Kayen's chest heaved with every breath, sweat soaking through his training tunic as he stared at the imposing figure before him.
"Again," barked Captain Davis Wilter, tightening his grip on the blunt-edged training sword. "If you fight like this, you might as well sign your friend's death warrant."
Kayen's eyes flared. He charged with a yell, swinging his makeshift blade. Davis parried effortlessly, his whip crackling at his side like a coiled viper, ready to strike.
Kayen remembered this man—vaguely—from Kakamega Forest. Just flashes. Pain. Chains. Light. The whip. He still couldn't make sense of it.
"You're fast," Davis said mid-duel, "but street tricks don't work on trained killers. Precision. Control. You have spirit, but spirit without discipline is death."
Their swords clashed, Kayen gritting his teeth. "Then teach me. I'm not letting Zemo die because I wasn't ready."
Davis smiled grimly. "Good."
Kayen swung high, ducked low, then lunged. Davis twisted and countered, but this time, Kayen anticipated it. He dodged just in time, brushing Davis' side. It wasn't much—but it was something.
At the far end of the Skyborn HQ's training complex, another battle brewed.
Two women circled each other in silence.
Selasi rolled her shoulders, her dark training gear clinging to her as she eyed her opponent.
Across from her stood Aahliya, now clad in brighter, looser clothing fit for movement, her bandana neatly hiding the small, dark horns on her head.
"You know," Aahliya said with a smirk, "it's insane to train your enemy."
"Enemy?" Selasi scoffed, cracking her knuckles. "You've been collared, remember? Soul lock—can't lay a hand on any Skyborn or innocent without paying in pain. You're not a threat anymore."
Aahliya's smirk wavered.
Selasi took a step forward. "Even Andrew can't break it. You try hurting anyone, and your head'll feel like it's splitting open. Even if you run, Abyssborn or not, that collar stays."
"You think my father would just let that happen?" Aahliya snapped.
Selasi leaned in, her eyes sharp. "Your father would kill you himself if he knew you were compromised. You're a liability now. A walking blueprint of his secrets."
The words hit home. Aahliya's jaw tightened.
Then, Selasi struck.
Aahliya barely dodged—too slow. The edge of Selasi's blade grazed her cheek.
"Hey!" she shouted. "Decided I'm your punching bag now?"
Selasi came again. Aahliya ducked, blocked, cursed.
Each clash of their limbs and feet was brutal. Aahliya's power was there—wild and reactive—but Selasi was trained, methodical, relentless.
Between dodges, Aahliya spat curses. "You smug Skyborn witch!"
Selasi just grinned.
—
Far below, in the underbelly of Sector Seven, unease brewed like a storm cloud.
Kayen's mother had just left work when she heard it—a scream from an alleyway.
She hesitated, then crept toward the sound.
A boy—no older than Kayen—was impaled to the wall by a thick rod of metal. Blood soaked his clothes. His lips moved, whispering something she couldn't hear.
She raised her nanophone—but pain exploded at the back of her skull. She crumpled to the ground.
A shadow loomed over her.
The man—if he could be called that—was twisted, his arm transformed into a long, segmented tail tipped with a dripping green stinger. One eye glowed, the other a mangled ruin.
He bared serrated teeth in a grin.
Then—crack!
Two Skyborn agents burst in.
The battle that followed was chaos.
One agent lunged, wielding a blade that gleamed with spiritual energy. The creature parried with its tail, the impact sending a shockwave down the alley.
The second agent unleashed a barrage of projectile discs, each glowing. The creature snarled, zigzagging through them, claws flashing.
The agents coordinated seamlessly—one attacking high, the other sweeping low—but the creature adapted fast. Its body twisted unnaturally, moving like fluid shadow. It hissed, then slammed its tail to the ground, cracking the pavement and unleashing a blinding cloud of dust.
When it cleared—the creature was gone.
The agents cursed, surveying the damage. One of them tended to Kayen's mother as she stirred, dazed but alive.
—
Back at HQ, Kayen was sprawled out again, panting. His fists ached.
Davis stood over him. "You're improving. Still soft, but improving."
Footsteps echoed.
Selasi and Aahliya burst into the room.
"Kayen!" Selasi called.
Kayen turned. Aahliya pointed, smirking. "Well, look who's dying from cardio."
Selasi shot her a glare. Aahliya raised her hands. "Fine, fine."
"What is it?" Kayen asked, heart still racing.
Selasi's tone shifted. "It's about your family. Your mom..."
Kayen froze.
"What happened?"
Selasi looked him dead in the eye.
"She was attacked."