I was crushed to the ground.
Gravity had tripled. My knees buckled. An invisible mountain was pressing me down.
I clenched my teeth, activated my eyes, and imagined a repulsion core around me. An anti-gravity bubble.
I managed to stand up a bit… then he reversed gravity. I was thrown to the ceiling, then slammed brutally back down.
"You're not ready," he said, raising his hand.
But something clicked inside me.
No. Not like this.
I dug deeper. A mental anchor. A center of balance. Antimatter pulsed at my fingertips — not chaotically, no. Controlled.
I reshaped the space around me by sheer will. Gravity gave in.
And shattered.
I landed gently, eyes glowing.
"I learn fast," I told him as I straightened my knees.
Kaito smiled, but said nothing.
"Impressive," said Kayne as I walked out of the arena. "You adapt faster than expected."
I wiped my forehead.
"So do the enemies."
He nodded.
"That's why we train this way. The tournament isn't just about power. It's about speed, instinct, adaptation. Everyone you'll face will be beyond anything you've seen so far."
I looked at my teammates — Katia, Komi, Juan, Seth. Each of them was silently preparing for their turn.
Kayne spoke again from the upper level.
"Alright. Katia, you're up."
She stepped forward slowly, focused. Her opponent appeared: a woman with white hair and completely black eyes. On her forehead, a red spiral-shaped mark.
"Advanced psychic manipulation," announced Kayne. "She can create auditory and visual illusions, and force her opponents to see their worst fears."
"Begin the fight."
Katia closed her eyes for a second. Then she reopened them, determined.
The woman raised her hand.
Moments later, Katia froze.
"You're alone, Katia. They've all abandoned you."
It was her mother's voice — dead for years.
But Katia clenched her fists.
"Shut up."
The woman slowly approached, smiling.
"You're nothing without them. You'll never be strong enough."
"I said shut up."
The figure came closer.
Katia screamed:
"On your knees!"
Her voice echoed like a thunderclap.
The woman dropped instantly to the ground, unable to move.
"Silence now," Katia said coldly.
Then she walked forward, back straight, and struck her opponent with an icy punch.
"Simulation over," said Kayne, visibly impressed.
Katia stepped out of the arena, her gaze cold. She turned to us.
"My power isn't meant to impress. It's meant to command."
Kayne smirked, amused.
"Komi, you're next."
Komi sighed.
"I hate these kinds of exercises…"
She stepped into the arena. Her opponent appeared instantly: a massive man entirely covered in obsidian armor, wielding a giant hammer.
"Brute strength and electric absorption," explained Kayne. "Be careful."
"Begin."
The enemy rushed her without hesitation.
Komi dodged gracefully, sparking electricity around her. She attempted a direct strike, but the mannequin's body absorbed the lightning.
"Great, he eats my shocks…"
She closed her eyes for a second, then smirked.
"Alright. Let's see how he handles overload."
She focused her energy and unleashed a continuous surge of electricity, stronger and stronger, until the mannequin's armor began to smoke.
The enemy froze.
A moment later, his body exploded under the accumulated pressure.
"Like I thought," said Komi. "Even a sponge has its limits."
She walked out of the arena to Kayne's applause.
"Your turn, Juan," he said next.
Juan stretched and stepped forward.
"Let's see what you've got for me…"
His opponent was a quiet young man, blank stare, fragile build.
"Careful," said Kayne. "He manipulates metallic objects."
"Perfect."
The match began.
Juan sprinted, dodging the first metallic projectiles, then activated his ability. His eyes glowed. Instantly, he felt the other's energy.
"I see you."
He copied the waves, turned them into impulses. He spread his arms — every metallic object in the room began to vibrate.
The mannequin tried to strike him with steel plates, but Juan sent them flying back even harder.
Then he attacked.
A rain of metal crashed onto the opponent.
Simulation over.
"Still as unpredictable," Kayne murmured.
Juan shrugged.
"When you're good, you're good."
Kayne turned to Seth.
"Last one. Ready?"
"Always," Seth replied with a grin.
He stepped into the arena. His opponent? A warrior with perfect reflexes. Fast, precise, methodical.
"She analyzes every move, every breath. You'd better switch things up," said Kayne.
"No problem."
The fight began.
Seth barely moved at first, just watched. He took a few hits. Then, gradually, his movements became smoother, quicker.
He was copying. Or rather… adapting.
He was syncing with his opponent's rhythm — then going faster.
After two minutes, he was nearly invisible.
One hit, two, three. The warrior couldn't keep up.
She collapsed.
Seth stepped forward, slightly out of breath, but still smirking.
"Complete physical adaptation in under three minutes… not bad," commented Kayne.
"I've seen better," Seth replied.
I looked up at him.
"Not ashamed of lying like that?"
He smiled.
"A little."
The day came to an end.
But inside our hearts… the fire had only just been lit.