Rei managed to deflect some, block others, but the weight behind each attack drained him. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his breathing becoming labored. It wasn't just the force—there was something unnatural about the shadow. It carried a pressure unlike anything he had faced before, cold and heavy as if death itself resided within the darkness.

  Kage leaned against the railing, still relaxed, watching him as if testing a new toy. "You're quick," he mused. "Good instincts. But instincts only get you so far."

  Suddenly, the shadows receded, slithering back to their master like obedient serpents. Rei, mid-dodge, swung forward for a counterattack—but his fist met only air. Kage had dismissed his shadow in an instant, throwing Rei off balance. Before he could adjust—

  A gut punch. Direct. Precise. Devastating.

  Rei's vision blurred as pain exploded through his abdomen. Air refused to enter his lungs. His body convulsed as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in agony.

  But something was wrong.

  He couldn't move.

  Kage stood casually over him, the heel of his expensive shoe resting lightly on Rei's shadow, pinning it to the floor like a butterfly to a board.

  Rei's mind raced. What...? He strained, muscles burning with effort, but his limbs were locked. No matter how much he willed them to move, his body was frozen in place. A cold dread crept up his spine, primitive and overwhelming.

  "You get it now?" Kage said flatly. "You're nothing. I don't train weaklings." He sighed, disappointment evident in his tone. "What a waste of my time."

  Kage walked over to Rei’s stifled body to deliver the finishing blow.

  Josuke vs. Mya - Breaking Free

  The world around Josuke felt thick, as if he were moving through honey. His mind swam, clouded by a heavy, unnatural warmth. Mya's fingers tightened around his wrist, her perfume intensifying as she leaned closer.

  "You're mine now," her voice crooned inside his head. "Isn't it easier this way? No decisions to make, no fear to feel."

  "She's so... beautiful..." The thought wasn't his own, but it clung to him like a parasite. Her violet eyes gleamed, her smile as sweet as poisoned honey.

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  "That's a good boy," she whispered. The scent of her perfume was overpowering now, making his thoughts even more sluggish.

  A part of him wanted to agree. It was easier. The overwhelming terror of the battlefield, the pressure of survival—all of it muted beneath her control.

  Somewhere in his fading awareness, Josuke recognized the trap. He fought against it, but his body wanted to move closer. To kneel completely. To obey. His resistance was weakening with each passing second.

  Mya smirked, triumphant. "You'll do nicely."

  Then—

  CRACK!

  A bolt of lightning split through the air, striking the ground mere inches from her feet. The force sent ripples of electricity through the dirt, forcing Mya to leap back and, for just a moment, break her spell.

  Josuke gasped, his body his own again, stumbling backward. "The hell was that?" His voice was ragged, disoriented.

  A new figure stood between them.

  Raiden.

  A blind martial artist with a stern face and precisely trimmed hair, his posture was steady, controlled, his movements refined and disciplined. Lightning flickered around his fists, humming with raw energy. His dull, sightless eyes never once met Mya's, yet he stood with an eerie awareness of her presence, the air around him charged with static.

  "Manipulating others..." Raiden's voice was calm, yet filled with disgust. "You're disgusting."

  Before Mya could respond, another figure casually strolled up beside Raiden.

  A strange-looking competitor with a weirdly shaped head, skin slick like an amphibian with an unnatural pale tint. He had a cocky grin, hands resting behind his head in a casual pose.

  "Damn, bro," he whistled, glancing at Josuke. "You really got played like that?"

  Josuke snapped, "Shut up, man!" His face flushed with embarrassment.

  Hiro laughed, shrugging. "Hey, no judgment. Just saying, getting mind-controlled in the first five minutes? Not a great look." His gills flapped lazily as he spoke.

  As Josuke regained his senses, he noticed how Raiden and Hiro moved together. In the distance, other fighters were approaching, drawn by the commotion. Without a word, Hiro shifted position, covering Raiden's blind spot. The amphibian-headed boy moved with surprising agility, his strange anatomy allowing maneuvers that would be impossible for a normal human.

  Raiden seemed to sense Hiro's movements perfectly, adjusting his stance to complement his ally. When another competitor lunged at them from the side, Raiden struck with precision while Hiro deflected a secondary attack, their fighting styles blending into a cohesive unit despite the chaos around them.

  Mya's expression darkened. Her plan to use Josuke had failed. Now, she was outnumbered three to one.

  Raiden's fingers crackled with electricity, his stance lowering as he prepared to attack. Hiro's eyes gleamed with amusement, but his muscles tensed, showing he was ready for a fight.

  Josuke clenched his fists, the embarrassment fueling his frustration. "Yeah, you know what? Let's fix this." The caffeine was fully hitting his system now, his pulse racing, pupils dilated.

  The taste of freedom was metallic on his tongue, his mouth dry as if he hadn't had water in days. His own sweat felt suddenly cold against his skin, his pulse pounding in his temples with a fierce, triumphant rhythm.

  Mya took a step back, her sweet smile replaced by calculation.

  For the first time since the trial started... She was on the defensive.