NB: Duplicate Jayden will be referred to as 2 to avoid confusion.
It was evening, and Sarah and Luke were heading back from the meeting just as 2 was heading out.
A warm orange glow stretched across the sky, the sun sinking low and painting the clouds in soft streaks of gold and crimson.
2 went out to buy a mana seal in case he absorbed too much mana and attracted unwanted attention.
"I haven't come out of the Chamber of Time by now… it's already getting late.
But I can feel that I've absorbed more mana than before. I hope nothing's wrong," 2 muttered as he stared at the sky, the last rays of daylight washing over his face.
"Well, what's the worst that could happen? I can feel myself getting stronger," he concluded, heading toward the booth where magical accessories were sold.
He bought from a nice old lady who was about to close up for the day.
"Thank you. Goodnight," he said politely as he left with a mana-limiting seal—one that only reduced mana by fifteen percent, unlike Fantasy's version which cut it precisely in half.
As he walked back home, he passed a dimly lit junction of town—the place rumored to shelter hoodlums, bandits, thieves… every undesirable kind of person.
"What better way to test how strong I've gotten since afternoon? I feel more than a little stronger, and what better way to test that out than with a couple of criminals?"
He slipped deeper into the alleyways, the light fading behind him. The air smelled of damp trash and old smoke, and the narrow, crooked streets were littered with broken crates and discarded bottles.
Finally, he reached the worst part of Avarice—the place where scum and criminals who evaded prison roamed freely in the shadows.
"Where are they… where… aha. Found some." 2 smiled as he approached exactly what he was looking for, as five thieves stepped into the alley, surrounding him.
"Loot him. Kill him if you want. If he looks rich, we'll ransom him," the tallest one, probably the leader, barked.
"Break," 2 whispered.
Hairline fractures of light raced across his body and cracked away like shattered glass.
The first man rushed from behind with a knife.
2 turned slowly, and for a second, his eyes widened—everything moved slower, clearer.
Red marks appeared across the man's body, highlighting every perfect counterattack spot.
"That's new… a breakthrough in the Chamber of Time?" 2 wondered.
Just as the knife reached his chest, 2 grabbed it with his left hand, yanked it away effortlessly, and drove a quick jab into the attacker's chest.
The man flew backward into a pile of crates with a crash.
"That felt weaker than expected… and it's cramped here," 2 complained, glancing around the narrow alley.
"Watch out!!" a voice shouted.
Before 2 could turn, a white glowing hand crashed down, launching all remaining thieves into the air and slamming them back to the ground.
None of them rose again as they we're knocked out immediately.
2 looked up, irritated that someone interrupted his little test run.
Standing on a rooftop was a young man who leapt down and landed lightly in front of 2.
The light breeze fluttered his rainbow-colored hair.
2's jaw dropped.
"Kyrian Xelix… you're him, right?" he said, eyes sparkling.
Kyrian—champion of the last Mages and Sword Competition four years ago—stood at five foot nine with brown eyes and a perfect person kind of aura.
He was usually described by people as a main-character right out of a web-novel.
"Yes, I'm Kyrian Xelix. And you're Jayden Reginald, right?"
"Yes! I'm a big fan—I look up to you!" 2 said, almost squealing.
It was after Kyrian's final match—after saying five words—that Jayden had admired him ever since.
Kyrian's expression hardened.
"Do you know why I came to see you, Jayden?"
"No, not at all… sir," 2 replied too formally.
"You can drop the formality. I came to see what the teachers placed their trust in as their trump card. But honestly"—Kyrian leapt back, creating distance, his mana radiating like heat from a fire—
"I'm disappointed. So, Jayden Reginald… I want to see exactly what they're hoping for. Prove you can bring victory to mages nationwide."
"You probably know my abilities," Kyrian continued. "Absorption of different mana types, and using different people's abilities consecutively. I don't need you to win—just show me your best."
2 sighed.
"I think I get the saying now—'never meet your heroes.' They just turn out to be real jerks. Whatever. Let's get this over with.
Show me how strong the famous Kyrian Xelix is. And don't cancel the fight too early because you're in pain."
Kyrian smiled.
A massive golden dragon materialized above 2, lightning crackling along its scales before it fired blast after blast at him.
2 sidestepped every bolt, sparks snapping inches from his face.
"You want to see what I can do? Watch closely."
Lines shot from 2's hand, latching onto the dragon. He sprang upward above the dragon, the moonlight dazzling on him, fist blazing with lightning, and punched straight into the dragon's head.
It exploded into particles of golden light, sending a thunderous shockwave that rattled rooftops and blasted debris down the street.
Kyrian reacted immediately, launching multiple fire blasts. 2 dodged most—but one slammed into him, pushing him back.
Before he could regain balance, a giant white magic hand seized him, swung him brutally across the alley, lifted him, and smashed him into the ground.
Countless white fists hammered him relentlessly until he burst outward with a mana explosion—only to have his feet instantly frozen in ice.
Kyrian's punch followed, sending him crashing through a wall.
Residents fled the area in panic.
"What did they see in you?! You're not even that strong," Kyrian mocked.
"He's strong, strong enough to withstand that without fainting, but as ling as Kevin Dominic is participating in this tournament, he cant win with this level of power. Maybe I should have come earlier and trained the boy but there's nothing I can do now.
His thoughts were interrupted as 2 walked out of the wall calmly as if nothing ever happened.
"You're really a son of a bitch, y'know that… Any more damage and I would've faded away. I was trying to fight handicapped since a clone can't use full power, but screw that.
Let's end this."
2's voice shook with anger.
Kyrian was confused with what 2 meant by clone but he didn't have the luxury to think it through as 2 continued.
"Get ready. I'm about to one-shot you. Scream if you're about to die—if not, I may not be able to stop in time.
"Eyes of the Gods."
A demonic voice echoed:
"You have angered the strongest one. Atone with your life."
The sky lost all light. Darkness swallowed the alley and light couldn't penetrate through the darkness.
Mana burst outward in violent waves as 2 vanished.
Kyrian tried to leap back, instincts screaming danger—but the ground beneath him liquefied into quicksand, trapping his feet.
2 punched him free from the trap—then the lines erupted from 2's body, dragging Kyrian close.
2 greeted him with a barrage of punches that ended with one final hit that launched Kyrian into a wall.
"Ten Step Destruction."
"First step."
Kyrian tried to stand, but a crushing weight pressed onto his back.
"Second step."
"Third step."
"Fourth step."
2 walked slowly toward him, each step heavier, darker, more suffocating—an eerie pleasure flickering in his eyes.
"Fifth step."
"What is this…What is this power? Is this the power of a sixteen year old?"
"Sixth step."
Kyrian collapsed fully, unable to move.
He forced his head up. Jayden's eyes were wild—inhuman.
He remembered the warning.
His pride shouted at him not to beg—not to scream for help from someone four years younger.
But—
"Seventh step."
The pressure hit like an invisible mountain.
Kyrian screamed—
A scream of agony and immense pain.
A scream begging for mercy.
A scream fueled by pure survival instinct.
That scream saved two lives that night,
Jayden's and Kyrian's.
The skill vanished instantly.
2 rushed to him, panic in his expression.
This was the second time something like this had happened. The second time he had lost control.
He knelt and began healing Kyrian slowly.
Kyrian lay breathless and shaken.
"So… the fight's over, right?" 2 joked weakly.
Kyrian turned his head to meet his eyes.
"Please… I'm begging you—don't ever use that in the tournament. Not on anyone."
He understood now.
Any other sixteen-year-old—perhaps even an adult—would have been traumatized facing whatever 2 had just become.
"There's no doubt about it now… we're winning this tournament," Kyrian breathed happily.
"Obviously. After all, I am the strongest one." 2 smirked.
"I remember saying that too when I won," Kyrian chuckled softly.
"Duh, that's the reason I looked up to you."
"Now let's go win this tournament," they said together as 2 helped Kyrian up .