The silence on the ring didn’t last long.

  But for Ren…

  …it weighed like an anvil.

  Across from him, Kellan Dross was no longer really smiling.

  His posture had changed.

  Subtly.

  But dangerously.

  His shoulders had lowered.

  His center of gravity had anchored.

  His eyes… had sharpened.

  The message was clear.

  He was about to get serious.

  Ren’s heart slammed violently against his ribs.

  Too soon…

  Way too soon.

  A thin line of cold sweat slid down the back of his neck.

  [Threat level: rising.]

  The system window pulsed softly.

  As if it were watching.

  As if it were waiting to see how long he would last.

  Ren inhaled slowly.

  His feet repositioned.

  Imperfect.

  But more stable than before.

  Kellan is faster…

  Stronger…

  More experienced…

  He knew it.

  His whole body knew it.

  But—

  He couldn’t back down.

  Not here.

  Not in front of everyone.

  Not when Amane was counting on him.

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  Ren’s fingers tightened slightly.

  “…I’ll hold.”

  Kellan tilted his head slightly.

  An amused breath slipped past his lips.

  “We’ll see.”

  Then he moved.

  This time—

  He almost vanished.

  Kellan’s first step exploded against the ring floor, his body crossing the distance in an instant.

  Too fast—

  Ren reacted.

  Instinct.

  Pure.

  His foot pivoted.

  His torso turned—

  But not enough.

  Kellan’s fist slammed into his guard.

  The force traveled through his arms like an electric shock.

  — Gh—?!

  His body was shoved back several steps.

  Murmurs immediately spread through the room.

  — There it is…

  — Reality check…

  — Back to normal…

  Ren’s teeth ground together.

  His forearms were already throbbing.

  Too heavy…

  It wasn’t just the speed.

  It was the power behind it.

  Kellan didn’t give him time to breathe.

  He came again immediately.

  Second attack.

  Cleaner.

  More direct.

  Ren forced his body to move.

  That ancient sensation rose again.

  That foreign logic of movement.

  His shoulder pivoted.

  His foot slid—

  The strike half-missed.

  But the follow-up was already there.

  Impact.

  This time the blow slammed into his side.

  The air was violently knocked from his lungs.

  — Kgh—!

  He staggered back.

  His vision wavered.

  [Warning: physical stress increasing.]

  [Passive Echo — instability detected.]

  Damn…

  His head was pounding.

  His body burning.

  And in front of him—

  Kellan finally stopped.

  Not out of breath.

  Not even tense.

  Just… evaluating.

  His eyes had narrowed slightly.

  “…You’re weird.”

  Ren’s heart skipped.

  Kellan cracked his neck.

  “You’re weak…”

  The murmurs resumed.

  Cruel.

  Familiar.

  But—

  His gaze sharpened further.

  “…but you’re learning mid-fight.”

  Ren’s blood ran slightly cold.

  Damn.

  He noticed.

  From the observation walkway…

  A certain dark-haired prodigy still hadn’t taken her eyes off the ring.

  Motionless.

  Analytical.

  Dangerously attentive.

  [External observation confirmed.]

  The system recorded it.

  Calmly.

  Coldly.

  Kellan exhaled lightly.

  Then his posture shifted again.

  Lower.

  More explosive.

  This time—

  He wasn’t playing anymore.

  Ren’s heart raced.

  Too dangerous…

  But he held his ground.

  Because backing down now…

  …would be complete defeat.

  Kellan’s voice dropped.

  “Let’s finish this.”

  He vanished.

  For real.

  This time, Ren saw almost nothing.

  His instincts screamed.

  His body moved—

  Too late.

  The impact slammed full-force into his abdomen.

  Pain exploded.

  Brutal.

  Blinding.

  — GH—!!

  His body literally left the ground.

  The world spun.

  Then—

  He crashed heavily onto the ring.

  Breath gone.

  Vision blurred.

  A heavy silence fell across the room.

  Someone muttered,

  — …Ouch.

  Ren stayed down.

  His body refused to move.

  His lungs burned.

  His arms trembled.

  His fingers weakly curled against the ring surface.

  …Too…

  Too far…

  Above him, Kellan’s silhouette formed in his blurred vision.

  “…Yeah.”

  His voice was calmer now.

  Less mocking.

  “You’ve still got a long way to go, Aster.”

  Then he turned away.

  As if the fight were already decided.

  But—

  Ren’s fingers moved.

  Very slightly.

  His knee trembled.

  Then—

  He forced it.

  His body screamed.

  But he rose.

  Slowly.

  Painfully.

  Still standing.

  A real silence fell across the room this time.

  Kellan stopped.

  Turned back.

  His eyes widened slightly.

  “…Seriously?”

  Ren was breathing hard.

  His legs shaking.

  His head pounding violently.

  [Compatibility: 1.9%]

  …It was rising.

  Still.

  Slowly.

  But surely.

  Ren lifted his head.

  His eyes were tired.

  Pained.

  But burning.

  His voice came out hoarse.

  “…Again.”

  The silence cracked.

  And somewhere, behind the invisible interface—

  Unlimited Evolution Human Potential slightly increased its level of attention toward subject Ren Aster.

  [Evaluation updated: subject persistent.]