The pressure didn't ease.
It crushed.
Amir's knees trembled.
His breath slowed—
Not by choice.
"…this is your limit…" the figure said.
The wind twisted around him.
Heavy.
Restricting.
Like it was trying to force him down.
"…not yet…" Amir gritted.
The last creature moved.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Perfect.
It stepped forward—
And Amir felt it immediately.
No wasted motion.
No openings.
No hesitation.
"…this one's different…" he said.
"Yes."
"…it has learned."
"…from me…"
"Yes."
The creature attacked.
Amir moved—
Too predictable.
It countered instantly.
CLACK—
The impact knocked his stick aside—
A strike followed—
He barely blocked—
Pain shot through his arms.
"…I can't win like this…"
"No."
"…then what do I do?!"
"Stop fighting like yourself."
Amir froze.
"…what?"
"Everything you do…"
"…it learns."
The creature lunged again—
Amir reacted—
Again too late—
SLAM—
He hit the ground hard.
Air left his lungs.
"…Gah—!"
The figure watched.
Silent.
Waiting.
"…get up," the Anito said.
"…I'm trying…"
"No."
A pause.
"Stop trying."
"…what does that even mean—"
"Listen."
The wind shifted.
Different this time.
Not violent.
Not chaotic.
Flowing.
Amir's breathing slowed.
"…feel it…" the Anito said.
"…I don't have time—"
"You have no other choice."
The creature stepped closer.
Slow.
Certain.
Amir closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
The wind moved.
Around him.
Through him.
Not resisting.
Guiding.
"…don't force it…"
"…follow it…"
The creature struck.
Amir moved—
Not reacting—
Flowing.
The strike missed.
Barely.
"…that's it," the Anito said.
Amir's eyes snapped open.
Everything felt—
Clearer.
Slower.
Sharper.
"…again…" he breathed.
The creature attacked—
Amir stepped—
Perfect timing.
No hesitation.
His stick moved—
Light burst—
Not wild—
Controlled.
"Hangin na Hiwa…"
A pause—
"…Second Form."
The wind surged.
Not outward—
Inward.
Compressed.
Focused.
He struck.
CRACK—
The impact sent the creature flying.
It hit the ground—
Didn't rise.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Still.
Amir stood there.
Breathing hard.
But standing.
"…I did it…" he whispered.
"No."
"…what?"
"You survived."
The figure stepped forward.
Closer now.
Amir didn't move.
Didn't step back.
"…you changed," it said.
Its voice clearer now.
Less broken.
"…so did you," Amir replied.
A pause.
Then—
"…yes."
The air tightened.
Not hostile.
Not attacking.
Evaluating.
"…you're not ready," the figure said.
Amir exhaled.
"…I figured."
"…but you're no longer useless."
Amir smirked slightly.
"…high praise."
The figure tilted its head.
Then—
The world shifted.
The ground beneath them cracked—
The wind exploded outward—
And everything—
Collapsed.
Amir's vision blurred—
The pressure vanished—
The darkness broke—
And—
He was back.
The town.
The street.
The bodies.
The silence.
"…it's gone…" he said.
"No."
"…what?"
"It's watching from farther away."
Amir clenched his fist.
"…of course it is…"
The masked fighter stood nearby.
Watching him.
"…you changed," they said.
"…yeah…"
"…barely."
A pause.
"…you lived."
Amir let out a breath.
"…for now."
The wind moved again.
Normal.
Almost.
But not completely.
"…this isn't over…" Amir said.
"No."
"…it's just starting."
The Anito's voice came low:
"And now…"
"…you are part of it."
Amir looked ahead.
Toward the dark.
Toward what was coming.
And this time—
He didn't hesitate.