—Elijah has grabbed one of Reid's threads!! —the commentator shouted—. How is it possible that he's not getting cut?!
Without wasting a single second, Elijah propelled himself forward.
His body slid along the thread with impossible precision, moving straight toward Reid.
Completely caught off guard, Reid reacted late. He pulled another thread and launched himself into the air, trying to gain distance… but this time it was different.
He no longer controlled the field.
He couldn't go down.
The entire arena had turned into a forest of invisible blades… and now Elijah was in the air too.
Chasing him.
I felt my pulse spike.
Because I could see them.
I could see every thread.
And I could see my brother moving through them as if they had always been his.
—What… what the hell is happening? —Mira murmured, unable to look away.
—He's using Reid's threads —I said, unable to hide the tension in my voice.
The three of them turned toward me.
—Even Reid cuts himself with his own threads —I continued—. That's why he uses some thicker ones to move… so he doesn't hurt himself.
I swallowed.
—And Elijah… is using those same ones.
—But… he can't see them —Tarin said, confused.
—In theory, no… —I replied.
Luca narrowed his eyes, watching the fight.
—Then he's feeling them… —he murmured—. He's reading the movement.
He smiled, impressed.
—Elijah is incredible.
I didn't know if he could see them, if he sensed them… or if he was simply reacting better than anyone else.
But one thing was clear.
My brother was on another level.
—Even so, Reid still has the advantage —Mira added, more serious—. He knows exactly where all his threads are. He can guide him straight into another trap.
And she was right.
Or at least, it seemed that way.
Because then Elijah did something unexpected.
He stopped chasing him directly.
He didn't stop… but he changed.
His gaze no longer just followed Reid's movements.
Now… he anticipated them.
He focused on where he was going to be.
On the next point.
On the next foothold.
And then—
he moved.
He landed right on the same thread Reid was about to use for support…
and cut it.
The thread vanished instantly.
For a second, both of them were suspended in the air.
The void beneath them… filled with razor-sharp threads.
But they reacted in time.
Both grabbed onto new threads before falling.
And then…
everything turned chaotic.
The fight changed.
It was no longer a chase.
It was a battle for control of the air.
Elijah cut the threads Reid tried to step on.
Reid created new ones at full speed to avoid falling.
One destroyed.
The other rebuilt.
Every movement could be the last.
Every mistake… a direct fall into defeat.
Or something worse.
It became a pure battle of speed.
Of reflexes.
Of instinct.
To see who was faster…
the one who cut,
or the one who created.
—What unbelievable speed!! This is incredible!! —the announcer shouted—. They're both moving through the air at an impossible speed! I've never seen anything like this!
—How is this possible, Elijah!? —Reid shouted as he moved from one thread to another, creating new ones frantically—. You can't even see them! I'm sure of it!
Elijah didn't answer.
Not a word.
He just kept advancing.
Cutting.
Getting closer.
Little by little, the space began to shrink.
Fewer threads.
Fewer escape routes.
Reid was becoming more and more cornered.
Until—
something changed.
Elijah was descending toward one of the threads to propel himself again…
but just before touching it—
it disappeared.
Reid had cut it.
For a second, Elijah was left in midair.
With no support.
Falling.
Reid smiled.
—Now…
My heart stopped.
But at the last instant, Elijah stretched to his absolute limit, pushing his body beyond what should have been possible. He even rotated the sword, using the blunt side as support—
and reached another thread.
He held on.
By centimeters.
—Elijah was about to fall onto the blades! He saved himself at the last second! —the announcer shouted.
—…Thank God… —I murmured, barely able to speak.
Elijah regained his balance.
And smiled.
—You almost got me… —he said calmly—. Good thing I was paying attention.
He locked eyes with Reid.
—Tell me… was that your last trump card?
Reid clicked his tongue.
He shook his head slowly.
—Who knows…
Elijah didn't insist.
He simply moved again.
Faster.
More precise.
Now he didn't hesitate.
He cut every thread with brutal efficiency.
One after another.
The air began to clear.
—Seven…
I murmured without realizing.
—Six…
—Five…
—Four…
Each cut sounded like a sentence.
Until—
only one remained.
A single thread.
Suspended over the void.
And on it… the two of them.
Face to face.
The silence in the amphitheater was absolute.
—Well, Elijah —Reid said, breathing heavier—. There's only one left… what are you going to do?
Elijah slightly raised his sword.
—Isn't it obvious?
And he lunged forward.
A direct thrust.
Precise.
Lethal.
Reid didn't block it.
He didn't dodge.
He jumped.
—And… he's fallen to the ground —Tarin said, confused—. Without a single scratch…
—What just happened? The entire field was supposed to be covered in cutting threads.
I thought so too.
Until I looked closely.
Reid had left a single opening.
A clean space, without a single thread.
A trap.
The only entrance was from above… and all he had to do was close it at the right moment to turn it into a deadly cage.
If Elijah fell there, he'd have no escape.
And the worst part…
was that Elijah knew it.
The moment Reid touched the ground, Elijah dove after him without hesitation.
Reid, as soon as he steadied himself, started moving his hands at incredible speed. His fingers trembled, creating threads nonstop, closing the gap faster and faster.
—He's not going to make it… —I murmured.
It was impossible.
The threads were appearing too fast.
The space was shrinking.
Smaller and smaller.
Narrower and narrower.
Until there was almost nothing left.
But then—
Elijah made a decision.
He didn't slow down.
He didn't hesitate.
He threw his sword.
Spinning through the air at full speed…
and it pierced Reid's hand.
—GH…!
His hand was completely immobilized.
But Reid didn't stop.
He gritted his teeth and kept creating threads with the other hand, pushing his magic to the limit.
There was almost no space left.
It was impossible to get in.
And yet—
Elijah dove.
Headfirst.
As if he were diving into water.
He passed through the last opening before it vanished completely.
Reid stepped back on instinct.
One step.
Enough.
One of his own threads brushed his back, opening a thin cut.
Elijah landed in front of him.
He stood up instantly.
Pulled the sword out of Reid's hand—
and placed it at his neck.
Absolute silence.
—This is over.
The amphitheater exploded.
Everyone stood up at once, shouting, clapping, completely unleashed.
—Elijah has cornered Reid!! He has no escape!! —the announcer roared, trying to be heard over the chaos.
In the middle of all that noise…
the two of them remained silent.
Elijah's sword stayed firm at Reid's neck.
Reid exhaled slowly… and smiled.
—Clearly… I'm still not at your level, Elijah —he said, a mix of exhaustion and admiration in his voice—. I guess you've beaten me again… just like when we were kids.
Elijah didn't move the sword, but his expression softened.
—You're right. I'm still better.
He paused for a moment.
—But this fight… I'll never forget it. You're strong, Reid. Much stronger than you think.
Reid let out a small laugh.
Then raised his voice.
—I surrender!
—Reid Thorne surrenders!! —the commentator announced— The victory goes to Elijah Draven!!
The stadium erupted again.
Even louder.
Shouts.
Applause.
Elijah's name echoing everywhere.
Reid shook his head, smiling.
—You better win the final.
Elijah lowered the sword and rested it on his shoulder.
—Don't worry. I will.
He looked around, observing the destroyed field… the threads still floating in the air.
—By the way… how do we get out of here?
Reid followed his gaze.
And couldn't help but laugh.
Elijah did the same.
Both of them burst out laughing in the middle of the field, surrounded by the remnants of their own battle.
As if, for a moment…
they were just two kids again.
Two friends.
My brother.
Had won.
And now…
he was just one step away from achieving his dream.