Akima and Tadashi head to the school dorms to rest for the next day.

  The next day…

  Akima: Time to see if LLCIS is any good in training…

  Zephyr: Everyone, today will be combat training only. We need to see where you all stand.

  Tadashi: Akima? You and me?

  Akima: Not today, Tadashi. I’m going with Ryker.

  Akima: Ryker… you in?

  Ryker: If it’s now, I’m ready.

  Akima and Ryker move to the training field. The assistant referee stands ready.

  Referee: Hajime!

  Ryker: Crystal Fragments.

  Projectiles are launched.

  Before they hit—

  Spikes burst from the ground, destroying everything.

  Akima keeps walking.

  Akima: You’ve noticed, right? You won’t see where it comes from.

  Ryker scans the ground… the air.

  Nothing.

  Ryker: …there’s no energy.

  Field control.

  Ryker: Terrain Fixation.

  Crystals rise, restricting space.

  Akima steps between them.

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  No reaction.

  Akima: Trying to trap me? Good idea… against someone ordinary.

  Suddenly—

  Akima: Shadow Dash.

  He vanishes.

  Appears at Ryker’s side.

  First impact.

  Akima: Black Punch.

  Ryker: Solid Shield.

  The impact cracks part of the shield.

  Ryker is thrown back.

  He gets up quickly.

  Ryker: If I trade blows… I lose.

  Akima: Took you long enough.

  Offensive attempt.

  Ryker forms a blade.

  Ryker: Crystal Weapon.

  He rushes forward.

  Akima watches.

  At the moment of attack—

  Spikes erupt from the ground.

  Ryker retreats.

  Akima: You fight well… but you’re playing in the dark.

  Area pressure.

  Ryker shatters a crystal.

  Ryker: Scattered Shards.

  Fragments spread everywhere.

  Akima stops.

  Some hit him.

  No real effect.

  Akima: That supposed to stop me?

  Response.

  Akima raises his hand.

  Akima: Thorn Territory.

  The entire ground reacts.

  Spikes emerge in sequence.

  Ryker jumps, creates footing.

  One spike cuts his leg.

  He falls.

  Gets up with effort.

  Ryker: …there’s no predicting this.

  Akima: Exactly.

  Attempt to trap.

  Ryker: Terrain Fixation.

  Crystals rise around Akima, closing in.

  For a moment… Akima is trapped.

  Ryker advances.

  But Akima doesn’t move.

  He just looks.

  Break.

  Akima: Black Lightning.

  Explosion.

  All the crystals shatter.

  Ryker is blasted away.

  He hits the ground hard.

  Gets up slower now.

  Akima: You think too much. That slows your body.

  Final attempt.

  Ryker takes a deep breath.

  Adjusts his stance.

  Ryker: Crystal Fragments.

  Multiple attacks.

  Akima moves through them.

  Some are destroyed by spikes.

  Others pass.

  Ryker sees an opening.

  He turns—

  Ryker: Crystal Weapon.

  Direct strike.

  Mistake.

  Akima disappears.

  Akima: Shadow Dash.

  Appears behind him.

  Ryker reacts.

  Ryker: Partial Reflex.

  He turns, tries to avoid—

  But misses the timing.

  Impact.

  Akima: Black Punch.

  The blow lands.

  Ryker is sent flying.

  He falls.

  Takes time to get up.

  Breathing heavily.

  Conclusion.

  Ryker looks around.

  Nothing.

  But he understands.

  Ryker: …it’s over, isn’t it?

  Akima steps forward.

  Akima: Took you long enough.

  Ryker closes his eyes for a second.

  Accepts it.

  Akima: Thorn Orbs.

  Spikes emerge from multiple points at once.

  Ryker tries to react.

  Ryker: Solid Shield.

  The shield blocks part of it.

  But not all.

  Attacks come from invisible angles.

  One hits.

  Then another.

  He drops to his knees.

  Akima raises his hand.

  Akima: It’s over.

  Ryker tries to move—

  But there’s no time.

  Akima: Black Lightning.

  Direct hit.

  Explosion.

  Silence.

  Ryker: You… you’re not normal.

  Zephyr: AKIMA!!!!!