The air turned heavy.
Not from pressure.
Not from power.
From comparison.
Vixen stood still, her eyes locked onto Lira.
But now—
She wasn't just looking.
She was measuring.
"…I see everything now," Vixen whispered.
"…Your strength… your rhythm… your bonds…"
Kael stepped forward.
"…Don't listen to her—"
Vixen flicked her finger.
Something invisible struck him.
THUD.
Kael was sent crashing to the ground.
No explosion.
No visible force.
He gasped.
"…What… was that…?"
Shun rushed forward—
Only to freeze mid-step.
Her body locked.
"…My arm…" she muttered.
"…I can't move it…"
Eldarin tried to draw his sword—
But his grip failed.
"…It feels like… I'm already defeated…"
Lira frowned.
"…Weird."
Vixen smiled softly.
"…It's simple," she said.
"…I don't need to cut you."
She stepped forward.
"…I just make you less."
Kael tried to stand—
But his legs trembled.
Like the strength had been taken out of them.
No wounds.
No blood.
But his body felt broken.
Shun gritted her teeth.
"…She's not damaging us…"
"…She's lowering us…"
Vixen nodded.
"…Exactly."
Her gaze swept across them.
"…Why should you be strong…"
"…when I am not?"
The air pulsed.
Kael collapsed again.
Shun dropped to one knee.
Eldarin couldn't even lift his sword anymore.
Their bodies were intact—
But their existence felt weakened.
Lira stepped forward.
Unaffected.
"…You didn't change," Vixen noted.
Lira tilted her head.
"…I don't get it."
Vixen's smile twitched.
"…Of course you don't," she said.
"…You don't compare yourself to others."
Her eyes darkened.
"…That's why you're unbearable."
Suddenly—
Vixen moved.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
She struck Lira directly—
THUD.
Lira slid back slightly.
No damage.
But even she paused.
"…Oh," Lira said.
"…Heavy."
Kael looked up weakly.
"…Lira…"
"…Be careful…"
Shun clenched her jaw.
"…She's targeting your state, not your body…"
Vixen stood tall.
"…Everyone here is already beneath you," she said softly.
"…So I lowered them."
She pointed at Lira.
"…Now I'll lower you."
The air collapsed inward again.
A pressure—not physical—
But conceptual—
Pressed down on Lira.
For the first time—
Her knees bent slightly.
"…Oh," she said quietly.
Kael's eyes widened.
"…She's actually affecting her…!"
Vixen smiled.
"…You're not untouchable," she whispered.
"…You just haven't been compared properly."
Lira looked down at her hands.
At her gauntlets.
Then back at Vixen.
"…Annoying," she said again.
Her fists tightened.
Not with rage.
Not with panic.
But with something else.
Focus.
"…Stop it," she said simply.
Vixen laughed softly.
"…Make me."
The battlefield stood still.
Everyone injured.
But not a single drop of blood spilled.
Because this was not a battle of bodies.
It was a battle of worth.
And only one of them refused to measure it.
To Be Continued…