The bunker lights flickered wildly as Kai stepped into the chamber.
The air tightened around her like a coiled blade.
Her boots crunched against broken glass.
Her eyes locked onto Yin Lie with cold, sharp focus.
Behind Yin Lie—
Qin Mian trembled inside the containment cradle.
The cracks in the air still glowed faint blue.
Kai raised one hand, fingers spread.
"Move," she said.
"I won't say it twice."
Yin Lie didn't move.
He planted his feet.
Shoulders squared.
Eyes like silver steel.
"No," he said quietly.
"You're not touching her."
Kai's expression didn't change—but something in her eyes hardened.
"Then I'll move you."
The air around her exploded.
Kai's First Strike
Her nullification field snapped forward—
a sharp, invisible force that slammed into Yin Lie's chest like a truck.
BOOM—!
He flew backward, crashed into a metal cabinet, and fell to one knee.
Thorne screamed.
Chen Gu cursed under his breath.
Yin Lie pushed himself back up, coughing.
His ribs felt cracked.
His eyes watered.
Kai didn't give him time to recover.
She rushed forward, faster than a normal human—
her field pushing the air aside as she moved.
She swung a knife-hand strike toward his throat.
Yin Lie twisted—
WHAM
Her arm brushed his shoulder instead.
Pain shot through his body—her power was disrupting his balance, like she was cutting through his connection to his own abilities.
Kai flipped backward like a dancer, landing lightly.
"You're stronger than before," she said calmly.
"But nowhere near strong enough."
Yin Lie Strikes Back
Yin Lie wiped blood from his lip.
The wolf in him growled.
The ice calmed his breathing.
The Keystone showed Kai's movements before she made them.
He rushed forward.
He attacked low first—a sweeping kick targeting her ankle.
Kai stepped aside in a blur.
Yin Lie's knee snapped upward—aiming for her ribs.
She blocked with her forearm, but the force still pushed her back a step.
Yin Lie followed with a fist coated in thin frost—
swinging straight at her jaw.
Kai caught his wrist—
but the ice spread across her glove, cracking the fabric.
Her eyes widened.
She kicked him hard in the stomach.
THUD!
He slid backward across the floor, gasping for air.
His stomach burned.
He tasted blood.
But he grinned through it.
"You're getting slower," he said.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Don't flatter yourself."
Kai's Counterattack — Direct Hit
She launched her nullification field again—
but this time it was sharper, focused like a spear.
It hit Yin Lie square in the chest.
The impact slammed him against the glass chamber behind him.
Qin Mian cried out inside the dream, sensing the pain.
Yin Lie felt something crack inside him.
His vision blurred.
His knee buckled.
One arm went numb.
Kai walked toward him slowly, her hand raised again.
"Stay down," she said. "Don't make me break you."
Yin Lie forced himself to stand.
One breath.
Two breaths.
The wolf steadying his legs.
The ice freezing the pain.
The Keystone sharpening the world.
He moved.
Yin Lie's Second Wind — Hard Counter
He dashed forward, faster than before.
Kai's eyes widened—he was suddenly too close.
He threw a heavy punch toward her ribs.
She blocked—
but the impact still sent her sliding back.
He followed with a spinning backhand.
She ducked, but the frost from his arm brushed her cheek—
A thin line of blood appeared.
Kai froze.
She touched the cut.
Looked at the blood on her fingers.
Her eyes darkened.
"You drew blood," she said quietly.
"Nobody draws my blood."
Then she vanished.
Kai's Assault — The Breaking Point
She reappeared right behind him—
her field slicing toward the base of his skull.
Yin Lie spun—barely blocking with his left arm.
CRACK.
His wrist bent at an unnatural angle.
Pain shot up his arm.
He staggered back, nearly collapsing.
Kai's voice was ice.
"Stand down."
Yin Lie's voice was hoarse:
"Not… happening."
Kai moved again—
aiming a killing strike to his chest.
He couldn't dodge in time.
So he stepped into the blow.
The nullification field blasted him point-blank.
BOOOOM—!
He flew across the chamber, hit the wall, and slid down.
Blood dripped from his mouth.
His vision shook.
Chen Gu shouted, "Lie!!"
Thorne hid behind overturned machinery, shaking.
Kai lowered her hand.
"It's over."
Yin Lie's Last Stand — The Breakthrough
Yin Lie pushed himself up.
Barely.
His whole body screamed with pain.
His knees trembled.
His broken wrist hung useless.
But he stepped forward.
One step.
Another.
Kai's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Why are you still moving?"
Yin Lie looked at her through half-open eyes.
"Because she's waiting," he whispered.
"And you're not keeping me from her."
A cold burst gathered in his good hand.
Not ice.
Not wolf.
Not Keystone.
All three—
Together.
He struck.
A clean punch straight to Kai's ribs.
She blocked—
but the force went through her arm
and slammed into her side.
CRACK!
Kai coughed—
blood splattering onto the floor as she stumbled back several steps.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"You… broke one of my ribs."
Yin Lie staggered, almost falling.
"You hit me first."
Kai held her injured side and glared at him through the pain.
"This isn't over," she said, voice tight.
"But I can't fight like this."
She backed away slowly.
Her breathing rough.
Her movements stiff.
For the first time—
she looked like someone who understood she wasn't untouchable.
She looked at Qin Mian behind the glass.
"Whatever she is… whatever she becomes… we're already too late."
Then she turned and disappeared down the hallway, limping.
Aftermath
Yin Lie collapsed to one knee, breathing hard.
His vision swam.
His ribs burned.
His broken wrist throbbed.
Chen Gu rushed to him.
"Lie, stay still—your injuries—"
But Yin Lie shook his head.
He placed his good hand on the glass of Qin Mian's chamber.
"It's okay," he whispered.
Inside the dream, Qin Mian stared at him with wide eyes.
She had felt every blow.
"…you're hurt…"
she whispered, voice trembling.
Yin Lie smiled weakly.
"It's fine."
"…you fought for me…"
"Yes."
Her light glowed brighter.
The cracks in the air pulsed slowly.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Yin Lie whispered:
"I'd do it again."
And for the first time—
Qin Mian reached her hand out toward him.