THE LUNA THEY REJECTED CAME BACK RUTHLESS

I Refuse To Lose Again

My breath came uneven.

My chest tight.

The creature stood there—unshaken, unmoved—like everything I had just done meant nothing.

And that—

That hit harder than the attack itself.

“I’m not fast enough…” I whispered.

Kael didn’t turn to look at me.

“Then don’t try to be fast,” he said.

Another step from the creature.

Calm.

Measured.

“You’re improving,” it said, its voice almost thoughtful.

My jaw tightened.

“I’m not your experiment.”

A faint smile touched its lips.

“You already are.”

The warmth inside me surged again—but this time, it wasn’t steady.

It wasn’t calm.

It was frustrated.

Unstable.

Like it was reacting to my thoughts, my anger, my fear.

“Lira,” Kael said sharply. “Don’t let it control the pace.”

“I’m not—”

But I stopped.

Because I was.

I was reacting again.

Letting it push me.

Letting it dictate how I moved, how I used my power.

And that was exactly what it wanted.

I closed my eyes briefly.

Ignoring the creature.

Ignoring the tension.

Ignoring everything except—

That energy.

Mine.

Not its.

Not theirs.

Mine.

The warmth pulsed.

Slower this time.

Deeper.

Waiting.

“Good,” Kael said quietly. “Stay there.”

The creature moved again—

Faster.

Closing the distance in an instant.

But this time—

I didn’t panic.

I didn’t rush.

I lifted my hand—

Not forcing the power.

Calling it.

The energy responded immediately.

Not in a rush.

Not wildly.

But precisely.

Controlled.

The moment it reached me—

I moved.

Not back.

Forward.

The force surged out—

But not like before.

Not wide.

Not explosive.

Focused.

It hit the creature directly—

Not pushing it away—

Stopping it.

Completely.

For a split second—

It froze.

Its expression changed.

Not amused.

Not confident.

Surprised.

My breath steadied.

“I said…” I stepped closer, the energy holding firm between us, “…I’m not losing again.”

The pressure increased.

Not outward.

Inward.

Tightening around it.

Restricting it.

Controlling it.

The creature struggled—

But it didn’t break through.

Not this time.

Kael stepped slightly to the side now—not interfering.

Watching.

Because this—

This was mine.

“You’ve learned,” the creature said, its voice lower now.

I shook my head slightly.

“I’m still learning.”

And with that—

I pushed.

The energy surged again, stronger but still controlled, forcing the creature back—this time not because it overpowered me—

But because I controlled it.

Fully.

It stumbled slightly before regaining balance, its gaze locked onto me now with something new.

Respect.

And something else.

Recognition.

“This changes things,” it said.

My chest rose slowly, steady now.

“It already has.”

The warmth inside me settled again—not unstable, not wild—

But responsive.

Listening.

Mine.

And for the first time—

I didn’t feel like I was catching up.

I felt like I was taking control.

Because this wasn’t just power anymore.

It was understanding.

And that meant—

Next time—

I wouldn’t just defend.

I’d win. 😈🔥