana draining, the familiar burn in my chest spreading with every failed strike. Panic gnawed at the edges of my mind. I needed to land a hit, to stop him before I ran out of strength. But the more I attacked, the more he seemed to dodge. He wasn’t just defending; he was toying with me.

Then, without warning, he stopped.

For a moment, everything went still. The wind around us paused, the air thick with the weight of the silence. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat echoing in my ears. Was this it? Had I finally pushed him to his limit?

I didn’t trust it.

I clenched my fists, preparing for another strike, but he remained motionless. His eyes locked onto mine, dark and unwavering. There was something dangerous in his stillness, like a predator waiting for its moment.

The kid stood across from me, chest heaving, a smirk tugging at his lips. Not the panicked look of prey. No, this was worse—a predator’s smile.

I gritted my teeth, narrowing my eyes. “What’s so funny, runt?” I spat, trying to bury the unease gnawing at my gut. “Tired already? Good. I’ll make this quick. Don’t worry about your sister. She’ll fetch a fine price.”

His smirk widened, the coldness in his eyes digging deeper. “You won’t live to see it.”

Something shifted in the air—subtle at first, but then it hit me like a gut punch. I looked around, eyes darting to the trees, the shadows. I didn’t see anything... but I felt it.

The moment my focus locked on the orbs, I realized what he’d done. Hundreds of them—shimmering, faintly glowing, hanging in the air like silent sentinels. Water mana. They were everywhere. The entire damn forest was laced with them.

“What the hell is this?” My voice cracked as panic surged. It wasn’t just the sight of the orbs, it was the pulse in the air—something felt... wrong.

The kid didn’t answer. He just crossed his arms, leaning back with a grin that didn’t fade. “Hellzone Grenade.”

Nikolai Nordhil:

I thrust my arms forward, sending the orbs hurtling toward him shaping into a storm of spears. His eyes widened in fear as he raised a wind barrier, the translucent shield shimmering around him.

The first wave struck, splintering on impact but not breaking through. I clenched my fists, forcing more mana into the attack. Each spear that slammed into the barrier sent ripples through the air, draining him bit by bit. His stance faltered, sweat beading on his forehead.

Nearly all the spears had been launched at the wind barrier, but only one remained.

I wasn't worried though, this attack was not meant to kill him.

And then, with a deafening crack, the last spear shattered the shield.

Before he could recover, I was there standing right in front of him. He stumbled back, in shock that he had been caught so off guard.

“You’re finished,” I said, my voice low and steady.

“Wait,” he gasped, his hands raised. “You don’t have to—”

The words died in his throat as water surged around him, wrapping his body in a crushing sphere. He thrashed, but there was no escape. The currents tightened, squeezing the air from his lungs. His eyes bulged with terror, his final moments etched in desperation.

I held the sphere until his movements stilled. When it finally collapsed, his body hit the ground with a wet thud.

I stood there, my breath ragged, staring at him. He’d been scum, a kidnapper, and a killer. He deserved it.

My hand trembled as I released the last of my ki. The forest felt quiet now, too quiet. My gaze fell to my sister, huddled on the ground where he’d dropped her. She was unconscious, but alive.

I knelt beside her, my voice softer than I thought possible. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

I picked her up with my exhausted arms and carried her over my shoulder. The bandit's lifeless eyes stared up at me, and for a moment, a wave of guilt crashed over me.

In my past life, I'd fought and killed for money—it's just how things were. Now, the adrenaline was starting to fade, and the weight of what I just did pressed down on me. This was my first time taking a life in defense, not for sport. The brutality of the killings, the severed limbs, the drowned opponents, the mutilated bodies—these were things I'd never experienced before.

This world doesn’t forgive. Neither can I.

I stood, pulling her close, my arms trembling from exhaustion. The forest stretched out ahead, dark and endless, but we weren’t alone anymore. I wouldn’t let anything take her away from me again. Not now. Not ever.

There was a fire in my eyes, determination burning deep within me, stronger than any fear or uncertainty. I made a promise then, to protect her no matter what, to keep fighting until I could bring her somewhere safe.

I stood, lifting her in my arms. The forest stretched ahead, dark and endless, but we weren’t alone anymore. I wouldn’t let anything take her away again.

Not now. Not ever.