The clash was instant.
Elias's blade met Silas's clawed gauntlet in a crackle of distorted space, the impact sending tremors through the Abyssal floor. Kieran barely rolled aside in time as shockwaves tore through the chamber, ripping jagged gashes in the stone.
[Warning: Environmental stability compromised.]
[Suggested Action: Retreat.]
"No shit," Kieran muttered, pushing himself upright with one good arm.
But his gaze stayed locked on the battle before him.
Elias moved like a ghost with weight—every strike honed, efficient, brutal. Silas, by contrast, fought like a predator playing with its prey. His motions were elegant and cruel, laughing through Elias's calculated violence.
"You've grown slow," Silas taunted. "Training that boy dulled your edge."
Elias didn't reply—he simply drove his blade in a diagonal slash that tore through Silas's shoulder.
Black ichor hissed.
"Still quick enough," Elias said flatly.
Kieran's system flickered.
[System reboot: 57%...]
[New subroutine detected: Manual Override Access Breach]
[Do you wish to engage countermeasures? Y/N]
He hovered—then tapped Yes.
The world pulsed.
Suddenly, time slowed. Not stopped, not frozen—just stretched, like Kieran was watching through layered glass.
Silas turned toward him.
"Ah. You're adapting," he whispered, even as a distorted echo, like his voice was coming from inside Kieran's skull. "Let's test the upgrade."
He vanished.
Kieran barely dodged, instincts firing too late. Claws raked across his side, sending him tumbling.
[Damage sustained: Moderate.]
[Tactical Insight Engaged.]
Lines flickered across Kieran's vision. Weak points, movement patterns, probabilities. It hurt to look at—like his mind wasn't built to process that much input.
But he gritted his teeth. Used it.
As Silas lunged again, Kieran pivoted low, driving his elbow into a pressure node beneath the Collector's ribs.
Silas hissed. "Oh, I like this version."
Elias joined Kieran's side. "I told you not to engage."
"I didn't have a choice," Kieran growled.
"You always have a choice," Elias said, then stepped forward. "Now stay close. We end this together."
Kieran nodded.
And together, they moved.