Black Cadillacs whizzed down the streets of Z City, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights on their lustrous surface. Somewhere in one of the cars sat Nemu Cryoson in furious silence, his burnt neck still stinging from Kai's searing grip.

  The once-smug heir of the V City Ice Clan clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his own palm. His icy blue eyes blazed with humiliation and rage.

  He slammed his fist against the leather seat, and the soldiers inside were startled by the sound. "Who the hell is that bastard!? Where did he come from?!"

  The soldiers exchanged worried glances. One of them hesitated, then said, "W-we don't know, sir."

  Nemu gritted his teeth. "Find out everything there is to know about him! I want his entire biography! Once I'm done with that nobody... I'm going to make that bastard regret ever interfering."

  The soldiers nodded stiffly, feeling the temperature drop within the Cadillac by several degrees.

  A soft humming sound charmed the sterile and dimly lit recovery chamber. The walls were lined with healing tanks, awash in a soothing green glow. Inside one of the tanks floated Pyrus' wounded body, suspended in a thick, green medicinal liquid, with an oxygen mask attached to his face.

  His arms were limp, his breathing slow, and the gashes across his chest were already beginning to heal- but four days would pass before he would be able to even think about fighting again.

  Kai Ciphera and Celine Cryoson stood in front of the tank, two onlookers gazing at their sick friend in silence. The beeping of the vitals monitor provided a soft echo in the empty room.

  At last, Celine broke the silence. "Thanks for helping us back there. Pyrus could have died without you."

  Kai exhaled loudly, putting his hands in his pockets. "No problem." His eyes flickered toward Pyrus. "The real problem is... how the hell is he going to beat that guy?"

  Celine's expression tightened. "That's what I'm worried about. According to what I've gathered, Nemu's Cryokinesis is already at Level 8.4. A true prodigy."

  Kai snickered. "8.4... Really?"

  Celine replied. "Yeah. But Pyrus is only at Level 3. Even if he trained and leveled up before the fight, it's not gonna make a difference."

  Kai cocked a smile. "Unless it's me."

  Celine gave him a look. "Not helping."

  Kai chuckled but quickly sobered up. "We got two options."

  Celine turned to him expectantly. "What is it?"

  Kai raised two fingers. "Plan A: training him like hell and pushing him to his limits under my supervision. Plan B: cheating the fight."

  Celine narrowed her eyes. "Cheating?"

  His smirk turned devious. "I never said I was going to play fair."

  Celine glared, warning flashing blue. "If you even think of giving him an Amp Pill, I'll fucking kill you."

  Kai sighed and raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "Oh, come on, I'm a friend, not a drug dealer."

  Four passed, and the healing tank had finally drained its brilliantly green liquid; Pyrus breathed his first deep breath outside it. His wounds had healed completely, yet a dull ache only reminded him of his close-to-dead experience at the hands of Nemu Cryoson.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  Nevertheless, the fire in him burned hotter now than ever before.

  Now, inside the Ice Clan Training Arena, the frozen ground beneath him bled an icy blue glow. The air was cold and crisp, but sweat had already dribbled from Pyrus' forehead. Across from him stood Kai, calm and composed, whose bright golden eyes scanned Pyrus's body like a predator analyzing its prey.

  Kai rolled his shoulders, limbering. "Alright. We're going with Plan A. I'll train you until you can't get up."

  Pyrus cracked his knuckles. "Bring it on."

  Kai smirked and lifted his fingertips. Immediately, the temperature plummeted, and icy blue energy crackled around him. Using his Ergokinesis, he disturbingly mimicked Cryokinesis.

  A mass of ice spikes rose out of the ground and aimed straight at Pyrus.

  With barely a narrow escape, Pyrus rolled away from Kai's advances. But another javelin-like, jagged-edged lance of frozen crystals shot toward him, and he called out his own ice, countering the attack, but the sheer force with which Kai unleashed proved too much, crushing his defenses into shatters.

  The next thing he knew, Kai was already behind him.

  An ugly, sharp kick to Pyrus's ribs sent him gliding against the icy floor. He groaned, holding himself, but managed to stand.

  Kai tilted his head to the side, unimpressed. "You're too slow. If I was Nemu, you'd be dead by now."

  Pyrus wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his lip and, without a word, charged once more, this time freezing hands and aiming a strike right at Kai's jaw. Just when the fist was inches away from connection, Kai vanished.

  A vicious axe kick smashed into Pyrus'shoulder from above, crashing him down onto both knees.

  "You're too predictable. You can't rely too much on your own ability against an opponent of a higher level."

  Pyrus gritted his teeth. "Then I'll stop holding back."

  "Oh? So you have been holding back?" Kai mocked.

  Pyrus clenched fists; the blue aura intensified. The density of his ice increased, and so did the sharpness. Firing himself to boost speed and close the gap, he launched a spinning leg kick encased in hardened ice.

  But even when Pyrus made a comeback, the energy from his attack was just absorbed by Kai's Energy Barrier.

  "What?!" Pyrus exclaimed in shock.

  "Not bad."

  Before he could finish, Kai twisted around and slammed his elbow into Pyrus' stomach. The impact caused Pyrus to be pushed away.

  Pyrus coughed, wheezed, and gagged, only to rise again. His whole body ached, but his spirit never wavered.

  Kai finally smiled, placing his hands in his pockets. "That's it for now. You've definitely improved."

  Pyrus sighed in relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Damn right, I have."

  "Now go meditate in the Mystic Array. It will help you level up while resting."

  Pyrus didn't argue. He walked to the lights and dazzling letters, sat, and closed his eyes, allowing the energy to flow inward.

  As Kai walked away, Celine approached. She smiled as she came closer to Pyrus, looking worried with her eyes. Leaving quietly, Kai smiled to himself as he walked out of the arena.

  Celine knelt beside Pyrus, her stare soothing as she gazed at his face. "You're trying too hard," she said.

  Pyrus chuckled weakly. "Really? Doesn't look like it..."

  Then she sighed and pulled out a white kerchief, drying the sweat and blood off his face. "You're reckless, you know that?"

  With a lopsided grin, Pyrus replied, "Yeah, but I am your kind of reckless, right?"

  Celine rolled her eyes, but in them danced the humor. "Shithead."

  They both laughed, forgetting the tension of battle for a moment.

  Outside the arena, Kai leaned against the wall, listening to all this.

  He smirked to himself sarcastically. "That kind of love will never find me."

  A bitter chuckle escaped him.

  "Guess I'm dying alone."