The clearing was silent for only a second.
Five figures stood spread out across the charred terrain, surrounded by craters, burnt trees, and loose stones scorched black from countless prior clashes. The air held the faint tang of smoke and blood - a testament to the destruction they'd wrought in just a month of relentless training.
It was time.
No formal start. No signal. No words.
Just tension thick enough to choke on, and the knowledge that the next few minutes would be war.
Kai exhaled deeply, flicking his growing fringe out of his eyes as he let the Blood Vision settle over his gaze. Crimson veins lit up the world - each heartbeat, each shift of movement - he could see them all. His blood stirred restlessly inside him like it was hungry.
They were all different now.
