The flare shot into the brught sky like a war signal. Its red glow washed over the arena's crumbling buildings, destroyd roads, and gnarled trees, marking the beginning of the decisive Battle Royale. From his elevated post, Captain Karu Arakizawa surveyed the field with steely eyes, but Rylen had his eyes only on Lucien—his black gaze unblinking as the young vessel of vengeance prepared to prove himself.
The First Ten Minutes:
Minute 1–5
Lucien sprinted into the fray, a bladelike motion cutting through dust and sunlight. The first target was a blond-haired recruit—he had a medium height, green eyes, whose suit generated kinetic shields and boosted his power by 100%. Lucien's enhanced reflexes let him close the distance in a mere second. He feinted left, prompting the shield to flicker then vanished to the right, grabbing the boy in a crushing suplex. Concrete screamed as they hit the ground; Lucien pinned him for his first point. (Lucien: 1 point)
Moments later, a small girl with black hair-and-blue eyes unleashed a concussive punch—her suit vibrating her molecules to create shockwaves to create devastating damage in the area. Lucien tensed, absorbing the strike head on, then retaliated with a brutal left hook that sent her flying five meters into a shattered lamppost. He pinned her without mercy and went on to the next. (Lucien: 2 points)
Minute 5–10
On the other side of the arena, Kagetsu and Ryu had their battle. Ryu's gravity–manipulation suit made him a walking juggernaut, while Kagetsu's Phantom Lotus Mk bent shadows to create illusions. For two minutes straight, they circled each other like dancers—Ryu's heavy footfalls collapsing the ground and even small buildings, Kagetsu phantoms darting around him. Finally, Kagetsu tricked Ryu with a double afterimage combo, slipped behind him, and executed a ground pin for his first point. (Kagetsu: 1 point)
Nearby, Ayumu claimed her first point against a novice recruit with uncanny calm, using her gravity field to pin him instantly without effort. (Ayumu: 1 point)
Lucien vs. Ryu:
After ten minutes of navigating the battlefield without encountering any other opponent, Lucien finally crossed paths with Ryu who had been calling Lucien out the other day. Ryu had managed to neutralize his negative point by pinning another novice recruit earlier. As they faced each other, Ryu smirked and taunted Lucien, "Ready to be humbled, little boy?"
Lucien remained silent, his eyes narrowing. Ryu lunged forward, his gravity suit amplifying his movements and making him faster. Lucien dodged the attack and deliverd a hard punch that connected with Ryu's jaw. Seizing the moment, Lucien activated his mind-reading ability, glimpsing Ryu's intent: to kill Lucien.
A surge of anger coursed through Lucien entire body, triggering a 500% boost in his super strength. He felt it and with a roar, he struck Ryu, sending him crashing through five buildings. Lucien pursued, pinning Ryu for five seconds and spitting on him afterwards. (Lucien: 3 points)
Ryu lay unconscious, prompting medics to evacuate him. An announcement echoed: "Ryu is disqualified and for you Lucien, you receive a warning for excessive force."
Lisa Hijemaja´s Strike:
Around the twenty-minute mark, Lucien got tired and catched his breath just as he glimpsed a flash of braided black hair. Lisa Hijemaja moved like a ghost. Her suit glowed with pale violet and blue color—Phase Destabilization—allowing her to shift her molecular structure and become intangible for 15 to 30 seconds.
She materialized behind a recruit trying to set a trap. With silent grace, she phased her hand through his armor, then slammed a solid fist into his spine as she rematerialized. The recruit crumbled on the ground, pinned beneath her knee for the five seconds she needed. (Lisa: 1 point)
Rylen's lips curved slightly. Lisa had shown both precision and cunning a threat to watch.
Lucien vs. Ayumu:
And now they were finally face to face, Lucien let his mind stretch out. Ayumu's thoughts were sharp, guarded—but not silent."I can't trust him… I have to win, he is suspicious."The words struck deeper than any punch he ever felt. Even now, after everything, she still saw him as a threat.As an enemy.
Lucien attacked Ayumu immediately. His enhanced strength propelling her 50 feet backwards. He attempted to use telekinesis to prevent her from moving, but Ayumu countered with a gravity field, anchoring herself and pulling Lucien toward her.
They exchanged several blows, Lucien's brute force against Ayumu's precise control. Eventually, Ayumu found an opening, pinning Lucien for five seconds. (Lucien: 2 points, Ayumu: 2 points)
Immediately after, Kisuke Naeme, a petite recruit with purple hair and black eyes, ambushed Ayumu. Utilizing his agility and super speed suit, he managed to pin her for five seconds to get his first point. (Kisuke: 1 point)
The Duel: Lucien vs. Kagetsu
By the thirty–minute mark Lucien had 2 points, leading the scoreboard with Ayumu. Yet he had promised himself a showdown with Kagetsu, and now, by drifting smoke and shattered glass, they found each other again.
Kagetsu stood beneath a burned-out brigde, arms folded. The purple glow of his suit's Neural Aim Assist flickered on his visor. "My friend Lucien," he called softly. "Ready for round two?"
Lucien exhaled, the roar of his heartbeat echoing in his skull. "I'm ready Kagetsu."
Phase 1: Testing the Waters (Minutes 31–35)
They approached each other with enormous speed. Kagetsu's suit casts twin shadows behind him, dancing like dark twins. Lucien landed a heavy left uppercut—Kagetsu vanished and reappeared behind Lucien, placing a gentle but precise palm strike to Lucien's ribs. Lucien screamed, summoned telekinesis to push Kagetsu 10 feet away, then sprinted forward with superhuman like speed.
Kagetsu vanished into the shadows again, reappearing on a bus. From there, he fired a silent dart—neurotoxin-tipped—aimed at Lucien's neck. Lucien twisted mid-air, the dart grazing his shoulder lightly. He landed, pain flaring; Kagetsu dropped down with a tornado kick. Lucien raised both of his arms, clashing forearms with Kagetsu's shin in a battle of force. Sparks of kinetic energy crackled. They both stumbled backwards.
Phase 2: Clash of Styles (Minutes 36–40)
Kagetsu's activated his Aether Dash —he blinked ten meters to Lucien's left and launched a barrage of twin vibro-daggers. Each blade sang as it cut air, but Lucien's telekinetic shield flared to life, deflecting them just in time. Lucien roared and jumped forward, seizing the twin daggers mid-flight, wrenching them mid-air. He spun with brutal grace, slashing a shallow gash across Kagetsu's arm and shoulder.
Kagetsu staggered but smiled, activating Neural Aim Assist again. His strikes became faster then ever—six pinpoint strikes aimed at Lucien's nerve clusters. Lucien stumbled and sat on his knees for a second, blood trickling from a precise wound in his side. He felt his vision blur, but his regeneration pulsed. He still didn´ t know how to use it—a dark-purple aura swirling through his veins, knitting flesh and bone.
Phase 3: The Turning Point (Minutes 41–48)
They fought across the ruined cityscape—through a half-collapsed corridor, around charred vehicles, and over shattered footbridges. Each exchange was a microcosm of power and precision. Lucien's brute force clashed with Kagetsu's martial finesse.
At one point, Kagetsu used Silent Flow to vanish completely—Lucien swung at empty air. Suddenly, a hand seized him by the collar, and Kagetsu's other hand pressed a plasma thread wire across Lucien's throat, tightening instantly. Lucien's vision darkened—he felt blood draining. With one final surge of will, he triggered a telekinetic overload, snapping the wire and sending Kagetsu flying backward into a broken column.
Kagetsu hit the ground but rolled to his feet. His visor glowed red, marking Lotus Execution ready. "This ends now," he whispered.
He lunged with blinding speed—Lucien braced for the final assault.
Phase 4: The Final Gambit (Minutes 49–55)
Kagetsu unleashed his final move Lotus Execution: five devastating hard strikes aimed at Lucien's pressure points. Each hit was surgical—twisting Lucien's arm, snapping his ribs, jarring his shoulder and breaking his jaw. Lucien screamed in pain but managed to grab Kagetsu's wrist on the fifth strike, locking his arm in place so Kagetsu couldn´t move.
They struggled, each refusing to yield. Lucien's eyes glowed with divine power as he summoned his regeneration and telekinesis in tandem—black energy enveloping him. He launched Kagetsu across almost the entire arena like a ragdoll. Kagetsu crashed through several buildings, debris raining down on him. Lucien charged across the broken streets.
Final Pin (Minute 56–60)
Breathing heavily, both warriors circled each other. Kagetsu's visor flickered with warning lights—his suit was nearing its operational limit for today. Lucien thanks to his regenaration healed from his injuries but he still covered with blood and had blurry vision.
They charged towards eachother
Lucien swung a desperate haymaker, his telekinetic grip lashing out at Kagetsu's legs—but Kagetsu blinked out of sight with Silent Flow, reappearing behind Lucien in less than a second
"Outplayed ya," he whispered.
Before Lucien could turn, Kagetsu's knee crashed into his back, staggering him. In one seamless motion, Kagetsu snaked his arms around Lucien's throat and shoulders, locking him in a devastating grip enhanced by his suit's strength channels.
Lucien gasped for air, struggling, muscles flaring, shadows leaking from his eyes—but Kagetsu held on strong. With a final spin, he threw Lucien crashing to the ground, back-first.
Dust burst around them.
Kagetsu sat on Lucien's back, pressing his forearm into the nape of his neck, forcing Lucien's limbs to the ground with precision. Blood from Lucien's nose spattered the pavement as he struggled—and failed—to rise.
"One… two…" Kagetsu counted.
Lucien thrashed once more, teeth bared, but his limbs refused to work with him.
"…three… four…"
His vision dimmed more and more.
"…five."
A bell chimed.
Pin Registered.
Lucien lay limp, dirt mixing with sweat and blood on his skin. Kagetsu released the chokehold and staggered back, wiping blood from his jaw. He looked down at Lucien—respect in his battered expression.
"You've improved," Kagetsu said quietly. "But not quite enough yet."
Lucien didn't reply. He was still conscious—but barely. Not broken. Just defeated.
Final Standings:
Captain Karu Arakizawa's voice echoed over the battlefield once again:
"The Battle Royale is concluded. The top five advancing to Week Four are:
Kagetsu Fushikado— 3 points
Ayumu Jagagiri — 2 points
Kisuke Naeme — 2 points
Lisa Hijemaja — 1 point
Lucien — 1 point
All others are out. Congratulations to the finalists of this years trial."
Lucien heard the names, but the words were distant.
He didn't care that he'd made the top five and went onto the next week.
He'd lost again.
And that stung more than any injury.