---
The ashes of ideals still lingered in the air, the sky suffused with a deep red hue. The wind howled through the hills, a symphony of sorrow, cutting through the dark crimson trunks of trees, slipping through cracks in the rocks, and scattering the bloodied dust from the relentless march of battle. Two versions of Sacium stood face to face, silent, their gazes locked in mutual respect and determination, like two invincible warriors.
And then, they clashed again.
The younger Sacium leaped into the air, his steps twisting like a coiled spring, his eyes burning with fire. His fist shot towards the opponent's throat — a blow so powerful it tore through the air, creating a vortex of red. But the older Sacium had vanished in that instant — not dodging, but slipping through like water, his feet barely grazing the ground, leaving behind a smeared red streak as though reality itself had been sliced.
A counter-spin from the older Sacium, graceful yet precise, not aimed at the body, but at the rhythm of the younger Sacium's fighting flow. A seemingly simple leg sweep sent the younger Sacium off balance in midair. But he did not fall. His reverse kick in midair was like a step in nothingness, twisting 360 degrees before landing with a heel strike as powerful as a hammer smashing stone.
The earth cracked beneath them.
The older Sacium remained where he stood, his hands low in defense, his back slightly arched, his eyes not filled with caution, but with yearning. Not to win — but to witness his opponent burn brighter still. And the younger Sacium understood.
No words were needed. Just a grit of teeth — the younger Sacium swung his fists in rapid succession, each blow faster than the last — one punch not yet landed before the next was on its way, each strike ripping through the air with shockwaves, forcing the older Sacium to constantly dodge, parry, twist, and glide under the perfect angles of a dance honed through a thousand rehearsals.
They burned.
Suddenly, the older Sacium slid back, then... counterattacked.
A strike not fueled by speed, but precision, an uppercut aimed at the younger Sacium's chin, stopping just millimeters from his skin — the wind from the punch itself caused the blood on the younger Sacium's cheek to splatter lightly. The younger Sacium recoiled, trying to block, but the older Sacium's forearm slid under his, lifting him up, spinning him around — locking his shoulder — before releasing immediately.
A lesson, nothing more.
Both of them leaped backward, gasping for air. The ground around them seemed to have been torn asunder by the relentless combat, stones shattered, tree trunks sliced clean through by shockwaves of air, their forms painted in the deep red hue of blood.
The sky remained red. The sounds of "whips", "hisses", and "roars" as the air bent under the force of their punches filled the air without end. Each movement of theirs defied the limitations of human vision — what remained were only echoes, afterimages, and the burning dust in the air.
No one had yet landed a blow.
But every detail spoke: this was not a fight to win, but a fight to ignite the soul. To remind one Sacium that there was still a long road ahead... and the person before him was the light that led the way, even if it burned unbearably.
The two Saciums clashed once more, like two fractured mirrors of the same soul, colliding in the suspended moment of the universe.
No more shouting. No more thinking.
Only will — raw, burning, absolute.
The younger Sacium, with eyes alight and a heart unyielding, roared like a beast. His arm glowed with golden energy, radiating heat like molten lava.
On the other hand, the older Sacium stood cold and terrifying. His arm was not ablaze, but steady, still, like a blade forged over a thousand fires — sharp, precise, and ruthless.
They collided—
"BOOM!!"
Everything stopped.
Their fists met in midair. A shockwave expanded in all directions, devouring all sound, all color. The air shattered into pieces like broken glass.
And then—
The younger Sacium's arm trembled.
A faint crack echoed through the silent world.
The shoulder joint popped out of place.
His arm shattered like winter ice crushed underfoot.
Each broken bone rang like a death bell for innocence.
"CRACK!"
The arm exploded like a ceramic statue struck straight through the heart.
Muscle tore, blood sprayed, shards of bone flew through the air like a burst of bloody fireworks.
The younger Sacium's eyes widened. But he did not retreat. Even as his arm was mangled beyond recognition, he pressed forward, keeping the trajectory of his punch, as if hoping to surpass himself with one last effort.
The older Sacium merely raised an eyebrow. In his eyes, there was no hatred.
Only a cruel whisper.
Sacium (Older): You are too weak. And I hate it.
Suddenly, the older Sacium's body began to heal rapidly.
Sacium (Older): 80% to disable. 90% to disable and regenerate! Good luck, my past self, and thank you for showing me how determined I once was.
The older Sacium collapsed to the ground and phased through it. He noclipped and vanished.
Helen suddenly felt her strength increase by 540 times, and then the Sacium, now resembling the one who had disappeared, healed rapidly. When he was fully recovered, she felt normal again.
"Huh? What just happened? What was that power?" she thought.
Helen was disoriented, then she heard Ryan's voice.
The group had returned, and everything had happened so quickly, the adrenaline so high that now Helen was only starting to feel the pain from her shattered forearm, twisted back.
She struggled to piece together the chaotic memories, but her subconscious was scrambled by the adrenaline. The last image she remembered was the older Sacium's face looking down at her as she fell — and in her panicked mind, she associated the pain with that face.
At that moment, the older Sacium had crawled up, and that was the slowest part, so it was all Helen could see and remember.
Ryan: Helen!
Ryan rushed to her side, kneeling beside her. He winced when he saw the state of her left arm.
Ryan: What happened? Who did this?
Not just Ryan, but the whole group asked her, bombarding her with questions. The constant influx of information overwhelmed her, and she sat there silent. All she could remember was Sacium's face.
Helen looked at Sacium, then fainted.
Helen dreamt again, this time of the creature "Wrath" torturing her, rewinding to the moments she was crushed and her arm snapped. She dreamt of the older Sacium killing her. She dreamt of everyone looking at Sacium with hatred, with disdain.
She jolted awake, finding herself surrounded by what looked like a classroom.
"Am I back?"
Suddenly, a hand rested on her shoulder.
Jesse: You're awake! How do you feel?
Jesse's concerned tone offered her some comfort, but then Helen felt a sharp pain in her arm, now in a cast.
Jesse spoke urgently.
Jesse: What did Sacium do to you? What was his power? How does it work?...
She pressed, talking nonstop, causing Helen, who had just recovered, to be overwhelmed by the information again.
"Why is Jesse so eager to know all this? Is it just curiosity? Or is there another reason?" Helen wondered.
Jesse seemed to notice Helen was overloaded and stopped, her concerned expression returning.
Jesse: Ah, sorry... I shouldn't have asked so much when you're still recovering... But I still need to tell you.
Suddenly, Jesse's tone turned bitter.
Jesse: Sacium... his power stats are truly abnormal!
Helen: What do you mean?
Sacium
Hp: 10000/10000
Stats:
Strength: 6000
Endurance: 8000
Speed: 400 km/h
IQ: 150
Helen listened in shock.
Helen: What are these stats?
???: Really now~ he's like a monster~. Poor you for having to face him.
From the shadows, Rose stepped forward with a mocking tone.
Rose: Ryan isolated him! Haiz~, after all, they're best friends, he just couldn't accept it even though everyone advised kicking him out to keep the group safe...
Helen pondered, deep in thought. She didn't understand her feelings right now. She was afraid of Sacium.
Helen: So... what is the group doing?
Rose: Well, they're training after hearing about Sacium's insane stats. They're training right now.
Helen: Training, huh... No one got hurt while I was unconscious, right?
Jesse: Don't worry! They're fine!
Helen sighed in relief, but then she tried to stand up. Jesse immediately stopped her.
Jesse: Don't move, you're not fully healed yet!
Helen stubbornly stood up.
Helen: Don't stop me!
Helen stood up, and Jesse reluctantly led her away.
---