CHAPTER 9
763 Words
The moment my fist connected, I felt it. A shift.
The impact wasn’t just physical—it carried a raw, heavy force. The air crackled. The world itself seemed to register what had just happened.
The operative staggered. Not much, but enough. His amused, condescending expression flickered with something new: surprise.
He touched his jaw where I had struck him, his fingers testing the spot.
“Interesting,” he muttered.
Then he moved, faster than before.
I barely dodged. His fist sliced through the space where my head had been a second ago, the wind of his strike sharp enough to sting my skin. Too close.
The system pulsed in my vision.
[Energy Consumption: 70%]
I pushed the warning aside. No time.
I lunged, aiming for his ribs, but he twisted at the last second. My knuckles met empty air.
Damn it, he was adapting.
Before I could react, his knee shot toward my gut. I blocked, but the impact still rattled through my arms, sending a shockwave through my bones. I gritted my teeth against the pain, holding my ground.
Then I swung back. A feint.
My right fist aimed for his ribs, but at the last second, I twisted, my left elbow shooting toward his face instead.
He didn’t expect it.
Crack.
My elbow struck his jaw. He stumbled. Not much, but enough.
For the first time, his smirk faltered.
I didn’t let up.
I launched forward, pouring everything into my next strike. My fist cut through the air—and stopped.
His hand caught it. Like it was nothing.
My breath hitched.
His grip was tight, like steel wrapped around my wrist. The pressure increased, pain flaring through my bones. Then he twisted. I grunted as my body spun with the motion. I had to follow or my wrist would snap.
The moment my feet hit the ground, I braced for his attack. It didn’t come.
He just stood there, still holding my wrist, head tilted slightly, observing.
Then his smirk returned.
“Let’s see how much more you can take.”
A warning. No—an invitation.
The system flared.
[Energy Consumption: 85%]
Too much.
My breath was heavier now, my body running hotter. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. Every fiber of me screamed that I was reaching my limit.
But I refused to go down.
I gritted my teeth, channeling whatever strength I had left, and yanked my wrist free. The second I did, I ducked as his other hand shot toward me.
Barely.
I spun low, kicking out at his legs.
He jumped.
Damn.
Before I could move, he countered. His foot met my chest.
The force exploded through me. I was airborne before I even registered it. My back slammed into the far wall, my lungs emptying in a single, choking gasp.
I couldn’t breathe.
Pain radiated from my ribs, my vision blurring at the edges. My fingers twitched, trying to push myself up, but my body felt unresponsive.
The operative sighed, walking toward me. “You’re burning through your energy too quickly. Relying on power without control.”
His steps were measured, unhurried. He knew he was winning.
“Raw strength means nothing if you can’t last,” he continued, his voice almost bored. “And you? You won’t last.”
The system blared again.
[Energy Consumption: 95%]
My limbs trembled. My heartbeat was uneven, a wild, frantic rhythm.
I needed a plan. Now.
But my mind was fogged with exhaustion, my thoughts sluggish. The operative stopped a few feet away, arms crossed, studying me like a puzzle he was figuring out.
“One last chance, Caden.” His voice was smooth, but beneath it was something cold. Final.
“Show me something worth my time.”
The words sent a fresh wave of anger through me. Show him? I was done performing for him.
I clenched my fists. No more.
I focused, pushing through the exhaustion, reaching for something deeper. The power wasn’t gone. It was still there—just buried under the weight of my body failing.
I had to dig deeper. My breath steadied.
The system flickered.
[Emergency Override Available]
I inhaled sharply. My chest burned, but I felt it. A second wind, a spark waiting to ignite.
I met his gaze. And I smirked.
“You want something worth your time?” I exhaled slowly.
The energy inside me shifted. The lights overhead dimmed, and the air around me thickened.
The operative’s eyes narrowed. Good.
“Then don’t blink,” I said.
Because this time—I wasn’t holding back.
- Writer
